Kodak kill off Kodachrome

EnEnGee · 23rd June 2009, 12:09

Who would have thought it 10 (or even 5) years ago.

Kodak have announced they are to cease production of all Kodachrome 35mm film after 75 years. They have admitted defeat against the march of digital photography and are ending production, stating it was less than 1% of their sales.

kully · 23rd June 2009, 12:41

It's suprising that Kodachrome survived this long. It does have a unique look but it needs a good exposure (C41 solved that) and the process to develop it is much more comploicated that E-6.

However, I still have some rolls in the freezer and we have until the end of the year to send them off.

Kodak are still doing R&D mind, they came out with a gorgeous colour negative film 'Ektar' this year and last year there was the astonishingly fine-grained B&W 400 speed TMAX-2.

mantianak · 23rd June 2009, 18:00

It is a shame. If there's not enough demand then it becomes costly to produce such things, especially a film that requires its own process. To pull the plug on something so meaningful to a company could be a sign of redevelopment rather than the sole purpose of cutting off a low money maker. I'm sure money will now go into marketing the core products or new product development.

JohnDotCom · 23rd June 2009, 21:01

There is several Films and film sizes being withdrawn by Kodak later this year.
Most of the 5" x 4" and 10" x 8" Sheet Film and some Roll Film 6x6.
It was sure to happen when you see so many switching to Digital now,
The Police (New Scotland Yard C3 Photographic Department) and Forensic Science labs are now no longer going to use Film at all.
A very Large Customer.
Courts will now see Digital Print outs or on Monitors,
The famous "the un-retouched negatives are in my possession" will no longer be seen on Statements.
The end of a Era.

23rd June 2009, 12:09	#1
EnEnGee Posted a thing or two CDT Tourer (SORN) & 2.0 V6 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sittingbourne Posts: 1,058 Thanks: 2 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Kodak kill off Kodachrome Who would have thought it 10 (or even 5) years ago. Kodak have announced they are to cease production of all Kodachrome 35mm film after 75 years. They have admitted defeat against the march of digital photography and are ending production, stating it was less than 1% of their sales.

23rd June 2009, 18:00	#3
mantianak I really should get out more....... ZT 190+ Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poole Posts: 2,413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	It is a shame. If there's not enough demand then it becomes costly to produce such things, especially a film that requires its own process. To pull the plug on something so meaningful to a company could be a sign of redevelopment rather than the sole purpose of cutting off a low money maker. I'm sure money will now go into marketing the core products or new product development. __________________ http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1..._signature.png

23rd June 2009, 21:01	#4
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	There is several Films and film sizes being withdrawn by Kodak later this year. Most of the 5" x 4" and 10" x 8" Sheet Film and some Roll Film 6x6. It was sure to happen when you see so many switching to Digital now, The Police (New Scotland Yard C3 Photographic Department) and Forensic Science labs are now no longer going to use Film at all. A very Large Customer. Courts will now see Digital Print outs or on Monitors, The famous "the un-retouched negatives are in my possession" will no longer be seen on Statements. The end of a Era. Last edited by JohnDotCom; 23rd June 2009 at 21:03..

23rd June 2009, 12:41	#2
kully Loves to post 75 MkI 1.8T Saloon Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Hampshire Posts: 444 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's suprising that Kodachrome survived this long. It does have a unique look but it needs a good exposure (C41 solved that) and the process to develop it is much more comploicated that E-6. However, I still have some rolls in the freezer and we have until the end of the year to send them off. Kodak are still doing R&D mind, they came out with a gorgeous colour negative film 'Ektar' this year and last year there was the astonishingly fine-grained B&W 400 speed TMAX-2.