Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Polaroid film, which appeared to be dead not too long ago, looks to be coming back to market. This resurgence of the brand is thanks to a 5-year licensing deal with the owners of the Polaroid brand and Summit Global Group. It looks like Summit will reintroduce many of the famous Polaroid film formats and, as a result, many of the old instant cameras will be given new life.
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
After slashing HIE-135 Infrared film 18 months ago, Kodak has officially killed Kodachrome film as well. Kodachrome has had served photographers for 74 years.
Here’s Steve McCurry reflecting back on some of his history with Kodachrome – “the gold standard of imagery” as he calls it.
More details on the death of Kodachrome in the press release below. [Read more…]
In a report from Amateur Photographer, we learned that Vivitar and Kodak are joining forces to bring a new Kodak-branded 35mm SLR back to the market and attempt to create a now-niche foothold for film users.
‘Vivitar has plans to develop a Kodak SLR camera similar to the Vivitar V3000s,’ said Vivitar UK CEO Abbas Bhanji who added: ‘The planned KV100 is, at the moment, at the development stages and once released will be aimed at educational institutes who specialise in traditional photography.’
I, for one, welcome this development with fond memories of my Ricoh KR Super II. Best wishes to Kodak and Vivitar in this endeavor. Maybe Kodak will bring back HIE-135 as well?
Since Kodak announced its plans to discontinue HIE-135 film . . .
KODAK is preannouncing the discontinuance of several smaller running families of Professional film – EPR, EPN and High Speed Infrared (HIE) effective end of December 2007. Demand for these products has been declining significantly in recent years, and it is no longer practical to continue to manufacture given the low volume, the age of the product formulations and the complexity of the processes involved.
We will continue to ship product through the end of this year. (Kodak.com)
. . . James C. Williams has started a jihad to save it.
Important to this cause is the fact that Kodak is listening:
Below I have copied an email I just sent to Patrick Hamilton, Public Relations Director, Kodak CDG EAMER: patrick.hamilton@kodak.com
Mr. Hamilton has encouraged me to write Kodak and is aware that I am attempting to start an email campaign to save HIE-135. He has assured me that he will get the messages to the appropriate people.
You can see James’ email to Kodak, along with emails from others, on this thread over at Photo.net.
If you shoot film or have been thinking about shooting film, consider picking up a roll of HIE-135 from B&H Photo or Calumet, a couple of the few places that I’ve been able to find it online. Thirteen bucks isn’t much for a good deed this time of year (I’ve ordered a roll from B&H for myself). Also, send an email to Patrick Hamilton at Kodak if you like the stuff.
UPDATE: Kodak has heard the voices of many and still refuses to keep HIE-135 alive. Amatuer Photographer published a portion of Kodak’s statement on the matter:
While we very much appreciate the correspondence we’ve received from some photographers – who use our infrared film and would like to be able to purchase it in 2008 and beyond – the fact is the decline in the use of infrared film has been so substantial over the years that it is no longer practical for Kodak to continue to manufacture the film given the extremely low demand and volume, the age of the product formulations and the complexity of the processes involved.