Ektachrome is Back!

[zzmike76]

question from a newbie 🙂

wouldn't it be possible with the current technologies and R&D to develop a film/dia like Kodachrome? With a clean/easy process (E6)

 

[brennanphotoguy]

question from a newbie 🙂

wouldn't it be possible with the current technologies and R&D to develop a film/dia like Kodachrome? With a clean/easy process (E6)

This is what I think will happen if they do anything.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Kodak could call anything they want "Kodachrome", even an E-6 film...

Chris

 

[Spanik]

The process is very different between Kodachrome and E6. Kodachrome is in essence a b&w slide film with 3 layers sensitive to different colours. After exposure the dyes are added during development to the film. In other processes, the inverse is done, the dyes are removed during development. (gross simplification) This is partly what makes that Kodachrome has such excellent archival qualities.

Honestly I do not believe that "cleanliness and environment" had anything to do with the demise of Kodachrome other than that in order to comply the plants would have to be redesigned/rebuild to comply. It isn't that the film or chemicals were so dangerous that it had become impossible to produce but that in order for the production process to comply with current requirements, the factories needed a large financial injection. This because during the years everything went well, they didn't invest in new, updated plants. So they ended with plants that would cost too much to bring into compliance and they closed down. Easier and with the changed market just as easy to justify.

The steel and industry uses cyanides and strong acids by the hundreds of tons on daily basis, the glass industry uses immense amounts of HF. Neither are very safe or healthy materials and neither industry makes very expensive products, yet we used those every day. But they keep in touch with reality and advance as needed.

 

[jsrockit]

Very cool news. Maybe new film cameras might be made after all. I would have thought it would not happen, but I'm ok with being wrong.

 

[JChrome]

Very cool news. Maybe new film cameras might be made after all. I would have thought it would not happen, but I'm ok with being wrong.

I'm ok with you being not-wrong 🙂


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[Skiff]

The process is very different between Kodachrome and E6. Kodachrome is in essence a b&w slide film with 3 layers sensitive to different colours. After exposure the dyes are added during development to the film. In other processes, the inverse is done, the dyes are removed during development. (gross simplification) This is partly what makes that Kodachrome has such excellent archival qualities.

Concerning archival qualities of Kodachrome:
My Kodachromes from the 80ies have significantly faded. My E6 chromes from that time are still perfect.
The big problem with Kodachrome is that the colors keep only well if you store it in complete darkness. If you put it to light, on a lighttable and in projection, it fades much much more than E6 films.
But we are photographers! We want to see our pictures, expose them to light to enjoy them!
Pictures in dark cabinets are useless for us.
And due to the research of Wilhelm Imaging, E6 films can last more than 200 years. That is more than enough.

 

[Skiff]

Very cool news. Maybe new film cameras might be made after all. I would have thought it would not happen, but I'm ok with being wrong.

Nice to read that 😉. And respect. You have always critized those here who have said new film cameras are a realistic option in the future.
I am convinced we will see new film cameras. But probably more in the mid term (3-5 years), not in the short term. Well instant cameras excluded, of course, as new models have been introduced for years. And further models will come.
By the way, the collapse of digital cameras sales has accelerated in 2016. Sales are now on a historical low, much much lower than former film camera sales. So the manufacturers will probably have a look to alternative options in the future.

 

[oltimer]

You want Kodachrome for this. It has superb dark storage, but not so much in the projector. Ektachromes are the opposite.

There is no way to duplicate slides like there is digital. One keystroke actually.

The Chicago historical Society would only accept Kodachrome for their records. Only unmounted fiber prints also, no RC.

I have K two slides from 1960 that look as new. I have seen 4x5 Kodachrome that was very early that also looks as new as well as wedding photos from late 30`s. All my Ektachome is disappointingly faded out.

I do like Ektachrome VS, and have never had a Agfachrome from the 60's or a Fuji Provia 100 fade in storage. I read this on here, but I sure would like more background on how some of these people are storing them, or is this a "internet hearsay again"? And I also have 4x5 stuff off the Linhoff from the 60's to, that is new as the day it was shot. All my equipment and a Slides are stored in an air tite Chubb Safe, 5ft high x28''x28''. Also Ron, you know this thread is about Ektachrome and not Kodachrome?

 

[jsrockit]

By the way, the collapse of digital cameras sales has accelerated in 2016. Sales are now on a historical low, much much lower than former film camera sales. So the manufacturers will probably have a look to alternative options in the future.

Always good to have more options than fewer. 😀

 

[JChrome]

And in other surprising news, vinyl records are coming back in a big way:

http://www.varietynewsclub.com/2017/01/vinyl-on-track-to-become-billion-dollar.html

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Very cool news. Maybe new film cameras might be made after all. I would have thought it would not happen, but I'm ok with being wrong.

I feel like it will be inevitable. As the current lineup up newer film cameras that are in high demand, think anything by contax (t2, 645) begin to break, either someone will figure out they can make money rewiring and fixing the circuits, or the big guys like pentax/hasselblad will realize there is still a market for cameras wedding shooters may want.

I think it likely a new Point and Shoot will come out first, though, as they are just skyrocketing in price.

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

Kodak could call anything they want "Kodachrome", even an E-6 film...

Chris

Rather ridiculous comment.

 

[Prest_400]

Vinyl doesn't have the difficulty of film manufacturing however. But, good news anyways.

I even have a friend who wanted a turntable just because it looked cool, dropped the idea when I told him to invest good money in it so it isn't just a novelty. There is a renaissance towards some analog media because of its characteristics. There was a book "revenge of analog" which seems to talk about it, and perhaps I should grab it to read.

I feel like it will be inevitable. As the current lineup up newer film cameras that are in high demand, think anything by contax (t2, 645) begin to break, either someone will figure out they can make money rewiring and fixing the circuits, or the big guys like pentax/hasselblad will realize there is still a market for cameras wedding shooters may want.

I think it likely a new Point and Shoot will come out first, though, as they are just skyrocketing in price.

Indeed, just let the "natural" rules of the capitalist market do their think. Possible profit seen, company manufacturing to fill that niche.

As of MF. Cosina-Fuji did the Bessa III-GF670 series, the Mamiya 7 prices have increased from 1000 to 2000 in a couple years, Contax 645 always were up high. Perhaps soon some manufacturer may find feasible releasing a f2-2.8 medium format camera out there.
Thing is that some of these originally $3K cameras (M7) fell in value but returned to their prices when they were new.
35mm wise, Fuji had the Klasse until pretty recently, but doesn't seem to have the same value as the contax T. Took a look at ebay for contax T2-3 prices, yikes!

Then there are other corners, like midrange Af SLRs from 1990 which are pretty cheap.

 

[Gregm61]

What REALLY needs to happen, is for some manufacturer to pick up the scanner technology where companies like Nikon and Minolta left off and give film shooters a really nice film scanning unit. My little Plustek model is "ok", but I'd spend on a really nice scanner if it was available and shoot more film.

 

[SaveKodak]

What REALLY needs to happen, is for some manufacturer to pick up the scanner technology where companies like Nikon and Minolta left off and give film shooters a really nice film scanning unit. My little Plustek model is "ok", but I'd spend on a really nice scanner if it was available and shoot more film.

I use the Pacific Image scanners (aka reflecta) and the quality is about what I got out of the coolscans when I used them. But I agree generally the market is ready for a known brand to invest real time and money into a scanner. Or for the prices of the Hasselblad scanners to come down to earth considering they're a decade old.

The hardware in my pacific image units is actually pretty good, software is a frustration though. There is a lot of room for refinement, sort of like when we first saw Aperture and LR and suddenly we were like....OF COURSE this is what we needed!

 

[brbo]

What REALLY needs to happen, is for some manufacturer to pick up the scanner technology where companies like Nikon and Minolta left off and give film shooters a really nice film scanning unit. My little Plustek model is "ok", but I'd spend on a really nice scanner if it was available and shoot more film.

I'd just like Kodak to give us a software that would their magic on linear scans from existing scanners. Well, not exactly give us software, I'd pay good money for it.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

Vinyl doesn't have the difficulty of film manufacturing however. But, good news anyways.

I even have a friend who wanted a turntable just because it looked cool, dropped the idea when I told him to invest good money in it so it isn't just a novelty. There is a renaissance towards some analog media because of its characteristics. There was a book "revenge of analog" which seems to talk about it, and perhaps I should grab it to read.


Indeed, just let the "natural" rules of the capitalist market do their think. Possible profit seen, company manufacturing to fill that niche.

As of MF. Cosina-Fuji did the Bessa III-GF670 series, the Mamiya 7 prices have increased from 1000 to 2000 in a couple years, Contax 645 always were up high. Perhaps soon some manufacturer may find feasible releasing a f2-2.8 medium format camera out there.
Thing is that some of these originally $3K cameras (M7) fell in value but returned to their prices when they were new.
35mm wise, Fuji had the Klasse until pretty recently, but doesn't seem to have the same value as the contax T. Took a look at ebay for contax T2-3 prices, yikes!

Then there are other corners, like midrange Af SLRs from 1990 which are pretty cheap.

I own both GF670 models, and shoot weddings with a pentax 645n, and I'd love an update of that camera. I had a t2, and i sold it for 300, I wish never did as they are so much more, now. The Klasse series I've heard some "eh" about them, but they are nice.

Lets hope that someone begins to make a new medium format. I feel like pentax is the best option as most of their lenses still cover 645. Oh well, we will see.

 

[SaveKodak]

It should be said that you can still buy film backs for the Hasselblad H series cams, and yeah they cost an arm and a leg. But, for 10 grand or so you can have an H5 that shoots film.

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

It should be said that you can still buy film backs for the Hasselblad H series cams, and yeah they cost an arm and a leg. But, for 10 grand or so you can have an H5 that shoots film.

I thought the h2 was the last hasselblad to be able to accept film.