Kodak Brings Back classic
Ektachrome color reversal film
The slide film was beloved by National Geographic photographers.
By Steve Dent
Ektachrome color reversal film
The slide film was beloved by National Geographic photographers.
By Steve Dent
Kodak Ektachrome color-positive film, beloved by portrait
photographers and indie filmmakers alike, is rising from the dead. Kodak Alaris
will start selling the classic 135-36x 35mm and Super 8 movie films in the
fourth quarter of this year, the company said in a statement. The stock (also
called reversal or slide film) was discontinued in 2012, and is known for its
extremely fine grain and saturated colors. It's also cherished by indie
filmmakers for its ability to be "pushed," producing an artistically
grainy effect.
After a campaign of sorts by filmmakers like Martin Scorcese,
Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan, plus a deal forged with major studios,
Kodak agreed to keep movie film stocks alive for the foreseeable future. Then,
last year at CES 2016, the company unveiled a new digital hybrid Super 8 movie
camera and film to go with it. Via a Kickstarter arrangement, Kodak also agreed
to provide free film stock to student filmmakers to further encourage its use.
Ektachrome is an unusual format that produces a positive
print suitable for slides or professional pre-printing processes. For that
reason, it "became iconic in no small part due the extensive use of slide
film by National Geographic Magazine over several decades," Kodak Alaris
wrote. The E6 development process is more onerous than for regular films, but
the company says many pro labs can still do it.
Kodak said the brand was in high demand by analog
photographers. "We've been listening to the needs and desires of
photographers over the past several years and wanted to bring back a color
reversal film. In assessing the opportunity, Ektachrome was the clear
choice," says Kodak Alaris President Dennis Olbrich. At this point,
there's no word on whether it'll bring the stock back to Super 35mm or 16mm
movie films
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