Kodak kills off iconic Kodachrome film

Kodak released a statement today confirming that it is discontinuing Kodachrome, the first commercially successful colour film when it was first introduced in 1935.

"Sales of Kodachrome film have declined dramatically in recent years as photographers turned to other, newer Kodak films or to the digital imaging technologies that Kodak pioneered,' says the statement.

"Today, Kodachrome film represents just a fraction of one percent of Kodak’s total sales of still-picture films.

"Kodachrome is an iconic product and a testament to Kodak’s long and continuing leadership in imaging technology,' says Mary Jane Hellyar, president of Kodak’s Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group. 'It was certainly a difficult decision to retire it, given its rich history.

"However, the majority of today's photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology – both film and digital. Kodak remains committed to providing the highest-performing products – both film and digital – to meet those needs."

The statement adds: "For all of its magic, Kodachrome is a complex film to manufacture and an even more complex film to process. There is only one remaining photofinishing lab in the world – Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kansas – that processes Kodachrome film, precisely because of the difficulty of processing.

"This lack of widespread processing availability, as well as the features of newer films introduced by Kodak over the years, has accelerated the decline of demand for Kodachrome film."

Kodak estimates that current supplies of Kodachromewill last until early this autumn. Dwayne’s Photo has indicated it will continue to offer processing for the film through 2010.

"While Kodak now derives about 70 per cent of its revenues from commercial and consumer digital businesses, it is the global leader in the film business,' says the statement. 'Kodak has continued to bring innovative new film products to market, including seven new professional still films and several new Vision2 and Vision3 motion picture films in the last three years. These new still film products are among those that have become the dominant choice for those professional and advanced amateur photographers who use Kodak films."

Kodak says it is planning to celebrate the film's 74-year legacy with an online gallery, and by donating the last few rolls available to George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in the US. Magnum Photos shooter Steve McCurry will shoot one of those last rolls and the images will be donated to Eastman House.

The online gallery will feature further Steve McCurry images, including his iconic Afghan Girl.

This article on the end of Kodak Kodachrome film first appeared in Computeractive's sister title, The British Journal of Photography.