Photokina: Positive news for film

[Henning Serger]

@ all: Thank you very much for your positive feedback!! Nice to hear that my report is interesting for you.

Interesting - for a while (post-Kodak deal ending) it looked like they had dropped off the film map. By chance did they say anything about their B&W offerings? For a while now the SHD100 still seems to be available on eBay, but SHD400 seems to have disappeared.

Also, did they say anything about distribution outside of China (other than eBay sellers)?

Hello mabman,

according to my information they recently coated a new run of SHD 100. They gave me a test sample of this film and their new CN films.
We didn't talk about distribution outside Asia.
Perhaps because I am very satisfied with my Kodak, Fuji, Ilford and Rollei films .

Best regards,
Henning

[Henning Serger]

Very interesting actually, thanks.

For those of us not so well informed, why wasn't Ilford there?

Hello Mark,

they said the costs would be too high, and the benefits too low. That was their business decision.

But consider this: Even very small firms like Moersch, Kienzle, Heiland, Fotoimpex....and lots of others were there, like Maco/Rollei-Film, Freestyle and Foma.
All were reporting much interest and good business.
And they "flied a flag" for analogue photography (I hope I've said it right, or is it "to set a flag"?). And exactly that is what the market needs: Hey guys, we are here, film is alive and kicking!
And Ilford stand for BW Photography as no other company.

I've started my darkroom work and my BW photography with Ilford products, when I was 17 years old. Since then I've used Ilford products, and I was always very satisfied. And I intend to use Ilford products for the rest of my life (as well as Kodak, Fuji, Rollei and some others).

I hope Ilford will reconsider their decision and will be at Photokina 2010. I have missed them very much this year.
Please, brave Knights of Knutsford, go on!

Best regards,
Henning

[Henning Serger]

Thanks, Henning, for a great report.

I was just curious about what Kodak said (that they had long term contracts that might last up to 10 years). Did they give an indication who these contracts were with? Presumably this is the movie industry?

Hello Mark,

they were referring to an official statement of Mr. Perez, Kodak CEO. And he said contracts with big clients for both photo an film (movie film) products.
This statement was also published in a special film magazin in Germany earlier this year ("Schmalfilm", 02/2008).

Best regards,
Henning

[markbarendt]

Thanks Henning.

"Flew" or "Raised" a flag would be more correct. I understood "Flied".

I understand their decision, my money has to go where it does productive work too!

I too like Ilford's stuff and intend to shoot it the rest of my life.

[P C Headland]

Thanks for the report. It's great, especially considering the impracticalities for some of us to pop over for a day !!

[AgX]

Henning,

all you have been shown are fruits seeded in the past.

Future may either be coating and marketing that what is on the market now (as long it is profitable),
or... going further with improved products.

Seen the long time span from initial research to a product in the market and the costs involved, decisions have to be made now.
That research issue is overlooked at Apug again and again.

Sorry, for being a kill-joy.

[bnstein]

Henning

having looked for some reports on photokina all I could find were those covering the latest digital products plus a brief mention of the new kodak film so it was a great pleasure to see your excellent summary. Many thanks

[Henning Serger]

Hello AgX,

Henning,

all you have been shown are fruits seeded in the past.

So what? Of course, that is always the case. Look at cars, digital cameras, airplanes, what you like.

Seen the long time span from initial research to a product in the market and the costs involved, decisions have to be made now.

Kodak introduced Portra 400 NC-2/VC-2 in 2006. Only eighteen months later they presented the improved version 400 NC-3/VC-3.
If I had told you last summer, that Kodak will bring a new Portra to market,
you would have said I'm totally crazy.
If I had told you last summer, that Kodak will present a new TMY, a new product in the tiny niche market BW film, you would have said I'm totally crazy. But Kodak did, the film is a success, increasing sales.
If I had told you this summer, Kodak will present a new Ektar film, you would have said I'm totally crazy.
If I had told you last autumn, Fuji will introduce a new folder camera, you would......
We can continue the list.

Most of the new or resurrected products which hit the market in the last two years seem to be impossible. At least concerning to the "experts" here on apug.
And most of the new products have succes on the market. Therefore it makes sense to continue R&D. I think Kodak and Fuji (and AG) have realised that.

In the last two years Kodak introduced 11 (!) new or improved films: Portra 160 NC-2, 160 VC-2, 400 NC-2, 400 VC-2, Portra 800 version 3, improved Gold 200 and Gold 400, Portra 400 NC-3 and Portra 400 VC-3, TMY-2, Ektar 100.

I grew up in in the "golden analogue days". But I can't remenber a time in the past, when Kodak introduced 11 Films in only two years. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Look back at summer 2006: Anyone here on apug who thougt that Kodak will bring 11 new films to the market in the next two years?
No, quite the opposite: The apug experts talked about Kodak leaving the film market.
Anyone here on apug who thougt we will see Velvia 50 back on the shelves?

My personal conclusion: I speak directly to the people who are currently working in the industry (because from time to time I am working there as well).

By the way, the decision for new production runs at Agfa-Gevaert were made recently (and even there R&D was necessary for these new runs due to different coating machines). Very short time frames.

Best regards,
Henning

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

Looking for Photokina reports the best I got were some mentions of Kodak's new film, the rest was all new D-SLRS and (depressingly enough) even a few new camera phones. Thank you very much for the comprehensive report and your service to our community.

[David Brown]

Yeeee - Haaawwww ....

(Sorry for my bad English. I am Texan.)