CBS NEWS Sunday Morning : The last Kodachrome facility ends processing

[Videogamehistorian00]

I never got to shoot any as I got into photography just as Dwayne's photo stopped processing it (I shoot film, digital, and super 8). You can still get Kodachrome developed though, it's just going to be black and white.

[Arabhacks]

Kodachrome is a complex process, not something you can do in a home darkroom, for reference look up the K-14 process.

But, the one hour photo places killed Polaroid.

Digital cameras have killed film.

Progress, like it or not.



[Morahman7vnNo2]

I never even got to shoot any.

[TheVenomFlows03]

@Morahman7vnNo2 Same here. RIP Kodachrome :'(

[corydwalker]

Bastards.

[moneyman1934]

I remember watching this segment... it's very sad that I will never have the chance to take pictures on this wonderful film :-( The closest that I came was shooting a 32-year expired 8mm roll bought on eBay, and images were salvageable!!! That is solid proof of Kodachrome's archival greatness. R.I.P.

[LambingFlat]

Alas poor Kodachrome, I knew you well...

[edgecityfilms]

tragic. everyone is so busy slamming doors on the genius of the past!

small runs of the chemicals should be kept on hand to keep it alive.

[tallboyyyy]

My grandfather was an avid 8mm home movie buff. I have all his old films now going back to 1936. His first color film was shot on Kodachrome in 1937, the first generation of Kodachrome. The color on this film has slightly faded. But all the movies made from 1938, when the 2nd generation of Kodachrome became available in which Kodak stabilized the dyes used in processing, until his death in 1966 look as though they were shot yesterday. He also shot many rolls of slides that still look great.

[nunatak]

damn kodak for killing kodachrome.

it took 20 years of kodak neglect — but they finally managed to hit their mark. :(

[nzoomed]

im also actually keen to know how complex/secret the chemicals are that are used to develop it. perhaps a 3rd party will be able to produce some?

surley Kodak could of produced the chemicals a little longer?

Im sure there's thousands of rolls that never made it to Dwaynes for processing, i wonder if anyone has successfully developed Kodachrome themselves?

[nzoomed]

sad day to see kodachrome go.

Its a privilege that i actually had the chance to use it!

[roboticgirl]

RIP Kodachrome

[tanjatiziana]

The facility is not closing, they are just ending Kodachrome development. You should clarify so as to not hurt a small business.

[vafbsgb]

dude im so sad ive never got the chance to shoot with this Kodachrome :'(

its like losing a chance with that pretty girl next door.....

[trucker305]

Truly the saddest day in archival history. "The Digital information age" will lead to the largest destruction of mankind's permanent records, the worst destruction of archival material since the burning of the Library of Alexandria. Even the videos stored on the servers of Youtube will not last forever. My dislike for Digital imagery grows ever stronger.

[gloriouskodachrome]

@trucker305 awesome words and sadly so very true. My cousins laughed at me filming their wedding on super 8 kodachrome in 1999 now the only record they have is my super 8 film, the professionally made wedding video (VHS tape) is just about playable, but the image is dire. The consumer/joe public drives the market, obviously permanance of an image is not an issue, just a hear and now image. An awful lot of social history will be lost in a digi world.

[NativePrairieWolf]

@trucker305 Videos stored on youtube are ALSO stored on the computers of everyone who downloads them, and the owners who originally uploaded them. Tube could close up tomorrow and it wouldnt affect the copies on peoples computers already saved.

Digital is the future, no film costs no developing costs (unless printed to photo paper) no fading which all prints do over time.

It was ridiculous paying near $20 for 36 photos & not knowing what you have till you spend it.

[83zzw83]

@NativePrairieWolf one scratch on the dvd or one bump to the hard drive (or sometimes nothing at all) and your data is gone.

[NativePrairieWolf]

@83zzw83 not really, because SMART people use redundant backups of all hard drives on additional drives like I do

[trucker305]

Truly the saddest day in archival history. "The Digital information age" will lead to the largest destruction of mankind's permanent records, the worst destruction of archival material since the burning of the Library of Alexandria. Even the videos stored on the servers of Youtube will not last forever. My dislike for Digital imagery grows ever stronger.

[sunnyside2day]

Unfortunately, we only have ourselves to blame for this. We could have kept them in business by buying their product. But we didn't. We chose other means for our photography because it was quicker, but certainly not because it was better. Our everyday decisions have a lasting effect on so many things we don't even think about at the time we are making them. Not until it is too late. Like this.

[exploratoriumgirl]

Very sad day. No more Kodachrome? I remember when. Digital just isn't the same.

[brt5470]

@ERROLCUSTERFLYNN4EVR Calm down.

[rustyb78]

I've never shot the first image with Kodachrome, but none the less I am saddened by this.

[mplayer98]

Vive le Film.

[3808ci]

This is a huge loss to the world. I'm not a great photographer but Kodachrome sometimes made me look like one.

[WarpedTrekker]

My dad took a lot of Kodachrome slides when he was in the Air Force in the 1950's and throughout the years. I've been digitally scanning and archiving them. Even for just "snapshots", they still look very good today. I just needed to do minor touching up on the photos. Unfortunately I can't say the same for Ektachrome shots which did not retain their color and turned pink. Goodbye and a salute goes out to Kodachrome!

[BeemanTV]

I only ever shot two rolls of Kodachrome. But they were in Paris and are some of the greatest photos I'll ever take. It will be said to not have this option anymore.

[haloeffectx]

So sad. =[.

[scottso55]

I bought 2 rolls of Kodachrome and shot one with an old Kodak Retina II A camera. I setup a small Kodachrome display in my china cabinet (Cameras, light meter, sealed box of Kodachrome and box of finished slides).

Yeah - digital is far superior and much more versatile. But there was a certain joy as a kid in running to the mailbox and getting my finished slides back.

[chukchee]

I dont understand. What is kodachrome? Isnt it all film made by Kodak? Or is it a specific type of Kodak film?

[pixuma]

@chukchee lol, no... there's fuji, kodak, illford, etc.

Kodachrome is a type of slide film that was made by kodak. On this day, Kodachrome became a memory.

[wqerty2008]

How sad..

RIP kodachrome

[kmaschine]

Thanks for posting this. I don't even have a copy! Kent

[HeadshotmasterNeo]

May whatever 'properly' replaces kodachrome share such a rich history.

[backindauk]

Not only a loss to photography, but a loss to history.

Nothing will ever be the same.

I will miss you, Kodachrome.

[GamerzPro1231]

Very sad. The death of originality q

[thul]

The end of an era!

[Cogwerks]

I sent in my only ten rolls a few weeks ago. It'll be interesting to see how they turn out...

[foxboy1]

Many great moments and experiences with this film. It's sad knowing it's over and my last roll will remain in the freezer. I don't know why except that I just can not throw it away! Thank you EKC for the great times shared...and you too Paul Simon!

[TheLouD711]

Sad news.

Louis DeFeo Photography 

[gloriouskodachrome]

Thank you for uploading this, December 30th 2010 is the end of an era, the kodachrome era. Very, very sad.