Low sales lay 74-year-old Kodachrome film to rest

NEW YORK After 74 years with the photography business, Eastman Kodak Co. announced the retirement of its pioneer Kodachrome film, subsequent to this year’s low product sales and several labs’ decisions to stop processing the film.

Introduced in 1935, Kodachrome was the first commercially successful color film of its time. However, over the years, revenue seems to have tapered off, now currently representing “a fraction of 1%” of Kodak’s total sales of still-picture films.

"The majority of today's photographers have voiced their preference to capture images with newer technology -- both film and digital," said Mary Jane Hellyar, Kodak's outgoing president of the film, photofinishing and entertainment group.