When I got to CES, the last brand I thought would constantly surprise me was Kodak. The past few years have certainly been tough for the once renowned film manufacturer, but this year signaled the company is quickly getting back into the latest tech. This is evident in the release of new 360-degree cameras and even a brand new cryptocurrency called KODAKCoin. The manufacturer is definitely still feeling its roots, however, because its brand new Super 8 Camera is slated to hit the market very soon, showing off the company's long-standing skills in bringing photography and filmmaking to the masses.
The camera has been built from the ground up, for modern filmmakers who could've grown up with Super 8 movies or who have never seen a roll of film in their life. The gate has been redesigned to create a closer to 16:9 format that fits the ratio of most TVs these days. Also, it features a large flip-out LCD screen that makes it easy to change settings, and will even display a live view of your image since the camera is equipped with an image sensor to help you compose your shots. I must say after getting my hands on the camera that it feels great, and slightly reminiscent of the Bolex I used for some of my first films, albeit with many modern touches.
One of its upgrades is the ability to capture audio with the camera and save it to an SD card. The camera will also save data to make it easier to sync up later. There is a standard C lens mount, making it compatible with a range of glass, and there are rumors of new lenses being made available, as well.
What would a Kodak Camera be with Kodak film? Kodak is still producing many popular film stocks, including Tri-X black-and-white reversal and a variety of color negatives. One other stock is on the horizon, as well. Though not exactly new, Ektachrome is coming back soon, and will be available in the Super 8 format. Kodak was famous for making still photography accessible to the public by taking care of the hard stuff that is film processing and printing. This Super 8 revival fits into that legacy nicely because filmmakers will be able to purchase all-inclusive kits that include the film, and a mailer to send it off to a lab. The lab then handles the processing and scanning and you will receive a digital copy and your processed roll of film shortly after.
I am certain more information will be made available in the coming months—be sure to follow B&H Explora so you can be the first on your block to get your hands on a Super 8 Camera. Do you have any questions about the Super 8 Camera or format? Please let us know in the Comments section, below.