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

[Roger Hicks]

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.

But what, when you think about it, does that actually mean? Film making is a bit like brewing: there's a surprising amount of alchemy in it, or at least, special technical knowledge. There's a culture, if you like. the only way Kodak's films can continue to be made is if the buyer takes on all the right people, too.

Believe me, I have NO time for Perez and his merry men, but I have all the time in the world for the people who actually know what they're doing in the Kodak film business.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Gumby]

Believe me, I have NO time for Perez and his merry men, but I have all the time in the world for the people who actually know what they're doing in the Kodak film business.

AMEN.

67890

 

[gb hill]

Kodak is just one example of what has been taking place in the US for a long time in the corporate world. Greed!!! With that being said, what company in their right mind would want to come in & take control of Kodak's film business having to pay lucrative trademark rights. I don't see it happening. Kodak is dead!

 

[fstops]

The important question is who will buy the Kodak film business?

Unlike Kodak sensor business, with film there are many other aspects such as raw materials and so on that needs a wider supplier network, not to mention experienced employees.

And what if no one is ready to buy Kodak film business? In that scenario the production will be halted and facilitates disbanded?

 

[I Love Film]

PS: All this blather about Kodak caring about whose hands the film business falls into, their "good name", etc, is just that, absolute blather.

It just sounds good on a press release. Perez and Co. could care less about anything but wringing out a few more bonuses and golden parachutes once they dump the assets.

It's too bad George Eastman was not the "reproducing" type of fellow. There's a chance, a small chance, that an "Eastman" descendant might have cared more for preserving the family name and business.

 

[gb hill]

In other industries that is actually fairly common, but ONLY if they take over the same plant. If they "move the plant" its not just that the current employees won't be offered a job (maybe even with relocation benefits), but it is generally experienced that some of the employees choose not to move to continue their employment. A lot depends on where the relocation will take them.

If they move the plant it won't be Kodak. Like KM25 said in another thread (though not exact these words) Bldg 38 is where their film is created & there is just something special about that location. If they move, they lose.

 

[Gumby]

If they move the plant it won't be Kodak. Like KM25 said in another thread (though not exact these words) Bldg 38 is where their film is created & there is just something special about that location. If they move, they lose.

Maybe, and maybe not. Other industries have successfully survived complete plant moves, staff moves, staff quitting, new staff hiring, etc. Others haven't. Time will tell... unless you have a shinier crystal ball than everyone else.

 

[I Love Film]

Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. It's over.

 

[Gumby]

Could be. But I haven't heard a fat lady sing yet.

 

[sevo]

If they move the plant it won't be Kodak. Like KM25 said in another thread (though not exact these words) Bldg 38 is where their film is created & there is just something special about that location. If they move, they lose.

Well, it certainly is no mean feat, but others (namely Ilford) have successfully relocated. Of course, it might prove too expensive for a industry facing declining sales - but that is a different issue.

In any case, the consumer division does not own the Kodak casting plant, and is only a small customer there (compared to motion picture and commercial film divisions). So whatever may happen in the future, the current events obviously are not going to move the production plant...

 

[jtm6]

There are a lot of companies (of attorneys) that buy patents with the intent to license them and/or sue anyone that tries to violate the patent. A few tech companies (Apple, etc) are supposedly interested in Kodak only their patents. Therefore, Kodak is probably ditching all their product divisions so there is nothing left but the patents. The trademarks would go with the products because the buyer wouldn't need or want them anyway.

 

[Highway 61]

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

Jim B.

Yes.

But could we read : "If Kodak's [$4.50 per roll] B&W films do end up going away, I'll switch to Ilford [$9.50 per roll films]." ?

This is one big question.

 

[finguanzo]

Yes.

But could we read : "If Kodak's [$4.50 per roll] B&W films do end up going away, I'll switch to Ilford [$9.50 per roll films]." ?

This is one big question.

Were does Ilford cost 9.50 a piece..?

 

[Highway 61]

Were does Ilford cost 9.50 a piece..?

Germany, UK, France.

This is the present price of HP5+ 135-36 when bought per one piece here (there).

Price meant in USD per today's currencies exchange rates of course.

It's probably even more expensive in the other UE countries. IIRC when in Prague back in 2008 I experienced B&W films shortage and bought some Fomapan locally because of the crazy prices of Ilford stuff there.

Buying per 10x packs discounts it a solid $7.80 USD a roll, delivered ; cheapest price found around on the Internet, example here.

So I'd say HP5+ is already 25% more expensive than Tri-X, all things equal.

This is not something prone to move backwards if the Tri-X goes away.

 

[Jamie123]

Ok, so let's just try to get some perspective on this whole thing. We all knew that Kodak was under Chapter 11 and that it doesn't look good. Now we know that they're trying to sell the film division. That information in and of itself is neither good nor bad IMO. It might turn out really badly in which case it's only a continuation of the current situation or it's bought by a company that actually knows what to do with it. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[finguanzo]

Wow, didnt know that... Thank you

 

[Roger Hicks]

Ok, so let's just try to get some perspective on this whole thing. We all knew that Kodak was under Chapter 11 and that it doesn't look good. Now we know that they're trying to sell the film division. That information in and of itself is neither good nor bad IMO. It might turn out really badly in which case it's only a continuation of the current situation or it's bought by a company that actually knows what to do with it. We'll just have to wait and see.

Stop being so damned reasonable! This is the internet! HYSTERIA RULES!

Cheers,

R.

 

[Highway 61]

Stop being so damned reasonable! This is the internet! HYSTERIA RULES!

Cheers,

R.

Excellent...

😀 😀 😀

 

[Leica All Day]

What a bummer......

 

[johannielscom]

Ok, so let's just try to get some perspective on this whole thing. We all knew that Kodak was under Chapter 11 and that it doesn't look good. Now we know that they're trying to sell the film division. That information in and of itself is neither good nor bad IMO. It might turn out really badly in which case it's only a continuation of the current situation or it's bought by a company that actually knows what to do with it. We'll just have to wait and see.

How much chance to get it right in Russian Roulette?

I'd rather take my winnings (or limited losses) now and stock up.


The people that stocked up on Neopan 1600 proved to be pretty smart too in the end. Same for the Plus-X stockers...