Kodak's $5,495 Mistake

Kodak just released more information about their new Super 8 camera and the price tag on it is a whopping $5,495, which is quite a price hike from their original price. It has some really great features bringing analog filmmaking into the modern era with this new super 8 camera, but will be out of many people's checkbooks price points. Regardless, I'm excited to see how this super 8 camera will do in today's market, especially at this price point. What do you think of this camera, would you be interested to pick it up?
Keaton: / bazooka_mouth
#kodak #super8 #filmphotography

[@danewetton]

As we all know Kodak as a company are known for making smart, sensible, industry leading decisions that make total sense. Such as creating a Super 8 camera in 2023 that costs more than the likes of the RED Komodo.

[@PostromoPictures]

I actually got a chance to have dinner with the original designers of this camera which Kodak bought the patent/rights to. It's an interesting and complex story but seems pretty in line with Kodak's recent history (post-2000); dumping a lot of money into something and then through mismanagement really hindering any chances of success. The most stark example of that was when I was told there was a working, all metal version ready years ago which could have been sold for $800 while still making a profit. Kodak decided they wanted a higher profit margin so hired an outside firm with no experience in camera design to redesign the camera with plastic parts so it could be manufactured for cheap in China. The original designers left the project at that point, and this is one of the reasons the camera has taken so long to come out - the plastic parts were breaking constantly so a lot more r&d had to go into it to get it working. A shame because the original all metal prototypes I saw shot some beautiful, incredibly stable test footage that could have convinced me it was 16mm. And for that original $800 price point it would have been a great consumer product.

[@wujiali1117]

Manufacturing cheap was not a bad motivation. It seems there are just not enough people and companies with the know-how to produce analog cameras.

[@AdamsDuhStuff]

@@wujiali1117 analog cameras aren't exactly in demand. Why am I going to spend $5,000 on a plastic camera?

[@flyingo]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Kodak is attempting to set market expectations for higher prices for anything and everything related to film.. like “get used to it film folks.. nothing’s going to be cheap anymore.. not film, not cameras, nothing.”

[@theothertonydutch]

Fomapan is still cheap. I don't need to shoot colour film.

[@jeremiahwilderness]

Micro USB charging for "new technology" is a joke

[@chet6286]

I’m pretty sure it’s old stock from 2016 when they initially announced this that they’re selling at a huge markup (these definitely cost under 1000 to make) to try and raise capital for some sort of internal investment.

[@JohnTCo]

seems sick, i would've gotten it in a heartbeat if it was in the og $400-700 price range!

[@samgregg]

It is unfortunate that it was Kodak who had the guts to try to make this camera. I say this because I think that Kodak does not really have the deep pockets anymore to cover the R and D, and instead are trying to recoup that money via a high price tag. Almost any other manufacturer would be willing to eat the loss on the first few units to pay for the rest. I think Kodak managment just does not trust that at 500 dollars they will sell enough of this camera to break even. I think its a shame since at like 300-500 bucks I would buy this thing on the spot, and kodak could make money off all the film.

[@oliverlison]

Yes, I believe the same.

[@jmalmsten]

This all does make me remember that old Digital Super8 cartidge that was kickstarted a while back. Get a decent 8mm sized sensor, put it in a cartridge with BRAW encoding to an SD card. Give it a resolution of, say 3K. As a bonus, maybe include a 32bit wireless sound recorder module that you can pair with it. Make it interact with standard s8 physical contacts. Start recording when the virtual reel starts turning. Have a slider on it selecting the ISO speed and white balance. Maybe even contacts to get sound from s8 sound cameras. That'd be enough. Sell it for a grand and collect accolades for rejouvenating thousands of old s8 cameras. They can even bundle it with exclusive film emulation LUTs tailored for the sensor and BRAW output. That, to me would be a more longterm investment both for Kodak and Consumers.

[@TheRealHarrypm]

Plently of 8mm sound camaras in the market, a lot of people would just say bring back standard/super8 sound stocks and sell reasonable head modules for exsiting projectors and scanners. But with 3D printing and easy offshelf parts making a film camara today is not that hard, making a prisum for it is the only real cost from a fabrication perspective if you want that optical/digital passthough, they have fabs, they have aleady shown a working prototype they just need to actually push it out to market. Kodak could also make a killing off of cine film dev tanks and kits but they don't, and they have pushed low quality film scanners for the last decade for some reason.

[@DJTI99]

I'm looking at this and went to look for Super 8 cameras with crystal sync, and I don't think the price is that bad, honestly. If you look at something like a used Beaulieu 4008 that has been professionally modified with crystal sync and a wider gate, you're looking at around $3,500. That doesn't even include a case, lcd screen, rechargeable battery, HDMI out, or sound recording, which all are included with the Kodak. Seems like the price point is just about right, to me.

[@ZakWolf]

Surely, you can just buy an older secondhand Super8 camera from the 70s or 80s that's still in excellent usable condition and use that with the new Kodak Super8 cartridges? I might give that a shot, especially since they'll digitize the film as part of developing it.

[@TechWithBruno]

Honestly, I could see the price going to ways, a commercial "affordable" price or a super high price, collectable item type of thing, so I was not even surprised. BUT, having a micro USB was the true shock for me lol, it would be but even if it was 200$

[@knoptop]

The trouble with the delays with this bizarre design of a film camera is.. they never accounted for the vertical aspect ratio many creators and companies have gone all in on. This camera is already outdated in design even before it gets released all these years later.

[@Joshua_Ott]

going from 500 to 5k is a big jump.

[@kgitj]

I like the fact that it has sync sound, which is my dream for super 8. What I don't like is that the lens has no zoom lens. Would have been nice if it had at least a 6 to 1 zoom. The price is totally ridiculous! Hope someone comes out with a better one, with a zoom, and better price. I'll stick to my 16mm crystal sync camera for now.

[@freshmanprince12]

Gotta balance those books somehow. This is the "cornerstone" as you said and someone is willing to pay that price so WE can have "affordable" retro gear

[@theothertonydutch]

I'm a 100 percent sure there's a kid (or a chinese factory) with a 3D printer who can basically do the same thing for cheap. And yeah, a 16mm camera would have been a much better choice. 8mil is for home movies.

[@randallstewart1224]

In case anyone was wondering how Kodak went from world domination of a whole industry to bankruptcy, here you go. Super 8 isn't super. 16mm barely gets by at a professional level for film making, and Super 8 is never going to get there, no matter how many electronic and digital add-ons they plug into the camera. So, how many of these cameras will Kodak sell before the Chinese makers pull the plug on a major money looser? Less than 100. Where will they sell them? NYC and Beverly Hills, to would-be future film makers whose daddys pay them to stay away from home.

[@spieler440]

Kodak can get fucked with that price. You can get a seriously good 16mm camera for that price and a decent camera for less than 1000. You would need you head examined to buy that camera

[@aawonnewton]

Actually super sick but that price tag 🫠

[@whosjozikolnik]

"we've seen film products get removed from shelves" let's see how long it takes until this camera joins them xD edit: honestly I think this will flop and no one will ever try to make a super 8mm camera again:/

[@wonderland-vz9cb]

That was made for the NYC film student who daddy financed their movies.

[@IanZainea1990]

These probably started out as being a mass produced item. To a handmade item. That's probably the cost

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

this thing would be 5000 bucks cheaper if they had just made a Super8 camera with pin registration, pressureplate for better image stability (like you have on 16mm) and a fairly easy to maintain mechanism. Or just like a classic Super 8 camera but one that works 100% reliable unlike the 95% of vintage super 8 cameras that are ALL in dire need of servicing.

[@johnnyc.5979]

This video wins the #1 spot for the worst background music. I thought I was gonna get sick.

[@GAMI2002]

For that you can now get an Arri Alexa Classic WTF

[@davidmerrill3429]

All of that, and couldn't even be bothered to use USB-C?

[@oliverlison]

In my opinion they have made 10 prototypes that are sitting on the shelf now and collecting dust. Kodak is seeking some more revenue and came up with the idea to sign up because of the limited quantity. You will need to enter a raffle system to be lucky to get an outdated and now overpriced system. It is disgrace. Kodak is a fucked up company that newer could develep hardware (tell me one piece of Kodak kit that is worth having) and do the marketing for that. In the end when they have sold something for consumers it was shit to say it blantly. The only thing Kodak was good in was in developing professional printers and consumables (films and chemicals). 5.5k it reminds me of the Zeiss zx1 or what it was called. That idea was nice and very cool from a industrial design point of view. Was that a practical camera? No. Instead they should have revived the Contax brand. Don't take me wrong. The people of Zeiss and Kodak can make beautiful stuff. I have several Zeiss lenses and I love working with them. I love to work with Kodak film too. I only work with film. Anyway, this is my take on Kodak's consumer 8mm camera of yesteryear that is modern today.

[@bentbilliard]

I really, really, really want that camera, but I really, really, really can't afford it. So... this sucks but it's basically the same story for any decent new movie camera, and therefore not a surprise. There are a lot of great, super cheap, vintage alternatives if you're willing to measure the exposure perfectly yourself. So it's not the end of the world. However, it's sad for people like me, who would shoot the crap out of it.

[@MrPaultheguitar]

It's not a Logmar pro Super 8 why don't they make a standard super 8 camera no whistles and bells entry level price then other makes can specialise

[@HelicopterDown]

This is going to be a massive commercial failure with that price point. they are totally killing off any hopes at a film market.

[@I.O.M.]

16:9 but not at that price. I think even if they upped the price $1500-2000 would have been more realistic.

[@Vedrajrm]

Price of film will be crucial

[@JesticeBrown]

Slap an Arri or Leica badge on it and I’ll buy it. Hopefully, they make a 16 mm version I’ll be happy to make the investment but 5k for an 8mm camera.

[@MyNameJeff..]

This is the dumbest comment ever. “Oh a literal turd? Slap a gucci label on it and I’ll buy it.”

[@wonderland-vz9cb]

I thought that would be under a thousand.

[@MrC-o5y]

Well they were way off from their original price point.

[@rogerbarnstead7194]

I can't afford it

[@jiving0078]

Just get it’s big brother 16mm for half the price. Don’t be fooled by an extended gate 😂… you need to keep in mind development is constant so save your money. The film look is incredible and just can’t be imitated. But this is marketed towards new people…

[@calahad]

MICRO USB for over 5 grand, naaaaaaaaaaaah. :D I rest my case.

[@H-007]

Really dissapointed with Kodak. The Super 8 camera is just unaffordable, and I sooo DISLIKE the odd video style camera body. No real film viewfinder either? Kodak team, what on earth were you thinking? You're supposed to make the Super 8 camera and film affordable for all, not put people off. Take note of all the comments across social media, it might help you. Here endith the lesson :)

[@thedarkslide]

Let's face it: there is no consumer and prosumer market for super 8. EVERYONE who shoots Super 8 today is not a consumer or prosumer - the price of film and development alone makes that forbidding for anyone doing it just for the fun of it.

[@metalfingersfilm]

that's a really great point.

[@theonlinething1039]

Nope not worth it. There are way better vintage options and they don't even use that crappy micro usb port.

[@TwoForTwentyFilms]

A camera worth maximum 500 USD sells for 5500 USD. Well done Kodak LOL

[@MORCOPOLO0817]

You can buy a lot of film with 5500 dollars. Get a cheap Super 8mm camera and spend your money on film!

[@metalfingersfilm]

No doubt!

[@javixo1997]

Price is way too high for 8mm. 8mm honestly looks like crap 95% of the time, it doesn’t make sense to make an 8mm camera that expensive

[@barrydoyle7686]

Way too much for an amateur camera. No SDI out, no RS, no lemo 3 pin power, “built in sound”. Total flop for professional productions.

[@davewamccallum]

Insane. I don't see anyone here mentioning the cost of super-8 film stock + processing + transfer to digital. THAT will kill this camera - if the price of the camera itself dosen't. And film - even 35mm - cannot hold a candle to digital. To hell with what David Fincher thinks. Super-8 was good in its time, in 1965, for home movies. But in the era of 4K/8K video, Super 8 is a terrible, awful quality record medium. Anyone who shoots S-8 for the first time will instantly recognize that. This is a poor business decision, purely a nostalgia money grab that will leave everyone involved - especially Kodak - wth Ektachrome nightmares.

[@jmalmsten]

As Fincher is one of the biggest proponents of digital capture, even moving to HD video for Zodiac and 4K and up with RED ever since. Considering that, I am now curious of what you are referring to here. What did Fincher say about Super8?

[@theo_korner]

Of course, I will let you know what I think of this scamera...

[@acf2802]

$5,500 for a super 8 film camera? Ridiculous. Overpriced 1000%.

[@Ivy_Media]

[@metalfingersfilm]

Miss you dog! Would love to help on set!

[@akuhietikko]

Looks like a toy, and I don't understand why such a solution for cassette installation...

[@akuhietikko]

Due to the 16:9 widescreen, I would have been willing to pay $2000, just so I wouldn't have to buy an anamorphic adapter or install an additional monitor.

[@MyNameJeff..]

😂😂😂😂