Kodak kills SRL/n and SRL/C

[fujifilmnut]

Reported on DPReview.com

[lightwrangler]

Man that just sucks! But I do appreciate that Kodak was being killed in the market by Canon and also to a smaller extent by Nikon and Fuji. I hope that they move forward and look at prosumer DSLRs. May there they can find a market, do some more R & D and come up with something that will be great. The more competition in cameras the better for all of us no matter what camera you use.

[fujifilmnut]

I sure hope we do not lose Fuji. I say this because Kodak may have quit over issues in getting bodies from Nikon. If you were Nikon, would you make advanced bodies available to others? If so, how much do you charge? Can others be profitable at that price? How will it affect sales of Nikon branded DSLRs. These questions have to be on the table at Nikon with regard to Fuji.

Perhaps Nikon should license Fuji CCD's instead of Sony, in exchange for Fuji getting out of the DSLR business.

[ballroom_boy]

I sure hope we do not lose Fuji. I say this because Kodak may have quit over issues in getting bodies from Nikon. If you were Nikon, would you make advanced bodies available to others? If so, how much do you charge? Can others be profitable at that price? How will it affect sales of Nikon branded DSLRs. These questions have to be on the table at Nikon with regard to Fuji.

Perhaps Nikon should license Fuji CCD's instead of Sony, in exchange for Fuji getting out of the DSLR business.

I really hope we don't lose Fuji as well... competition is a *good* thing and personally, it was nice to have 3 companies providing DSLR's using the F-mount.

I have heard that Nikon manufacturing is struggling to keep up with demand for their own bodies that they sell... that must impact Fuji/Kodak. Also, Nikon spends a small fortune in R&D to develop their bodies/technologies... would they really "give" their latest and greatest to the competition? I would love to be a fly on the wall at a senior management meeting at Nikon...

Anyway, I hope Fuji is still in the game.... although, having the Fuji SR sensor in a D2x body would be *heaven*. A boy can dream, can't he?

[lightwrangler]

Perhaps Nikon should license Fuji CCD's instead of Sony, in exchange for Fuji getting out of the DSLR business.

That's what they did on the first digital "pro" camera that Nikon had. I believe it was branded a Nikon/Fuji. Was it an D1? In any case I believe that getting bodies was the least of Kodak's concern. It seems to me that the soft position of their final product in the market was the issue. I could see them getting back in, but with possibly a DSLR with a non interchangeable lens (ala Oly E10/20) or simply using the mount from a Nikon and/or Canon, but building their own camera. Maybe I'm wrong but I think that it is too late to count Kodak out.

As for Fuji, they have had a lot of sucess in the consumer market and they are part of a huge diverse corporate entity. I think they will be around for a while.

[Steve Wynn]

I'm not betting on the theory that Kodak was having trouble getting bodies from Nikon. I was told last year good size store by the salesman that sells Kodak, Nikon and Fuji that he could not give a Kodak camera away.

Competition is good. I for one loved the solid feel of the Kodak camera. But I shoot Fuji because I feel it is the best for people.

Steve

[Steve P]

That would explain why one could pick up a SLR/n for as little as $3500. Heck! just do the maths!

Steve

[Igor]

SLR/n is still a great camera with full-size sensor (the only full frame F-mount DSLR still !)
Too bad it was built in the old N80 body :(

[Bruce]

It's a shame they are not going to develope the SLRn to a higher level.
Glad I got mine when I did.
Bruce

[robinp]

Kodak's next DSLR will be a 4/3 system camera.

1. Extremely good lenses available (a quite a series of them by now)
2. Kodak makes the present ccd's for the Oly's
3. Getting a real nice body is no problem in that camp
4. On paper Kodak joined the 4/3 club a few years ago

We'll see, but l think this has great probability.

Theo
Yes, and officially Fuji is signed up to 4/3 too but will we ever see product?
I think 4/3 is a great idea as the hardware is designed from the ground up for digital use - no compromises using old film hardware.
Sigma is in the 4/3 club too but when will we see a Foveon sensor 4/3 from them?
As long as its just Olympus doing 4/3 there's always a question mark over committing to the format - the sooner other companies join the better.

BTW - Olympus in trouble? http://db.riskwaters.com/public/showPage.html?page=281851

Cheers, Robin

[photoworks]

There are close relations between Nikon and Fuji from the past.

Billy

[Serge]

and explains the add I saw in today's paper, Kodak must be dumping them.
A retail store which only sold P&S models suddenly advertising the DSLR/C
bundle for AU$5499!

Includes Canon 24~85 USM lens
Lexar 1GB Pro CF card
Manfroto tripod and head.

It was the first I'd heard of the Canon mount and thought it would be big news, now it makes sense. Have a mate who has just ordered the Olympus E1 plus 4 lenses, flash etc. The manager of the distributor is coming to his house personally to show him how it works, that's how keen they are to move them, not many sold here apparantly.

[NRA]

Ime so pleased I have mine. Its not an out of the box and wow machine by anymeans, you have to learn how to make it work.

In the UK, as a new owner we had a free one day seminar from Kodak, without which there was only difficulty after difficulty.

With the 17-35 AFS and on a tripod its easily better than any MF camera ive had.

Just hope it lasts !!

Nige;

[jenbob2]

I was a Fuji S2 shooter and then gave up the S3 for a Kodak SLR/n. No way can I go back. Now I REALLY need a backup Kodak and they seem to have all disappeared. Even the dreaded eBay rarely has them now. Anyone know where I can get one?

bob

[snapshot69II]

In the latest issue of Rangefinder magazine, there's an article about the demise of the Pro SLR/c and Pro SLR/n. The cost acquiring bodies from Canon and Nikon was mentioned as a factor, but another factor was the fact that the sensors in both cameras were not made by Kodak, but by a Belgium firm.

Kodak is still making CCD sensors for the Olympus camera and for medium format backs. Agressive marketing or the lack thereof was another factor.

The article also mentioned that Leica is also having trouble going into digital and that Contax cameras are no more.

Also mentioned was the fact that Agfa is no longer in the traditional film business, but the company still produces products for the graphic arts business.

Boy! how things have changed. I look around at some of my old equipment and wonder what I'm going to do with all these paperweights.

[Steve P]

I have an S3 which replaced my S2. So far I'm happy with it, but it's not been without it's problems. I thought as I'd already owned and used the S2 I could take it out the box and that would be it. How wrong I was! The new sencor is very different.. The S3 is a better camera, no doubt about that despite what a lot of people have been saying, it just takes a little getting use to.

Anyway, the SLR/n. It is as I've already said a shame as I know the people that have them completely sware by them. The thing that's always blown me away is the detail the thing can capture :eek: Tis my bet they will appreciate in value now, and quite rightly so!

[NZDoug]

and us lucky owners still have a full frame camera that takes Nikkors and no one else does........ :cheers: