I heard from a friend who personally spoke to them today. At the highest levels, Kodak have not stopped talking about bringing Kodachrome back. Don't get too excited. Not yet anyway. But it's still being discussed. Interesting. I didn't get the call so it's not in my place to elaborate, and there's not much more to tell. But he's spoken to them and they're still discussing feasibility. No decision on it. Nowhere near a decision on it. Don't break out the champagne yet. But it is not off the table completely.
Cheers
Brett
Cheers
Brett
CMur12
Veteran
That's most encouraging, Brett. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
It would be interesting to know how Kodak defines Kodachrome. Are they thinking of the Kodachrome process and how to modernize/update it (unlikely, as that would be very expensive, but it's tantalizing to the consumer nonetheless) or are they thinking of a color palette to be rendered in E6? Either way, it would be something new (in an old sense
) in slide film, and therefore most welcome.I hope they do it and I hope they offer it in 120.
- Murray
Hari
Well-known
Back in the '80s Kodachrome existed 120.
But the pros needed the turn around speed
which Kodachrome never had. I did shoot
a half dozen rolls in 120 at the time.
Hari
But the pros needed the turn around speed
which Kodachrome never had. I did shoot
a half dozen rolls in 120 at the time.
Hari
goamules
Well-known
Interesting that since January there has been zero new posts about the upcoming Ektachrome. Film is about dead when a new product excites.....nothing.
It excited a lot of conversation. There has been five pages of discussion in this thread alone. That is not nothing. When Kodak make it available later this year I'm sure there will be a lot talk about it then, too.
infrequent
Well-known
They can call it Krispy Kreme for all I care. New film is good news.
infrequent
Well-known
Fair enough. There will be many more willing to try it.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Cranks and complainers will continue to kvetch that it's not Kodachrome.
Meanwhile shooters will buy and use the new Ektachrome.
Chris
Meanwhile shooters will buy and use the new Ektachrome.
Chris
Hari
Well-known
Sure. I'm switching from Fujichrome to Ektachrome
when it becomes available, they have to
compete pricewise. It's relaxing to project slides!
Hari
when it becomes available, they have to
compete pricewise. It's relaxing to project slides!
Hari
brbo
Well-known
Yes, we changed our minds. We actually don't want ANOTHER slide film.
Please, someone notify Kodak...
goamules
Well-known
OK, I'll bite: where is the proverbial new Kodak Ektachrome, that would "be available in Aug 2017?" There has been nothing on the internet about it since the January news, that I can see.
Mackinaw
Think Different
Kodak actually said the fourth quarter of 2017. So they have until December 31st.
Jim B.
goamules
Well-known
At the very end of the year, and "limited" is what I'm hearing now. Amazing how slow it is to get a machine rolling again that you already had rolling a few years ago.
http://www.thephoblographer.com/201...towards-bringing-ektachrome-back-market-2018/
http://www.thephoblographer.com/201...towards-bringing-ektachrome-back-market-2018/
Mackinaw
Think Different
From what I read on APUG, many of the Kodak film engineers who were familiar with Ektachrome had either retired or left the company. Basically, a bunch of new guys had to learn how to make an E-6 transparency film.
Jim B.
unixrevolution
Well-known
I understand making film is a complicated undertaking, but forgive me for thinking they'd have had it all written down somewhere.
HHPhoto
Well-known
In some of their recent interviews the Eastman Kodak representatives said that
- lots of their former E6 engineers left Kodak in the last years (either retired or laid off)
- some of the raw material used in former Ektachrome ist not available anymore
- they have to redesign quite a lot, which is very difficult
- for all these reasons they don't know how the final new Ektachrome will look: More like E100G, or more like E100GX, or more like E100VS.
We just have to wait and see.
In the meanwhile I continue to enjoy Provia 100F, the best ISO 100/21° natural-color film ever. The benchmark for all other neutral color reversal films since its introduction in 1999.
And not only the benchmark in neutral colour rendition, resolution, sharpness, fineness of grain. But also in flexibility and versatility:
Provia 100F not only gives perfect results at box speed, but also pulled one stop @ ISO 50/18°, and pushed one stop @ ISO 200/24°.
And even @ ISO 400/27° and push 2 developing it offers good results.
Cheers, Jan
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
Some fresh Ektachrome film would make a real nice holiday gift for many photographers around the world.
I sure hope Kodak doesn't drop the ball on this one.
Chris
Mackinaw
Think Different
If the Kodak website is to be believed, a trial run of the new Ektachrome, for field testing only, will be available late in 2017. If that goes well, commercial production will begin in 2018.
Jim B.
Chris101
summicronia
Don't count on it. Manufacturing procedures, even if carefully documented, often require tweaking by experienced technicians.
analoged
Well-known
The Kodakery Podcast is now online
https://soundcloud.com/the-kodakery/update-from-our-film-factory-on-kodak-ektachrome
https://soundcloud.com/the-kodakery/update-from-our-film-factory-on-kodak-ektachrome