"The fall of Kodak wasn't because of digital cameras" says History in the Dark

Kodak film boxes are displayed in a store in New York, on Friday, May 4, 2007
(Image credit: Bloomberg / Getty Images)

It was Kodak's failure to adapt to the onset of digital camera technology that was largely responsible for killing the company, so the common misconception goes. But as this fascinating video from Youtube channel History in the Dark explains, in reality the Eastman Kodak Company, to give it its full title, was something of a pioneer of digital tech, and by 2005 the company had become the number one seller of digital cameras in the USA. 

However, by concentrating on the consumer end of the market with point-and-shoot models like the Kodak Easy Share range, it was the arrival of smartphones, in particular the Apple iPhone, that had such a dramatic and detrimental effect on the company's fortunes. 

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"The fact was that selling digital cameras was a lot different than selling film cameras because they no longer had the film market to fall back on once people bought a digital camera," the video expands. "They really didn't need to buy anything else from the company – at least not nearly as often."

You can watch History in the Dark's video above, which gives an insightful yet concise potted history of the rise and fall of the company that popularized photography to the masses. 

And as you'll learn, while the company is a shadow of its former self, it's still a major player in the motion picture industry, and thanks to the resurgence of people film cameras, largely popularised by hipsters and fans of all things retro, Kodak has recently actually increased production of rolls of film, including the popular Tri-X 400 black & white stock. 

Read more: The best Kodak cameras & George Eastman: the man who made Kodak

Adam Waring
Guides Editor

Prior to joining digitalcameraworld.com as Guides Editor, Adam was the editor of N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine for seven years, and as such is one of Digital Camera World's leading experts when it comes to all things Nikon-related.

Whether it’s reviews and hands-on tests of the latest Nikon cameras and lenses, sharing his skills using filters, tripods, lighting, L brackets and other photography equipment, or trading tips and techniques on shooting landscapes, wildlife and almost any genre of photography, Adam is always on hand to provide his insights.

Prior to his tenure on N-Photo, Adam was also a veteran of publications such as PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, so his wealth of photographic knowledge isn’t solely limited to the Big N.

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