Kodak Alaris official statement: Film future
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semi-ambivalent
Little to say
Ranchu
Veteran
That's just an overarching theory of yours though, isn't it. Profitable means profitable, demand means demand, which is thin enough these days for just about anything. I wouldn't be surprised if those pensioners make more money than Leica does.
TXForester
Well-known
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Maybe in general cases.
But film manufacturing industry is now a niche market that must be supported by people who choose to create the demand for it. I don't see how else it could survive.
If you have other models to suggest that would sustain Kodak Alaris, Ilford, Fuji and others to keep producing film and paper, please tell us about it.
Photo_Smith
Well-known
The consumer always creates the demand, when that demand exists manufacture needs to match the supply curve to that demand—niche or not.
The problem the film companies have had is demand dropped very quickly and trying to plan 12 months ahead without being able to know the demand in that timeframe is a challenge.
The problem the film companies have had is demand dropped very quickly and trying to plan 12 months ahead without being able to know the demand in that timeframe is a challenge.
Sejanus.Aelianus
Veteran
How dare you sully this discussion with accurate assessment!
Shame on you, sirrah. 😉
Ansel
Well-known
They still make the best film in the world. That;s all I needed to know 🙂
Elektrojänis
Established
That's only accurate if you are more into selling and buying cameras than into taking pictures with them. There are a lot of people like that... For the rest of us it means we can get it a lot cheaper a year later and it will still produce just as nice images as it did when it was introduced. It might not last as long as the 30 year old film cameras, but usually it will work many years.
brbo
Well-known
They restarted production of E100G?! That's awesome!!!
HoodedOne
Well-known
They still make SOME of the best film in the world. 🙂
Rangefinderfreak
Well-known
Concentrate your business/purchases to one brand. In Europe it is Ilford/Harmann. That will assure them that it is worthwhile to push on with new batches and marketing. You have to realize that new master roll needs at least a year to ripen. The manufacturer has to be sure there is a market for it after it has ripened, sliced and packed and distributed.
Ansel
Well-known
Problem with that is that Ilford film, much as I like and use it, doesn't look like Kodak film. I am into photography for the images not the business plan.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Oh, boy. Read The New Industrial State by John Kenneth Galbraith and see if you still care to defend that assertion.
Cheers,
R.
Photo_Smith
Well-known
Well maybe the advertisers actually 'create' it initially, but without consumers to consume...
That's the issue for film, people stopped buying it—it really is that simple.
Or do you think that supply drives demand? If so the Agfa 2004 business model should be of interest, I think you can still buy film coated in the mad rush before the Sequestrator found the power isolation switch.
Ultimately the consumer spoke, they rejected film in very large numbers and that horse has well and truly bolted.
That's the issue for film, people stopped buying it—it really is that simple.
Or do you think that supply drives demand? If so the Agfa 2004 business model should be of interest, I think you can still buy film coated in the mad rush before the Sequestrator found the power isolation switch.
Ultimately the consumer spoke, they rejected film in very large numbers and that horse has well and truly bolted.
Rangefinderfreak
Well-known
If it "has to be Kodak" try Double X-Eastman 5222, it will be produced at least for five years, and readily available from Eastman movie stock distributors.
That is my favourite eastman emulsion, the other-for hasselblad 70mm cassettes is the Plus-X Aerocon reconnaisse film (eastman 3404) Great as an infrared film with deep red filter.
ZeissFan
Veteran
This is not about film's future. It's about Kodak's plan for its future.
There are other players still in the game. Regardless of what Kodak (or Fuji) does, there will be film available for some time to come.
The real question mark is what happens to color film -- negative and transparency.
While we'd all like to see certain films return, the truth is that they just aren't financially sustainable in a much smaller marketplace.
And if/once the motion picture industry fully embraces digital, then 35mm film will really be at risk. Whether I like it or not, the consumer by and large has turned away from film. And turned away from dSLR and digital point and shoots, as well.
It's always been about convenience, which George Eastman understood. Steve Jobs also understood this, but his goal was on computers and not cameras, although we see that both continue to converge.
There are other players still in the game. Regardless of what Kodak (or Fuji) does, there will be film available for some time to come.
The real question mark is what happens to color film -- negative and transparency.
While we'd all like to see certain films return, the truth is that they just aren't financially sustainable in a much smaller marketplace.
And if/once the motion picture industry fully embraces digital, then 35mm film will really be at risk. Whether I like it or not, the consumer by and large has turned away from film. And turned away from dSLR and digital point and shoots, as well.
It's always been about convenience, which George Eastman understood. Steve Jobs also understood this, but his goal was on computers and not cameras, although we see that both continue to converge.
Ranchu
Veteran
It wasn't ever convenient to haul wet plate cameras into the desert to photograph it.
So it's not all about convenience. It's also about the result.
So it's not all about convenience. It's also about the result.
Rangefinderfreak
Well-known
Well, there is guys that go up in the stratosphere just to jump out and fall, not necessarily the most convenient way of getting "kicks"
Ranchu
Veteran
I'm not talking about kicks, man, but thanks for trying to be dismissive.
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