Kodak to Stop Making Digital Cameras to Cut Costs

[Damaso]

It seems Kodak would rather cut digital than film. Any nay sayers want to comment about this development? 😀

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/02/09/business/09reuters-kodak.html?_r=1&hp

 

[kingqueenknave]

Maybe there's hope!

 

[Rob-F]

By the comments posted here and elsewhere, the film division has been profitable, while they lose money on digital. So it makes sense to dump digital. It must be hard to compete with Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, Fuji, et al.

So let them stick to their knitting and do what they do best: making film. I'm in favor of it.

 

[chris00nj]

Their digital cameras were horrible

 

[Mackinaw]

Well, film survived the first cut, which is definitely encouraging.

Jim B.

 

[VF101]

A trustworthy german tech news portal just stated, that Kodak "will continue the shrinking but profitable business with film and photo paper".

 

[starless]

Seems like they will invest in film only in the future:

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-j...03/kodak-phases-digital-businesses-film-alive

 

[segedi]

They made digital cameras? Who knew?!

 

[Corto]

On BBC news as well.....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16967171

 

[AJShepherd]

I get this feeling that Kodak's digital camera division were eschewing quality cameras to try and recapture the mass appeal that the Instamatic once had. However what they didn't realise is that today's version of the old Instamatic is a phone camera.

 

[jbrianfoto]

There have been many tech companies fell into the "revenue stream" trap back in the late 1990's. They strayed away from their core-competencies in an effort to bring in money from all kinds of alternate means - this ultimately either caused backruptcy or they were bought by bigger, more profitable companies (Lucent Technologies comes to mind).

Film, Paper and Chemicals are Kodak's core-compentencies (and also their legacy). I pray this works out well for them. Heck - they could even move those operations into a smaller, smarter facility AND maybe becom a botique paper/film manufacture (bring back Ektalure, Double XX, etc).

 

[kingqueenknave]

It would be nice to see an Eastman Film emerge from this mess. Let Kodak make the printers and what not.

 

[jpfisher]

I was told by a Kodak rep at CES that the company would keep making film "as long as people buy it." Of course, they also announced a digital camera and pocket camcorder at that show--not sure if those products are making it to market, I haven't gotten a response from the PR person as of yet--but, if they do, they'll be the last.

The press release that Kodak sent out listed film and paper as one of the areas that the company plans on continuing--my story is here, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400039,00.asp

 

[shadowfox]

I get this feeling that Kodak's digital camera division were eschewing quality cameras to try and recapture the mass appeal that the Instamatic once had. However what they didn't realise is that today's version of the old Instamatic is a phone camera.

Well said!
Add to that the fact that even though Kodak has been producing digital cameras since ~2000 (meaning early), their R&D has been sleeping it seems. Totally oblivious of the emerging camera phone trend.

 

[Sparrow]

... so that means it's digital that's dead then? who'd a thunk it

 

[swoop]

Does this mean the M9 is done or will Kodak allow Leica to have another manufacturer create the sensor? And does this mean the future M10 will have a sensor from perhaps SONY or another sensor maker.

 

[RedLion]

Film is fine

Film is fine

Just got this email from FreeStyle photo:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/industry-updates/february-2012/snapshot.html

1. Kodak's sales in their film division increased 20% last year, and this division continues to be a profitable segment. They have billions of dollars in assets. Citicorp Group just gave them $950 million to help fund their restructuring efforts which will continue for 18 months.
   Sounds like Kodak will be around for a while longer and that Citicorp is pretty sure they are going to get their money back with interest. The film division seems to be doing quite well and may even prosper under new management as a separate entity. Regardless of what happens, Freestyle is prepared to make a sizable investment in product to keep important products available for years to come.

 

[jpfisher]

Kodak sold off the division that makes the M9 sensor in November -- press release is here--

http://www.kodak.com/ek/US/en/Kodak_Sells_Image_Sensor_Business_to_Platinum_Equity.htm

 

[Mackinaw]

The company that bought Kodak's sensor division is called "Truesense Imaging."

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120207/BUSINESS/302070029/Kodak-Truesense-image-sensor

 

[ibcrewin]

quick hijack, Suppose you had the ear of a reporter covering this story. What would you want to hear more about? What questions would you want them to ask?