On Thursday, August 25, 2005, at 08:00 PM, Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050825/ap_on_bi_ge/kodak_consolidation
I've been reading this thread from the start and keep wondering where
we're talking about throwing film.
Pardon me for correcting the thread title. It's the editor in me.
This news story is interesting in that it refers to Kodak's digital
business as expanding. I'm not sure that's accurate. The only digital
cameras that Kodak was actually building were their pro cameras, and
they recently discontinued their whole pro line of cameras and digital
camera backs. Their point and shoot cameras are just rebadged products
from the Far East. Yes, Kodak does make CCD imaging chips, but I don't
know of any cameras using them, and they can't be selling them in any
volume. Kodak has been floundering in its attempts to go digital.
The only thing I know of that might keep ordinary color negative film
in production is that in a number of states digital images are not
allowed as forensic evidence, but I expect that will change over time.
And, so long as motion picture companies shoot on film there will be a
demand for those types of film. But that market is also going digital.
I don't see a future for film as a consumer item. The days when you
can go into a drugstore or Wally-Mart and pick up a few rolls of film
are definitely numbered.
As a specialty item for fine art photographers, black and white film
should be around for some time, but will become increasingly expensive.
Bob
