Kodak said on Thursday it would sell its traditional off-the-shelf print-film busines

[SuperUJ]

Someone on RFF buy the film portfolio and kep it going!

I guess some folks in APUG will join also. If it is worth US$200M (hypothetically), we need 1 million shares pricing it at $200 a share. I am willing to ditch a couple of my M bodies in exchange of 10 shares. 😉

 

[icebear]

from :
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19366113

"The resolution is still a thousand times higher than most digital cameras can offer so long as a good scanner is used.

LOL😀.
If I scan a 135 negative high res. with my Nikon Coolscan V, I get a file of about 50MP. Divided by 1000 equals 0.05MP, I think whoever made that comment has to take a math refresher course...or take a look what "most digital cameras" offer nowadays. And I take "most" as point and shoot.

 

[boomguy57]

Ilford could be a good fit, as they are committed to film. I worry about Fuji's commitment to film, anymore...

 

[MartinP]

from :If I scan a 135 negative high res. with my Nikon Coolscan V, I get a file of about 50MP. Divided by 1000 equals 0.05MP, I think whoever made that comment has to take a math refresher course...or take a look what "most digital cameras" offer nowadays. And I take "most" as point and shoot.

Someone has never used sheet-film I think?

 

[icebear]

Someone has never used sheet-film I think?

I personally didn't you are correct but I worked with someone using Fuji E-6 sheet film 15x18 in a Linhof. Mind blowing to see these positives on a light try jumping at you.

If you want to compare apples to apples you have to keep the format comparable 😉.
My example was referring to 135mm film (24x36mm "full frame").

 

[MartinP]

Before we get back on topic, the article you responded to did not mention 35mm film. For the areas where film still leads no one is going to use 35mm.

 

[Rob-F]

I wonder if Tri-X and TMax are included in the off-the-shelf category. I suppose they are. Then apparently motion picture film will be all they make anymore? Then when the studios and theaters switch to digital, Kodak will be gone . . .

I think the Kodak execs are trying to grab as much cash as they can, for themselves, then trash the company.

 

[Highway 61]

Ilford could be a good fit, as they are committed to film. I worry about Fuji's commitment to film, anymore...

We can all consider that Fuji is out of the film business already.

They're ceasing manufacturing one of their films after another so it is only a matter of "when" rather than an "if" one for now.

We all know for sure than within very short delays only B&W films will remain - RIP E6 and C41.

It wouldn't be a good thing for Ilford and Foma to see Kodak B&W films disappear, because this would depress the market to a point they would be about to bankrupt. Not good.

I mean, not all the people using to buy Kodak B&W films would switch to other manufacturers if Kodak B&W films were to disappear : a great part of them would switch to digital then.

Of course there are "new" products appearing on the market, like the new Bergger BRF 400 film, but their commercial long-term success isn't guaranteed.

Times will become hard for B&W film lovers I'm afraid (less choice as for films, papers, chemicals, and nasty prices raise).

 

[bwcolor]

I just can't see such a negative interpretation of Kodak's move.

The most used films will continue as long as they are profitable and moving production to a smaller, more efficiently run company sounds like a good idea. The marketplace will determine the survivors and as mentioned, this means fewer choices, but it also means that the surviving films will be the most used. High prices... of course, but if price were the dominant issue, we would be 100% digital by now.

Maybe only B&W film, but it is curious that Kodak recently introduced new color negative materials, but this might just be a spin-off from their motion picture film technology.

Regarding Fuji.. Sales will determine what remains, or not. I think that photographic paper might be more hard pressed than film in that many scan and few continue with the front to back analog. Hopefully, the market will keep core paper around for a long time.

 

[Highway 61]

High prices... of course, but if price were the dominant issue we might all be 100% digital by now.

Not really true. For most amateur photographers it's still cheaper to regularly shoot B&W film with the equipment they already have (especially if one MF camera and an enlarger belong to the gear) than switching to a $$$$ FF digital camera and all the collateral digital stuff (capable computer, software suite, calibrated high-end screen, printer, inks...).

😉

I do hope Tri-X (under whatever name) will never disappear, of course.

Re. Fuji, ita missa est I'm still certain 100% - but this is my own opinion only, of course.

 

[zauhar]

Did I understand the BBC article correctly - is Kodak NOT getting out of the chemical business , or does chemical business mean non-photo stuff?

Randy

Quote: "It would leave the business focused on printers, cinema film stock and chemicals."

 

[t.s.k.]

^^ Yea, I read that too. I assume they still need to support the commercial film contracts while they lasts.

 

[Gumby]

I think the Kodak execs are trying to grab as much cash as they can, for themselves, then trash the company.

Yes to the former, and they've already fully accomplished the latter.

 

[Gumby]

I mean, not all the people using to buy Kodak B&W films would switch to other manufacturers if Kodak B&W films were to disappear : a great part of them would switch to digital then.

I don't read the tea leaves quite the same way. The chatter on the majority of forums indicate B&W shooters are quite interested in the film options, and quite willing to start using those "alternative" film products.

 

[Mackinaw]

If Kodak's B&W films do end up going away, I'll switch to Ilford.

Jim B.

 

[Pioneer]

from :
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19366113

"The resolution is still a thousand times higher than most digital cameras can offer so long as a good scanner is used.

Or even better, you can enjoy it and not even have to own a computer at all!!😀

 

[I Love Film]

If they had found their own "Steve Jobs" in the mid-1990s, they might have been a global powerhouse today.

They suffered the fate of being led by mediocre simpletons.

The only reason they are selling assets now is to keep the top execs in salaries for a few more years. They're going to ride that horse until they kill it, then abandon ship.

The retired employees (and current employees for that matter) are going to be thrown to the wolves.

Selling inkjet printers and cutting out the soul of the business is a sham, a suicide diversion. It is already a dead business, they can't seriously expect to "emerge from bankruptcy" and become profitable.

 

[bean_counter]

Which raises the issue that although the films are different in formulation they are coated on the same machines, there is only building 38 left.

How can you sell a business that has coating stills films at it's core and is separate from movie film when both the two remaining Kodak coating machines are housed next to each other?

So are they selling the name and the C41/B&W film portfolio, yet keeping building 38 as a subcontractor?

I can't imagine too many takers for that scenario.

I can imagine it, lots of companies doing this sort of thing. Kodak is getting out of retail distrution and support (i.e., advertising & marketing), and selling it to somebody who thinks they can do it better.

Good news is, film stays around for a while. Bad news is, probably no R&D for new films. I imagine US production will cease within the decade, with the end game for C41 production somewhere in Asia or Eastern Europe.

 

[Eric T]

I wonder if Eastman Chemical would consider the film business?

 

[mani]

Personally don't give a flying f**k about the Kodak company - I just care about the films. All this talk of 'end of eras' and so on is of minimal importance in comparison to the survival of Portra, for instance.

I'd be more than happy to buy Ilford Portra 160, and I don't care if the box it comes in is yellow or blue.