Does Kodak sell film anymore?

[kb3lms]

I think they'd (Kodak) prefer not to sell any film any longer, especially is you check their website, except it has this pesky habit of bringing money in the front door. Which they need cause it sure as heck is going out the back! It's pretty hard to sell something that nobody can find.

Locally, CVS has a good stock of Kodak Ultramax 400 and their house brand in 400 only. (which I am guessing is Kodak since the package construction and the expiration date printing is exactly the same) The Ultramax is $15.99 for 4, 24 exp rolls and the house brand is like $2 less. They also sell Tri-X and BW400CN in 24 exp rolls for $6.99, which is hideously expensive so I don't bother with it. Every three weeks or so the Ultramax goes on sale for either $8.99/box or Buy One/Get One. I usually pick up a box or 2 at that time. According to the expiration dates the stock seems to turn over every few weeks. They do not stock any Fuji product at all.

I have not seen any Kodak color film other than 400 speed in an actual store in years.

Target is supposed to have Kodak film in their local stores according to the Target web site, but I've never found any. Of course, I've never found anything else I wanted in Target, either.

Walmart sells 200, 400 and 800 Superia in 4x24 roll boxes and single rolls. The 400 is never available, but there is a hanger for it. IDK if they never put any out or it is just the first to go. 200 ISO is $6.89, 400 is $8.99 (if they had it) and 800 is $10.69. I buy some 200 speed every so often. I don't look at the 800 as I have enough 800 asa film to photograph the surface of the moon in disgusting detail. Our local Walmart has tried many times to get rid of the film section but it keeps coming back. In an interesting twist, their digicam display has about shrunk to nothing. Often, I look in the film developing bin and there's always quite a few envelopes that people have dropped in for processing.

 

[ambaker]

We can get Kodak film at the Walgreens pharmacy, here in the Missouri boot heel. But not at Walmart, they've gone Fuji.

So the answer is Kodak still sells film. They just do not appear to market it.

 

[h.v.]

Kodak used to do their own distribution. They maintained a dealer network and exercised control over the entire process.

Since they stopped using that model, distribution has been, at best, inconsistent.

In Canada, it is terrible.

I can still buy Kodak 35mm colour amateur film at a local drugstore chain (London Drugs) and at a local grocery store chain (Save on Foods). They don't have much stock, little selection, and the prices are high. I expect that Save On Foods makes stocking decisions on a store by store basis.

Yup. I'm actually surprised that local drug stores even sell any film anymore. There can't be that demand among regular consumers, right? I guess there is, though. Shoppers stocks Fuji and no-name branded stuff, various grocery stores have single use but it is always Fuji. London Drugs has a decent selection, actually, probably because they're a bigger drug store with a full photo and photofinishing department (unlike say, Shoppers or Rexall). Some even sell pro films, like Ilford and Kodak B&W. But otherwise they sell instant film, Fuji consumer, and unlike every other drug store, Kodak consumer (including BW400CN).

Last time I looked, local CVS's were still stocking Tri-X, though at close to $8 a roll. I could imagine sales weren't so great at that price. A local Rite-Aid had some Fuji color, and even some store-brand, who knows what that is. All the drug stores seem to still be stocking the one-use cameras, though I don't think the local supermarkets have any film of any kind now.

Pfft. You Americans don't realize how cheap your stuff really is. You guys seem to cite 3 or 4 bucks for a roll as industry standard. Up here in Canada the only stuff that's that cheap is 3 or 5 roll packs of consumer film (on a per roll basis) or expired film. Tri-X 135-36 regularly runs at $8-9 in local film fridges per roll, and it's one of the cheaper B&W films (along with Tmax). BW400CN is usually $5-8, XP2 Super 400 and HP5 are usually $10, Tmax is usually $9ish, and Delta is usually $8-9. Slide films by Kodak and Fuji are at least $13 for 135-36 (24 is not as easy to find in slide). Portra usually goes for 10-12 bucks per roll. If it weren't for shipping and duties, not to mention wanting to support my local businesses, I'd definitely be opting for U.S. companies.

 

[Mad4MF]

I just got back my first roll of Portra 400. They will be be selling more to me.

Phillip

 

[Ian Grant]

David:

It is due to a long history. George Eastman was the one who made the decision to use drugstores as the primary sales location for early Eastman Kodak products, and that ended up being part of the culture of expectations.

Unfortunately not quite true, Eastman sold his cameras through pre-existing outlets. Pharmacies/Chemists shops (or Drug stores as you call them in the US) were selling photographic materials land cameras long before George Eastman founded Kodak. In fact the link to chemists shops goes back to the beginnings of photography and the supply of chemicals for early processes. It's a link that's never been totally broken.

In the UK many of the chains of camera stores began from chemists shops (inc Jessops & Jacobs) and many will have forgotten that Boots The Chemist the largest UK Pharmacy chain and also a drug manufacturer were selling their own brand cameras by the 1880's & 90's.

Ian

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

At least in Germany, consumer grade Kodak 200 & 400 films are cheaply available (IIRC € 3.99 for a 2 pack) at drugstores and discount supermarkets (in cities that generally means never more than about 5 minutes walk away).

Unfortunately, that's usually not the kind of film I'm interested in buying... :-(

 

[CGW]

Just buy from B&H, h.v. Almost non-existent demand for film around Toronto kites prices and accounts for the "take it or leave it" attitude at places like Henry's and Vistek. B&H does their own brokerage, so you know pre-purchase what the total will be with no tax/brokerage charges surprises on delivery. Film isn't getting cheaper anywhere but B&H still beats locals who don't bother any longer. Check 'em out.

 

[Zewrak]

Just buy from B&H, h.v. Almost non-existent demand for film around Toronto kites prices and accounts for the "take it or leave it" attitude at places like Henry's and Vistek. B&H does their own brokerage, so you know pre-purchase what the total will be with no tax/brokerage charges surprises on delivery. Film isn't getting cheaper anywhere but B&H still beats locals who don't bother any longer. Check 'em out.

Funny how people whine about no films/demand locally and promote webpurchases in the same breath.

 

[Ian Grant]

Funny how people whine about no films/demand locally and promote webpurchases in the same breath.

I agree. It's very important that we have films available at a wide variety of outlets. Sure it's easy to buy in bulf from a mail order supplier but what about when you're away from home and that's not feasible, you need access to stock on the shelf.

I had no option of staying using Tmax films as I just couldn't get what I wanted, Tmax 120, in South America or in Turkey 4/5 years ago howver I could easily get Ilford & Foma films as well as some Fuji. At that point I switched back to Ilford films and haven't regretted it, I've used Fuji for colour since the E3/4 days anyway both for slide and negative films.

Before we blame the coating division it's fair to say taht Kodaks presence has been increasing, at least in the UK, but in other markets. Staples now stock Kodak inkjet instead of Ilford (the Swiss papers not Harman) as well as other Kodak peripherals. What's happened is Kodak's marketing/Distribution has lsot it's way with regards to the products we want.

Ian

 

[Zewrak]

If they don't sell the film you have, ask them to stock it and they most likely will. That in turn will make people see that there is film around.

 

[CGW]

Funny how people whine about no films/demand locally and promote webpurchases in the same breath.

You so don't get it. Demand has already flatlined in my area and retailers aren't about to load-up on stale-dated merch they'll end up selling at a loss--or not at all--just because someone thinks they should. Believe me, the "field of dreams" model doesn't work very reliably. The damage was done 5-8 years ago--where have you been? Funny how it's OK for people to crow about mail order processing when local labs crap out on film service but online film buying is somehow problematic.

 

[Hatchetman]

B&H has great selection, good prices, and great customer service. I have no qualms about giving them my business.

 

[wblynch]

In the US all the national electronics chains have gone belly-up over the past decade, with the exception of Best Buy. And now, Best Buy just announced they are starting to close down stores as well.

It has to be clear that internet sales have taken their toll on retailers for more than just photo film.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

B&H has great selection, good prices, and great customer service. I have no qualms about giving them my business.

They're also my local shop, but if I were in Chicago, I'd probably go to Central Camera. That's a place that feels like a real camera store.

 

[Zewrak]

You so don't get it. Demand has already flatlined in my area and retailers aren't about to load-up on stale-dated merch they'll end up selling at a loss--or not at all--just because someone thinks they should. Believe me, the "field of dreams" model doesn't work very reliably. The damage was done 5-8 years ago--where have you been? Funny how it's OK for people to crow about mail order processing when local labs crap out on film service but online film buying is somehow problematic.

Have you tried? ofcourse they wont stockpile all different films at large quantities. As I said earlier, the place I get my c41 developed at, and get my films at, stopped selling film about 2-3 years ago. And now he sell film again. He got tri-x, tmax, fp4 and some fuji colour films. Not many, but some. And he started selling again, after two people, asked him to get some trix.

The local camera club now knows this and use his service frequently. He has gained customers by doing this. Several DSLRs has been sold because he has film. Because he is now profiled as the "real" camerashop. Only because he stocks a few packages of film per week.

And yes, I pay no more for the film then on the internet.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Several DSLRs has been sold because he has film.

Ken

 

[CGW]

Have you tried? ofcourse they wont stockpile all different films at large quantities. As I said earlier, the place I get my c41 developed at, and get my films at, stopped selling film about 2-3 years ago. And now he sell film again. He got tri-x, tmax, fp4 and some fuji colour films. Not many, but some. And he started selling again, after two people, asked him to get some trix.

The local camera club now knows this and use his service frequently. He has gained customers by doing this. Several DSLRs has been sold because he has film. Because he is now profiled as the "real" camerashop. Only because he stocks a few packages of film per week.

And yes, I pay no more for the film then on the internet.

Lucky you. And yes, I've tried... Like I said, this got played out in Toronto a few years ago: tanking demand, less turnover/selection, higher prices, even less demand, less selection--get the picture? Two camera clubs I once attended all but ditched film 7-8 years ago by killing slide competitions; no one I know in either has shot film regularly--if at all--in the last 5 years. I bought locally up to 2010 when price and selection made B&H a deal.

 

[Chris Nielsen]

Here in New Zealand the Kodak distributor has sucked for a long time. I cannot get Tri-X for love nor money except from one shop that i would have to take a day off to drive to, I assume they parallel import the stuff

 

[dynachrome]

Gas is expensive enough that if you don't drive a hybrid you have to think about shipping vs. driving. If they are even in cost (gas/tolls vs. shipping) and if you don't need the film immediately then shipping wins. Even if gas/tolls come to a little less than shipping you have wear and tear on your car to consider. I'm lucky enough to have a good size store about a 20 minute drive from here and I'm fairly close to New York City. For many, people buying film has become a mail order deal. It's just not practical for a large number of small outlets to stock film any more. They wind up paying more for it and then we wind up paying more. Maybe some medium sized stores can start selling by mail if they don't already do so. It would be helpful.

 

[h.v.]

Just buy from B&H, h.v. Almost non-existent demand for film around Toronto kites prices and accounts for the "take it or leave it" attitude at places like Henry's and Vistek. B&H does their own brokerage, so you know pre-purchase what the total will be with no tax/brokerage charges surprises on delivery. Film isn't getting cheaper anywhere but B&H still beats locals who don't bother any longer. Check 'em out.

Yeah, I've done pretend orders that I cancel to see what shipping/duties would be and that's great that B&H does that. However, I find that with all the shipping/duties to Alberta, it usually isn't worth it. Local stores here do bother, but they also realize that 97% of the photographic world is now digital, so film is no longer their top priority. I can get any Kodak, Fuji, or Ilford film here. One store even packs a fairly filled fridge. You can also sometimes find the Lomo/Holga style film too. Not to mention there is a pretty big and popular option for buying supplies right here in Alberta, the Camera Store in Calgary. The film isn't as cheap as B&H, but they've got great selection of various formats. However, so long as the prices don't become outrageous and I don't start finding it hard to find certain films, I'm going to try to support my local guys and therefore my local economy. Without people such as myself, of course there aren't going to be any local options.

I'm not sure what you'd call non-existent, but the GTA seems to have a heap load of film photographic infrastructure, including specialty shops (Toronto B&W and the Lomo Store or similar). I've also seen a lot of film photos on the web from Toronto. Seems like a pretty decent film photography scene. Of course it isn't going to be up to NYC levels, but that's kinda expected. And I'm also just shooting 35mm (for now), the most easily available format. But I've checked medium format supplies in Edmonton and things seem to be widely available (I've done this as I'm hoping to try medium format soon). I'd assume the product range and options would be double what they are here.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

I'm not sure what you'd call non-existent, but the GTA seems to have a heap load of film photographic infrastructure, including specialty shops (Toronto B&W and the Lomo Store or similar). I've also seen a lot of film photos on the web from Toronto. Seems like a pretty decent film photography scene.

That's good to hear. Based on earlier descriptions I was beginning to think Toronto was truly an analog photography black hole...



Ken

 

[h.v.]

Keep in mind I don't live in Toronto, so I don't have the same eye on the scene as a local would. However, suburban areas like Mississauga are bound to not be film havens (not saying CGW doesn't go Old Toronto or anything). I wouldn't just base your information on CGW's opinion of the Toronto analogue market, nor would I say you should base it just off mine. If you're interested enough, just look at various sites (like flickr) and see an array of analogue photos from Toronto, you'll see more examples and opinions there.

 

[ezwriter]

Neat discussion! Dropping off film (i don't do color) at Rite Aid i noticed the dropbox was pretty full. Granted they only pick up once or twice a week but
some ppl ARE shooting film in SoCal besides me! But the drugstores ONLY sell Fuji. If Kodak would look at the dropbox maybe they would restock the shelves?

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

That's good to hear. Based on earlier descriptions I was beginning to think Toronto was truly an analog photography black hole...



Ken

Also glad to hear that.
I was beginning to think that in Toronto, film users (or at least ones using mechanical cameras and/or mercury battery substitutes) would be attacked on sight...

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

There's a substantial Super-8 filmaking scene in Toronto.