FP4+ 120 in Canada: why is it so cheap?

softfascination · Aug 1, 2021

I was looking through my receipts and noticed how much cheaper FP4 in 120 is compared to other films -- I've been buying at $7.89 CAD (Canadian).

That translates to $6.32 USD which is cheaper than what freestyle sells it for.

For comparison, PanF is 8.99 CAD.

Any idea why it's so much cheaper?

Links_147 · Aug 1, 2021

Don't complain just buy it up!

On a more serious note my best guess would be that it is one of the most popular films from Ilford, FP4+ and HP5+ are very commonly used and great products. PAN F+ is somewhat specialized these days. While very nice not everyone likes the spectral response of PAN F+. With my local shops (Not in Canada) as soon as you get away from the norm (100 and 400 iso films) the price creeps up very quickly. I would not be surprised if you found that DELTA 3200 was twice the price of FP4.

Andrew O'Neill · Aug 1, 2021

Where in Canada are you buying it?

Pieter12 · Aug 1, 2021

The price just went up here in the U.S. Check if it hasn't in Canada, too.

softfascination · Aug 1, 2021

Links_147 said:
Don't complain just buy it up!

On a more serious note my best guess would be that it is one of the most popular films from Ilford, FP4+ and HP5+ are very commonly used and great products. PAN F+ is somewhat specialized these days. While very nice not everyone likes the spectral response of PAN F+. With my local shops (Not in Canada) as soon as you get away from the norm (100 and 400 iso films) the price creeps up very quickly. I would not be surprised if you found that DELTA 3200 was twice the price of FP4.

Oh, believe me, I'm not complaining! I bought up the last few remaining rolls at my normal spot. Will likely buy up in "freezer amounts" next time they have it in stock.

What is it about PanF's spectral response that people don't like?

softfascination · Aug 1, 2021

Andrew O'Neill said:
Where in Canada are you buying it?

FilmPlus in Toronto. They're an equipment rental place that carries the big 3 film manufacturers (and Rollei). Their main income is rentals -- I think they sell film at a lower price because they love it.

Downtown Camera has it pretty cheap too once you apply their analogue members club discount.

Links_147 · Aug 1, 2021

softfascination said:
Oh, believe me, I'm not complaining! I bought up the last few remaining rolls at my normal spot. Will likely buy up in "freezer amounts" next time they have it in stock.

What is it about PanF's spectral response that people don't like?

It is just a stylistic choice, if you take a look at the spectral response curves from Ilford you will notice that they are different (every film is a bit different to each other) some people like this, others don't. It's fine its just a choice. For my own 2 cents worth I find that FP4 as a very neutral response and it behaves the way many people are used to and expect, with some films deviating from this people can find it a bit strange is all.

softfascination · Aug 1, 2021

Links_147 said:
It is just a stylistic choice, if you take a look at the spectral response curves from Ilford you will notice that they are different (every film is a bit different to each other) some people like this, others don't. It's fine its just a choice. For my own 2 cents worth I find that FP4 as a very neutral response and it behaves the way many people are used to and expect, with some films deviating from this people can find it a bit strange is all.

Ah, yes, I see it when I looked them both up and compared. PanF has an almost sine-wave shape through the middle of the curve.

MattKing · Aug 2, 2021

That is quite low for 120 FP4+ in Canada.
The lowest I can find is $7.99 at Don's Photo in Manitoba.
It is $8.99 at Beau and Kerrisdale out here.

gordrob · Aug 2, 2021

The Camera Store in Calgary sells it for $8.41, The Film Experience Camera Store, which sells only analog cameras, darkroom supplies and film, about an hour south of Calgary it for $8.25

Ernst-Jan · Aug 2, 2021

softfascination said:
I've been buying at $7.89 CAD (Canadian).

That's €5,33 which is even cheaper than in Europe If I had to buy it now I pay €5,55 (if I buy 10)
But I still have a lot in the fridge that costed €4,78. Last year there where still no import taxes from the UK and the German VAT was lowered because of Corona.

Fotoimpex states that Ilford has delivery problems due to Corona and therefore you can buy not more than 20 rolls. Good that I still have plenty for another year.

lantau · Aug 2, 2021

Maybe FP4+ has been slow moving in Canada and the distributor and/or dealers are still selling off slightly older, cheaper stock than in the US?

In Germany we had an anomaly a 2-3 years back at Calumet. Fuji Pro 400H in 120 was cheaper than Portra 400. It has always been quite a bit more expensive, and still was at Foto Impex.

Ernst-Jan · Aug 2, 2021

lantau said:
In Germany we had an anomaly a 2-3 years back at Calumet. Fuji Pro 400H in 120 was cheaper than Portra 400. It has always been quite a bit more expensive, and still was at Foto Impex.

I alway buy all film at Fotoimpex, but Pro 400H was an exception, somehow Cameranu and Kamera-Express in the Netherlands was able to sell it at €33,95 for a 5-pack. They are not especially know for a huge film range or commitment to the analogue scene, but somehow they were the cheapest of Europe with this film.

Fortunatelly I was able to buy 10 boxes when the discontinuation was announced.

MattKing · Aug 2, 2021

Ilford has a single distributor in Canada - Amplis.
They also have a web store for direct sales to end users - the Amplis Store.
It can be hard to find Ilford products there, because there are no easily found categories for film and darkroom on the drop down menus, but everything is available using the search function.
The Amplis Store has it on "Back to School" sale to August 31, 2021 at $8.19. Their regular price is shown as $8.62.
Right now, at most Canadian retailers, Kodak black and white film is about twice the price of Ilford .

softfascination · Aug 2, 2021

MattKing said:
Ilford has a single distributor in Canada - Amplis.
They also have a web store for direct sales to end users - the Amplis Store.
It can be hard to find Ilford products there, because there are no easily found categories for film and darkroom on the drop down menus, but everything is available using the search function.
The Amplis Store has it on "Back to School" sale to August 31, 2021 at $8.19. Their regular price is shown as $8.62.
Right now, at most Canadian retailers, Kodak black and white film is about twice the price of Ilford .

That point about Kodak, yes! I don't even consider Kodak products because of how expensive they are. A local shop offers a 25% discount on Kodak and I still don't...

MattKing · Aug 2, 2021

If I were rich ...
I would start distributing Kodak film in Canada. The multi-layer distribution is incredibly inefficient.

Alex Benjamin · Aug 2, 2021

Same good prices at Photo Service in Montreal.

Andrew O'Neill · Aug 2, 2021

A roll of 120 HP5 currently costs 7.99 at Kerrisdale Camera in the mall. I sure wish TMY-2 cost that much...

RalphLambrecht · Aug 2, 2021

softfascination said:
I was looking through my receipts and noticed how much cheaper FP4 in 120 is compared to other films -- I've been buying at $7.89 CAD (Canadian).

That translates to $6.32 USD which is cheaper than what freestyle sells it for.

For comparison, PanF is 8.99 CAD.

Any idea why it's so much cheaper?

cheap is relative.

FP4+ 120 in Canada: why is it so cheap?

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