Time to stock up on Kodak

[semi-ambivalent]

Not sure how that relates to film. Probably doesn't.

It doesn't always have to be a shallow "better than" equation, like computer geek's addiction to hardware bake-offs. Can one not like and respect tubes for the same reason one likes and respects the guitar itself (hardly a modern instrument)?

To look at it this way is very apropo.

s-a

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

It doesn't always have to be a shallow "better than" equation, like computer geek's addiction to hardware bake-offs. Can one not like and respect tubes for the same reason one likes and respects the guitar itself (hardly a modern instrument)?

To look at it this way is very apropo.

s-a

Agree with you. It's a matter of filtering out what's popular and focusing on what we actually see, hear, and experience and what of it we like and not. But sometimes it's just shit boring to be so clinical about things. Gut feeling will usually tell you the truth.
Why else would I love to use film for my photography? A mediocre print is mediocre no matter how it was created. A great print from film satisfies me more than a great print from digital, and it all has to do with me simply liking film, and the processes surrounding darkroom printing, better. Feels better.
Same thing with music. I love music. I really do. While I can easily live with a solid state amplifier, I prefer my 1961 Scott 299B, because of how it presents music better. It doesn't have better resolution, it has less power than most modern solid state amps, but guess what, the sound is liquid, fast, punchy, and amazingly entertaining. It doesn't give me listening fatigue. To me tube sound isn't 'warmer' or 'fuzzier'; it is clearer, more concise, faster (believe it or not), and just all around a far cry from lazy modern features that dress things up so that people think they are enjoying their stereo while in reality most of it is just varnish.

Eliminate bullshit. That's hard to do today. But if you cut to the core of what you really like there are no short cuts of excellent results. And just decide with your gut feeling more often.

So what does this have to do with stocking up on Kodak? Well, support what you like, and not what everybody wants you to like. I love Kodak's products. Gut says I love the prints I get with their film in my camera. And that's the bottom line.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

So what does this have to do with stocking up on Kodak?

In town this morning, going to work. I passed a young man (20s) who had a Rollieflex laying on the sidewalk, shooting up, I would imagine. I said 'Nice rollie' and he thanked me. Stupid me. That was a bake-off, writ small. I should have held up the F I was carrying and said 'Thanks for shooting film young man'.

s-a

 

[KarnyDoc]

With respect to Kodachrome, I used to be a heavy Kodachrome user until I went back to school in 2005. Between 2005 and 2009 when I was in college, my film use dropped off almost completely because I had no money and no time. Unfortunately, it probably means I contributed in a small way to Kodachrome's discontinuation.

I finally go the student debt situation under control just over a year ago and got back into photography just as Kodachrome processing was winding down so I moved over to various E6 films. I've been trying to stock up on Kodak film for several weeks now because I go on vacation on Friday but every time one of the stores I go to gets an order in, they've either sold out quickly or been near sold out. The result is that I've been getting a few rolls of Kodak film here and there but not in the quantity I've been hoping for. However, the big upside to this is that Kodak's products are moving and sales are being made which is far better than the alternative of film languishing on shelves or in refrigerators slowly going stale.

What you need to do is tell the store(s) at which you buy your film is that you're special ordering X number of rolls of THIS film, and Y rolls of THAT film, etc. Once you've done this once, twice or thrice, they'll understand, and may even cut you a break on the price. When your order comes in, they'll set it aside and notify you. Thus, you'll be assured of a greater supply of your favorite film(s) on hand.

The key is the "special-order" route, especially when you're trying to stock up on film in preparation for something such as a trip. (Of course, you'll need to take into account the transit time for the store to receive its order, so you can plan ahead.)

Dieter Zakas

 

[MattKing]

Of critical importance to the issue is the fact that Kodak no longer sells directly to stores (B & H and maybe Adorama being possible exceptions).

Kodak (and Ilford and Fuji) sell to distributors - and distributors and the distribution network are definitely part of the problem.

 

[Plate Voltage]

I do tend to place orders for film but I'm at the mercy of what the local stores have in their on hand inventory for last minute things. Unfortunately my vacation kind of fell into that category because getting time off work has not been easy lately and I didn't know whether my vacation would be approved until almost the last minute.


Distribution's an interesting point because I recall hearing bits and pieces when Kodak did sell directly to stores that they could sometimes be a difficult company to deal with. Getting rid of their in-house distribution system does explain why Kodak Canada demolished their office building at Eglinton & Black Creek Dr. I could understand tearing down the factory buildings but I couldn't figure out why the office building since they'd have to rent space elsewhere to accommodate the staff that worked there. If they ditched the internal distribution arm and other administrative functions and laid off the staff, that'd explain why they didn't need the office space.

As for audio applications, it is possible to build a good sounding solid state just as it is to build a good sounding tube amplifier. It's also equally possible to build bad amplifiers of either kind that don't sound good, or have reliability or performance issues. Personally, I'm happy with my Scott 272 but I'm not prepared to write off all solid state equipment on principle or accept poor performance from vacuum tube equipment. The reason why I use the Scott is because it's an excellent amplifier and I enjoy taking a break and work on tube equipment now and again.

 

[Roger Cole]

In town this morning, going to work. I passed a young man (20s) who had a Rollieflex laying on the sidewalk, shooting up, I would imagine. I said 'Nice rollie' and he thanked me. Stupid me. That was a bake-off, writ small. I should have held up the F I was carrying and said 'Thanks for shooting film young man'.

s-a

Ok, color me clueless, but what the hell is a "bake off?" I never heard the term before this thread. I took it to mean a competition between two devices or modes, but what was he comparing to his Rollei? Or...did you mean it was a chance to compare with your Nikon? But how could you do that without seeing the results?

Sorry, I just don't get it.

 

[Roger Cole]

You folks can actually walk into a store and buy film? I haven't done that - well, in a way, EVER. Even back in the 90s I lived in a small town and had to travel a bit to get anything but consumer C41 in 35mm, and then the prices were so much higher and the selection so much smaller than mail order I just ordered it anyway. And once I got into 4x5 I think the closest place to buy that was 100 miles away. Now I live in the Atlanta area and, while I've heard there's one store around with some selection of film, the time I tried to find it I couldn't.

Now I order all my film. If one place doesn't have it another probably does, if I really want a certain type/size. Usually I'm stocked up enough ahead I can wait until they get it back in stock.

 

[j-dogg]

our local store carries 35mm, 120, 220, 8x10, 11x14. all kinds of obscure formats. they probably have a better selection of non-35mm format.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

our local store carries 35mm, 120, 220, 8x10, 11x14. all kinds of obscure formats. they probably have a better selection of non-35mm format.

That's pretty unique, I would say. Here in Minneapolis we have a few stores that carry 35mm b&w and color professional films, 120/220, and to some extent 4x5.
Then a slew of Ilford papers, chemistry, a few darkroom supplies, neg sleeves and that. I consider that pretty lucky... You must be in heaven.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

Ok, color me clueless, but what the hell is a "bake off?" I never heard the term before this thread. I took it to mean a competition between two devices or modes, but what was he comparing to his Rollei? Or...did you mean it was a chance to compare with your Nikon? But how could you do that without seeing the results?

Sorry, I just don't get it.

Yes, a bake-off is a competition, coined by the computer realm and usually referring to a head-to-head competition to find the "best" computer, graphics card, database engine, etc.

I condemned my own remark to the man because the quality of his camera was of no bearing to my reason for saying something to him; he was shooting film, that was what was important. I'm glad he took it as a complement, it was a nice Rollie, but it was not what I really wanted to say. I stumbled there. Whatever camera I was carrying was irrelevant too. What was important there was that I was a fellow analog photographer. If I wasn't late for work I would have stopped for a bit and asked about what he was "after", but I was late, alas.

s-a

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

You folks can actually walk into a store and buy film?

Walked into a local retail store a few days ago. Bought five rolls of 35mm Provia 100F. Got is out of a self-serve refridgerator. That fridge was about six or eight glass doors long. Checked out the other doors. Ilford, Kodak, Fuji everywhere. 35mm, 120, 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, 6.5x8.5 (whole plate), 4x10, and other oddbal sizes of sheet film. 100-foot bulk rolls of b&w in many different flavors. Pro packs, individual rolls, Fuji color papers. And on and on and on. All right there for the taking...

I think you need to move to the Pacific Northwest.

Ken

[Transcribed by Ken's new occupational therapist after he chopped off both of his hands in post #113 in (there was a url link here which no longer exists).]

 

[Roger Cole]

Yes, a bake-off is a competition, coined by the computer realm and usually referring to a head-to-head competition to find the "best" computer, graphics card, database engine, etc.

I condemned my own remark to the man because the quality of his camera was of no bearing to my reason for saying something to him; he was shooting film, that was what was important. I'm glad he took it as a complement, it was a nice Rollie, but it was not what I really wanted to say. I stumbled there. Whatever camera I was carrying was irrelevant too. What was important there was that I was a fellow analog photographer. If I wasn't late for work I would have stopped for a bit and asked about what he was "after", but I was late, alas.

s-a

Ah, ok, thanks for the explanation. Makes sense now.

My fiance and I went to ... some sort of art event in an area in Atlanta, her friend who works in art installations and does sculpture had a piece in it, and I took 35mm with Tri-X destined for Diafine since I was out of TMZ. Ran across one other guy shooting film with a Mamiya TLR on a tripod. Admired the camera a bit but the mess in the street was chaotic enough I didn't get to stop and chat.

Got the negs now but haven't had time to proof. Looks like, if camera shake didn't ruin any as I shot a lot at 1/15th and 1/30th (I can always manage the latter if I'm careful and occasionally the former) with my 50mm 1.7, I might have some good street shots.

 

[Roger Cole]

Walked into a local retail store a few days ago. Bought five rolls of 35mm Provia 100F. Got is out of a self-serve refridgerator. That fridge was about six or eight glass doors long. Checked out the other doors. Ilford, Kodak, Fuji everywhere. 35mm, 120, 4x5, 5x7, 8x10, 6.5x8.5 (whole plate), 4x10, and other oddbal sizes of sheet film. 100-foot bulk rolls of b&w in many different flavors. Pro packs, individual rolls, Fuji color papers. And on and on and on. All right there for the taking...

I think you need to move to the Pacific Northwest.

Ken

[Transcribed by Ken's new occupational therapist after he chopped off both of his hands in post #113 in (there was a url link here which no longer exists).]

Sounds nice but I have a good job I like here, as does my fiance, and my aging parents now in their 80s with some health issues are only 4.5 hours away by car, not all day by people tube in the sky with the accompanying TSA hassles. I can live with ordering my film. But I do hope to visit that way some day!

 

[MattKing]

Distribution's an interesting point because I recall hearing bits and pieces when Kodak did sell directly to stores that they could sometimes be a difficult company to deal with. Getting rid of their in-house distribution system does explain why Kodak Canada demolished their office building at Eglinton & Black Creek Dr. I could understand tearing down the factory buildings but I couldn't figure out why the office building since they'd have to rent space elsewhere to accommodate the staff that worked there. If they ditched the internal distribution arm and other administrative functions and laid off the staff, that'd explain why they didn't need the office space.

Distribution is critical.

In the past, if you were a Kodak dealer, and maintained certain reasonable volumes, you could obtain any and every product in the catalogue that applied to your business (e.g. retail photographic stores). And if you ordered a reasonable quantity, you could obtain the items on your order at the lowest price available - same as the largest volume retailers.

And with respect to photofinishing (like Kodachrome) if you maintained reasonable volumes, Kodak would pick up from you, and return developed orders to you, without charge for the service.

In Canada, Kodachrome used to be all process paid. In any are close enough to the North Vancouver or Toronto (or Brampton?) labs, Kodachrome films dropped off before pickup time at each dealer would be returned to that dealer fully processed the very next business day, all without charge.

The dealers who had trouble with Kodak tended to be the ones who had trouble either establishing or maintaining their credit rating with Kodak .

 

[wblynch]

A small used-camera store in my town carries film. Their prices are slightly higher than mail order but not insanely so.

But what I have noticed is that their film shelf was nearly empty 2 or 3 years ago with only 4 or 5 choices, mostly in black and white. Now I go in there and they have Ilford, Kodak and Fujifilm. At least 20 choices and well stocked shelves.

When I go to the Pasadena Camera Swap nowadays you can barely get inside and you can't turn around for the crowds.

There are plenty of people that want to use film cameras and buy film.

It seems like Kodak's stock roller-coaster has calmed down over the past couple of weeks but I still wonder what their mid-term and long-term strategies are for the film products.

I would just hate to lose Kodak color films. That would be heartbreaking.

 

[lxdude]

I've been trying to stock up on Kodak film for several weeks now because I go on vacation on Friday but every time one of the stores I go to gets an order in, they've either sold out quickly or been near sold out. The result is that I've been getting a few rolls of Kodak film here and there but not in the quantity I've been hoping for. However, the big upside to this is that Kodak's products are moving and sales are being made which is far better than the alternative of film languishing on shelves or in refrigerators slowly going stale.

Try putting in an order at the store. They can order extra to fill your order and hold it back and notify you when it comes in.