I enjoy old technologies. They are concoctions of matter organized in a way that once suited a need, but whose time has passed. In fact, I was enjoying just such a technology this morning when I unfolded the newspaper to read the business page. I could not help but notice two articles separated by the happy account of two brothers who had parlayed their gardening hobby into a long-term and growing business.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is in full swing in Las Vegas. I have attended this premier event in the electronics arena many times. Thankfully, I no longer need to enjoy the chaos and overwhelming challenge of trying to sift through the cacophony to find the important and relevant nuggets presented in massive displays or hidden in obscure booths well off the main floor.
The magnitude of effort many companies pour into this show is amazing. And not only the effort is impressive...the glimpse they provide into the future of technology is often the stuff of what was science fiction only a few years prior. The forward-thinking find the show incredibly exhilarating. This year, a myriad of drones, affordable 3D adaptations for cell phones, curving displays and self driving cars all carry us toward the future.
But what's this I see through my reading glasses? At the fountain of the future, Kodak is introducing a reborn Super 8 movie camera. I know I've been waiting for this...how about you? No? Maybe this is for Steven Speilberg and Quentin Tarantino, since they are so fond of shooting film.
I can just hear the Ungrateful 8 sequestered in a conference room in the bowels of Kodak Office:
"CES is around the corner...what can we announce?"
"Ya know, Boss, I was listening to 'Carry On My Wayward Son' on my record player the other day..."
"Eureka! That's it! We'll appeal to the same people buying vinyl records by coming out with a new film camera. The Millennials will love it! We'll rebuild the film business, boys!"
"So we'll bring back the Retina line of still cameras?"
"Not sure. I think maybe we need a twist."
"I hear most people like pictures that move these days."
"Comic book super-hero flicks are big."
"Perfect!" shouts the Boss. "We'll bring back Super 8!"
OK, so with microprocessors and optical sensors and the like, one could certainly build a fine consumer movie film camera with 2016 technology, but is anyone really clamoring to go to Walgreen's to process his film? And where will Walgreens send the film for processing? And what will the developed film be projected with? Heaven forbid that the experience will be sullied by digitizing the film and displaying the result electronically.
I don't have any answers. Neither does Fortune.
In the coincidentally (?) unrelated article on the other side of the page, layoffs in Research and Development were announced.
The company that saw well enough to capture the world's images for over 100 years is completely bereft of vision.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is in full swing in Las Vegas. I have attended this premier event in the electronics arena many times. Thankfully, I no longer need to enjoy the chaos and overwhelming challenge of trying to sift through the cacophony to find the important and relevant nuggets presented in massive displays or hidden in obscure booths well off the main floor.
The magnitude of effort many companies pour into this show is amazing. And not only the effort is impressive...the glimpse they provide into the future of technology is often the stuff of what was science fiction only a few years prior. The forward-thinking find the show incredibly exhilarating. This year, a myriad of drones, affordable 3D adaptations for cell phones, curving displays and self driving cars all carry us toward the future.
But what's this I see through my reading glasses? At the fountain of the future, Kodak is introducing a reborn Super 8 movie camera. I know I've been waiting for this...how about you? No? Maybe this is for Steven Speilberg and Quentin Tarantino, since they are so fond of shooting film.
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| Is my calendar in error? Is this April 1? |
I can just hear the Ungrateful 8 sequestered in a conference room in the bowels of Kodak Office:
"CES is around the corner...what can we announce?"
"Ya know, Boss, I was listening to 'Carry On My Wayward Son' on my record player the other day..."
"Eureka! That's it! We'll appeal to the same people buying vinyl records by coming out with a new film camera. The Millennials will love it! We'll rebuild the film business, boys!"
"So we'll bring back the Retina line of still cameras?"
"Not sure. I think maybe we need a twist."
"I hear most people like pictures that move these days."
"Comic book super-hero flicks are big."
"Perfect!" shouts the Boss. "We'll bring back Super 8!"
OK, so with microprocessors and optical sensors and the like, one could certainly build a fine consumer movie film camera with 2016 technology, but is anyone really clamoring to go to Walgreen's to process his film? And where will Walgreens send the film for processing? And what will the developed film be projected with? Heaven forbid that the experience will be sullied by digitizing the film and displaying the result electronically.
I don't have any answers. Neither does Fortune.
In the coincidentally (?) unrelated article on the other side of the page, layoffs in Research and Development were announced.
The company that saw well enough to capture the world's images for over 100 years is completely bereft of vision.
maybe I can get my job back in emulsion technology!
ReplyDeleteGreat career move! Apply now!
DeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteThey said price for processing one cartridge would be $50-$75 a cartridge and I bet the cartridges aren't cheap either. I guess their hoping to help fund keeping movie film alive.
ReplyDeleteI've got a cell phone that takes great movies or I can use my DSLR for even higher quality.
Two things, I was amazed to see this as well, but for pro's not really. Professionals are using 16mm and 35mm film, the few that do still use film. Super 8 was designed as a home use film for daylight use.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if Sony can introduce a new highness turntable this year at CES, why not a 40 year old film format camera, Just saying.
Let's try this again ...
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if Sony can introduce a new high end turntable this year at CES, why not a 40 year old film format camera, Just saying.
I could see buying a high end turntable for playing the 700 LPs in my basement. Creating new movie transparencies at $50 per pop? Not a chance.
DeleteCES also has the new Nikon D5 and D500 that both shoot 30 fps in 4K resolution. I'm sure Canon, GoPro and Sony all have 4k models. We need to work on some grain filters to make them look like film. Plus a random scratch filter. And maybe a random pinhole and black out affect. Maybe if Kodak made the film format smaller they can take back the market.
ReplyDeleteToo late Kurt, AfterEffects and Premier as well as all the other major editors already add these effects in the software instead of the camera, but if you are looking for great grain there is always disc.
DeleteI don't believe anyone under 50 years of age would tolerate the latency of a super 8 camera.. unless it has WIFI to upload to youtube.
ReplyDeleteNo one under 50 would believe that you have to keep the "memory" in the dark!
DeleteThis announcement follows in lock-step with other Kodak 'Visions' that were either ham-handed attempts to extend the film era or outdated by the time they arrived to market. Examples include the Disc Camera, Photo CD, Advantix, personal Kodak inkjet printers, etc. With Super 8 Revival, Kodak has achieved a new pinnacle of misguided dreaming, a product that is outdated AND a clumsy attempt to extend the film era. Calling it 'Revival' is wishful thinking - the heart monitor for film is making a continuous beeeeeeeeep.
ReplyDeleteThe complete flatline is only a matter of time. And not too much of it. However, there are possibilities for hybrid analog/digital archival film based systems. But it's very unlikely they will become any more than possibilities.
DeleteCES announcement and all the buzz around the "new" camera is to take focus away from today's layoffs.
ReplyDeleteAnd by being REALLY stupid, the former photographic company certainly takes focus away.
DeleteI know retro is in and maybe that is what is behind the new Kodak Cameras, but here is Fuji's solution, just make it look retro, they don't actually use film.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gizmag.com/fujifilm-xpro2-flagship-e2s-x70/41352/
have you seen the announcement for the DISPO app?
ReplyDeletehttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/dispo-live-in-the-moment/id1491684197
The pleasure of having to wait and see what your photo looks like... To your point - I did NOT see that coming,