Kodak bankruptcy complete.
- Thread starter Vics
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 21
- Views 3K
alienmeatsack
Well-known
I wonder if they are going to end up like Polaroid, where any yahoo with a little money can buy the right to use their name on it's shoddy products.
It's a shame, Kodak is literally photography defined. When you say Kodak, you think of all the memories you captured and still capture on cameras even if they aren't Kodak or film.
🙁
It's a shame, Kodak is literally photography defined. When you say Kodak, you think of all the memories you captured and still capture on cameras even if they aren't Kodak or film.
🙁
BlackXList
Well-known
They've already licensed out the name for 3rd party digital cameras.
Of course this was after announcing that they were ditching their own digital camera line, for people that have been following it's just another thing to shake our heads at.
To the general public it's yet another mixed message, an announcement that they won't be making digital cameras, followed by new digital cameras with the Kodak name on, it doesn't inspire confidence.
With that said, I really do hope that the UK Pension Fund people can make the film side work, all of my favourite emulsions are Kodak.
They really really need to start getting information about what they have and how to get hold of it out to people.
All the reports seem to read that the pension fund has taken on the "consumer imaging" side, however on Kodak's own site, "consumer" and "professional" films are presented very much separately.
googling "kodak uk pension fund" just brings up news stories. Kodak UK's site is the printing focussed site of the US company (and whilst it does list their film products, there is no longer any way to buy any of it from them).
Tesco who always used to carry Kodak film have reduced their film stock and switched to Fuji, and whilst "photographers" might not buy much of our stock from there, Kodak really need to show the man/woman on the street that they and their products are still out there.
After all the uncertainty, they really need to go "WE'RE STILL HERE!" and show people what they have to offer (and that distribution issues have been cleared up). If they have the "professional" films as well, it's a wonderful opportunity to showcase their current products like Portra, Ektar and BW400CN and show people just how far their products have come from what people remember!
Really hope they can do it. I want to keep shooting Kodak for a long time
Range-rover
Veteran
Are they still selling pro film like Portra 160 or is that over.
Range
Range
BlackXList
Well-known
Exactly my point.
Quick answer, Portra very much still exists, in 160 400 and 800 speeds
From all the information available they still do Portra, Ektar, Gold, Ultramax, (and presumably Colorplus in other markets), T-Max, Tri-X and BW400CN.
on the Kodak Site they list Gold and Ultramax under "Consumer Film" and everything else under "Professional Film".
Ideally the UK Pension Fund people will be making it clear to everyone that they have all of the emulsions, and how they're going about ensuring they get into people's hands
panerai
Well-known
"The plan hinges on Kodak selling $406 million of new stock"
Previous stock owners receive nothing. Why would anyone buy new stock?
DON
Previous stock owners receive nothing. Why would anyone buy new stock?
DON
Photo_Smith
Well-known
Of course they sell Portra 160, 400 and 800 the professional Ektar as well as gold and B&W that jut the consumer side:
http://wwwuk.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/filmsIndex.jhtml?pq-path=13319
Very easy to answer your questions with the magic of the internet 🙂
http://wwwuk.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/filmsIndex.jhtml?pq-path=13319
Very easy to answer your questions with the magic of the internet 🙂
BlackXList
Well-known
Exactly my thoughts on reading it.
That is the plan for the "new" printing Kodak business, obviously it has a serious effect on the viability of the UK Pension fund's film business, but hopefully any agreements with the UKPF have taken ensuring future supplies into account.
Fingers crossed someone like RR Donnelly sees something in the plans, although even they've closed printing plants in the last few years.
It's tragic to see the short sighted planning from Perez leap from one business that was fundamentally altered by digital technology (photography) to another one that's currently undergoing it's own digital upheaval (commercial print).
Bill Clark
Veteran
Regarding investing in the common stock of a company, that is a risk an investor takes. When a company goes into Chapter 11 most of the time the stockholders get nothing or next to nothing.
During my 40 plus years of investing I've been through a few of them. Some I received nothing while a few I received a small amount for the stock.
When there is a chapter 11 filing there is a pecking order as to who gets to be in line first. The common stockholders are usually way down on the list.
For some it's kind of like the flight of the Phoenix, where the resurrected company coming out of bankruptcy can issue new stock.
General Motors is a recent one.
For me personally, my recent one was Wachovia where Wells Fargo got it and I received about 10 cents on each dollar. Better than nothing. Well, it gave me losses to work down because the stock market has been pretty good the last couple of years.
Last thought, compound interest is the first wonder of the world.
During my 40 plus years of investing I've been through a few of them. Some I received nothing while a few I received a small amount for the stock.
When there is a chapter 11 filing there is a pecking order as to who gets to be in line first. The common stockholders are usually way down on the list.
For some it's kind of like the flight of the Phoenix, where the resurrected company coming out of bankruptcy can issue new stock.
General Motors is a recent one.
For me personally, my recent one was Wachovia where Wells Fargo got it and I received about 10 cents on each dollar. Better than nothing. Well, it gave me losses to work down because the stock market has been pretty good the last couple of years.
Last thought, compound interest is the first wonder of the world.
Range-rover
Veteran
Thanks guys, My Nikon S3 is happy now!
Range
Range
thambar
Shouldn't it be sharper?
My main concern is the dearth of decent film cameras produced since 2000. Sure, there are examples of excellent cameras, such as the Leica M7/MP and the Nikon F6, but these are made in tiny numbers. It was the prosumer and point-and-shoot cameras that kept film machines rolling. With fewer and fewer film cameras in use, film demand and production drops precipitously. As recently as two years ago I used to see a good number of relatively current and vintage film cameras at major events; this year, with few exceptions I'm the only one (lunatic?) shooting film. While I hope for the best, I don't know how the UK Pension Fund folks can keep this running beyond the immediate future.
Ranchu
Veteran
This is great news, now the UK pensioners OWN the film production. All that **** with the patent harassment and the garbage cameras is completely unrelated.
🙂
🙂
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
Awhile back, I read that new camera Leica M sales were 80% digital and 20% film M cameras in Western Europe and the U.S. markets - but 80% film and 20% digital in the Japan market. And then there's the matter of all the previously owned film cameras that are busily clicking away in Japan, consuming film every day.
That makes Japan a fairly strong market for film, I would have to say.
Hopefully Kodak will be able to get a piece of that pie. The fact that Fuji ditched Neopan 400 opens the door for Tri-X sales in Japan, provided the film shooters of Japan will buy film that comes in yellow boxes.
@thambar,
No you're not - I own several cameras in formats from 35mm to 5"x7" that shoot film and exactly zero digital cameras. 😀
That makes Japan a fairly strong market for film, I would have to say.
Hopefully Kodak will be able to get a piece of that pie. The fact that Fuji ditched Neopan 400 opens the door for Tri-X sales in Japan, provided the film shooters of Japan will buy film that comes in yellow boxes.
@thambar,
No you're not - I own several cameras in formats from 35mm to 5"x7" that shoot film and exactly zero digital cameras. 😀
Ranchu
Veteran
Got a working Konica C35 for 16 bucks recently.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
So the fataly flawed giant lumbers on leaving a trail of disillusioned and out of pocket shareholders ... and employees!
Photo_Smith
Well-known
I guess every silver lining has a cloud. 🙂
The fact that Perez no longer has overall control of film is reason enough to celebrate, all we have to do is hope whoever is managing the asset for UK pensions is more competent than Perez.
So I think 'fatally' flawed is a little tough, it not an Australian cricket situation...
😉
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Sal Santamaura
Member
That is incorrect. When the deal is consummated, probably around September 1, the UK Pension Plan will own a film marketing/distribution business. Film production will remain with Kodak at Bldg. 38 in Rochester, New York.
Photo_Smith
Well-known
OK then amend that to not a lost cause like the Kiwi's in the Lords test this summer...
🙂
Broadly speaking
Photo_Smith
Well-known
That creates an interesting question though. Although they don't own the physical plant, they do own the consumer film division inc. Kiosks printers and all non cine film production.
What level of say will they have over the marketing and production? The pensions now have a vested interest where previously the direction of the company was to position it as a wholly digital company.
Most people don't know they make film, now the control of direction has been wrestled from the old board.
here is the BBC's take.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23774639
"Kodak has gained court approval to come out of bankruptcy as a much smaller digital imaging company.
Kodak's legal representative, Andrew Dietderich, told the court the company bore little resemblance to its former self: "Kodak is a different company that the one in the popular imagination and very different from the one that filed for bankruptcy.''
Similar threads
- Article
