Who Will Keep Shooting Kodachrome?

[supermag400_inventor]

I do agree. K-40 is really out dated for the times. But there are those die hards that want it.

I would really like to be able to offer all of the present stocks that are available in 35 mm and give us all a number of choices.

Super 8 needs to transform itself into a "Professional" format in order to survive.

[FilmIs4Ever]

I agree that Kodachrome is outdated, but that's the fault of Kodak. I wish it could have finer grain, and more speed, but we're stuck with it. E64T is 2x the graininess having an RMS of 11 to Kodachrome's 9. If they came out with Ektachrome 50, especially designed for S8 and 16mm with an RMS of 7 and a stop and a half of latitude each way, then great. I've shot E64T. It's not even designed for exposures quicker than 1 second!!! It's designed for studio photography of setups for magazines, like dinner arrangements and such. It's a TERRIBLE choice for S8. It's even worse thant VNF in terms of S8 suitability. I shot VNF, and liked its unique look, as I will probalby find E64T's look interesting, but I still think Kodachrome is excellent. You guys are knocking it as outdated. It is true that it is less forgiving than modern films, finer grained than most films due to its slower speed and poor latitude. Is that really a bad thing that it teaches you proper exposure? I don't know if I agree with your thinking that everyone needs to shoot fiml with 8 stops of latitude.

~KArl

[escubria]

The longevity of super 8 may be increased, on a certain level, with your mag.The top of the line models of both Beaulieu & Nizo having the ability to accept you mag, plus the fact that Beaulieu and Nizo cameras seem to be the only cameras that can be serviced and repaired properly -super 8 could go on for another decade at least.

Maybe in the future you will sell both camera and mag as a package?

Will the 200ft spools actually be smaller than the 400ft ones or are you just going to put 200ft of film into 400ft size spools?

[Actor]

...given that R8 can be easily re-perfed from 16mm...

A long time back didn't Paul Cotto or someone post something about re-perfing 16mm to 8mm really not being easy? I think the main problem is in getting the new perfs centered between the existing perfs with enough accuracy to prevent registration problems. I'm no expert here.

It's supposed to be easier to take unperfed 16mm film and perf it at 80 perfs/ft. Kodak has the equipment to do this. K-40 in R8 may not be in immediate danger.

[escubria]

You guys are knocking it as outdated. It is true that it is less forgiving than modern films, finer grained than most films due to its slower speed and poor latitude. Is that really a bad thing that it teaches you proper exposure? I don't know if I agree with your thinking that everyone needs to shoot fiml with 8 stops of latitude.

Well K40 only has about 2 stops of latitude which means you can really only shoot scenes with a very minimal range of brightness, which is far too limiting for even me and for pros who know how to expose -try & shoot a bright sky with a landscape and get them both decently exposed, impossible without using gradated filters. So it's not a question of proper exposure, we can all do that, it's a question of workability.

K40's only real plus in terms of image was it's fine grain, that's it, nothing more. I'd like at least 4-6 stops of latitude.

Fuji's single 8 R25 even looks like a modern stock compared to it. K40 is just too limited.

[escubria]

Dave, I think the new plus-x would be a great choice for one of your three main stocks to start loading the mags with. It's a real decent b&w stock.

[supermag400_inventor]

I agree.. I've had many requests for the black and white stocks.

Personally, I'm a color man myself. However, what the customer wants will be what I hope to provide.

[escubria]

Too much colour these days, we all need a little monochrome in our lives; makes things clearer. Works well with some grain too.

[monobath]

Who is going to continue to shoot Kodachrome even if it means writing letters, buying it in bulk, cutting it down and loading Kasseta cartridges, and sending it to Kansas or Switzerland? Anyone that is still devoted to one of Kodak's premiere color films ever, please say so here, and I'll keep everyone informed of the progress I've made. I'm in the process of contacting people right now with regard to the situation.

Regards.
~Karl Borowski

I will continue to shoot Kodachrome. I love the look of it. For me, much of the appeal is nostalgia. However, to those who say Kodachrome has an outdated look, I'd have to say that when shot on a clear day outdoors in open shade (moderates the contrast), it has a lovely rich look that is really attractive.

Don't get me wrong, I love Plus-X and I shoot a lot of it. I'm sure I'll shoot the 7280, too, maybe a lot if it looks good. But I bought 50 carts of K40 today just so I can continue to enjoy it as much as I can. I'm actually thinking of buying another 50.

[mattias]

E64T is 2x the graininess having an RMS of 11 to Kodachrome's 9

i also think this is a problem, but remember that the stock will be sharper and have more natural yet saturated colors so maybe grain isn't that much of a problem anymore? what do you mean by 2x though?

Well K40 only has about 2 stops of latitude which means you can really only shoot scenes with a very minimal range of brightness

two stops is the latitude for over and under exposure. the "contrast range" latitude is maybe 7 stops. while this isn't a lot it's ok if you have some means of controlling light levels, like flags and foamcore.

/matt

[Angus]

Would Kodak still be able to process material from the supermag, if it were K40?

Availability of K40 might just persuade me to buy a Supermag...

[timdrage]

I'll shoot it as long as I can, tho probably won't go to extreme lengths unless I have money to throw around! (or better still someone else's money to spend!

However, the possibility of continued existance of K40 via the supermag is very interesting.... and makes Kodak's decision to stop putting it in carts seem even more nonsensical!

[FilmIs4Ever]

At least stateside, as long as Kodachrome is being processed in some form, D'Waynes has said that they will continue to process the S8 version. Doesn't the Switzerland Kodachrome processing plant also do 16mm?

~Karl