Things To Do To Start Your New Year Right..,

[ ] Send in your $20 Dues to: Frank Calandra, Treasurer
                                               350 Witting Road
                                               Webster, N.Y, 14580-9009
[ ] Plan To Attend The Annual Dinner- Date To Be Announced Soon
[ ] Check Next Meeting Notice For New Location

LATE NEWS: Is The APS System Coming To An End? Don't Count It Out...

December 28, would not often be chosen as a date for major announcement by a camera manufacturer, but Minolta dropped a minor bomb on that date. The company will curtail development and research on APS system cameras, in Its place, Minolta will 'favor" digital cameras and other, unidentified, imaging technologies. Does the announcement mark the beginning of the end for a one of the few genuine cooperative efforts of major camera manufacturers While denying that it wouId abandon the system altogether. Minolta quoted statistics that sales of point-and-shoot APS models fell 20 % through September, compared to 2000. Digital camera sales rose 50%. Minolta has been a major supporter of APS with 10 models, sold under the Vectis brand, Sales were about 470,000 cameras for the year ending March 31. The report did not say when Minolta's "business year" starts and closes.

lntroduced five years ago by Minolta, Canon, Eastman Kodak, and Fuji Photo Film,Ltd., the Advanced Photographic System, was one of the first major changes in film handling systems in decades, It was created to spark the snap-shot market by making film loading easier, plus providing a choice of print sizes and shapes, exposure data, a contact sheet of prints, and other features, all in a true compact camera system.

Nikon had earlier indicated that it too will slow investment in the APS format. However, Kodak, is introducing an APS camera in its new Preview line which will combine digital and film technology in a single camera. Available in 2002, the Preview captures pictures on film while allowing users to review them on an LCD screen on the back of the camera, then program instructions for prints. The cameras will also make it easier to transfer images to a computer, thus providing the best of both worlds. Low-resolution pictures can be sent as email and will still get the benefits of the high-resolution of film. The advance is possibly only using APS film, which contains a thin magnetic strip for recording information. Kodak also will continue using the APS system in a line of single-use cameras.

The Return of the "Collectors Notebook" series...This issue has another of the popular Collectors Notebook series. This one is on how Kodak roll films got their numbers. You may be surprised. Click on get article! to read it!

Ugly Camera of the Year Award: It has to go to the Olympus Accura View 120 35mm. Lots of features in a body with an over abundance of sharp corners.

Mystery question Number One...

What, seemingly minor change by Kodak substantially reduced the "short-end" 35mm film business? Answer at End of Newsletter
 

Meeting Report...Nick Graver Scores A Winner!

If you attended the meeting you enjoyed the fun, what's more, Nick Graver performed an impossible trick last year and members are still talking about it. His magic: making everyone in the room think! The thinking involved was trying to answer: "If I faced that situation, what would I have done?î Or "What did I do?".

For those who missed it, here's a brief review: Reading from a stack of index cards, Nick outlined situations that could easily happen to almost anyone in the room.

Example One: "You are at a flea market and you spot that item you have been trying to find for years. At about the same time, a man picks it up and carefully looks over its every detail. He shows no emotion to indicate whether or not he wants to buy it. What do you do?

The card reader may or may not suggest a response, then asks if anyone in the audience has had a similar situation and if so, how they responded, why, and with what result.

Example Two: "You are at a yard sale. There in it's dusty glory, is a rare camera which you know to be worth at least $1OO. The price marked is $5. The sale is being run by a little old lady who says, "Most of this old junk belonged to my late husband. I'm selling it to help pay for my move to the old folks home...". She's wearing expensive looking clothing and there are other indicators that she is "doing all right" financially. How much do you offer her for the camera and what will be your next move should she turn you down.?

The game usually provokes discussions, personal experiences, and emotions. But if not, ask:

--Is honesty always the best policy if no one will be hurt in any substantial way?
--How do you make a deal without revealing your feelings, with or without, lying?
--What other aspects of making a deal do you feel is effective, and easy to live with?

Warning: There could be one possible problem if you participate in this game. In the future, you could find yourself trying to make a deal with a society member that heard you detail the approach that usually works best for you. Perhaps leaving a few critical details unsaid is not a bad idea.

From The Editor's Desk...Mixing Anxiety With Anticipated Relaxation...

On a very early, cold, morning in November, Caroline and I, boarded a Delta airliner heading for a visit with Mickey Mouse in Orlando. Being our eighteenth visit, we knew the flight, and the destination well. Still, recent events made us a bit concerned about the trip.

I'm pleased to report that the flights, to and from Orlando were uneventful. We began to relax after observing the security measures in three airports we went through and also on Disney property. We must look innocent because the sum total of our inspections was having inspectors glance into a carry-on canvas bag as we boarded planes and when entering each Disney park. Incidentally, the flight is always a good time to read the latest Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Guide. The 2002 edition is extensively revised, for the better, in format and content.

Long Before Disneyland, California or Walt Disney World in Florida, There Were the Disney Brothers in Marceline, Missouri.

Movies were young, silent, and the Disney brothers were struggling to make money from their animated cartoons-one of which would soon feature a mouse as the star. The Disneys used Eastman Kodak film, sold to them on credit by a company that wanted to be the leading supplier of film to the developing movie industry. Ever since, Kodak and Disney have done well for each other, to say nothing of the entire motion picture business.

This year Walt Disney World is celebrating the 1OOth birthday of Walter Elias Disney. Part of that celebration is the new Walt Disney Museum, located on Mickey Avenue at the MGM Studios. The museum tour begins with a multi-media show that takes you back to 1901 and the story of Walt Disney's life and work. As a follow-up, you might also want to read Capodagli & Jackson's book "The Disney Way,". It is about a young artist and his brothers as they struggled to get their cartoon film-making business off the ground. Those who had faith enough to invest in their venture would became rich. However, not everyone was a true believer. In 1923 Walt borrowed $500 from an uncle who insisted on repayment in cash, rather than the stock Walt Disney offered. Bad decision. The value of that $500 stock today, almost a billion dollars!

As long as you are in MGM Studios, include a stop at the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire studio. In a duplicate of the real show's studio, an audience member is selected to play for a chance to win real money. It's considerably less than~ a million dollars, but the winner could be you. The show is free and fun, plus, you get to play with their special computers.

Photo Fact: Kodak estimates that well over 5% of all the pictures taken in North America are taken in Disney Theme Parks.

While On The Subject... Here's A Must For All You Disney World Fans..,

Mouse Tips, is a seven page "unofficial" newsletter-style publication about the latest happenings at Disney World. Published by Don and Amy Sullivan. It is a font of well researched, well-written, up-to-date, information. If you want to know what's new, what's planned, what's worthwhile, and what's not, this the very reliable source. Address: MOUSE TIPS, P.O. 383, Columbus, OH 43216, $12.95 year.

Mystery Question #2

What camera feature, introduced in 1983 by Fuji Photo Film, did the public totally reject? Answer at the end of the Newsletter

Obituary: Gareth Aeron Lloud...The Co-Inventor of the First Digital Camera

Like many people behind the scenes of major scientific developments, Gareth Lloud is a name unfamiliar to most of us. Yet, without his work, one of today's fastest growing areas in photography, digital cameras, might not be available. His first digital camera was a "clunky box" device that recorded images on a cassette.

Working in the Kodak Research Labs for three decades, Mr. Lloud had many other achievements, among them was the design of motor drives and electronics for exposure control in the Lunar Orbiter camera, the first device that made close-up photos on the moon.

Kodak-Disney Trivia:

(1) Kodak was the first corporate sponsor to sign-up for an EPCOT exhibit when the park was being planned. (2) Kodak's Honey I Shrunk the Audience, is the number one attraction at EPCOT. Kodak's less popular, Journey Into Your Imagination is currently being renovated, because Disney's president, Michael Eisner, made a visit and said it needed it. The EPCOT pyramids and jumping fountains, are but a small part of the long relationship between the Walt Disney Company and Kodak - a partnership hghly beneficial to both.

Mystery Question No. 3

Donald M. Harvey is given credit for designing one of Kodak' most popular cameras. What was it's name? Hint: The cameras are is no longer made, but lots are around.

What's Next For Polaroid? Wasn't It Barely Surviving. Just An Instant Ago..,.

On the list of seminal events in photographic history, the story of Polaroid Corporation's potential demise will rank high. Just keeping posted on the travails of a company that seems dead set on oblivion, has not been easy. As soon as it appears they have done something right for a change, when all the facts come out, most actions have been wrong.

What could have been the grand finale, on October 3rd, 2001, Polaroid declared formal bankruptcy. By "sheer coincidence", according to Business Week magazine, a week before, more than a dozen senior executives quit, afraid that the federal government would end up taking over Polaroid's pension plan which has a $40,700 cap. By leaving early the executives took their pensions in lump sums, totaling millions of dollars. 3,365 employees, who had been laid off prior to bankruptcy, also opted for lump sums. The result: Polaroid's pension plan was underfunded by 10%. equaling $100 million. Just as the government Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. was ready to step in, the company abruptly cut health-insurance subsidies for its 5,000 retirees. This left some retirees with medical bills and no coverage. Many would have had to pay as much as $5000 a year out of pocket. Fortunately, a stock market rise in December put the pension fund, at least for now, back in the black,

Polaroid also announced that it is looking for a buyer to take over all its assets, including those funds for its pensions. Whatever happens, Polaroid employees may end up considerably poorer than their bosses who bailed out early.
-above item abstracted from Business Week, December 10, 2001

On December 4th Polaroid had sold the rights to buy Polaroid's identification card business for $56.5 million to Digimarc, an Oregon company whose watermark technology embeds digital data into pictures. The purchase, approved by the U.S. bankruptcy Court, followed a weekend auction, that was a defeat for a group of the division's managers who wanted to buy the profitable ID systems which operates in Bedford, Mass, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The division was considered one of the most valuable assets that Polaroid had left since it is used by many states and companies for driver's licenses and similar photo ID applications.

By mid-December, some Wall Street soothsayers still believed that Polaroid will be bought by another company, perhaps a foreign camera or film company. Don't count on that either. With the possible exception of Fuji, perhaps Konica, or the very long shot, British, Ilford, there are few photographic companies that could absorb even a reduced Polaroid debt and provide an even downsized operating budget adequate to continuing the present operation.

But perhaps all is not lost. Polaroids inexpensive digital camera was reported to be selling well, at around $60. More important is Opal and Onyx. These systems can "spit out digital pictures instantly". They borrow from thermal and ink jet technologies. Opal is for color pictures and Onyx for monochrome. Just push a button and in seconds you get dry, 35mm quality snapshots or larger images. The flrst Onyx will.be available at the end of 2001, Opal in 2002.

But the greatest endorsement, at present, of regular Polaroid cameras is on CBS's Thursday night Crime Scene Investigation, one of the most popular show on TV. In almost every episode the investigators analysis of a crime scene is recorded with a Polaroid camera, and the pictures are often shown close-up, like them or not.

Do Polaroid's Problems Forecast Other Photo Company Problems? No. But...

In late September The WaII Street Journal reported that Europe's Agfa-Gevaert may slash as much as eighteen percent of it's work force and close factories to offset slowing demand for films and "printing machines", which we assume to be their photo finishing equipment.

In terms of real people, AGFA's employee cut may mean 4000 jobs lost over the next 15 months. How many of its 40 factories are involved is not reported, but AGFA plans to take a charge of $505 million over the next two years. The company cites slacking economic growth and the use of digital technology, which, AGFA contends, has also clipped demand for its rivals. Perhaps right, Eastman Kodak, the world's largest photographic company, also plans more job cuts, on top of 3,500 announced last April.

Captiva, SLR SE.: Polaroid's, Handsome, Innovative. Largely Unknown, Jewel

While few Polaroid cameras hold great appeal to collectors, there is one that is especially unique and perhaps one of the most highly desirable- the Polaroid Captiva, SLR SE. Introduced in 1993 and discontinued in 1996, the Captiva had a short run compared to most
Polaroid cameras. Listing at $118.50, it was usually sold for $79.50.

What's so different about the Captiva? While most other Polaroid folding cameras fold-up and pop-out in clam-shell fashion, the one and a half pound Captiva, folds down and popsup sideways.It has visual and audible signals for empty film pack, full storage compartment, and audible signals for the self time. There's auto focus, a built-in flash which cuts itself off if not used for a minute or two. Touch the red flash switch and it is back on immediately. A tripod socket, soft rubber grip and an over-the-shoulder strap help steady the camera with its not too speedy, f/12, 107mm lens.

In our limited survey, no one we asked had even heard of the Captiva. Sure, they knew other Polaroid SLRs, such as the famous SX-70's of 1972-77. McKeown lists and shows just about every other Polaroid. The Captiva SLR SE isn't even mentioned, let alone dated, priced or pictured. Didn't anyone buy the Captiva? It must have sold enough that the fllm is still worth producing. Polaroid films listed in the December 2001, Popular Photography and Shutterbug ads include Captiva film, which is Polaroid 500. So somebody must be using Captivas, or perhaps the film fits other Polaroids.

Only through the valiant efforts of Nick Graver, who found a working 800 number for Polaroid Customer Service-1-800-225 , Polaroid provided the dates, prices, and even more details, now that the Xeroxed copy of the owner's manual has arrived. Only one problem. It's really unfortunate that Polaroid can't afford to get their copier serviced.

Ofoto. Who?

While not a household name, online-photo~raphy service Ofoto of Emeryville, California, has agreed to be purchased by Eastman Kodak. According to Kodak, Ofoto will, "... connect Kodak's film-scanning and uploading services and Kodak's output capabilities through labs operated by Kodak's Qualex unit." For Ofoto, the deal gives the company the resources to make online photography a mass-market service. The deal was scheduled to have been concluded in may. In elated news Kodak will stop on-line photo finishing.

Mystery Question #4

The year is 1970. Name the major Kodak Films available for prints, slides & home movies. Hint: The 10 Included black & white print, color print, color slides and color home movies.

What's All This JAZZ? And Why Is FUJI Beating The Court Drums?

JAZZ is not a name in photography that means a whole lot to most people, even those who own one of their cameras. JAZZ is a brand name used by a relatively small company that primarily distributes inexpensive "novelty" cameras. It uses the JAZZ, as well as ARGUS and other brand names, Most JAZZ cameras are 35mm, Some are clever or cute, like those with transparent bodies or with a cartoon character on their front. Then there are JAZZ single use cameras from the same distributor. Sold on their low price, often as low as three dollars. The film they contain is what a JAZZ official once called "whatever is cheap."

So why is FUJI upset? Like several other small companies, JAZZ single-use cameras are refilled shells, obtained from processing labs. Apparently JAZZ has a fondness for FUJI single-use camera shells, and is not too particular about their condition before refilling them with new film. Some of the cameras are slipped into an outer cardboard box with cut-outs which can allow the FUJI name to become visible. When that happens, FUJI is not pleased.

Mystery Question Answers:

No, 1
Until a relatively short time ago, used Kodak 35mm film cassettes were easy to obtain and easy to refill with bulk film. Amateurs, as well as professionals used refills. often at a considerable saving. Then Kodak switched to 35mm cassettes with "staked" or crimped ends. The ends are not easily removed without bending the end cap, the cassette, or both, out of shape making them no longer light proof. For bulk film users Kodak sells reusable cassettes.

The change in the regular cassettes hit one group of sellers and buyers in their pocketbooks. These people use what are called "short endsî film stock. Purchased from motion picture studios "short ends" are film left in the 35mm movie camera after a day's shooting, While designed for motion picture photography, it is usually satisfactory for snapshots. A number of small, usually mail-order, businesses, respooled the "short-ends into Kodak and other brand 35mm cassettes and often sold them at deep discount prices. The business was popular in the 1930's, 40's and 50's. The most famous short-end sell is probably Seattle Film Works which sold short ends of color motion picture film that required special processing. At one point time they were a darling of Wall Street with a stock price well beyond the company's worth. They have since changed their name and operation..

No.2
The camera talked. About what, and in which language, we have no idea.

No.3
The Disc Camera

No.4
  1. Kodacolor X
  2. Kodachrome II
  3. Kodachrome X
  4. Ektachrome X
  5. High Speed Ektachrome
  6. Verichrome
  7. Panatomic X,
  8. Plus-X Panatomic,
  9. Tri-X Panatomic,
10. Kodachrome II Movie Film