Kodak

Eastman Kodak, commonly known simply as Kodak, is an American corporation headquartered in Rochester, New York, and incorporated in New Jersey. Founded in 1892 by George Eastman and Henry A. Strong, the company initially focused on developing film roll cameras and quickly rose to become one of the world's largest manufacturers of photographic film and cameras. Throughout the twentieth century, Kodak maintained a dominant position in the photography industry, introducing iconic models such as the Brownie and Instamatic that became staples of personal photography. The company’s history is marked by significant innovation, including the development of the first self-contained digital camera prototype in the mid-1970s, yet it struggled to adapt as the market shifted from film to digital imaging. Facing intense competition and the decline of traditional film, Kodak attempted a pivot to digital photography and printing in the 2000s, but these efforts failed to reverse its financial decline. Consequently, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2012. Kodak emerged from bankruptcy in September 2013 after restructuring its operations and shedding legacy liabilities. Since then, the company has continued to operate in the commercial digital printing, motion picture film, and still film sectors. Notably, Kodak has also licensed its brand name to other manufacturers, such as JK Imaging, which produces the PIXPRO line of digital cameras. While the company is no longer a primary competitor in the global smartphone market, its legacy remains deeply embedded in the history of consumer photography.