I was saddened to read this news from NPR, as well as on the Kodak website, that Kodachrome is being discontinued after over 70 years. This is what Kodak had to say about this big change:
“KODACHROME Film is an iconic product and a testament to Kodak’s long and continuing leadership in imaging technology,” said Mary Jane Hellyar, President of Kodak’s Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group. "It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, 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."
I'll admit it... I'm a digital film user, and have been since 2006. But I really like how film looks when it's not digital. I'm also someone who is sad when new technology kills old technology. The cell phone killing the home phone. LPs falling out of favor (unless you're a hipster or like old music formats like me). And so on and so forth. My friend Jason still has an old Polaroid camera, which makes great cameras. Now it'll be hard to get the film, if not impossible.
Are the images as crisp? No, not at all. I can tell even in scanned images from college which ones I took with my film camera as opposed to my digital camera, but I love those differences. It like how I love listening to old records for those flaws and pops and fizzes. I don't want everything to be digital, I like seeing those flaws and defects. It makes it more personable.
So it's been real, Kodachrome. I'll miss you. You've been fun and memorable.
2 comments:
LPs are not disappearing. many artist(good ones anyway) are releasing vinyl, and if you are an kind of real DJ, everything you buy is on vinyl, so leave our lovely timeless format off your obituary.
My argument is that unlike back in the day, it's not as easy to get LPs and most people (not a small niche, like DJs and record enthusiasts) don't buy in this format and opt for digital. I love records as much as the next person, but I think (just like people who like film and not digital) I'm in the minority.
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