Fast-Film Coup

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The company's new film represents an important technological breakthrough. For years researchers seeking to devise high-speed color print films have been stymied by the difficulties involved in increasing the light sensitivity of photographic film without producing grainy or fuzzy pictures. Kodak scientists overcame this problem by in effect redesigning the physical structure of the silver halide crystals that form the light-sensitive coating of unexposed film. In their changed shape the crystals now are flatter, with more of their surface area being exposed to light on the film itself. This lets less light do more work, thereby making the film faster. Says Stanley Morten, an industry analyst with the investment firm of Wertheim & Co.: "This is not something that could have come out of a basement or a garage. The product re-establishes Kodak's superiority in all types of emulsion film after a decade in which the Japanese and other foreign competitors had started producing some film as good as Kodak's."

Kodak officials last week unveiled yet another feat of imaging wizardry: a prototype video display unit that allows Disc photos to be electronically displayed on home television screens. Sony Corp. of Japan is planning to sell an all-electronic camera, the Mavica, that also displays images on TV screens. Kodak's products will probably have the market advantage of lower cost. Sony's Mavica is expected to retail for $650, and a shutterbug will have to spend an additional $220 for a viewing device. On the other hand, industry analysts expect that a complete Kodak package of Disc camera plus video display unit would sell for no more than $300.