Kodak to end film processing by March, 1st

icebear

icebear

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Got this message today in my local camera store :

Kodak will end their film processing for retail by March 1st. I guess this is just one more step for film to get into the "cosy" niche market. Has anyone else heard about this ?
 
Nothing at Kodak.com. More likely your photo shop is quitting and blaming Kodak so you'll be mad at them instead. Go to your local Walgreens and have them do your C41 in their Fuji Frontiers.

William
 
Didn't someone post a thread here a few weeks ago about Kodak touting that Film will last forever and ever and ever?
 
Oh, that's nothing too major. Basically they're saying both instore mini-labs & real labs are beating them senseless so they're cutting their losses. Find a minilab you like an use it. That's life in the niche lane ... ;)

William
 
Ken: What exactly is your point? Kodak is getting out of the wholesale photofinishing business. Have you noticed all the Kodak kiosks in retail locations?

And no, Kodak has never touted that. Unless I've missed a press release. If so, please refer me to a URL or other source.
 
Avi: I don't have a Costco (dam-it-all!), but I agree. For C-41 I have dev only at a lab/one hour, then scan at home. B&W gets souped by yours truly.
 
As of February 1st the Costco store in my area is getting out of film development. One of the clerks told me film development locally was now only 5% of their photo business.
 
If my local costco closed their film dev business I would be pissed! Their processing is very cheap ($4.40 for 24 dev/print including tax), and pretty good! Their film is also a great deal. 6 rolls of 24 exp Fuji 400 for $13. The next cheapest is Dominion, which I think is ~$6.50 for 24 dev/print, and the quality is not nearly as good, and the film cost is out of this world!
 
I found their development price & quality of their work exceptional. the added bonus was they were very close to home. Now I will have to find another trusted establishment, travel further and pay more. I am thinking that somehow or sometime I might have to get into the developing of negatives but not sure if the "capitol" set up costs and time etc. are worth it at this time.
 
ddimaria said:
I heard the news a few weeks ago at a local photo shop as well. I believe its true.
Click to expand...

It's not a rumor, it's a press release. Kodak is closing three Qualex labs that provided processing for stores that shipped the film out, such as grocery stores. They competed with in-store minilabs which offered the customer more convenience. Not really much to talk about here.
 
OK, I think there is some miscommunication going on here.

Let us be clear. Kodak, as a corporation, does not do photofinishing. Instead, it relies upon a worldwide network of independent processing labs, as does Fujifilm and Ferrania. They used to, but they merged (spun off) that operation in 1988, creating Qualex, Inc, along with co-owner Fuqua Industries.

However, in 1994, Kodak purchased the remaining 50% of Qualex, Inc, from Actave Group, Inc, who had become the co-owner after Fuqua Industries, and who apparently wanted to divest. Qualex became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kodak. Many companies chose to use Qualex to send their customer's film to, instead of processing it onsite themselves.

This was broadly considered a bad move on Kodak's part even back then:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3374/is_n14_v16/ai_15761188

Now, it appears that Kodak is shutting down most or all of the Qualex facilities. As others have mentioned, this does not affect companies that have their own processing facilities.

All this means is that Kodak is not going to be in the wholesale film finishing business anymore, and frankly, this is a business they had held at arm's length since the 1980's.

Not a huge deal, but indicative of the general downward spiral of film use.
 
1rexy1 said:
I found their development price & quality of their work exceptional. the added bonus was they were very close to home. Now I will have to find another trusted establishment, travel further and pay more. I am thinking that somehow or sometime I might have to get into the developing of negatives but not sure if the "capitol" set up costs and time etc. are worth it at this time.
Click to expand...

The develop black & white is very cheap and simple. I haven't developed C-41 myself yet, but I've ordered a kit from freestyle. Unfortunately, the shipping cost into Canada is extortion!
 
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