Last Kodachrome?

[ch1]

I just bought a short brick (5 rolls) of Kodachrome 64 (24 exp.) on daBay.

Slightly (half year or so) past "sell by date".

I "grew up" in photography with this film - thirty something years ago - and I know Kodachrome is much older than that.

Like the Paul Simon song - "I like its light, bright colors....".

But I think Mama Kodak is taking my Kodachrome away.

So I've been buying Fujichrome etc.

If you know and love(d) Kodachrome - what is your alternative now that it's going away? 😕

 

[wlewisiii]

Hasn't gone away yet. Just bought a roll of K64 the other day with IIRC a Dec '07 expiration. The store had just gotten in a new batch. Now, I don't expect it will last very terribly much longer, but you can still buy current stock to freeze if you so desire.

It's going to be the first roll through my Canon 7 once it arrives.

William

 

[captainslack]

I've shot once roll of Kodachrome 64 and really, really liked it. Problem is, I know it's only a matter of time before Kodak pulls the plug and I don't want to get hooked on a film I won't be able to get much longer.

*sigh*

 

[Trius]

I've been stocking it when I find it at a good price. My wife thinks I'm nuts, guess I haven't told her yet that it's an endangered species. I have been tracking K25 auctions on oBoy, but the price is usually pretty high. I love the stuff. I find the colours to be more natural than what I've seen of Velvia, but I'll admit to not having shot much Velvia.

I'll go down to State Street and picket for all of us.

Earl

 

[dmr]

But I think Mama Kodak is taking my Kodachrome away.

So I've been buying Fujichrome etc.

If you know and love(d) Kodachrome - what is your alternative now that it's going away? 😕

Uh, did I miss something? I sure didn't hear that it was going bibi. At least anytime soon, that is.

I'm sure it will be going away whenever some beancounter at Kodak needs something to do, but ...

I still have 2 rolls left from a bunch that I and a co-worker ordered last summer. K64-36, dated sometime late 2006.

I hadn't shot it for a LONG time, and I've enjoyed getting re-acquainted with it, but it's not something I shoot regularly. I do hate to see one of the options go away, however.

 

[JohnL]

For color slides I've been using Provia F100. Colors are a bit less aggressive than Velvia, but still quite saturated. Haven't used Kodachrome for several generations, but Provia is stronger in greens and blues, by comparison, IMHO, and from what I remember.

 

[captainslack]

64 and 200 is still easily available in the UK, but I've not had much luck getting hold of 25.

25 was discontinued awhile back. It can be found on the Bay every now and then, but commands a high price.

 

[Skinny McGee]

I love Kodachrome and besides the Bay can't find it...

I have a book about WW11 fighter in the Pacific and the photograper goes in to some of his gear He shot alot of Kodachrome at 12.. yeah 12.. it is so flawless...

 

[photogdave]

Kodak DID discontinue Kodachrome Super 8 film. That really sucks because it was the nicest reversal movie film to shoot with. Dwayne's in Kansas will still process it after Kodak stops in the new year.
I imagine this will eventually happen with the 135 too. 🙁

 

[shaaktiman]

Kodachrome is the one film that you may not want to stock up on too much. Once it's been gone for a few months from store shelves and most people's stocks are depleted you may have a lot of trouble finding anyone to process it. Few enough people are willing to do it now. You may just want to enjoy it while it lasts or even stock up and then sell it as a brick on ebay something like 5 weeks after it's been pulled. (have you seen the prices people have been paying fro AGFA rodinal on the bay? wow!) What am I saying? You guys'll be the ones BUYING it, not selling it. LOL.

While it is nothing like kodachrome I've been using elite chrome in 100 lately. It's cheap and surprisingly good for a consumer film. The other speeds are not so hot but 100 is nice. I'm sure it isn't nearly as archival as KC but then again, what is?

 

[dmr]

I love Kodachrome and besides the Bay can't find it...

B&H still stocks it. Adorama still does, I think. The big B&H catalog lists it, as well as various 127 and 620 film.

Dwayne's Photo sells it.

Some indie camera shops still stock it.

A few months back somebody said they still get it at a supermarket.

 

[zpuskas]

I love Kodachrome and will miss it once it's no longer available. Shot a few rolls two months ago and one roll took 4 weeks to get back to me--first roll, two weeks.
I have seen nothing that compares.

 

[ch1]

Thanks all.

But my question really is....

If you "love" Kodachrome (espescially 64 - my goodness, forget 25!).

When it's gone - what will you use?

How do we keep those "...nice bright colors...". ???

 

[Trius]

George: That's a good question. Probably some non-Velvia Fuji film ... if one of those survives. I would have said Agfachrome RSX, but ...

Earl

 

[Flinor]

I've got Kodachromes that I shot 45 years ago that still look new. I started with Kodachrome X, ASA 10 and then went to 25. I've been looking for a sustitute since 25 was discontinued and haven't found one yet. RSX 50 was nice but different and IMHO 64 is not the same.

 

[Doug]

When I first started shooting 35mm in 1963, it hadn't been long that Kodachrome (ASA 10) had been replaced with Kodachrome II (ASA 25), and not long after that, the whole "X" group came along, all at ASA 64... Kodachrome-X, Ektachrome-X, and Kodacolor-X. At that time, Kodachrome-X had a reputation as being higher contrast than the ASA 25 stuff, which was THE standard of excellence for a long time. I suppose Kodachrome 64 was improved over the years, and I recall being surprised that there was a 200 ASA version later on...

 

[Trius]

I didn't much care for Kodachrome X. It was OK if I really needed the speed (64 instead of 25.... whoo hoo!!!), but K64 was a big improvement over X when it came out. I'm not sure if K64 has changed over the years, but I like it.

Earl