Image on top: The Leica M9 uses a 18 Megapixel Kodak sensor.
According to Bloomberg Kodak is “weighing options including a bankruptcy filing because of concerns raised by possible buyers of its patent portfolio, said three people with direct knowledge of the process.“
If you read the full article you get (a pretty scaring) idea of what is going on with Kodak. If Kodak quits the digital camera business (and sensor business) than many medium format manufacturers and of course Leica will have to look for new sensor partners.
Months ago there were soem rumors saying that Leica is ready to use Sony sensors for their future mirrorless cameras. But who will make the sensor for the S-system? That’s another big question that needs to be answered if Kodak quits the sesnor business.
22 Responses
I wont shed a tear if M10 would come with state-of-the-art sony sensor, would anyone?
Only the guys who shed a tear when M8 doesn’t come with film and M9 doesn’t come with APS-C and M10 doesn’t come with Kodak…wait what?
I do hope that they will split-off their film production business, to protect from bankruptcy.
So I can buy Kodak film and chemicals, would be a sad day for photography and cinema otherwise.
I would shed a tear if the M10 would get a Samsung sensor. Hope Kodak will do something smart instead of playing Patent Trolls to gain revenue.
Please don’t make posts about things you do not understand. An asset sale or bankruptcy does NOT mean that kodak will stop being a company, will suddenly dissapear, or stop making film and sensors.
Hi! There are many rumors from other websites saying that Kodak will sell their digital camera business. It’s not just me going crazy! 🙂
Yes – sell. The business units, thousands employees and fabs will not just disappear. There is no point going crazy.
You can look at the bankruptcy as a trimming fat. Common scenario looks like that: whenever is possible properties are sold at the market price, rest of properties are sold at the balance price, 1/2-3/4 employees are fired (by new owners), all management gets bonuses. It’s a trimming of the type when the thin is getting thinner and the fat is getting fatter. So there is totally no point to worry – unless of course you are worry for plain employees of the Kodak: for several next months (in worst case years) they would be in very miserable situation.
The 4+ year old sensor in the NX10 and NX100 isn’t that bad. The really bad part is the jpeg engine.
Anyway, I think the natural partner would be Panasonic.
I don’t really care about Leica having to change sensor manufacturer, but I do care about being unable to buy Portra films anymore.
+1!!!
Kodak film will never die 😉
The best one already died.
RIP Kodachrome 25 🙁
I hope you’re a prophet.
By the way, not only Leica, but also Pentax is also using a Kodak sensor in its 645D, no?
Yes. And so do Hasselblad for all their cameras but H4D-60, which has a (Teledyne) Dalsa sensor.
^so they will use this “Dalsa” or whatever. If there is demand for more sensors somebody will make them.
the large sensor is not a big worry. The M9(s) will do fine with Sony sensors.
Maybe Fuji will let them use their sensor 😉
Bankruptcy does not mean they are closing their doors. Kodak needs a good house cleaning to be able to show profitability moving forward. Just before the down turn they gobbled up a large number of smaller companies and then they were forced to have massive layoffs when the bottom fell out. They will likely reorganize for the better and be a healthier company. I could see them dropping their camera line and focusing on just 3 business areas digital sensors, film and wet processing and finally scanning and printing. They have plenty of revenue coming from intellectual properties that will keep the doors open and the lights on for a long time. I just hope they bring back Kodachrome 😉
Allegedly Kodak have no cash at all have they? Allegedly the sell off/licensing of Patents will go nowhere towards paying of their debts. The company will be forced to split and sell off a division or two just to appease shareholders?
Don’t forget that they allready have some Pannys marked as Leicas, and some Lenses too…
Sorry, but if Kodak sold their sensor division to Platinum Equity last November, aren’t Leica dealing with them already?