What will Kodak's final film be?

[antiquark]

With the cancellation of Tri-X 320 in 120 format, it got me thinking... Kodak will keep canceling films, one by one, until they only have a single one left.

This poll is asking the question: when Kodak is finally at the point where they're selling only one film, what film will it be?

For simplicity, I've ignored different ISOs. (It would have exceeded the 12 options for the poll). Also, only "pro" films are represented.

 

[colyn]

I'm not going to worry about it. As long as I am alive there will be film whether it be Kodak or whoever.

 

[KM-25]

B/S poll, read these replies for a reality check:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1247167&postcount=21

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1247347&postcount=40

Unbelievable what people the effort into posting on the internet...

 

[Gumby]

Without a doubt, the last film will be analog... or perhaps analogue.

 

[imokruok]

I'm not going to worry about it. As long as I am alive there will be film whether it be Kodak or whoever.

Basically true...you can still buy film for formats I never even knew existed, and that haven't been routinely shot for 40 or 50 years. If that's the case today with other films, I think 35mm and 120 will have a very long "tail" in the marketplace.

 

[bmattock]

Basically true...you can still buy film for formats I never even knew existed, and that haven't been routinely shot for 40 or 50 years. If that's the case today with other films, I think 35mm and 120 will have a very long "tail" in the marketplace.

What formats would those be?

 

[Melvin]

The film that congeals over the eyes of the greedy dead.

 

[Gumby]

The film that congeals over the eyes of the greedy dead.

Ha ha.. that film congeals over all eyes equally!

 

[colyn]

What formats would those be?

616, 828, 127. These are few.

 

[bmattock]

616, 828, 127. These are few.

Who makes those? I think 127 may still be made (Efke?) but the others?

 

[sepiareverb]

Rollei has a 127 film. I think it is made by Agfa.

 

[Gumby]

...but the others?

3rd party re-roll, adapting existing film products.

 

[Frank Petronio]

filmforclassics.com cuts film down to the old rolls, the hard thing is finding spools.

35mm B&W will go on forever, there is already a guy with a home-brewed machine to coat polyester so no worries -- look at all the hobby guys doing Platinum and Gum and Wet Plate, etc.

However Kodak will probably bail within a generation or less. I suspect Tri-X will have the longest life since it is easy to home process (you don't even need fancy Kodak/T-Max developers).

 

[Al Patterson]

I voted for e-6, although I'd be happy to be wrong and Tri-X were the last film.

I'm still waiting for Kodak to make more 122 film.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hey boys, Kodak dropped 320 many many years after offering us a better emulsion... 320 was used for physically retouching on film... 400 has wonderful tone, can be exposed and developed in different ways and chemicals so we can make it look like 320's curve, has less grain, is better for pushing and better for scanning...


I don't want to discuss... Anyone hating this opinion, please take this next one, and forget the previous one: I'm going mad on Kodak dropping 320, and the world of photography will never be the same...

 

[bmattock]

3rd party re-roll, adapting existing film products.

Well, sure, but is that the same as saying they are still made? A bit of a stretch, don't you think?

 

[Rayt]

Sometimes a business needs to cut off a finger to keep the hand alive. Running a business requires a certain level of profitability and when this can no longer be sustained I am sure Kodak will sell their film division to a third party rather than further depreciate its value by producing only one or a hand full of film.

 

[bmattock]

Rollei has a 127 film. I think it is made by Agfa.

Indeed it seems you are right.

http://www.agfa.com/en/sp/products_services/all_products/aviphot.jsp

That's good news, I have an old 127 camera I'd like to use a time or two again.

 

[colyn]

Who makes those? I think 127 may still be made (Efke?) but the others?

Various makers.

I recently bought a roll of Kodak in date 828. I also bought a couple of rolls of Kodak in date 620.. These were not re-spooled films either.

Like you say Efke makes a few of the older formats. I've heard ??? Arista makes certain formats on special order. Don't know if it is true or not since I have not seen any..

 

[bmattock]

Sometimes a business needs to cut off a finger to keep the hand alive. Running a business requires a certain level of profitability and when this can no longer be sustained I am sure Kodak will sell their film division to a third party rather than further depreciate its value by producing only one or a hand full of film.

If we take a history lesson from Agfa Gevaert, they (presumably) could not find a buyer for AgfaPhoto, so they spun it off to be an independent company. It was widely speculated at the time that they spun it off to die, as it lacked the revenue stream necessary to survive; and indeed, it did not. The company went into receivership and the courts were unable to find a buyer for the company as a whole, and so it was liquidated for all remaining assets. Is there reason to suppose a third-party buyer would be found for Kodak's film division?