Eastman Kodak - a Final Salute?

[andy153]

Hi there, those of us who started our photography in the dark ages, must, I'm sure be saddened by the news that Eastman Kodak is preparing for bankruptcy in the U S A. One of the Pioneers of popular photography and the inventor of Digital Photography, failed to develop it properly and their film may become a thing of the past. How many of us have used Box Brownies or Kodachrome film at one time or another? Is this finally the death of film?

[Birdsnapper]

It is a bit ironic that Eastman made photography accessible to the masses but the company failed to get into the photographic digital age, which has made photography available to just about everyone.
Sad to see the company go under, though. It's a bit like Woolworth going - a bit of my past has been lost.

[davet47]

Sad situation. I've been looking today at Kodak 35mm Film cameras-had a Retinette 1A as a first "proper" camera in the early 60s. I'm tempted to buy one to add to my small collection of old cameras-more reason to do so now.

Dave

http://gorwelimages.photium.com

[petrochemist]

My oldest camera lens is a 1930s Kodak Astigmat, which will continue to be used occationally (I've made an adapter to use it on my DSLR). Like most photographers of the film days I've used more than a few rolls of their film, once using 10 rolls (over 36 shots on each) in less than a month - though these days 400 shots in a day is not totally unheard of. It will indeed be sad to see them go, lets hope at least a few film & darkroom supplys manufacturers are able to keep going.

[miketoll]

Sad news, a bit of my past looks like it is about to slip away. I started with a Kodak camera as my first 'serious' camera (Kodak Colorsnap) after a childhood Ross Ensign tin plated TSLR. Used Kodak film and slide film until swapping to Fujifilm.
Funny how Kodak invented digital photography which has now become their death-knell. Somehow they just could not seem to develop the new technology or change the company sufficiently to adjust to the changing times. The name became no longer synonymous with photography and they lost their customer base after digital came in. They join a long list of once great photography names unless some kind of rescue package comes in.

[Arthur53]

Sad to see a company go under. Will be a shame for so much history to end.
Must admit I was never a great Kodak fan when possible would use Fujifilm / chrome, Ilford chemicals but sometimes all I could get was Kodak (D76). Never used a Kodak camera early days Pentax and Olympus.
In my youth Kodak always were the old garde the status quo at the time a bit old and boring. Guess they never managed to changed with the times.