ibcrewin
Ah looky looky
Why is there only one place to get it developed? Why isn't it more prevalent in today's marketplace? What about the process is different from E6?
I want to shoot some kodachromes. I'll probably look into doing that after the bonus comes in
I want to shoot some kodachromes. I'll probably look into doing that after the bonus comes in
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Kodachrome used to be THE slide film. Ektachrome and the other companies' similar products weren't as good in quality and the slides didn't hold up nearly as well over time.
But Kodachrome is an expensive and complicated process, and the other types of slide film have improved greatly over the years in all respects, so the E-6 films have become much more popular. I understand the Kodachrome is basically a black & white process to which color is added, which makes for tremendous stability, but also makes it very hard to do correctly. The E-6 process is a lot easier to do, and the K-14 process does only Kodachrome, so it's an expensive proposition to be geared up to it.
If the E-6 films were still markedly worse than Kodachrome, then you'd see a lot more people using it still. But the others have caught up in many respects.
Buy the Kodachromes and shoot a lot of it while you still can -- K64 is rumored to be on the way out. K25 we lost a few years ago.
But Kodachrome is an expensive and complicated process, and the other types of slide film have improved greatly over the years in all respects, so the E-6 films have become much more popular. I understand the Kodachrome is basically a black & white process to which color is added, which makes for tremendous stability, but also makes it very hard to do correctly. The E-6 process is a lot easier to do, and the K-14 process does only Kodachrome, so it's an expensive proposition to be geared up to it.
If the E-6 films were still markedly worse than Kodachrome, then you'd see a lot more people using it still. But the others have caught up in many respects.
Buy the Kodachromes and shoot a lot of it while you still can -- K64 is rumored to be on the way out. K25 we lost a few years ago.
jan normandale
Film is the other way
I'm not sure if Dwaynes is even developing it anymore... you might want to check before buying any.
update: looks like a parallel thread is running and Dwaynes does K-14 / Kodachrome
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=776671#post776671
update: looks like a parallel thread is running and Dwaynes does K-14 / Kodachrome
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=776671#post776671
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bmattock
Veteran
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-14_process
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-6_process
E-6 type slide films are now just as good as K-14 slide films - with the possible downside of longevity.
I suspect that is the reason, technically.
In terms of reality, it is down to sales. People stopped buying Kodachrome, and kept buying E-6 type slide films. No sales, no processing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-6_process
E-6 type slide films are now just as good as K-14 slide films - with the possible downside of longevity.
I suspect that is the reason, technically.
In terms of reality, it is down to sales. People stopped buying Kodachrome, and kept buying E-6 type slide films. No sales, no processing.
spyder2000
Dim Bulb
For me the biggest difference is the dark keeping qualities of Kodachrome. In dark storage Kodachrome excels. It has likely fallen from favor because not 'just anyone' can process it due to the complexity.
Thanks, bmattock, for the links to the processes. It all comes to light when you lay eyes on a Kodachrome machine. Pardon the pun.
Thanks, bmattock, for the links to the processes. It all comes to light when you lay eyes on a Kodachrome machine. Pardon the pun.
bcostin
Well-known
I just bought some slightly expired K64 to try out, before it eventually disappears.
What convinced me was the cheap mail-away processing (via Dwayne's, of course) available through Wal-Mart; a search will turn up the details. Processing E6 also takes about two weeks and there's not much difference in cost between the two, so I figured I'd give Kodachrome a try.
What convinced me was the cheap mail-away processing (via Dwayne's, of course) available through Wal-Mart; a search will turn up the details. Processing E6 also takes about two weeks and there's not much difference in cost between the two, so I figured I'd give Kodachrome a try.
bmattock
Veteran
bcostin said:
Seems totally reasonable to want to try it out before it goes away forever. I've done enough Kodachrome and other sorts of slide film. I even have some left from my last major purchase, all outdated now. I really don't know what I'd use it for at this point.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Ivan, do it. I did it out of curiosity and to my disbelief, the roll came back to the Wally's that I dropped it at the week before and I was hooked since.
Something about the color of the Kodakchrome photos, it's not vivid, but it's "sparkles", like seeing a fond old movie.
Something about the color of the Kodakchrome photos, it's not vivid, but it's "sparkles", like seeing a fond old movie.
V
varjag
Guest
You could sell it for a good cause Billbmattock said:
bmattock
Veteran
varjag said:You could sell it for a good cause Bill
Been there, done that. I got dragged through the mud for trying to sell film. Never again. I'd throw it in the trash first. Sorry!
Hey, it's expired anyway, and God knows how it has held up - it's been in high heat and locked in a storage locker in subfreezing temperatures all this winter. My guess is it's worthless.
But I will never sell any photographic anything again. I'm done with that.
V
varjag
Guest
Think you're too big for me to drag, but it's OK, your choice - and I still have plenty of time to get it somewhere Maybe just go and shoot something memorable on it then.
Maybe just go and shoot something memorable on it then.