K-14 (Kodachrome) and Cibachrome Print Possibility in Berlin, Germany

[railwayman3]

Originally Posted by Aurum

Considering we don't have any clue of the exact equipment that our German friend has, its a bit of a moot point until he enlightens us.
He may have got his hands on a K-Lab, in which case AFAIK, that will be 35mm only, or if he's adapting other machinery, that could be a whole different ballgame.
My 10p worth, Dwaynes is geared for volume, so asking them to attempt anything wider than 35mm would be a tall ask. If in Germany, Uli is looking at more bespoke work, it may be more readily considered.

Unfortunately, unless he gets in contact, and gives us an idea of what his plans are, even if only in theory, we are all playing a game of "What if"

I agree, it's a moot point. But, realistically, there are so many problems, size of machinary, costs of adapting if necessary, obtaining rare chemicals (K-lab chemicals are, I understand, discontinued), costs and expertise of running the Kodachrome process to acceptable quality standards for customers, and obtaining enough business to make the whole thing economic. And this with a film which is discontinued, in limited and finate supply, all of which is many years outdated and, even if frozen, steadily deteriorating.

I was misguided enough to keep a brick of 120 Kodachrome in my freezer, and, much as I'd love to use it again, I wouldn't expect anything beyond experimentation with it, even if Dwaynes or Kodak themselves offered a processing service.

It's fun to speculate and even experiment with old film, but 120 Kodachrome cannot be regarding as a proposition for serious work.

[railwayman3]

Originally Posted by tiberiustibz

Unfortunately, diverting the entire european K14 from dwaynes industry would probably not fare well for kodachrome in general.

I know we're only speculating and pipe-dreaming (which is always fun ) but SFAIK all K64 in Europe is sold with the cost of processing-and-mounting by Dwayne's (via Kodak in Switzerland) included. So unless a customer is unhappy with some aspect of Dwayne's service, they're not going to pay someone else a second time for processing.
And anyone (like myself) who is satisfied with the present arrangements, is unlikely to entrust their films to a new unknown service.

[Ian Grant]

Yes but it's already been announced that the existing pre-paid service won't be honoured after a given cut off date. This is just another twist in the final phase out of Kodachrome. No new film will be coated.

Ian

[railwayman3]

Originally Posted by Ian Grant

Yes but it's already been announced that the existing pre-paid service won't be honoured after a given cut off date. This is just another twist in the final phase out of Kodachrome. No new film will be coated.

Ian

Isn't that the US mailers, purchased separately to the film?

And can you quote the source of the definitive information that no new film will be coated? (You may be right, of course, but I've seen nothing official?)

[Aurum]

Originally Posted by Ian Grant

Yes but it's already been announced that the existing pre-paid service won't be honoured after a given cut off date. This is just another twist in the final phase out of Kodachrome. No new film will be coated.

Ian

I thought that was the buy separately mailers for the the North American markets, that don't supply K64 process paid off the shelf, or have I missed something here?

[tiberiustibz]

There was another coating run a month ago. It's still being coated. My film expires in mid-2010.

The prepaid processing that comes with all Kodachrome sold outside the US does not expire, though the mailers did.

[Ian Grant]

I read it as all pre paid mailers, but I could be wrong.

No new coating is an informed guess, I have spoken to friends in the US who used to work at Kodak and still have friends there, (not Ron/PE BTW).

I had intended to shoot some Kodachrome when I was I the UK recently but it was too expensive and very uneconomic at the prices in Jessops/Boots so I gave it a miss.

Ian

[Ian Grant]

Originally Posted by tiberiustibz

There was another coating run a month ago. It's still being coated. My film expires in mid-2010.

The prepaid processing that comes with all Kodachrome sold outside the US does not expire, though the mailers did.

That's not a coating run it's just a new batch from the cold store, every so often the master roll is wheeled out a small bit confectioned and sold, in a very limited market place.

Ian

[railwayman3]

Originally Posted by Ian Grant

I had intended to shoot some Kodachrome when I was I the UK recently but it was too expensive and very uneconomic at the prices in Jessops/Boots so I gave it a miss.

Ian

Boots have for some months been offering 3 films for the price of 2. At that
K64 process paid works out at just under £8.50 per film (£25.42 for 3, Sheffield, 26th May), which I think works out about as cheap as any slide film with professional processing.
(Oh, nearly forgot, an additional £1 worth of Advantage Card points against next visit....plus a voucher for half-price sunglasses! )

[sinnlicht]

Regrettably Uli has renounced his intention, citing his uncertainty of being able to guarantee quality control. Many thanks for your contributions.

Richard