It's official: Eastman Kodak has introduced two new films, Kodacolor 100 and Kodacolor 200. Here's what makes them unique.

      It’s now official: Eastman Kodak has introduced two new films, Kodacolor 100 and Kodacolor 200. Here’s why they are noteworthy.

      What are these films? I’ll explain that, but first, a more intriguing question is how these films will be distributed. For the first time in more than ten years, Kodak is selling film without the burden of previous bankruptcy looming over the factory and the photographer.

      The day after the new box design was leaked, Kodak's Instagram account shared a message featuring several sample photos: “For the first time in over a decade, Kodak will sell these films directly to distributors, aiming to enhance supply and foster greater stability in a market known for its price fluctuations.”

      Here’s what this means:

      Regular readers of Analog.Cafe would recognize Kodak Alaris as a separate entity from the Kodak Eastman Company. Since its split into two due to bankruptcy in 2012, Kodak had transitioned from existing as a single company since 1892.

      Since that split, Eastman Kodak Company has operated its film factory in Rochester and supplied film to movie studios, but not directly to photographers. Kodak Alaris, a new business, holds the rights to brands such as Portra and Ektar. The restructuring that allowed Kodak to emerge from bankruptcy resulted in the creation of Alaris, which acted as an intermediary between the factory and the customers.

      Since then, Alaris has changed ownership and further restricted Kodak's ability to sell its motion picture Vision 3 film. However, the Rochester factory maintained significant control over its materials, establishing partnerships with companies like CineStill and others to introduce new brands that excluded Alaris (though this does not cover “unauthorized” rebrands from smaller businesses). Yet, until now, Eastman Kodak Company had not sold its film directly since 2012. There was always a barrier between the factory and the consumer.

      This is why today's announcement marks a crucial development for Kodak. It’s significant not so much because there’s a new film (though it’s somewhat fresh) but because the factory that produces it is the one selling it.

      Customers will still need to purchase this new Kodak film from a store, as it is not sold directly from Rochester. However, with one less intermediary between the production line and our cameras, we can expect better pricing and a fresh source of nearly unbeatable quality color-negative film (although others are striving for similar quality).

      The film itself:

      You might recognize the Kodacolor brand and its design from Kodak's earlier offerings, which were discontinued in the early 2000s. So, what can we expect in the new packaging?

      Eastman Kodak has not published any technical specifics on its website to indicate what is contained in the new boxes, but they did mention, “These films are sub-brands of existing Kodak films and provide the same high quality you’ve come to expect from Kodak,” suggesting that these may not be entirely new or reworked emulsions.

      Blue Moon Camera previously shared on Instagram what seemed to confirm rumors that Kodacolor 100 is essentially the same as Pro Image 100, and that Kodacolor 200 corresponds with ColorPlus. However, they later edited this post to remove that assertion. It remains unclear whether the store accurately knew the films’ sources but mistakenly disclosed them, or if they simply restated a rumor and later rectified their error.

      Regardless of the situation, the Kodacolor packaging looks appealing (a change from the recently modernized Alaris design), the prices appear quite reasonable, and the film rolls should be available in the US and Canada shortly.

      Eastman Kodak has plenty of film to distribute, thanks to its recent factory enhancements. Kodacolor is just another channel to get it into our hands. This is fantastic news for film photographers everywhere.

      #editorial🔥

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