Sent: 27 September 2003 11:49
To: ProDIG
Subject: Re: [PRODIG] Kodak decline
The move away from film to digital by pros is hardly likely to make a
difference to their revenue. A cinematographer *probably* consumes as much
film in 3 months of shooting as 100 photographers in a lifetime. After a
film wraps, further prints have to made for distribution (though digital has
been trying to make inroads into that area for years, it hasn't made a dent
as yet but no doubt will one day).
However, it is worth remembering that cinema industry is also moving towards
digital, and not only cinematographers, but cinemas themselves are having
digital projection technology more affordable and providing a lot better
quality than film projection.
I have seen what one of those digital projectors can do in Kinepolis Madrid
and it really is amazing what a low(ish) resolution film can look like when
used properly.
It's true they have lost marketshare to Fuji and to digital post production
but they have seen it coming for years and have actually accelerated the
process by their digital innovations and support in post production. I'd be
very surprised if they didn't see how the industry is set to change
(especially at the consumer level).
Actually, I think they saw it a long time ago and they tried to delay it
introducing the APS, the biggest con in the history of Photography, and not
a con only to consumers, but to thousands of minilabs that relied on
processing for their income and had to upgrade to machines that cost many,
many thousand of ? (you can ask my dad about that, he will give you a full
picture, although I am sure that you won't have to go as far as Spain to
find similar experiences).
IMHO, Kodak has what it deserves for a really poor service and lack of
vision in the last decade.
Paco.
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