Bassism
Well-known
Come now, you guys are jerks 😛
Give a young lad a break here...
Give a young lad a break here...
***Kodak Retires Kodachrome Film***
- Thread starter KM-25
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 175
- Views 15K
bmattock
Veteran
Donovan
Member
And thanks for a second condescending response. You're a real jewel RussianRF. Evidently, all snark all the time.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I'm trying to work out who deserves the break here! 😛
I recently scanned 300 slides for a friend that she inherited when her mother moved into a home ... the majority of them were Kodachrome. I don't know who the family photographer was but they should have had the camera confiscated from them early in the piece. I was impressed by how they had held their colour though considering how poorly they'd been stored ... the whole lot had been left in four of those carousels from a Hanimex projector and they were covered in dust and quite a few had mould and mildew in them. 😱
I recently scanned 300 slides for a friend that she inherited when her mother moved into a home ... the majority of them were Kodachrome. I don't know who the family photographer was but they should have had the camera confiscated from them early in the piece. I was impressed by how they had held their colour though considering how poorly they'd been stored ... the whole lot had been left in four of those carousels from a Hanimex projector and they were covered in dust and quite a few had mould and mildew in them. 😱
Donovan
Member
I recently shot a set of Kodachrome portraits of family members using a Yashica FX-3 with a Yashica ML 200mm prime. Wow the K64 and that lens seemed to go together like PB&J. The slides just glowed (on the keepers anyway). I'm sad to see this film go away now that I feel I'm getting more keepers than chuckers Maybe my first post was a little over the top, but my ill feeling towards Kodak's handling of a loyal customer remains. RussianRF I take back any negative things I hurled your way.
fergus
Well-known
When the announcement came out a couple of days ago I thought I'd buy some more, to have a good blast 2010. But I keep getting teased... B&H sell out and the price rises, then the price on Amazon hits $24 (!)... an email tells me B&H are back in stock but they're sold out again by the time I get there...
I only 'discovered' kodachrome just recently... now I feel lucky to at least have a few dozen rolls in the fridge.
I only 'discovered' kodachrome just recently... now I feel lucky to at least have a few dozen rolls in the fridge.
spyder2000
Dim Bulb
With only 26 rolls of K25 left in the freezer, it is now time to expose and process it. I traveled the country shooting this stuff; I guess now it is time to go again.
Lilserenity
Well-known
Kodachrome is my favourite slide film.
But I have just tried out some Elite Chrome 100 (not Extra Colour) with an 81B and its come out pretty darn well actually. It's basically a consumer E100G but its punchy and balanced. Not got the depth and pop of Kodachrome (which wasn't evident on every KR shot, but where it did, boy did it!)
I had a choice today, 5 rolls of KR64 or some black and white materials. I went with the latter, I have one roll of KR64 which I want to shoot family and friends with, but even though my impression:mk project was meant to be 100% Kodachrome, I think I'm going to give it my best shot using Elite Chrome 100 and really learn that film in the way that I did with KR64, I'm confident it will do a good to very good job as a substitute.
I guess I'm at peace with the decision because I did get to shoot the entire North Downs Way (my last hiking trip) entirely with it, and that for me is a fitting tribute, to capture 160 miles worth of England in 2009 on it!
I have had people mention at work "What are you going to do now Kodak's stopped making film?" (it made the BBC News!) to which I laughed and explained but my desk at work (and I don't work in photography) is usually littered with KR64 mailer receipts and empty creased boxes of KR64 for posterity -- and all of a sudden these past 2 days, people are recognising what those delightful little red boxes are at last!
Anyway, no need to mourn, celebrate the illustrious 75 year run of Kodachrome and then find another home, and do what matters most, taking pictures!
But seriously, try E100G/Elite Chrome (not extra colour) with an 81B and I think you'll be pleased. Sure it's not as archivable but get some Ilfochromes done if you really want longevity for E6! 🙂
Vicky
But I have just tried out some Elite Chrome 100 (not Extra Colour) with an 81B and its come out pretty darn well actually. It's basically a consumer E100G but its punchy and balanced. Not got the depth and pop of Kodachrome (which wasn't evident on every KR shot, but where it did, boy did it!)
I had a choice today, 5 rolls of KR64 or some black and white materials. I went with the latter, I have one roll of KR64 which I want to shoot family and friends with, but even though my impression:mk project was meant to be 100% Kodachrome, I think I'm going to give it my best shot using Elite Chrome 100 and really learn that film in the way that I did with KR64, I'm confident it will do a good to very good job as a substitute.
I guess I'm at peace with the decision because I did get to shoot the entire North Downs Way (my last hiking trip) entirely with it, and that for me is a fitting tribute, to capture 160 miles worth of England in 2009 on it!
I have had people mention at work "What are you going to do now Kodak's stopped making film?" (it made the BBC News!) to which I laughed and explained but my desk at work (and I don't work in photography) is usually littered with KR64 mailer receipts and empty creased boxes of KR64 for posterity -- and all of a sudden these past 2 days, people are recognising what those delightful little red boxes are at last!
Anyway, no need to mourn, celebrate the illustrious 75 year run of Kodachrome and then find another home, and do what matters most, taking pictures!
But seriously, try E100G/Elite Chrome (not extra colour) with an 81B and I think you'll be pleased. Sure it's not as archivable but get some Ilfochromes done if you really want longevity for E6! 🙂
Vicky
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Donovan:
First, you called the wrong support number at Kodak. Calling the correct number gets you to knowledgeable personnel IN ROCHESTER, and I can assure you the vast majority of those folks are in mourning over this.
Second, the marketing department takes its marching orders from Perez, not to mention its budget allocations.
So before you go spouting off about things, exercise some due diligence.
First, you called the wrong support number at Kodak. Calling the correct number gets you to knowledgeable personnel IN ROCHESTER, and I can assure you the vast majority of those folks are in mourning over this.
Second, the marketing department takes its marching orders from Perez, not to mention its budget allocations.
So before you go spouting off about things, exercise some due diligence.
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
The MP is loaded with K64 and the Noct. 10 rolls left. Sadly, I never got to shoot 120 Kodachrome. End of the Classic Era.
kkdanamatt
Well-known
Sadly, I never got to shoot 120 Kodachrome. End of the Classic Era.[/quote]
Speaking of 120 Kodachrome: I have about ten frozen rolls. Can anyone process them?
Also, once K64 is gone forever, do you guys think software could be created which would replicate that "Kodachrome look" for digital images?
Speaking of 120 Kodachrome: I have about ten frozen rolls. Can anyone process them?
Also, once K64 is gone forever, do you guys think software could be created which would replicate that "Kodachrome look" for digital images?
sanmich
Veteran
Now that I think at Kodak as a brand that was so eager to kill one of the products that belong to it's genetic code, just because of bean counting, I really appreciate the efforts of a brand like Leica that tries to keep parts of its heritage alive (and I'm not talking about the Empire stormtrooper M8)
russianRF
Fed 5C User
Leica is retiring its "R" system. I'm sure a Leica SLR enthusiast would complain about the "R" system being part of Leica's "genetic code," while praising Kodak for keeping Tri-X.
People change. Companies change. Time is a river and all that.
Though all of this makes me wonder if, using 21st century technology, one could recreate the Kodachrome "feel" from scratch using different (and easier-to-source) materials. Bah, I'm sure Kodak already thought of that...
People change. Companies change. Time is a river and all that.
Though all of this makes me wonder if, using 21st century technology, one could recreate the Kodachrome "feel" from scratch using different (and easier-to-source) materials. Bah, I'm sure Kodak already thought of that...
larmarv916
Well-known
Actually..as we all know it was the killing of Kodachrome 25 that was the "insult" to all photography consumers world wide that really hurt! They way they did it was worse...they killed the ability to "order" bricks or large quantities 6 mos ahead of the announcement....over 2 yrs ago. K64 was the "fat sister" to K25 and only because of the public outrage by the Film makers did movie film and K64 get a delayed death sentence.
But even greater...Kodak is an even better example of greed and bad business management than even General Motors. Kodachrome could have been spun off as a successful stand alone company...in particular due the phony production costs and hidden profits Kodak fostered for so many years.
But NO they could never let that happen. Because if Kodachrome under a non-kodak management group had been a success that would again have underlined just how bad Kodak and it's culture of business management was.
So in the end the world is a lost a great product...for no other reason than greed an incompetence ! Everything Kodak has lost is just like GM...Kodak is a company that just happened to make photography products. All loyalty to is customers was lost the moment they did not have total domination of the market. Great role model for American business.
But even greater...Kodak is an even better example of greed and bad business management than even General Motors. Kodachrome could have been spun off as a successful stand alone company...in particular due the phony production costs and hidden profits Kodak fostered for so many years.
But NO they could never let that happen. Because if Kodachrome under a non-kodak management group had been a success that would again have underlined just how bad Kodak and it's culture of business management was.
So in the end the world is a lost a great product...for no other reason than greed an incompetence ! Everything Kodak has lost is just like GM...Kodak is a company that just happened to make photography products. All loyalty to is customers was lost the moment they did not have total domination of the market. Great role model for American business.
Donovan
Member
"God gave us pinot noir, single malts" and high-handed hipsters who think they were placed on earth to lecture others.
Last edited:
Donovan
Member
Brilliant summation. American corporations are in a sad state due to corruption and cronyism. That is what is so frustrating about the Kodachrome demise - the current corporate environment that surrounds it. It didn't have to be this way.
JPSuisse
Well-known
OK, so I'm feeling pretty silly now:
1.) I see the *movie* about Leica "still" making M7 and MP cameras and figure, that sounds like the writing on the wall. So, I better buy now...
2.) This fit my plan, as I only recently decided to keep 1 camera ALWAYS loaded with Kodachrome...
Now I have the camera that they are "still" making, but the film is no longer available.
Funny, huh?
JP
1.) I see the *movie* about Leica "still" making M7 and MP cameras and figure, that sounds like the writing on the wall. So, I better buy now...
2.) This fit my plan, as I only recently decided to keep 1 camera ALWAYS loaded with Kodachrome...
Now I have the camera that they are "still" making, but the film is no longer available.
Funny, huh?
JP
bob338
Well-known
these guys are selling 2007 Kodachrome 5 rolls for $24.95. i've never used them, so buy at your own risk. they also have Tech Pan...
bob
http://filmsbooks.com/5-Rolls-Kodak-Kodachrome-64-Film/M/B0000520IT.htm
bob
http://filmsbooks.com/5-Rolls-Kodak-Kodachrome-64-Film/M/B0000520IT.htm
chris91387
Well-known
i'm sorry, i just don't see how the loss of kodachrome has anything to do with corporate corruption, cynicism or lousy tech support.
seems like a business decision based on low(er) sales and (probably) a high manufacturing cost all due to the prevalence of digital. there comes a point where sales are too low and costs too high so maintain production. much like polaroid film.
of course, they could have doubled the cost of film to see if that helped them have a greater profit margin. and i bet we would have paid that premium cost.
other options could be to (1) do limited runs every year or (2) sell the copyright and technology to someone else.
don't get me wrong, i'm bummed about the loss and will think carefully of how to shoot the last 4 rolls in my frig.
- chris
seems like a business decision based on low(er) sales and (probably) a high manufacturing cost all due to the prevalence of digital. there comes a point where sales are too low and costs too high so maintain production. much like polaroid film.
of course, they could have doubled the cost of film to see if that helped them have a greater profit margin. and i bet we would have paid that premium cost.
other options could be to (1) do limited runs every year or (2) sell the copyright and technology to someone else.
don't get me wrong, i'm bummed about the loss and will think carefully of how to shoot the last 4 rolls in my frig.
- chris
sanmich
Veteran
Unless...
Unless of course the company did nothing to promote one of its products, because of the decision of some technocrat for an approaching end of life.
Do you remember ANY promotional stuff about Kodachrome anywhere?
Do you know how difficult it was lately to get K. in Europe (don't know about asia, but I heard it wasn't better). And remember that unlike in the US, everywhere else, kodak continued to hold a stupid monopol for K14 process, thus killing any effort of labs that in the 60's or 70's could have florished on this stuff, offering the consumer an easier processsing. That could have made the newer E processes less attractive as an incredibely more convenient option.
All this COULD have change a bit the way Kodachrome evolved...
killing slowly the product by stopping K25, K200, super8, 16mm, by stopping processing, and THEN playing it sad and say
" Hey, you know, guys, we are so sorry, it made only less than 1% of our sales. You have to understand. There were no other choice, bla, bla...
Of course it was only a niche product after you made it so. Doh :bang:
Similar threads
- Article
