What's with Kodak film pricing?

[AgX]

One doesn't need to be wealthy to buy a few rolls here or there
or a bulk roll, or a box of sheet film, one just need want to buy it.

Its like suggesting a regular person can't afford a car like a bmw or benz or infinity, or lex, or other "high liner" if they really want one ...
There are plenty of ways non-rich people can afford to drive those nice vehicles ( rent, lease, buy with $$ borrowed from a bank, buy 2nd hand off lease &c ) ...

Yes, buying used films...

 

[BrianShaw]

Yes. Exactly

In which case the products offered as "Kodak" will have no relationship to what's made in Bldg. 38 today. They will bear no more resemblence to Kodak film than current "Polaroid" branded stuff does to real Polaroid film of yore. They'll engender none of the enthusiasm that TRI-X, 100TMX and TMY-2 do now. Also, what alternative supplier would have the capability to provide pseudo "Ektar" and/or "Portra?"

From my perspective, when Bldg. 38 stops coating film, Kodak film will be history.

 

[gzinsel]

I went onto Alaris web site last night. If you haven't, I suggest you take a look. Tell me your thoughts. From my understanding "this" Alaris company is mostly interested in providing SERVICE, NOT FILM PRODUCT! I really had to search hard to find film. It seems like they are pushing "partnership in . . .. . . . "business management in , . . . .etc. Mere slogans. WTF. its kinda a joke... . . . .

 

[Xmas]

I went onto Alaris web site last night. If you haven't, I suggest you take a look. Tell me your thoughts. From my understanding "this" Alaris company is mostly interested in providing SERVICE, NOT FILM PRODUCT! I really had to search hard to find film. It seems like they are pushing "partnership in . . .. . . . "business management in , . . . .etc. Mere slogans. WTF. its kinda a joke... . . . .

They seem to be interested in making money so if they are not getting much from film today, who can blame them for trying else where.
Plusx was cancelled cause of sales volume.
BW400CN was ...
Which one is next lowest volume
The problem is the coating machine can only coat a few football pitches economically.
5222 May be the last man standing?

 

[BrianShaw]

I once worked for an engineering firm that was acquired by a bigger dog, who was acquiring virtually all engineering firms in that specific domain area. The new CEO always told us, "It doesn't matter what you are doing today, it matters what we can make money doing tomorrow. So if I say we're now selling monkeys in Martinique, we're selling monkeys in Martinique." As it went, he held true to that and decimated our business sector in favor of one that was more impressive but less profitable. Within 5 years he lost it all - the company and both business sectors. I'm hoping that Alaris is a bit smarter than my former boss...

 

[cmacd123]

Dear Paul,

I do not intend to sound 'sniffy' but commercial and professional photographic film manufacturing to ISO 9001 as done by KODAK / FUJI / AGFA and Ourselves is actually 'rocket science' ..... with more than 100 years of technical development ( if you will excuse the pun ).

INDEED.

That is why there is concern and gnashing of teeth at the moves that Kodak, or Alaris or both seems to be making.

Many Photographers will use either Bulk film or Factory rolls at least partly based on the price. In my 50 years of using film of various kinds and brands bulk rolls were always the same or lower priced than factory packed rolls. {there are a few applications where the long rolls are actually needed like the 250 exposure backs, School Portrait cameras, or folks that consitantly need to use short 5 exposure rolls for some spacial application}

If bulk is MORE expensive than factory rolls, there is no reason a sane person would not just bay the factory packed rolls as long as they can use the size. At Kodaks current price it actually makes some sense to only partly use a 36 exposure roll if you need less and throw away the blank film if you are one of the users who only needs short rolls.

for those who need both bulk and factory rolls of the same film, it may mean biting the bullet and adjusting to using HP5 or Delta 400 even if you prefer Tri-X or TMY. The result is a demand reduction for Kodak.

The serious competitors (and first class rocket scientists all) are Ilford, Foma and perhaps Filmotec ORWO, but I am not sure if the later actually makes their film or just converts it, and they go out of their way to not try to market for still photography. Kodak has always been at the higher end on price and the current trend seems to point to that accelerating.

My Alden 200 may be getting a bit lonely in the cupboard.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...I'm hoping that Alaris is a bit smarter than my former boss...

You'll feel much better when you give up hope.

 

[Xmas]

You'll feel much better when you give up hope.

The KA staff is ex EK staff...
Same old horses same old glue.

I have thought of standing out side the KA head quarters building with a sandwich board with pithy words cause their building is 'just around the block' from me.
I live in a Kodak town.
But don't think that would work, and as well it is raining too heavily & has been all day.

I got real sympathy with folks who live in four corners dry areas, normally we only get 24 inch per annum here but we have been getting large deviations from mean this decade. My auto is eating screen wiper blades.

It would be worse in semi arid with big variations, as the greenhouse gases will bring.

 

[RattyMouse]

I went onto Alaris web site last night. If you haven't, I suggest you take a look. Tell me your thoughts. From my understanding "this" Alaris company is mostly interested in providing SERVICE, NOT FILM PRODUCT! I really had to search hard to find film. It seems like they are pushing "partnership in . . .. . . . "business management in , . . . .etc. Mere slogans. WTF. its kinda a joke... . . . .

Alaris posts regular updates about their activities on Linkedin. I've followed them from the beginning and have loooong given up any hope that they even mention film. Years of updates, no mention. Not once. Would it utterly destroy the company to just post one note about film? Is it that toxic to bring up?

 

[Xmas]

Alaris posts regular updates about their activities on Linkedin. I've followed them from the beginning and have loooong given up any hope that they even mention film. Years of updates, no mention. Not once. Would it utterly destroy the company to just post one note about film? Is it that toxic to bring up?

I have a nicer explanation their owners are the ex EK UK pensioners who have a vesting interest in how the rest of the UK KA company is doing, as they know from the EK inc published accounts the % reduction every Qtr.

You can look at the Qtr % if you want I stopped.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

The KA staff is ex EK staff...Same old horses same old glue...

Staff don't make ultimate decisions; CEOs do. Gerbershagen is ex Motorola. Perez was ex Hewlett Packard. Same breed of horse. Same probable result.

 

[AgX]

I went onto Alaris web site last night. I really had to search hard to find film.

Remember the Kodak site bevor that spin-off?
Same problem.

 

[Xmas]

Staff don't make ultimate decisions; CEOs do. Gerbershagen is ex Motorola. Perez was ex Hewlett Packard. Same breed of horse. Same probable result.

CEOs of failing companies are indeed 'bungee' management.
As in Dilbert cartoons.
Apple was being run by its founder when he died.

 

[mehguy]

my local camera shop sells tri-x for 11 dollars....

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Staff don't make ultimate decisions; CEOs do. Gerbershagen is ex Motorola. Perez was ex Hewlett Packard. Same breed of horse. Same probable result.

During the initial heady celebrations that Kodak Alaris was going to be the savior of Kodak film I checked Gerbershagen's background. The moment I saw it was ex-Siemens followed by ex-Motorola Mobility by way of Google, I knew where things were inevitably headed.

I ended up disappointed, but sadly not incorrect...

Ken

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Alaris posts regular updates about their activities on Linkedin. I've followed them from the beginning and have loooong given up any hope that they even mention film. Years of updates, no mention. Not once. Would it utterly destroy the company to just post one note about film? Is it that toxic to bring up?

Linkedin is pretty much worthless for product information. Kodak Professional posts comments about film all the time on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kodakprofessional?fref=ts They use Facebook to reach the masses and not Linkedin.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

For those that are afraid of Facebook, here is part of the Kodak Professional opening screen.

 

[pbromaghin]

During the initial heady celebrations that Kodak Alaris was going to be the savior of Kodak film I checked Gerbershagen's background. The moment I saw it was ex-Siemens followed by ex-Motorola Mobility by way of Google, I knew where things were inevitably headed.

I ended up disappointed, but sadly not incorrect...

Ken

This is why I have such high hopes for Ferrania. They and Harman just might be the only hope for keeping film alive 10 years from now.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

This is why I have such high hopes for Ferrania. They and Harman just might be the only hope for keeping film alive 10 years from now.

Yes.

The Force is strong within those who do not partake of the Myth Of Digital Billions For All Who Seek Them. And while ultimate victory is never assured, it's prospects are indeed enhanced by those who do not so partake...



Ken

 

[m1ckDELTA]

So glad I filled up a dorm fridge with hundreds of rolls of Arista Premium 400 before they finally ran out.

 

[mehguy]

has kodak film always been this expensive? like damn! the camera shop around my area sells ektar 100 and tri-x for 10 dollars a roll!

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

So glad I filled up a dorm fridge with hundreds of rolls of Arista Premium 400 before they finally ran out.

Where do you live? When do you leave for work in the morning?

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Anyone know how much a roll of Tri-X cost in say, 1970? If you assume maybe $2 a roll? That's $12.00 today....

 

[m1ckDELTA]

Where do you live? When do you leave for work in the morning?

Hahaha, I'll never tell. Besides, I'm agoraphobic; I never leave home and only take pictures of my indoor plants and domesticated dust bunnies.

 

[Xmas]

This is why I have such high hopes for Ferrania. They and Harman just might be the only hope for keeping film alive 10 years from now.

Foma have just announced a new mono.