End of an epoch: Kodak to discontinue Kodachrome 64

[KrishnenduKes]

Kodak has finally decided to end its premium chrome product, Kodachrome64 after 74 years of successful running worldwide in the hands of professionals.

Read the detailed article with impressions of famed ex National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry amongst others and the press release by Kodak here:

http://photo.net/learn/film/slide-film/kodachrome-discontinued/

[powerslave]

Yeah I read about that. A part of me died. I know I'm not into film directly, but its just sad to see one of the last traces of film disappearing.

[KrishnenduKes]

Yeah I read about that. A part of me died. I know I'm not into film directly, but its just sad to see one of the last traces of film disappearing.

This is probably due to the chemicals required for its processing as they have elaborated in the article. But did you know that due to strong demands and protests, Fujichrome Velvia 50 was relaunched in late 2007 for its fine grain and richness in colours?

[powerslave]

They should keep manufacturing them as a niche product at least.. for the rich enthusiast.

[rio008]

how many members using a film camera in this site. less than 5% for sure. from that only we can estimate why they discontinue it.

[powerslave]

How many people in this world drive a Ferrari? They still make those. :)

[niks_devil666]

But the film cameras arent sold for a premium like the ferraris

[powerslave]

Irrelevant. Its one way for cars, cost of car + ownership costs while another for cameras. In any case, the analogy is about paying a premium for something niche - may it be the car or the fuel. As long as there are enthusiasts like those, willing to pay, there will always be a market, albeit a niche one (which is not way off of how things stand with film photogs in this day).

[Aryan]

Excuse me, but what is a Kodachrome64 in the first place!?

[Psycho_McCrazy]

Excuse me, but what is a Kodachrome64 in the first place!?
somebody shoot him :P

Kodachrome was one of the longest running brands of transparency film, and 64 was one of the speeds that was available these days for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome

this film was an icon. the world's most famous photograph (The Afghan Gir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Girl)l) was taken on it. There are parks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome_Basin_State_Park) and songs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome_(song)) named after it.

I guess ever since Velvia overtook it as the de-facto landscape transparency, the interest in it was dwindling. And even Velvia has had an end life scare because of some environmental issues... it was relaunched as Velvia50 in 2006 or 2007 I think.

Steve McCurry (photographer of the Afghan Girl) is shooting one last roll of kodachrome 64 as a tribute.

[KrishnenduKes]

how many members using a film camera in this site. less than 5% for sure. from that only we can estimate why they discontinue it.

They should keep manufacturing them as a niche product at least.. for the rich enthusiast.

It is nothing to do with it being a niche product. It is to do with the chemical used for the processing of this particular reversal film (transparency) whereas Fujichrome continues to be produced and used in its various avatars (Velvia 50, 100, 200 and 400) for the simple reason that they ALL use the same chemical.

somebody shoot him :P

Kodachrome was one of the longest running brands of transparency film, and 64 was one of the speeds that was available these days for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome

this film was an icon. the world's most famous photograph (The Afghan Gir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Girl)l) was taken on it. There are parks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome_Basin_State_Park) and songs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachrome_(song)) named after it.

I guess ever since Velvia overtook it as the de-facto landscape transparency, the interest in it was dwindling. And even Velvia has had an end life scare because of some environmental issues... it was relaunched as Velvia50 in 2006 or 2007 I think.

Steve McCurry (photographer of the Afghan Girl) is shooting one last roll of kodachrome 64 as a tribute.

Very good answer. You have got your history of photography and the evolution of silver nitrate pretty much in place. Now should we expect a lesson from you from the time of the first French Photograph ever being shot and printed? :D

[Psycho_McCrazy]

@kenda
that's just the wikipedia talking. i ain't no expert sir.