Kodachrome is no more

[luminosity]

This is a sad day:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31486343/ns/business-us_business/

[jessica.]

Why do you shoot a lot of it? ;)

I admit I have not shot film in quite some time. I retired my two large format cameras a year ago and regretted it ever since. However, I am mostly shooting digital and probably will just continue. I loved Kodachrome myself but frankly digital cameras are so inexpensive these days and anyone who owns one is suddenly a professional photographer so who cares about film right? </sarcasm

[gkarris]

“They give us those nice bright colors. They give us the greens of summers. Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day,... So Mama don’t take my Kodachrome away.” - Paul Simon

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Don't take my Kodachrome away!!!! :eek:

[BanjoBanker]

Thanks gkarris for beating me to the punch! Paul Simon's song was the first thing in my head when I read the story. I will miss Kodachrome as I still shoot film occasionally with my trusty Leica IIIc when I want a certain look. Goodbye Kodachrome, you will be missed..

[Dmac77]

Very unfortunate. I should go stock up on some.

Don

[rdowns]

Thanks gkarris for beating me to the punch! Paul Simon's song was the first thing in my head when I read the story.

Considering the article title was...Sorry, Paul Simon, Kodak’s axing Kodachrome. :D

One of the most played songs in my iTunes library.

[NeXTCube]

...is why companies like Kodak and Polaroid won't license the formulas for making these films to boutique companies that want to keep making them. Seems like a win/win to me; photographers can keep the films and processes they love, EK would get royalties, and someone else could build a business around it.

There's a group looking to do it with the Polaroid film packs (Polaroid Lovers Try to Revive Its Instant Film (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/technology/26polaroid.html), NY Times May 25, 2009) though they have a long row to hoe with no assistance coming from Polaroid.

ADOX (http://www.adox.de/) and maco products (http://www.maco-photo.de/photo.php?lan=en) (under the Rollei name) are selling some old-school black and white emulsions - would they have the facilities to keep Kodachrome going?

[gkarris]

^^^ because Kodak has new Ekta slide film, and you can now get instant cameras and film from Fuji...

[NeXTCube]

^^^ because Kodak has new Ekta slide film, and you can now get instant cameras and film from Fuji...

Yeah, there's Ektachrome, and of course Velvia and Provia...it's just not the same, and of course, that may be a good thing.

Kodak now has a tribute to Kodachrome (http://homepage.1000words.kodak.com/default.asp?item=2388083&CID=go&idhbx=kodachrometribute) up on their site...

[Doylem]

I mourned the loss of my favourite film (Fuji Velvia) right up to the moment when I took a deep breath and went digital. In the three years since then, I haven't looked back at film-based photography with any great nostalgia.

I thought my photographic world had ended when my favourite film disappeared. But it wasn't the end at all... just the beginning.. :)

[Edge100]

I mourned the loss of my favourite film (Fuji Velvia) right up to the moment when I took a deep breath and went digital. In the three years since then, I haven't looked back at film-based photography with any great nostalgia.

I thought my photographic world had ended when my favourite film disappeared. But it wasn't the end at all... just the beginning.. :)

I've heard good things about the current Velvia 50; havent shot it myself, but from what I hear it's fairly similar to the original Velvia.

[jessica.]

^ good point Doylem.
I bought a case of Velvia when I heard the announcement and eventually sold off the remaining stock in the fridge before it expired.

Even still, it'd be nice if I had the space and means to continue to use film right now.

[Doylem]

I bought a case of Velvia when I heard the announcement and eventually sold off the remaining stock in the fridge before it expired.

Even still, it'd be nice if I had the space and means to continue to use film right now.

Me too... I bought a stock of Velvia and put it in the fridge. But it was depressing to think my photographic days were almost over (hard to believe now, but that's how I felt then...), and I gave my last few rolls away.

I didn't fire a shutter for maybe a year. Then I stumped up for a Nikon D200, found you can teach an old dog new tricks after all, and haven't looked back since.

I can't think of a single reason for going back to film... ;)

[Scepticalscribe]

I'm still using film and am contemplating switching to digital sometime in the future, but for the present, I have a beautiful "old" Nikon F100 and I love using it.

On topic, I'm always sorry to see the demise of an iconic brand, especially a high quality brand that gave many people much pleasure over the years.

Cheers and good luck