Sad Kodak moment. at DVinfo.net

Allan Black · October 1st, 2011, 05:42 PM

Here's a terribly sad Kodak moment ..

Kodak bankruptcy and restructuring rumors send stock falling - Sep. 30, 2011

No cheers.

Zach Love · October 2nd, 2011, 03:59 PM

Well their stock has gone down 97% in the last 5 years, so things don't seem too surprising. My hope is that there is still enough hobby folks out there to keep at least one film factory alive. I'd hate it if I couldn't buy & develop B&W film in my basement 50 years from now.

Brian Drysdale · October 2nd, 2011, 04:50 PM

I gather the motion picture division is in profit.

B & W film isn't a problem, there are a number of other companies manufacturing it, colour film is more complex.

Rather imteresting that Bryce E. Bayer worked for Eastman Kodak, so something seems to have been lost along the way

Mark Kenfield · October 2nd, 2011, 05:29 PM

I seem to recall that Kodak invented digital photography (is that right?), it's a shame they didn't embrace it as the future of their business, I'm sure they'd still be right up there if they had.

Brian Drysdale · October 3rd, 2011, 12:43 AM

Kodak is involved in a number of areas, including digital imaging.

Innovation

Kodak Image Sensor Solutions - CMOS, CCD, full frame, interline, linear image sensors

David Chilson · October 3rd, 2011, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Kenfield

I seem to recall that Kodak invented digital photography (is that right?), it's a shame they didn't embrace it as the future of their business, I'm sure they'd still be right up there if they had.

Yes, Steve Sasson invented the digital camera at Kodak in 1975. For those of us that live in Kodak's home town the impact of their employment going from 60,000 plus in the early eighties to the 7000 who are currently employed locally has been devastating. What will happen over the next couple of months nobody really knows. Yes, it's a sad Kodak moment.

Jason Lowe · October 3rd, 2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

I gather the motion picture division is in profit.

I doubt it, with digital projection taking off in the last couple of years.

Sad to see them go. I had high hopes for their ink jet printers, considering they weren't mugging people for ink like the other guys, but they just never seemed to get their act together.

Brian Drysdale · October 3rd, 2011, 10:16 AM

The majority of screens are still film projection, although it does vary from country to country. There has been a lot of growth, but a major problem has been funding the fitting of digital projection equipment. I gather the US is on track for 50% digital in the coming years.

In the end, the longer term progression is towards the digital projection and film will become more an acquisition medium than a distribution one.

I expect the company will exist in some form or other, even if broken up.

D.J. Ammons · October 4th, 2011, 10:16 AM

It is a shame that such an iconic company when it comes to photography did not move faster and better to make the transition to digital imaging. I hope Kodak survives and finds a way to prosper.

Monty Wentzel · October 5th, 2011, 04:35 PM

Yeah very sad. Many memories of Kodak from childhood, all good. Don't tell me they got some young punk to drive it into the ground?

Monty

Rick Presas · October 24th, 2011, 01:09 PM

Sad day indeed. Still inevitable, though.

Bruce Watson · October 24th, 2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.J. Ammons

It is a shame that such an iconic company when it comes to photography did not move faster and better to make the transition to digital imaging. I hope Kodak survives and finds a way to prosper.

You're kidding, right? Kodak *invented* the digital camera. Kodak engineer Steven Sessions built the very first digital camera in 1975. Kodak has been a major supplier of digital imaging chips from the very beginning.

I too hope they find a way to survive and prosper. But their film business isn't going to survive, that much is practically guaranteed. And Kodak's own success in digital imaging is part of the reason why. Serious irony, that.

Allan Black · November 4th, 2011, 03:10 AM

In the middle of all the Nov 3/4 hoopla, this popped up ....

Addressing the Rumors

Cheers.

Jacques Mersereau · November 4th, 2011, 11:27 AM

Sorry for my cranky mood, but still - Kodak bankruptcy is a result of poor leadership and denial. I mean, come on. With the right leader, the company could have re-invented itself years ago and been prepared for the demise of film. Maybe they still can, but ... now that the ship is going under is not a good time to try and do something different - ala - invest in digital sensors, processing and hardware.

I feel sorry for all those loyal employees who suck with the titanic and didn't jump even though it was clear kodak was headed right into an iceberg.

A sad day, but the lesson is, adapt to changing conditions or die. Same is for Kodak as it is for humans.

Konrad Haskins · November 6th, 2011, 01:24 PM

Very sad but not surprising. I'm gobsmacked that a technology company still thinks it's OK to have a white shirt and tie dress code when they are competing in the technology field. The execs stood out like sore thumbs as they walked around down town Rochester when I was there last year. Even IBM abandoned that idea.

October 1st, 2011, 05:42 PM	#1
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,929	Sad Kodak moment. Here's a terribly sad Kodak moment .. Kodak bankruptcy and restructuring rumors send stock falling - Sep. 30, 2011 No cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

October 2nd, 2011, 03:59 PM	#2
Zach Love Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 944	Re: Sad Kodak moment. Well their stock has gone down 97% in the last 5 years, so things don't seem too surprising. My hope is that there is still enough hobby folks out there to keep at least one film factory alive. I'd hate it if I couldn't buy & develop B&W film in my basement 50 years from now. __________________ Nothing says you're a serious video maker like S-VHS

October 2nd, 2011, 04:50 PM	#3
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Sad Kodak moment. I gather the motion picture division is in profit. B & W film isn't a problem, there are a number of other companies manufacturing it, colour film is more complex. Rather imteresting that Bryce E. Bayer worked for Eastman Kodak, so something seems to have been lost along the way

October 2nd, 2011, 05:29 PM	#4
Mark Kenfield Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 470	Re: Sad Kodak moment. I seem to recall that Kodak invented digital photography (is that right?), it's a shame they didn't embrace it as the future of their business, I'm sure they'd still be right up there if they had.

October 3rd, 2011, 12:43 AM	#5
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Sad Kodak moment. Kodak is involved in a number of areas, including digital imaging. Innovation Kodak Image Sensor Solutions - CMOS, CCD, full frame, interline, linear image sensors

October 3rd, 2011, 10:16 AM	#8
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Sad Kodak moment. The majority of screens are still film projection, although it does vary from country to country. There has been a lot of growth, but a major problem has been funding the fitting of digital projection equipment. I gather the US is on track for 50% digital in the coming years. In the end, the longer term progression is towards the digital projection and film will become more an acquisition medium than a distribution one. I expect the company will exist in some form or other, even if broken up.

October 4th, 2011, 10:16 AM	#9
D.J. Ammons Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 506	Re: Sad Kodak moment. It is a shame that such an iconic company when it comes to photography did not move faster and better to make the transition to digital imaging. I hope Kodak survives and finds a way to prosper.

October 5th, 2011, 04:35 PM	#10
Monty Wentzel Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 30	Re: Sad Kodak moment. Yeah very sad. Many memories of Kodak from childhood, all good. Don't tell me they got some young punk to drive it into the ground? Monty

October 24th, 2011, 01:09 PM	#11
Rick Presas Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Brownsville Texas Posts: 74	Re: Sad Kodak moment. Sad day indeed. Still inevitable, though.

November 4th, 2011, 03:10 AM	#13
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,929	Re: Sad Kodak moment. In the middle of all the Nov 3/4 hoopla, this popped up .... Addressing the Rumors Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

November 4th, 2011, 11:27 AM	#14
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	Re: Sad Kodak moment. Sorry for my cranky mood, but still - Kodak bankruptcy is a result of poor leadership and denial. I mean, come on. With the right leader, the company could have re-invented itself years ago and been prepared for the demise of film. Maybe they still can, but ... now that the ship is going under is not a good time to try and do something different - ala - invest in digital sensors, processing and hardware. I feel sorry for all those loyal employees who suck with the titanic and didn't jump even though it was clear kodak was headed right into an iceberg. A sad day, but the lesson is, adapt to changing conditions or die. Same is for Kodak as it is for humans. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

November 6th, 2011, 01:24 PM	#15
Konrad Haskins Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 148	Re: Sad Kodak moment. Very sad but not surprising. I'm gobsmacked that a technology company still thinks it's OK to have a white shirt and tie dress code when they are competing in the technology field. The execs stood out like sore thumbs as they walked around down town Rochester when I was there last year. Even IBM abandoned that idea.