[pure-silver] Re: Free Kodak Film

Koch, Gerald a écrit :
I have said this several times on this list and on others, but will say it again. If you like a particular Kodak product like Tri-X then continue to buy it. By boycotting Kodak products you only help to insure Kodak's retreat from the analog market. With Kodak out of the paper market you are still supporting Ilford when buying their paper. Why is Kodak out of the paper market? Because they couldn't make a profit with too few customers. It was not a diabolical plot on Kodak's part just a practical business decision. Remember Ilford was already forced out of the market once due to dwindling demand. If there is any boogie man here then it is digital photography.
If you fear second-rate products then you need to continue to support the first tier companies; Kodak, Fuji, and Ilford.
Jerry
Hi Jerry !
You may be right with your statement for Harmann Technology (Ilford) but not for Kodak (and in a lesser extent for Fuji).
Kodak has switched to digital long ago when they fired their research squad. This was a political choice, not a market choice. A French journalist has interviewed a highed ranking Kodak official and he stated that analog photography at Kodak will disapear in 5 to 10 years maximum. (I think this will be shorter, I'll explain why later on). The only field where some research take place at Kodak is color film and this is because of the movie market which is still running high.
Kodak ceased producing B&W paper AFTER a huge investment for a political and not economic reason. They have got all the money they can get from analog photography to make a name in digital photography and that alone (as I want to stay analog IS a reason not to buy Kodak stuff).
A contrario, Harman people HAVE to continue selling analog products because the digital world is quite forbidden for them (already taken by Ilford) and because the management buyout. It a matter of life for them. I have mixed feelings about Fuji because hey still invest heavilly in E6 even if their profits are low or none BUT they're part of a huge company for which photochemicals is only a small line in the company's results... So If you like Fuji products buy them... is the way to go for them but not for Kodak !

Kodak will leave the analog photography market very soon because more and more theaters are going digital for film and more and more film producing is done using video style equipment and HD TV cameras. When a significant percentage of Western World theaters will be eqquiped to display movies in digital forms, the need for 35 mm color release film will drop drastically and a few month before that Kodak will stop making this kind of products or worse will sell the factory BEFORE the one year forecast shows the drop in order to make as much money they can of a future loss for the buyers. Look at what happened to AgfaPhoto.... Interesting and edifying story.
The industrial world has drastically changed with the advent of the stock market being governed by mutual funds or powerfull stock brokers. An industrial project is no more the key. The 3 months profit is the only key. Not the number of customers. What ever this number is. It is sad but our world is like that.
I would say if you like B&W, buy Ilford products AND buy Harman Technology shares. A lot of them. And keep them.
Have a nice day and good pictures !
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