Kodak retires Kodachrome film
In yet another sign that digital photography is taking over every aspect of photography, Kodak has retired the 74-year-old Kodachrome brand.
Say what you will about the merits of film verses digital photography, there is no denying that digital is winning out as more and more brands of film are retired for good. In February 2008 it was the end of Polaroid instant film, and now Kodak is following suit with the end of production of Kodachrome by the end of 2009.
While this is certainly not an end to all of Kodak’s still photography films, it is the end of the most iconic brand. Over the years sales have declined not due to just digital camera, but also because of newer types of film being developed. The once dominant brand now represents just a fraction of 1 percent of Kodak’s total sales of still-picture films.
Mary Jane Hellyar, President of Kodak’s Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group said, “It was certainly a difficult decision to retire [Kodachrome], given its rich history. However, the majority of today’s photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology – both film and digital. Kodak remains committed to providing the highest-performing products – both film and digital – to meet those needs.”
The decision was also partially due to not only the complexity of producing the film, but also in processing it. Only one company in the world - Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas – still does it due to the process it takes.
If there is ever any doubt in the quality of the film, and how it’s use was still relevant even in the 1980’s, one only needs to look to Steve McCurry’s haunting 1984 National Geographic cover image known as “the Afghan Girl”. Even Mr. McCurry admitted that by the time he returned to take a picture of her 17 years later, he had moved on from Kodachrome to Kodak’s Ektachrome.
Kodak has set up a tribute site at http://www.kodak.com/go/kodachrometribute where you can browse through the history of the film and see famous examples of the photography that was shot with it.
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