Kodak announced today that it will bring back Kodak Ektachrome Professional 100 slide film, originally cut from its lineup in 2012. After Kodak's discontinuation of Ektachrome, the only color slide films easily available from a major manufacturer are produced by Fujifilm.
Until 2012, Kodak had still recommended Ektachrome as an alternative to its iconic Kodachrome slide film, itself discontinued back in 2009. While Eastman Kodak will produce and market the film in its motion picture format, Kodak Alaris, the company that was spun out of Kodak following its bankruptcy in 2012, will supply the film in 35mm still format.
Kodak had announced they were working on a camera that includes digital sound recording but shoots film on Super 8 cartridges at CES 2016, where the camera was received favorably. They have presented a working prototype at CES this year.
With the exception of Tri-X black and white reversal film, Kodak currently has no film in its lineup for Super 8 cameras that can be projected directly, as Super 8 home movies typically were. Its other color stock offerings are negative films that have to be scanned in and reversed in software.
Ektachrome, which the company says will be available in the fourth quarter this year, will rectify this in time for the delivery of the new Super 8 camera. Ektachrome is currently announced only in an ISO 100 daylight variant. While Kodak's new camera will presumably be able to expose the new film correctly, the same cannot be assumed for used Super 8 cameras, many of which expose daylight film only at ISO 40 or ISO 160.
The Phoblographer talked to Kodak representatives at CES and has some further thoughts on the matter:
[via The Phoblographer]
They need to bring back the 120 rolls as well but this is pretty exciting either way. I hope this trend continues and more films are brought back. I'm loving the resurgence of film. it's great.
You wrote what I was thinking while reading this article verbatim.
This is great news. Not only because I love shooting transparencies, but the fact that a company is actually producing a new film is mind blowing. Maybe Fuji will follow suit and bring back FP 3000B? (In my dreams)
lets hope fuji follows suit! I miss some of their films. It's very exciting to see this trend! I hope it's something like the Vinyl record resurgance thats been happening and it continues to grow.
about 6 years ago I started in a 2 year photography program at a college and about 60% of the younger kids( about 18 and up) were shooting film even though it was an all digital program.. I feel that number has probably grown by now.
That's super encouraging!
While Ektachrome was never my favorite stock, it's great to see Kodak re-evaluating its stance on the film market. I'd love to see this in 120 and 4x5 as well. Let's hope this is the beginning of a small renaissance. Fuji, are you listening?? Bring back FP100C!
This! All of this!
Does Fuji still make 4x5 transparency film?
Perhaps I'll hold on to my Bronica GS-1 just a little longer to see what happens...
Provia and Velvia are still sold in 4x5 as far as I can ascertain. And of course they're readily available in 120. Let's hope Kodak brings back 120 Ektachrome as well – it's certainly not out of the question!
if you don't want to hold onto it I'll take it. :P
The great thing today is that all film cameras go for peanuts, regardless of format, really. I always wanted a 6x7, but they were exorbitantly expensive back in the film days. Some years back I found the Bronica for around $350, and just went for it. The Bronica is the smallest and lightest 6x7 SLR, but that mirror flop will knock you over if you're not ready for it!
I just grabbed a Mamiya RB67 with a 127mm lens for about $400. it's definitely not small haha. The shutter is like thunder. I love it but toting it around or even studio shooting with it is a better work out than lifting weights!
I'm looking into the bronica for something a bit more compact.if you ever want to get rid of it let me know!
I'll probably just hold on to the Bronica. The RB is a great camera. Definitely hard to use in the field I would imagine. It always struck primarily as a studio camera due to it's immense size.
The Bronica is compact as 6x7 SLRs go, but that's all relative. ;-) Here it is below next to my D600, with and without it's hand grip, which is a very handy accessory to have with this camera.
However if you want a fairly lightweight 6x7, consider the Koni Rapid Omega 6x7 rangefinder.There are several versions of this camera, some have a fixed 90mm optic, others have interchangeable optics, while others still had interchangeable backs as well. You can get Rapid Omegas for pretty cheap, just have a look around eBay. They were designed as press cameras, and as such were designed for (relative) portability and the ability to shoot quickly, hence it's name. I shot an Aerosmith concert back in 1979 with Nikon FTN and Nikon F2SB cameras with various lenses, and a Rapid Omega with a fixed 90mm. All cameras had high speed Ektachrome. I have to say I was impressed with how responsive and easy to use it was, especially in the incredibly rowdy environment this concert turned out to be! If you're interested, you can get some info on the Omega here:
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Koni-Omega
High contrast lenses won't be a problem with me using Ektachrome since my film cameras use Canon FD mount lenses.
I didn't shoot a lot of slide film with my Canon A-1, but I did shoot some Kodachrome and Ektachrome. I'm looking forward to this re-release. However, I now use my A-1 for B&W film and my used New F-1 for color film.
Kodachrome's contrast was great at compensating for spherical chromatic aberration on 60s/70s lenses wide open.
I'm not sure if I share the worry about high contrast lenses either. I shoot slide film with old school lenses as well. If the newest lenses don't work well with Ektachrome, then don't use them with Ektachrome. Get some older ones for cheap.
I don't own the Canon EOS 1N or 1V, so I can't use the EF lenses, except on my 5D. I just own the A-1 and New F-1 and use FD mount lenses.
I second what the others are saying: Fuji needs to learn a thing or two from Kodak. The discontinuation of FP3000B and FP100C caused heartbreaks heard around the globe. I am so happy to see that someone is paying attention to this film revitalization.
The best film image quality ever in my opinion was Kodachrome which many people think exceeds the best digital. Excellent color, contrast, gamma without having to spend time editing digital images. While Kodak has reintroduced Ektachrome, Kodak has shown no interesting in restoring Kodachrome but wont comment why. Film itself is easier to make than Ektachrome, but developing is very complicated, yes. However the precise temperatures and times needed are easily done with computer sensors so what is the real issue? The exotic non-environmental chemicals required?