Eastman Kodak Company announced today that it will retire its Kodachrome colour film this year, concluding its 74-year run as a photography icon. While Kodachrome, which was born in 1935, was not the world’s first colour film using a subtractive method - brands like Gasparcolor had been around for a couple of years by then -, it was unquestionably the first commercially viable one, which put an end to the rule of additive processes like Autochrome or Dufaycolor that had dominated the colour film/plate market for the first couple of decades of the twentieth century. Kodachrome went on to become an iconic film used by many great photographers working for National Geographic and other publications. However, sales have declined dramatically in recent years, as people went digital or turned to newer films. Kodak claims that today it represents “just a fraction of one percent” of their total sales of still-picture films. Steve McCurry, the photojournalist who captured the legendary portrait of the Afghan girl on Kodachrome a quarter of a century ago, will have the privilege of shooting one of the last rolls.

Website: Kodachrome Tribute Gallery

In the run-up to the widely anticipated launch of its first Micro FourThirds camera, Olympus is running a teaser campaign that focuses on the 50th anniversary of its PEN series of half-frame 35mm film cameras. PEN cameras were the brainchild of Yoshihisa Maitani, whose aim was to design a high-quality photographic tool that did not cost more than a month’s wage and was as portable and easy to use as a pen. The PEN series used standard 35mm film but took frames that measured only 18x24mm, i.e. half the size of the most widespread frame size on 35mm film. This and other engineering solutions have made these cameras extremely small and lightweight, which contributed to their massive success (17 million units sold worldwide). The current teaser campaign makes it clear that the new Micro Four Thirds camera will be modeled on the PEN series, as far as its outer appearance is concerned.

Website: Olympus Teaser Campaign

Kodak Ektar 100, a new finely grained, highly saturated, medium-contrast colour negative film from Kodak, is now available in 120 size in the UK. Ektar 100, which had originally been released in 35mm format only, was announced for medium format earlier this year, with US shipments commencing in April. Now the Kodak Ektar 100 120 Pro Pack is also available in the UK, from at least two dealers, Silverprint and Firstcall Photographic. Special thanks to Rachelle M. and Rachel Z. Rayns of photo.net for letting us know.

Harman Technology, owner of the Ilford brand, is staging a no-minimum-order-quantities ordering window for Ultra Large Format (ULF) photographers. This initiative allows ULF photographers to order sheet film from the manufacturer’s ILFORD PHOTO black and white brand, free from the constraints of minimum order quantities. The window, which opened on May 1st, will run until July 3rd 2009. After the closing date, Harman will manufacture the products at its factory in Cheshire, England with a view to shipping the products to arrive with dealers by mid-September. Specific products covered include FP4 PLUS in sizes up to 12 x 20 inches, HP5 PLUS in sizes up to 20 x 24 inches and ORTHO PLUS in hard to find sizes such as 18cm by 24cm. “Someone has to champion analogue photography and who better than Harman with a history in the medium stretching back over 130 years,” says Steven Brierley, HARMAN’s President of Marketing for North America. Click through / read on for a list of participating dealers.

Sinar has announced that in addition to the existing professional architectural and landscape camera solution “Sinar arTec Hy6”, it will also offer a new “Sinar arTec HB-V”. The Sinar arTec HB-V accepts any third-party digital backs or any of the Sinarback eMotion models that are equipped with a Hasselblad V camera interface. With the Sinar arTec HB-V, film photography is also possible using a Hasselblad type A12 or A16 Roll Film Magazine. An appropriate mechanism allows for the film advance. Plus, with the new version, the tilting mechanism does not need any locking levers anymore since it is equipped with a self-locking fine micro-drive. You just move it and it stays in place. Sinar has also announced a spring promotion package, which includes a Sinar arTec camera (Hy6 or HB-V) + a 33-megapixel Sinarback eMotion 75 LV + adapter + a Sinaron Digital HR 4.0/35 CEF lens for 29,000 Swiss francs.

Sinar has announced that in addition to the existing professional architectural and landscape camera solution “Sinar arTec Hy6”, it will also offer a new “Sinar arTec HB-V”. The Sinar arTec HB-V accepts any third-party digital backs or any of the Sinarback eMotion models that are equipped with a Hasselblad V camera interface. With the Sinar arTec HB-V, film photography is also possible using a Hasselblad type A12 or A16 Roll Film Magazine. An appropriate mechanism allows for the film advance. Plus, with the new version, the tilting mechanism does not need any locking levers anymore since it is equipped with a self-locking fine micro-drive. You just move it and it stays in place. Sinar has also announced a spring promotion package, which includes a Sinar arTec camera (Hy6 or HB-V) + a 33-megapixel Sinarback eMotion 75 LV + adapter + a Sinaron Digital HR 4.0/35 CEF lens for 29,000 Swiss francs.

This summer, Fujifilm will release a new instant film camera, the Fujifilm Instax 210. According to photoscala.de the Instax 210 will have the same basic specifications as the existing Instax 200, but will come in black colour. Availability is slated for June in Japan, August in Europe. The price is to be confrimed.

Via photoscala.de

A UK retailer is now taking pre-orders for the Voigtländer Bessa III medium format folder. The Voigtländer Bessa III 667, which is marketed as the Fujifilm GF670 in Japan, is now listed at Robert White’s website for £1,650 + VAT. The Bessa III 667 / GF670 is a folding bellows camera that uses 120 and 220 format roll film. With a special selector switch, you can specify whether you want it to shoot a 6x6 or a 6x7cm frame (the actual dimensions are 56x56mm and 56x69mm, respectively). The Bessa III features a HELIAR 80mm f/3.5 lens, whose angle of view is 53 degrees for 6x6cm frames, and 57 degrees for 6x7cm ones. The camera is expected to ship next month.

Website: Voigtländer Bessa III at Robert White’s Website

Notwithstanding the temporary insolvency of Franke & Heidecke, a specialist retailer is now taking orders for the Rolleiflex Gold Edition. This collectors’ edition - which comprises a Rolleiflex 4.0 FW with a Schneider Super Angulon 4,0/50 mm HFT, a Rolleiflex 2.8 FX with a Zeiss Planar 2,8/80 mm HFT and a Rolleiflex 4.0 FT with a Schneider Tele-Xenar 4,0/135 mm HFT, all gilded in 14-carat gold - was originally announced at photokina 2008 and planned for release this year, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera’s debut in 1929. In light of Franke & Heidecke’s recent financial problems, it seemed that this special edition was gone with the wind. But a German retailer called Spürsinn rushed to the rescue. The three gilded TLRs and an exclusive presentation box can be yours for just… 29,500 euros!

For this price, which includes 19% VAT, the cameras will of course be made to order, and every stage of the manufacturing will be documented in an exclusive illustrated book that ships along with your cameras. The presentation box with all three cameras is delivered free of charge and worldwide personally by the management of Spürsinn.

Website: Rolleiflex Gold Edition at Spürsinn

Via photoscala.de

Eastman Kodak Co. has announced that it has recycled 1.5 billion single-use cameras since the beginning of its recycling programme in 1990. Laid end-to-end, the 1.5 billion cameras would stretch 120,000 miles, which is enough to circle the earth five times or reach more than halfway to the moon. According to Kodak, they now recycle 84% of their own disposable cameras in the USA, which is claimed to be “the highest rate of recycling of any consumer product “.

FotoBridge has announced new photo scanning packages for those with a very large archive of negatives, transparencies and/or prints. Prints are scanned at 300, 400 or 600dpi, whereas for slides and negatives, you can choose from 2000, 3000 and 4000dpi packages. Prices start at $39.95 for prints, $89.95 for slides and $99.95 for negatives. The new ‘Super Value 5000’ photo scanning package is available for $439.95 for up to 5000 prints, $969.95 for the same amount of slides and $1195.95 for negatives.

Although it seemed that Patriarch Partners had won the auction for Polaroid, a judge has ruled that the top two bidders be given a second chance to submit improved bids. This comes after complaints by Polaroid’s creditors that the bidding had been flawed. Polaroid had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2008, and despatched the last shipment of instant film to a New Jersey-based wholesale distributor last month.

Via The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Kodak Ektar 100, an extraordinarily fine-grained colour negative film introduced at Photokina 2008, is now available in 120 size. Kodak announced this new emulsion just before Photokina, saying at first that it would only be manufactured in 35mm format. In February 2009, Kodak changed their minds and unveiled their plan to launch Ektar 100 for medium format as well, arguing that “the response to the introduction of EKTAR 100 Film has been amazing, with many requests to make the new film available in medium format”. At the time of this announcement, Kodak promised that Kodak Ektar 100 in 120 format would hit the shelves in April - and they have kept their promise. The 5-roll 120 Pro Pack is now in stock in a number of Calumet stores across the USA, retailing for $17.49.

Unique Photo Inc. claim to have received the last shipment of Polaroid film ever made. The Fairfield, N.J.-based wholesale distributor of photographic supplies has had a relationship with Polaroid since 1947, and took delivery of the last shipment of instant film this Monday. Unique Photo says it has “several months’ worth” of Polaroid 600 and Polaroid Spectra films to sell.

Via PMA Newsline International

Website: Unique Photo

PowerShovel Ltd. have released a snap-together 35mm film camera with a 28mm lens. If you have ever wanted to shoot with a camera that was built by yourself, but a lack of manual dexterity has prevented you from being able to do so, now’s your chance to fulfill your dream. This do-it-yourself camera promises to be just as easy to assemble as a Kinder Surprise toy, and fully functional to boot. Something tells us that corner sharpness - or indeed sharpness as such - might not be up there with the best glass money can buy, but at $17, this camera will certainly not break the bank.

Website: Do-it-yourself 35mm film camera at Unica
Website: PowerShovel Ltd.

Pentax are ending production of the 67II and 645NII medium format film cameras. Pentax “has reluctantly decided to stop production” of the 67II and 645NII from next month because of “difficulty in sourcing electronic components”. The Pentax 67II was first released in 1998, and the Pentax 645NII in 2001. Both cameras were discontinued in Europe back in 2006, due to EU legislation on the use of lead solder.

Website: Pentax Japan

The European price and launch date of the Voigtländer Bessa III medium format rangefinder camera have been confirmed. The Bessa III, announced last autumn, now has a confirmed MSRP of 1999 euros. Availability is slated for May 2009. The Voigtländer Bessa III 667 (marketed in Japan as the Fujifilm GF670) is a folding bellows camera that uses 120 and 220 format roll film. With a special selector switch, you can specify whether you want it to shoot a 6x6 or a 6x7cm frame (the actual dimensions are 56x56mm and 56x69mm, respectively). The Bessa III features a HELIAR 80mm f/3.5 lens, whose angle of view is 53 degrees for 6x6cm frames, and 57 degrees for 6x7cm ones. Click through for more specs.

Fujichrome CDU II and Fujichrome T64 Professional films are to be discontinued. The specialist duplicating film, Fujichrome CDU II, will be discontinued from April, followed by the tungsten film Fujichrome T64 Professional in July. One other change to Fujifilm’s range of professional films is the end of 24 exposure rolls of Neopan 400 135.

Buy Kodak’s Ektar film for the chance to win an exclusive Nature Photography experience. Each winner will enjoy a package that includes a four-night stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, plus behind the scenes access to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and the Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preserve. The package also includes round-trip domestic US flights for 4, airport transfers between the Orlando International Airport and the Walt Disney World Resort, a gift card valued at $200 and a supply of Kodak Film. Anyone who purchases three rolls of 35mm or a 5-pack of 120 format Kodak Ektar 100 Color Film between February 17, 2009 and July 31, 2009 and mails in a proof of purchase will receive a $5 rebate and automatically be entered for a chance to win.

Kodak Ektar 100 film is now available in 120 medium format. Ektar 100 is aimed at commercial photographers and advanced amateurs for applications such as nature, travel, fashion and product photography. “The response to the introduction of EKTAR 100 Film has been amazing, with many requests to make the new film available in medium format. 120-size roll film is widely used for a broad range of photographic applications including ultra high-resolution photography” said Carolyn Walsh, Product Sales Director, CDG, FPG, UK & Ireland, Eastman Kodak Company. The new Kodak Ektar Film in 120 format will be available in the UK from April 2009.