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Kodak might not always be quick these days, but it seems they get there in the end. In 2016, the company showed off a new Super 8mm camera at CES 2016. Almost eight years later, the company has now officially announced it.
In 2016, Kodak said the camera would come with a price tag of between $400 and $750. This seems pretty laughable now, as it’s being released with an MSRP of $5,495. Processing the film has significantly jumped in price, too.
Here’s some good news for film photographers. After a massive price increase earlier this year, some 35mm films are back at their original prices. At least for a while. So, use this opportunity to stock up on Fujifilm and Kodak fioms.
Kodak was once one of the biggest names in photography. For decades, it stood head and shoulders above not only its competitors but every other brand in the photography industry. Their film was used by everybody, from seasoned professionals to those shooting family snapshots.
Then digital came, and Kodak seemed to just sort of disappear from our collective consciousness. Kodak literally invented the digital camera. So, what went wrong? Let’s find out, as James Warner of Snappiness tells the story.
We’ve seen a lot of DIY camera projects here on DIYP. Usually, though, they’re either Raspberry Pi-based or modified Game Boy Cameras. It’s rare we see a digital camera being built completely from the ground up.
But that’s what Wenting Zhang is doing with the Sitina 1. It’s a full-frame open-source camera that uses an off-the-shelf Kodak CCD image sensor. Now, it’s not a fancy sensor, at only 10.7-megapixels. But being CCD, it’s got a global shutter.
Kodak has announced the new Kodak EKTAR H35N (buy here) half-frame film camera. It’s a reusable camera, not disposable like Ilford’s recently released Ilfocolor Rapid half-frame black & white camera. It’s also available in more of the world.
The original Ektar half-frame film camera was released only last year, but the new H35N adds some great new features. These include a built-in star filter, bulb mode (with release cable), a 1/4″-20 tripod mount and an improved lens.
Kodak may still be around today, but it’s a shell of its former self. Founded in 1892, it was once the biggest name in the photography industry. These days, though, it’s mostly propped up by the Hollywood film industry and licensing its name to random products (not always for the better). Popping up slightly later, in 1934, Fujifilm came onto the scene.
While it might not be quite as old as Kodak, both survived similar upheavals in the industry and the onslaught of digital. How did Fujifilm survive when Kodak didn’t? Well, in simple terms, Fujifilm adapted with the times. Kodak, not so much. But here’s Asianometry with an interesting 25-minute documentary that explains it in more detail.
It’s been a while since we last saw an update on Destin Sandlin’s visit to the Kodak factory in Rochester, New York. Part One was posted way back in March of last year. It looked into how Kodak produces the actual film onto which the chemicals are placed. Part Two arrived a few months later in July, going over the chemical processes involved in making it light-sensitive and how they’re applied to that film base.
Now, we’ve finally got Part Three, where Kodak takes us from those big drums of sensitised film to cutting it up, adding the sprocket holes, making and filling the canisters, popping those into film cases and finally, retail packaging. Let the adventure continue!
No, you haven’t just stepped into a time machine: Kodak Alaris is up for sale again. Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has owned the business since 2020.But according to the most recent reports, it’s talking to bankers about selling the business.
Buckle up film shooters because things are about to get a whole lot more expensive. Or at least, they will if you insist on using Kodak film. And you live in Japan. According to National Photo in Japan, both 35mm and 120 films will see a price increase by as much as 40% in some instances.
The price increase is set for January 16th, and as Digital Camera World puts it, even though the increases are happening in Japan, it’s highly likely they will roll out similarly in the rest of the world.
There is no doubt that Kodak has brought a revolution into the world of photography. So, the American Chemical Society (ACS) has proclaimed Eastman Kodak the National Historic Chemical Landmark. This title honors George Eastman and Kodak, and their role in making photography available to everyone.
Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.
Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe
Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.
John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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