Future Businesses for Kodak

[Gavin Greenwalt]

I just got to thinking.

In a not terribly distant future where digital sensors outclass film in dynamic range and color gamut Kodak will still have a huge advantage in experience. People like the look of the film.

I wonder if there will be a market for Vision2, Vision3 conversion software. Like Tiffin OFX filters.

Input boring linear light files. Get out Vision2 response files. The largest challenge would be for the camera manufacturer to ensure they output a very predictable and standardized linear output.

Can they copyright and license a response curve?

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Kodak will be fine, I'm sure... After all, they currently hold more patents on existing digital sensor technology than just about anyone else. Imagine that, eh?

As for copyrighting and licensing a response curve... Hmmm... I'm not sure if they could get away with that. Although theoretically possible. Honestly, I don't see how that would fly... But there could be a real market for software tools that can consistently deliver the look of specific stock as you've mentioned. That could be huge.

 

[Alan Rosenfeld]

Kodak will suirvive, but will not be as big as they once were (it always amazed me that Kodak Park in Rochester had two fully functioning fire houses, an employee rec center with a large bowling alley and that Kodak owned a coffee plantation in South America to provide coffee for its various locations), but they will survive. From their website:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/business/ISS/News/aboutISS.jhtml?pq-path=11937/12307

 

[M Most]

In a not terribly distant future where digital sensors outclass film in dynamic range and color gamut Kodak will still have a huge advantage in experience. People like the look of the film.

They already hold a huge advantage. They have been doing R&D and real products in digital imaging longer than just about anyone else. They make the sensors - in fact, the entire imaging head - used in the Spirit telecine and numerous other devices, they hold countless patents on chip design, color science, and other things, and they are responsible for having invented and patented the Bayer pattern (Bruce Bayer was a Kodak researcher). They also are the largest seller of digital cameras in the U.S. and, I believe, the world. They have planned for the digital transition for a long, long time - and they are still selling lots of film.

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Oh no I have no doubt they'll survive. And I agree they do already hold a huge advantage going into the digital transition. I'm just trying to think of all the unexpected places we'll see them popping up in the future.

I can see them not just licensing patents but I see a big marketing opportunity in selling the existing Kodak product names to digital cinema companies.

Imagine future versions of Genesis or RED with the Kodak Vision(tm) on the side. They could work very closely with camera makers to create a very good emulation. And the Kodak name holds a lot of mind share.

It would be cool too if they started to 'bring back' stocks which they've discontinued due to lack of demand.