Will the recession kill off super 8?

[Jim Carlile]

Oh, I don't know, I'm not that worried about the future of super 8-- we've got a few years left, and as Kodak has just introduced a new negative stock I don't think they are going to pull the plug right yet.

I've heard the loss-leader talk all over the place-- I'm trying to remember where there was a semi-official statement about this-- that Kodak justifies their continuing investment in super 8 because they see it as a gateway into the MP line, via film schools. It might have been some discussions among Kodak employees on Photo-Net or APUG.

Actually, it's pretty obvious that Kodak has deliberately kept their prices down the last 20 years or so on S8. B/W is not much more than it was back then-- I think it was about 8 bucks at the MP distribution centers, now it's around 10.

I think the jitter problem is the result of both the contracting-out of empty cartridges and some big troubles at their new Colorado plant. But isn't it getting better?-- I haven't had any problems myself but I do miss those well-made sound cartridges!

[Clapton Pond]

From today's Guardian

"Eastman Kodak scrapped its annual profit forecast today as the photography specialist warned that tight credit is holding back consumer spending.

The company said it had seen a worsening in the already "dramatic" decline in consumer confidence since the beginning of November. Eastman Kodak shares were trading down 16% in the so-called grey market today after the company withdrew its 2008 profit and sales estimates and did not publish a new forecast.

The profit warning contained a diagnosis of the economic climate that is becoming a mantra to investors who are digesting bad corporate news on a daily basis. Kodak Eastman said businesses were cutting back on spending and consumers were struggling to find credit. The weakness of the dollar in countries where the company manufactures and sells its products is also affecting earnings, the company said.

"Businesses are reducing capital expenditures, and as credit markets remain very tight, commercial customers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure financing for new equipment purchases," said the $1.9bn (£1.3bn) company, whose products include digital cameras, printers and camera film.

Antonio Perez, Kodak chairman and chief executive, said the business was braced for a lengthy downturn.

"There is an unprecedented amount of uncertainty surrounding the economic environment and most signs indicate that we may be facing a prolonged global recession," he said.

Kodak's warning comes a day after electronics giant Sony announced that 16,000 permanent and contract workers are being cut."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008 ... editcrunch

We'll keep our fingers crossed...

[super8man]

Funny, those Sony numbers jumped from the first stories where it was 8000...now 16000...32, 64, 128, etc....

[Jim Carlile]

I'll bet their super 8 sales stay pretty stable. It's a hobby business, basically, and artists are always poor all the time anyway, but still manage to find money for their art. It's not dependent upon other companies for its success.

The same with MP film in general--motion pictures and TV do well in bad times. In fact, wouldn't it be funny if MP remains the only part of their business that still makes money?

So take that, you Wall Street know-it-alls-- all you who laugh at film!

[Superbus_]

Recently I use a handmade super 8 film (based on ilford 35 mm) loaded to kaccema casettes by an expert here: 30$ including processing and dvd version/ casette. Thus I believe we can survive the end of kodak films in super 8 but this market is so little that for a longer period we can't miss kodak. On the other I think kodak is not planning to stop super 8.

Have you had any of your 'handmade' film processed superbus ?
I would love to see some images...moving or still of your film..is it possible to upload your film to vimeo so we can see it ?

I have a kaccema cartridge but have not had the courage to attempt loading it with film yet...one of these days I will...maybe sooner than later if things keep going the way they are

mike

Yes, I think after the rush days in my office I will upload a sample. He also told me (the guy who is loading the casettes) that for the first time it was a disaster and after a few casettes it will be easy to deal with.

I just wanted to citate an example that we can survive the end of kodak but we can't survive the end of film, for sure.
Don't forget we do not have here walmart or Dwayne's lab... ;)

I'm really interested, what kind of people using super 8 today. It seems to me there is no marketing or advertismenets which can affect us, we are more independent as costumers, so maybe this little tiny business is not depending on the recent financial crisis., but who knows...

[Davideo]

Use it before you lose it.

Was dismayed by the loss of Smallformat and The Big Reel.

Again, use it. Money keeps things going.