jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There are a number of causes: too big to fail, lack of foresight, complacency, arrogance. Look at Lotus 1-2-3, WordStar, WordPerfect, etc. They were all Number 1, but they failed to react to changes in technology and were overtaken by newcomers. Kodak invented the digital camera, but they let others improve it. They built an empire based on film, so selling cameras that didn't use film must have sounded like a ridiculous idea to them. I would love to see transcripts of discussions about that.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

My earliest memories of cameras are of a Kodak box camera my parents used for family shots. My first camera was a small Kodak Brownie that I got for Christmas when I was in the 8th grade. I used it until after I was in the army where I bought my first 35mm camera from a buddy. It was an Argus C-20, a cheap, plastic range-finder camera. Then I found a Petri range-finder camera at a pawn shop in Fayetteville, NC. Later while serving as a missionary in Germany I bought an Exa I, my first reflex camera and before I left I acquired a Praktina IIA, which I used for many years. Now I have both Canon and Nikon digital cameras. Over the past 30 years or so I have acquired at least 30 different film cameras, which sit in a glass display case in my home office. The Exa and Praktina are among them but the Brownie disappeared while I was in Germany. I think my brother hocked it. It is probably lying buried in a garbage dump today.

I remember that many manufacturers flooded the film camera market with a slew of cameras while Kodak only produced a few and they were not that popular when stacked up against other choices. I miss the film photography but it has gone the way of the DoDo along with the Kodak empire.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

It's a sad but not unique story - yes, Kodak invented the digital chip Bayer pattern concept but in a pattern similar to Xerox, whose ARC R&D lab was the invention point of the graphical user interface and the mouse that inspired Steve Jobs, the ensconced business powers had no desire to rock the boat as it were and they let it slip through their fingers.

jmw44 Loc: Princeton, NJ USA

Thank you. Very helpful reference.

Michael

petercbrandt Loc: New York City, Manhattan

I don't think so because I don't know a company named Craig. Been a professional photographer all my life, self employed since 1969.
Peter

BebuLamar

One of the important reason is that Kodak didn't want to make cameras. They wanted to just sell the sensors like selling film.

petercbrandt Loc: New York City, Manhattan

Response by Peter
I do not miss film photography; reciprocity factors, color balance control, so many difficulties all left behind with digital. I hated pouring used chemicals down the drain. I guess the instant gratification of seeing the last capture is too over whelming to wait for film processing and contact sheets. I used to experiment in the darkroom with alternative processing, now I can do it without being in the dark and more accurately.
I have a collection of about a 100 cameras; Hasselblads, Alphas, Nikons, Graflex.......and I wouldn't pick up one to shoot film, but they are handsome to look at and to fondle!
Peter

Denny45acp Loc: Sparta,Michigan

I think we all would love to see the return of slide film again

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

In my humble opinion Kodak sold cameras for the same reason Keurig sells coffee makers, to sell the product that is used in them. Their down fall reflects that and the reality is, with the advent of viable digital that downfall was inevitable as film on a large scale, is akin to buggy whips. The parent company "Eastman" is still a force in the chemical industry. I don't know their position but they are still there. As far as new Kodak cameras; they are made by "who knows" the name is licensed so Eastman collects royalties and still makes some money from"Kodak".

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Kodak still seems to be very much in the picture, with their new PixPro line. There must be a dozen or so models available, now … these are some links to some of the ones available (the 901 should put Nikon to shame!)

https://kodakpixpro.com/support/downloads/

https://www.walmart.com/ip/KODAK-PIXPRO-AZ401-Bridge-Digital-Camera-16MP-40X-Optical-Zoom-HD720p-video-Red/139994947

https://kodakpixpro.com/cameras/astro-zoom/az901

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

at the bottom of the ad you will find this,
"© 2018 JK Imaging Ltd. The Kodak trademark, logo and trade dress are used under license from Eastman Kodak Company."
JK Imaging Ltd is not Kodak but they sure would like you to think they are.

John Paquette Loc: Little Rock, Arkansas

I remember a history professor telling the class the reason railroads declined in power and influence was because they defined themselves as being in the railroad business and did not define themselves as being in the transportation business.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

And just how far do you think these PixPro cameras would go, Rich, with the JK insignia on their masthead / prism?

It doesn't matter ... I predict the Kodak PixPro line (albeit, manufactured by JK Imaging) will go far! ... Have you read those specs? (for the AZ-901, particularly!)

petercbrandt Loc: New York City, Manhattan

Thanks for the links...Wow ! did not realize their existance.
Peter

petercbrandt Loc: New York City, Manhattan

I like the 901 with a 22mm wide angle and 2000 tele. I got to see the results because their chip is small & 20mpx.