kodak sells ccd sensor technology

[Jamie123]

There is a thought - if they manage to sell their chemical production, film and paper, basically everything that used to define them, and "survive"...would you care if the company name is not dead (making iPhone covers or printers or whatever)?

I think it's safe to assume that no one here cares much about the Kodak brand name if that was the only thing to remain. It's quite simple. Most people here care about Kodak's film business.* Once they give up film no one's going to be bothered much with the demise of Kodak.

*(Sure, some might be worried about the implications this ccd tech sale has for digital Leica cameras but I think we all know they can find a sensor elsewhere. Leica's not going to close up shop just because Kodak doesn't do ccds anymore)

 

[noimmunity]

The M10 will be a CMOS sensor.

This may well assure a cult status for the M9 and even the M8.

 

[myM8yogi]

What does this mean for Leica servicing M8 and M9 sensors????

Sure Leica can use a CMOS sensor for the M10.... Sure Kodak can find another business to concentrate on, or maybe they will fold.... What I want to know is how will Leica find the spare parts to service M9s and M8s if their former supply agreement is no longer valid and the new owner chooses not to sell to Leica or decides to charge too much?

You can bet your a$$ that the new owner got all the patent rights to those beautiful curved CCD sensors and will be making sure that other sensor manufaturers don't produce them (even if they have the technological capability and financial motivation).

It's all very well Leica spouting on about how they used standard off-the-shelf components for their digital Ms to ensure long term availability of replacement parts; and at the same time they brag about how the sensor is a technological marvel produced in collaboration with a unique partner. Spot the weak link in the chain?

[Very big sigh of sorrow and despair]

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

This may well assure a cult status for the M9 and even the M8.

Why? Because they have inferior color and more noise?

 

[Jamie123]

What does this mean for Leica servicing M8 and M9 sensors????

Sure Leica can use a CMOS sensor for the M10.... Sure Kodak can find another business to concentrate on, or maybe they will fold.... What I want to know is how will Leica find the spare parts to service M9s and M8s if their former supply agreement is no longer valid and the new owner chooses not to sell to Leica or decides to charge too much?

You can bet your a$$ that the new owner got all the patent rights to those beautiful curved CCD sensors and will be making sure that other sensor manufaturers don't produce them (even if they have the technological capability and financial motivation).

It's all very well Leica spouting on about how they used standard off-the-shelf components for their digital Ms to ensure long term availability of replacement parts; and at the same time they brag about how the sensor is a technological marvel produced in collaboration with a unique partner. Spot the weak link in the chain?

[Very big sigh of sorrow and despair]

I don't see any reason for sorrow or despair. Firstly, if the new owner continues to make CCD sensors it would certainly make sense for them to service the customers they already have. Secondly, "What if they decide to charge too much?" Leica products or their repair fees have never been known to be cheap. So maybe it'll get more expensive. People who want it will still get it.
Thirdly, if replacing the CCD in a M8 or M9 will not be possible, Leica will simply offer a trade-in upgrade to the newest models. Don't like the newer model? Just too bad.

 

[jsrockit]

What does this mean for Leica servicing M8 and M9 sensors????

I'm sure Leica has them stocked up...

 

[jaapv]

Why? Because they have inferior color and more noise?

I don't think you are quite correct on this At base ISO color and image quality are far superior.

 

[semilog]

^--- I don't think that that word, "far," means what you think it means. It does not mean "incrementally."

 

[v_roma]

^--- I don't think that that word, "far," means what you think it means. It does not mean "incrementally."

😀😀

..........

 

[kuzano]

Well, Whatever!... I've got my keeper Kodak Sensors

Well, Whatever!... I've got my keeper Kodak Sensors

Having used Olympus 4/3 since the advent of Oly's first pro digital, I still have my E-1 5MP Kodak sensor. In addition my most current OLY kodak sensored DSLR is the European Distro Oly E400 with the Kodak 10 Mp sensor (last kodak for OLY and the only one since the E500.

While the E5 seems a fine offering from OLY, it's color rendition is still only a close second ( or is that an incremental second ) to the E-400 Kodak sensor.

My current keepers are:
E1 Oly
E400 Oly
Fuji S5 Pro
Fuji GL690 w/65 and 100mm lenses
Fuji G690
Home Made Mamiya w/ 75mm Mamiya Sekor Press w/ Linhof 4X5 Graflok back.
Graflex Super Graphic Lite 4X5

With the direction Olympus and Kodak both seem headed, it would be a major coup if the same people bought the Oly camera division and the Kodak sensor division.

They could then proceed to Ass-Whoop most others in the Digital Camera market. IMEO!!

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

I don't think you are quite correct on this At base ISO color and image quality are far superior.

Well to each their own. I was just doing a test with the 5D mark 2 and the M8 and the 5d is better at all isos. Absolutely no question. I can even send you the files if you insist.

Being argumentative and trolling on the internet is fun 😉

 

[jsrockit]

Well to each their own. I was just doing a test with the 5D mark 2 and the M8 and the 5d is better at all isos. Absolutely no question. I can even send you the files if you insist.

Being argumentative and trolling on the internet is fun 😉

Better with regard to what?

 

[cosmonaut]

On a slightly related matter.... I hope Leica can talk Sigma into letting them use that new Foveon sensor in a future M10. That would be one heck of a combo, if Sigma/Foveon has the micro lens know how to make it fly.

And now, back to our Kodak wake 🙁

Have you read the reviews of Sigmas over priced DSLRs? Maybe you should. I for one would rather Leica go to Sony. They make the best sensors on the market, period.
I think Sigma would be an over priced mistake.

 

[Andy Andrews]

If Platinum Equity can't make a go of it, Leica will be in a precarious spot. 48 hours after Kodak's sale of their Sensors Solution Division, I called Tech Support at Leica USA and they had no word on how this event might play out. I was considering going to an M9 but now plan on keeping my trusty M6 for a few more years.

 

[Viktor Sebastian]

Better with regard to what?

Colour, noise, detail (obviously) and the ability to extract information from the files. Some call the last aspect dynamic range. The higher the iso the more obvious the difference is.

But I mean cmon, we are talking a full fame cmos sensor with twice the megapixels that is 2 years younger versus a crop sensor! Would anyone expect anything else??


Don’t get me wrong. I like the M8. I use mine everyday, but when it is gone I won’t be missing its sensor performance or lack thereof.

 

[cosmonaut]

Well I think the company that bought the sensor didn't intend to stop producing the Kodak sensor. Maybe more as a growing investment. But certainly not to kill it off.
http://www.ovt.com/products/

 

[dave lackey]

Well to each their own. I was just doing a test with the 5D mark 2 and the M8 and the 5d is better at all isos. Absolutely no question. I can even send you the files if you insist.

Being argumentative and trolling on the internet is fun 😉

No, it is not.

 

[infrequent]

Not a parallel

Not a parallel

Apple ditched their printer division and the Newton (among other things) when Jobs came back. Look at them now. Sometimes simplifying and focusing on only a few products is required. We'll see if they can pull it off.

Apple sold those businesses because they were: 1) not profitable 2) not their core business going forward. Making digital sensors for cameras is not a core business for kodak? Atleast they stand out in that business while in the printer game they will be another "me too" company.

 

[infrequent]

hey!

hey!

This may well assure a cult status for the M9 and even the M8.

LOL..like they weren't already. 😛

 

[RObert Budding]

No worries

No worries

. . . It's all very well Leica spouting on about how they used standard off-the-shelf components for their digital Ms to ensure long term availability of replacement parts; and at the same time they brag about how the sensor is a technological marvel produced in collaboration with a unique partner. Spot the weak link in the chain?

[Very big sigh of sorrow and despair]

No worries - Leica can just substitute in another off-the-shelf component. But this time they should choose something that will be produced in high volume. I hear the new sensor in the iPhone is pretty good . . .