kodak discontinues all transparency production?

[pinkarmy]

some local (ie. Hong Kong) labs and film suppliers told their customers to stock up
because "Kodak will stop making slide films in the coming season."

is it true? or is it a rumour/trick to boost sale?

i use negative films mostly and i couldn't find any info on the web regarding this news.
anyone to confirm this?

 

[dreilly]

Um, I think Hollywood still needs some slide film. I would expect it to be around a while longer.

 

[Tim Gray]

Until Kodak says something definitive on the matter, it's a rumor. I've not heard this particular rumor until now. However, seeing how Kodak has trimmed most of it's slide portfolio in the last couple years, I don't think anyone would be surprised if they cut the last couple of products they offer. Especially how most people seem to prefer Fuji's slide stocks over Kodak's.

 

[sevo]

Um, I think Hollywood still needs some slide film.

Nope, it does not - they are using negative film (and print film for projection).

Nonetheless, there is enough business in slide film left that Kodak will hardly abandon that (even less so now that they re-defined film as one of their profit centres).

 

[anjoca76]

I hope not; I like their Elite Chrome--it's cheaper than most, and it's given me some very nice results. Although, as much as I love Kodak for b&w and C41, I have to admit that Fuji makes better slide film at this point, IMO.

 

[initialssb]

It's gonna happen someday.
Soon.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Motion picture prints are not the same emulsions that we stick in our cameras. Same technology but very different film, so even if the motion picture industry still needs film positives for projection (which they definitely do) Kodak could still cut the E-6 line.
If this is true, it's sad but the last Kodak slide film I loved was Kodachrome. I do prefer Fuji's E-6 film. Too bad they killed Astia, the best slide film for people.

Phil Forrest

 

[thegman]

I prefer Fujifilm's slide film to Kodaks, but it's still pretty nice, and Elite Chrome is very affordable. Seeing as Kodak seems quite keen to develop C41 films (Portra 400, 160 and Ektar all being reasonably new), I may quite welcome it if they ditched their E6 line, and brought out a C41 film with slide film characteristics. I know Ektar is supposed to be that, but an Ektar "Vibrant" would be very cool.

 

[dreilly]

I didn't know that. I thought kino film was slide film. Huh. Learned something new.

 

[Sparrow]

some local (ie. Hong Kong) labs and film suppliers told their customers to stock up
because "Kodak will stop making slide films in the coming season."

is it true? or is it a rumour/trick to boost sale?

i use negative films mostly and i couldn't find any info on the web regarding this news.
anyone to confirm this?

Fuji fan-boys? or overstocked perhaps ... how would they possibly know anyway?

 

[anjoca76]

If nothing else, such rumors are sure to increase Kodak's E6 sales, which a good thing for all involved. Rumor or not, I will probably pick up a few extra rolls of elite chrome the next few times I order film, just in case.

 

[Tim Gray]

Actually, the bits above about E-6 film not being used in motion film are wrong. The positive print stocks used are essentially negative films (you make a negative print of a negative film and you get a positive), that part is correct. But Kodak DOES make a reversal motion film, and it is process E-6. Kodak Ektachrome 100D. I've read it's very closely related to E100G.

That being said, I don't think it's used very much. It used to be used a fair amount for music videos I think. I'm pretty sure 'Three Kings' was shot on Ektachrome, not that that is a 'recent' movie anymore...

 

[Sparrow]

If nothing else, such rumors are sure to increase Kodak's E6 sales, which a good thing for all involved. Rumor or not, I will probably pick up a few extra rolls of elite chrome the next few times I order film, just in case.

... I imagine the last thing the Kodak management meed is rumour induced erratic sales spooking the administrators (or whatever they are called in the US)

 

[chris00nj]

Motion picture prints are not the same emulsions that we stick in our cameras. Same technology but very different film, so even if the motion picture industry still needs film positives for projection (which they definitely do) Kodak could still cut the E-6 line.
If this is true, it's sad but the last Kodak slide film I loved was Kodachrome. I do prefer Fuji's E-6 film. Too bad they killed Astia, the best slide film for people.

Phil Forrest

Astia is still available.

 

[Harry Lime]

Um, I think Hollywood still needs some slide film. I would expect it to be around a while longer.

Hollywood doesn't shoot in slide film. They use negative film and it's a whole different line of stocks, than for still photography.

 

[jsrockit]

More and more labs will abandon E6 processing too in the next few years I would imagine. Just an opinion pulled out of my arse.

 

[Tim Gray]

Just to follow up my previous post:

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/Products/Production/Color_Reversal_Films/5285.htm

Available in 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm.

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

Astia is still available.

Only old stock of Astia. It is no longer made.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Don't hold your breath.

Cheers,

R.

 

[dreilly]

That's interesting about Three Kings, which had a really rich visual quality to it. I remember some scenes that were visually dazzling (like the Shiite underground shrine). Too bad about the tacked-on happy ending, otherwise a great film. I wonder why the director or DoP chose that stock.