More Kodak Woes - plans to sell film business

Shall we all chip in?
 
This might actually be good news. If they get the right buyer, one who is relatively debt light and who actually wants to be producing film and film products then the situation can't be any worse. The new films will be the Kodak in all but name down side of course is it could get dearer but that's surely better than going away all together.
 
Not good news, that's colour still photography film development finished. Fuji sure as hell aren't interesting in developing new film and Kodak movie film still looks like something from the 70s.
 
I wonder how long it will be before my old kodak unexposed film is worth a mint ;)

If kodak aren't doing cameras nor film what are they actually doing?
 
I would say its a shame but I never really liked any of Kodak's emulsions and am happy shooting B&W HP5+ and acros.
 
MindofMel said:
Beginning to think getting into film has been my equivalent of backing the three legged horse. Wonder how long left we have with film... Everyone says it will always be here despite all signs saying otherwise..

#justbecauseimparanoiddoesntmeannobodyisouttogetme
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I cant imagine colour film will stick around for a great deal longer to be honest.

Black and white however has a more certain future
 
It's easier to make and develop. There are a number of small companies making (and in some cases developing new) B&W films.
 
Companies producing black and white film
Kodak
Fuji
Ilford
Agfa
Adox
Foma
CLFC - Lucky 100
SMPIC - Shanghai GP3
Efke
Rollei

Companies making colour film
Kodak
Fuji
Agfa

Im sure there are others as well
 
MindofMel said:
thought that I'll have a load of equipment sitting around with no film, is worrying!
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I don't believe there will ever be NO film, but it does start to make one wonder how expensive it could become if availability becomes increasingly limited.

On a more positive note, film IS here atm and plenty of it so do what i'm going to do and get out and shoot some.....at least then if it ever does dissapear I will have happy memores of using the gear that i have!
 
robhooley167 said:
Companies producing black and white film
Kodak
Fuji
Ilford
Agfa
Adox
Foma
CLFC - Lucky 100
SMPIC - Shanghai GP3
Efke
Rollei

Companies making colour film
Kodak
Fuji
Agfa

Im sure there are others as well
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How about some "Ashooley" film to add to that??...I'm sure with your knowledge and my lack of it, we could produce some!:D :D
 
I'm sure the environmental impact of film also plays a part.

Some sort of biodegradable developer and whole new environmentally friendly emulsion is what is really needed. That's got to be some light sensitive algae derivitive they can use instead :)
 
Ilford went through similar in the last decade and they are still doing fine so we'll just have to wait and see what happens to Kodak.
As for colour film isn't Fuji the only company making E-6 colour slide film now Kodak stopped?
 
Morinaka said:
Ilford went through similar in the last decade and they are still doing fine so we'll just have to wait and see what happens to Kodak.
As for colour film isn't Fuji the only company making E-6 colour slide film now Kodak stopped?
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I think Agfa make some E-6 film, not too sure though
 
I thought they were going to concentrate on film?
According to Kodaks own reports the film business has been making money, so why sell it?

Could this be the end of Portra and Tri-X, hope not.
 
And if the reports on APUG are anything to go by, Efke will be ceasing production of films and paper.
 
All of Efkes film bar the IR stuff was rebranded or sourced from Adox IIRC
 
A quote

: The Adox CHS 25/50/100 (NOT the CMS ASA20) films are rebranded Efke films, made to Adox' specifications (the roll films also being rolled by Adox from Efke's raw material) and are affected by this.
 
Just some clarification on the Kodak announcement - for sale is the consumer film business and photographic paper. Pro film (Portra, Ektar, B&W) and Motion picture are not for sale.

Kodak have agreements in place with the major Hollywood studios to supply motion picture film until 2015 at which point then it becomes a point of discussion and negotiation again. Stills is coated on back of the MP so you can guarantee supply of Portra, Ektar, B&W for some time to come. And then there is always the possibility that the marketing and distribution will be sold to a third party, with Kodak making it as master roll. Any number of possibilities.

Currently we see a very strong growth in pro-film, particularly colour, as professionals, particularly wedding photographers are shooting more film to try and differentiate themselves in the crowded market place. This is a trend started in the US and, as with all photographic trends, especially wedding, finds it's way over here.
 
AgPhotographic said:
Just some clarification on the Kodak announcement - for sale is the consumer film business and photographic paper. Pro film (Portra, Ektar, B&W) and Motion picture are not for sale.
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Thats good to hear, the press release wasnt especially well worded, it just sounded like all stills film to me :cuckoo:
 
Matthew, I'm not disputing you as you sound pretty clued up. But I was told by a mate who studies film production that the use of film in the cinematic industry is on it's way out in a couple of years?

Either way, I'm happy Kodak will still be selling it's pro range of films.
 
Ash. said:
Matthew, I'm not disputing you as you sound pretty clued up. But I was told by a mate who studies film production that the use of film in the cinematic industry is on it's way out in a couple of years?

Either way, I'm happy Kodak will still be selling it's pro range of films.
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It wont be because the studios have agreed to buy it. If they dotn buy it they wont get a load of rebates Kodak owes them. Although there is more and more origination and distribution digitally. However the technology has been available for years to shoot a movie digitally - Once Upon a Time in Mexico was famously shot digitally and director Rodriguez held seminars on how motion picture film was all over. That was 10 years ago.

As origination medium it offers a lot of advantages, even though there are additional costs, it produces savings in other areas. I think people would be surprised to discover how many TV dramas have been originated on film in the last few years.

However, if the business is sold that is not necessarily a bad thing of course so I'm not sure the title of this thread is entirely appropiate.
 
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None of the film studios trust digital as an archive medium yet (there have been some fairly epic digital blunders like toy story), AFAIK its all still backed up onto film for long term storage. The latest bond film is the first being shot without film but it has its compromises and many will still be shooting on film stock for a long time yet.
 
Thanks for clearing that up Matthew.

Someone else in this thread mentioned that selling the film business might be good too, who knows, another company might be enthusiastic about producing film!
 
AgPhotographic said:
Just some clarification on the Kodak announcement - for sale is the consumer film business and photographic paper. Pro film (Portra, Ektar, B&W) and Motion picture are not for sale.

Kodak have agreements in place with the major Hollywood studios to supply motion picture film until 2015 at which point then it becomes a point of discussion and negotiation again. Stills is coated on back of the MP so you can guarantee supply of Portra, Ektar, B&W for some time to come. And then there is always the possibility that the marketing and distribution will be sold to a third party, with Kodak making it as master roll. Any number of possibilities.

Currently we see a very strong growth in pro-film, particularly colour, as professionals, particularly wedding photographers are shooting more film to try and differentiate themselves in the crowded market place. This is a trend started in the US and, as with all photographic trends, especially wedding, finds it's way over here.
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Hmm On the thread on APUG a person speaking on behalf of Kodak has clarified that "commercial" film means "motion picture film" and "consumer still film" also encompasses "professional" still film as far as this sale is concerned.
 
walsh said:
Hmm On the thread on APUG a person speaking on behalf of Kodak has clarified that "commercial" film means "motion picture film" and "consumer still film" also encompasses "professional" still film as far as this sale is concerned.
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And this is the big problem - who can you trust when it comes to information, when it all seems to be clashing from different places? Not saying you can't trust these people, but it isn't that hard to sign up to most places and claim you are this person/representative of this company if you are persuasive enough :bang:
 
freecom2 said:
...but it isn't that hard to sign up to most places and claim you are this person/representative of this company if you are persuasive enough :bang:
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I see what you are saying but what would be the point?
 
RaglanSurf said:
I see what you are saying but what would be the point?
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False information for the fun of it, or just to troll - at witnessed by that person who kept digging up those old threads a few days ago. Who knows what excites some people...
 
walsh said:
Hmm On the thread on APUG a person speaking on behalf of Kodak has clarified that "commercial" film means "motion picture film" and "consumer still film" also encompasses "professional" still film as far as this sale is concerned.
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It is difficult with different stories circulating. I do have an an email from one of the executive directors of Kodak Limited (UK Kodak) yesterday and he is stating that the pro-film is not included in this offer. But that paper is - which is of major interest to Kodak Limited because the Harrow plant coats loads of paper.

I have had quite a bit of contact with this individual over the last couple of years.

The Harrow plant would make a lovely facility and business for Ilford (harman)!
 
There's an interview with Kodak's Dennis Olbrich in The British Journal of Photography

‎"The key thing that we are trying to get across to customers, and into the world, is that Kodak is selling these businesses, and not shutting these businesses down," says Olbrich. "We are extremely committed to both the film and Silver Halide businesses going forward. We have a good business and we are expecting that these businesses will continue long into the future."

More info here http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2206235/kodak-in-active-discussions-to-sell-its-film-business

So hopefully all is not lost :D
 
I don't know....
The goal, says Olbrich, is to find one buyer that will take on both the Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging divisions, which encompass digital scanners, picture kiosks, souvenir photo products, photographic paper, as well as Kodak's legendary film businesses.
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... sounds like you'd be doing a Kodak a favour taking all that crap off them so as to get a hold of the film business. Or worse, the buyer might have no interest in the film side of things.

Also...
Some of these buyers are traditional photographic companies :thumbs:, as well as private equity firms :thumbsdown:, BJP understands.
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... hopefully they don't just mean the Impossible Project, but a more established company/s.
 
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