dailymeh:

It’s sad to see that Kodak might be gone before the year is over. It’s hard to overstate their importance in the history of photography. Eastman Kodak almost single-handedly created consumer photography with the introduction of the Brownie in 1900. (Here in a 1930s model.) It’s easy to paint this as the film company getting lost in the digital world, but Kodak’s failure isn’t their failure to embrace digital. Kodak’s failure was being ridiculously ahead of their time with digital. They simply couldn’t make money on it.

Steven Sasson created the very first digital camera at Kodak in 1975. In 1991, Kodak launched the first DSLR, a modified Nikon body. In 2002, they introduced a 14 MP full-frame 35mm DSLR, before Canon and Nikon. Until recently (still?), Kodak produced medium format sensors for Hasselblad. Kodak didn’t fail because they’re a film company, but because for all their attempts, they couldn’t find the money-making formula for digital.

Mostly I’m sad that my favorite film, Portra, might be going out of production soon. And I feel bad for the employees who may be losing jobs, pensions and health benefits. Kodak isn’t quite dead yet, but it’s headed towards the grave, and when it does, the eulogies should make sure to mention the bleeding edge digital technology that came out of Kodak. Just goes to show, being first counts for nothing in technology. (See also: Apple.)