As the 1930s came to a close, Kodak came out with Kodachrome film - the first commercially viable color film available to the general public. In 1937 and 1938, the colors were still not stable and accurate, but by 1939 Kodachrome was producing color images of remarkable precision. Not just anybody could buy this film. It cost $5 per roll and had to be sent back to Rochester , New York for development. By comparison, in 1938 Congress established the first minimum wage at 25 cents per hour. $5 represented half a week's work. But the Farm Security Administration sent out about a dozen photographers with this new film.