Ektachrome is Back!

[Prest_400]

How much do you pay for processing in the UK? If you send your film abroad anyhow, you could as well send it to Eurocolor/Fuji in Gera, Germany. It's the official Fuji lab. They charge a modest € 1.95 (135) or €2.95 (120)/roll plus return postage (letter) and the quality is very good, so it is very good value.

Wow, sure those aren't legacy prices from 5+ years ago? Did a quick google and didn't see much E6 related.

In Spain, Interphoto lab which may be the only lab running dip and dunk in the country lists 8,25€ for 35mm and 7,50€ for 120.
For C41 I haven't seen dev only for less than 3,50 (can't recall where) being often around 4€. 35mm & 120 more or less priced equally.

Anyhow Germany does seem to be the country with a strong, if not strongest E6 network (Henning Serger praised slide and he was around often? long time no see). Spain doesn't seem to be in that bad situation lab wise.

 

[raid]

An important effect of such a production could be a widening of E-6 services by labs.

 

[Skiff]

What about home development of E-6? Does that work out a lot cheaper these days? I’ve done this in the past and am currently setting myself up for black and white home developing, so the question occurred.

E6 home development is very easy (especially with a Jobo processor) and cheap.
You can get E6 home development kits from Fuji Hunt, Tetenal, Bellini, Arista (AFAIK rebranded Tetenal).
Depending on the kit you are using, processing costs are in the 2-3€ range.
Jobo has even introduced new film processors. The CPP3 in 2012/13, and the CPE3 last year. Excellent machines.

With slides you already have your end product after the development: No need for scans or prints. Therefore also no further costs.
My overall costs for reversal film are lower than my overall costs for negative film, because for negative film always scans / prints are needed. A developed C41 film alone is worthless.

A slide on the light table under an excellent loupe looks much much better than any picture on a computer monitor (no matter whether digital files or scanned film).
With a slide I always have the full resolution.
My 35 MP digital cam is reduced to an only 8 MP cam because my monitor (4k) is limited to that resolution. The quality of the end result is always determined by the weakest element in the imaging chain.
The same is valid for projection:
Full, unsurpassed resolution with slide film, much much lower resolution with digital because of the extremely low resolution of the (overpriced) digital projectors.

I love Fujichrome Velvia 50 and Provia 100F. Best reversal films ever made (together with Provia 400X and Astia 100F). I will of course continue to shoot them!
But I will of course also test the new Ektachrome as soon as it is available (and the Film Ferrania, too).

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

I actually have a good stock of e100g in 220, and am developing some right now as I type. It is amazing stuff. This buncha rolls is from my trip to Cuba

 

[tunalegs]

As opposed to "people actually don't really want Ektachrome"?

I'm sure bringing back Kodachrome would be fantastic, but really, how realistic is that? With no home processing possible, one or two K-14 labs in the world would probably be the best we could hope for. How much are people prepared to pay to have Kodachrome back? How many photographers can afford it?

People like to moan about the death of Kodachrome, but the truth in your comment is that if it were still around people would be moaning about how it's too expensive and it's too much of a pain to get developed.

We should remember, for several years there was only one lab in the world that would develop Kodachrome, and the film itself wasn't cheap. It died because nobody was buying it, and it won't come back because nobody would buy it if it did.

 

[Dirk]

I was just looking at my Sensia slides from 2008- first time in years- and was amazed how great they looked. Way better than digital. But... I hope its affordable as shooting e6 costs about $30 a roll w/ processing around here. I will definitely try it out, though.

I hear you. It's great news, but I'm afraid to find out how much the film plus processing will cost. Can they price it for economic "sustainability"?

 

[brbo]

I hear you. It's great news, but I'm afraid to find out how much the film plus processing will cost. Can they price it for economic "sustainability"?

I hope they are not counting on people abandoning digital and going back to film in large numbers. I hope their decision is based on current market (and the trend we see at Fuji).

This thread is a my proof that I'd still rather pay for slide film at the latest prices than take a chance with digital. The #/)%&@ that came out of that raw files is just unbelievable. There is absolutely no chance that the worst slide film (or negative film scanned in minilabs) wouldn't look ten times better than those poor attempts... Still, I don't expect much (if any) migration from digital to film.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I too usually opted for Kodachrome when the light allowed, but I don't pretend it will ever come back.

Fortunately color film technology has come a long way since the cold tones of early Ektachrome.
I'd wager the new version will look more like Kodak's modern color negative films, i.e. Ektar and Portra.

Chris

 

[CMur12]

Though unlikely, I would really like it if Kodak offered a package of film, processing and mounting, and scanning for a reasonable price.

- Murray

 

[ChrisPlatt]

It's a good sign and we're all excited, but how many of us will buy more than a roll or two, or none at all?

Chris

 

[Rico]

Though unlikely, I would really like it if Kodak offered a package of film, processing and mounting, and scanning for a reasonable price.

That service would make total sense, as it did for Kodak before the Qualex debacle. My Dad sent Kodachrome II from all over the world to the States for processing, and the precious (mounted) slides were returned a few weeks later. I did the same for Kodachrome 25 in the 80s (135 and 120).

 

[brennanphotoguy]

Though unlikely, I would really like it if Kodak offered a package of film, processing and mounting, and scanning for a reasonable price.

- Murray

They might consider this since I think they are going to be doing this with their Super 8 stuff.

 

[Ronald M]

Happy to see Kodak bringing this product back. Used a lot of their VS before, and at least we will now have more choice. In my photography I shoot 90% slide so I have a guaranteed back up control for ever.

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.

 

[Ronald M]

There will be no pro use for fashion and catalog. With digital, a set need not be kept up until processing is done.

Art directors are used to seeing the image instantly. Even rush processing was 4 hours. And I will not even talk about messenger service and fees.

one can control the look of digital, color saturation and contrast, and color balance.
I do not want to go back to gelling windows or fluorescent lights.

 

[Samuel D]

I can understand that sentiment. But the main use for Ektachrome this time around will be hobbyist and artistic. I was at Paris Photo in November (brilliant report of the atmosphere there here), and while the work was varied in form and content, it was almost all shot on film. Film still dominates the gallery scene.

 

[brennanphotoguy]

Now this is interesting...

https://petapixel.com/2017/01/09/kodak-investigating-take-bring-back-kodachrome/

I wonder if it's more for them just to say they are "looking into it," for lip service and seem like they are intently listening to the customer base or if they actually ARE looking into making a film with that color balance at the very least. Either way, I'm on the edge of my seat.

 

[benlees]

Would be cool if they brought back K200. Doubt that! Will Dwayne's have to process it?

 

[Hogarth Ferguson]

I'm going to buy a 35mm camera and shoot ektachrome to show my support. I'm going to be happy about it. I'm not going to complain and say I wish they did this, I wish they did that, and I'm tired of reading that as people's primary reaction. Good for Kodak.

 

[mpaniagua]

I'm going to buy a 35mm camera and shoot ektachrome to show my support. I'm going to be happy about it. I'm not going to complain and say I wish they did this, I wish they did that, and I'm tired of reading that as people's primary reaction. Good for Kodak.

+1. Although I got lots of cameras, will surely buy a bunch of Ektachrome. Personally, I always liked Ektachrome better that Kodachrome.


Regards

Marcelo

 

[Spanik]

Would be cool if they brought back K200. Doubt that! Will Dwayne's have to process it?

That would be awesome. Nevermind where I'd have to send it to process. Would be the only film I'd ever need. I never was an Ektachrome user, went to Provia 400X when I needed to switch.