Samurai FRENZY

DX coded film cans were an evolutionary step but didn't require any special camera to replace what users already had. Kodak thought they'd update the 110 format into a smaller package and tack on the same type of metadata carried in DX cans at the same time, but they misread the public and their willingness to toss out perfectly working cameras and start all over again -plus- processors had to install a whole new technology into their existing workflow to accommodate yet another format that was strictly a consumer oriented product. Processing is still available for APS too, so at least you can get something done if you wanted to mail in any cassettes you still have.

I never took the leap, since physically smaller film frames were not a positive step for what I wanted, nor the increasingly automated nature that photography was being pushed too. I wanted bigger frames, and more control, and Kodak was going the opposite direction. That's also the primary reason I was never interested in half-frame cameras. Getting twice the photos on a roll was great if all I wanted was an increase in quantity and upping the number of captured memories, but that also meant a decrease in the quality of the larger prints I wanted to make.

And back to the cameras in a state of selling frenzy, I've also noticed a massive uptick in Contax U4R/I4R's and their Kyocera siblings showing up in the past month.