Kodak Relaunches the Super 8 Camera

Kodak has delighted film lovers by announcing the relaunch of the fabled Super 8 film camera. Super 8, named for its 8mm single perforation film stock, was the entry-level format that inspired generations of film directors, ranging from old legends like Steven Spielberg, to (relatively) young upstarts Christopher Nolan, director of Inception and the Dark Knight trilogy, and the man behind the recent Star Wars revival, JJ Abrams. Jeff Clarke, the CEO of Eastman Kodak, described Super 8, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, as “an ecosystem for film.”

“The news that Kodak is enabling the next generation of filmmakers with access to an upgraded and enhanced version of the same analog technology that first made me fall in love with cinematic storytelling is unbelievably exciting,” Christopher Nolan said.

“For me, 8mm was the beginning of everything,” Steven Spielberg added. “When I think of 8mm, I think of the movies.”

“While any technology that allows for visual storytelling must be embraced, nothing beats film,” said JJ Abrams. “The fact that Kodak is building a brand new Super 8 camera is a dream come true. With a gorgeous new design, interchangeable lenses and a brilliant scheme for development and delivery of footage, this camera appears to be the perfect bridge between the efficiency of the digital world and the warmth and quality of analog.”

The new Super 8 cameras and film stock are expected to hit the market at some point this year, with the hardware priced between $400 and $750.