In a saga that has finally reached an end, the much-anticipated return of Kodak’s Ektachrome film is finally here and the product is available now.
Image via Kodak.We reported on the return of the Ektachrome brand some time ago but things seemingly moved at a glacial pace ever since the announcement that Kodak was bringing it back in 2017. Just in time for Photokina 2018, however, Kodak Alaris announced that those shops that ordered the new Ektachrome 100 should receive their shipments soon and, as for the rest of us, the wait won’t be much longer for the return of an iconic line of film.
Initially Ektachrome will be available in the standard 36×24mm format 35mm film rolls with more options planned for the future. Kodak describes the film as perfect for “clean, vibrant colors, a neutral tone scale, and extremely fine grain [and] well suited to a wide range of applications, such as product, landscape, nature and fashion photography.”
Steve Bellamy of Kodak said: “EKTACHROME Film was the choice for generations of filmmakers…The distinct and unparalleled look of films like Tony Scott’s ‘Domino’ and Spike Lee’s ‘Inside Man’ could not have been achieved without EKTACHROME. We are extremely excited to reintroduce this film to those who know and love it, and to a new generation of motion picture artists.”
Per a report in PetaPixel and elsewhere, Kodak Ektachrome 7294 Color Reversal Film in the Super 8 format should start arriving in October 2018. Other 16mm products are planned for the immediate future.
The new Ektachrome will be available at optical products retailers (such as camera shops) and will not be sold directly to the consumer though maybe that could change in the future. We have to admit it’s a pretty awesome nod to camera shops for Kodak to do that but puzzling from the standpoint of how powerful ecommerce is for businesses.
4 Comments
So… where the heck are you supposed to get it processed?
There are plenty of labs that have never ceased to offer E-6 processing.
Not in the Minneapolis area, or in the Jacksonville FL area, or in the Columbia, South Carolina area… three places (of reasonable size) that I’ve lived in the last 10 years. Sure, you might find a lab that will take it in. But, they don’t process it. They mail it off somewhere. Probably to New York or L.A. or one of the only places left in the USA that have real labs. Not too convenient if you have to wait two weeks, or if you need to do a clip test on an E-6 film, which is pretty is standard operation for anything important. My prediction- this will go nowhere. It will be a niche product for the lomography crowd.
I see you live in England. Might be different there. There are very few E-6 labs left in the USA.