Harman Price Increases

Uncle Bill · Aug 15, 2009

Rob Skeoch said:
When this increase was first mentioned I did email my Ilford rep here in Canada.

This is the answer I received regarding price increases in Canada....

"The price increases mentioned on APUG, etc. will not effect our pricing in Canada at all."

just wanted people to know.

-rob

Thanks for the update Rob.

Curt · Aug 15, 2009

Any increase in cost hurts those on fixed incomes, students, disabled, pensioners, and retired the most. Over here we call it being priced out of the market.

Peter Black · Aug 15, 2009

Paul. said:
Lets put it in perspective, my photography is a hobby, its far cheaper than a previous hobby restoring and running classic cars and so far has not resulted in one trip to hospital casualty units for treatment to bodily injuries.

Wow, that could be used as one of the best signatures on APUG, or maybe even a philosophy for the whole site!

Tom Kershaw · Aug 15, 2009

People reading this thread should listen to the latest Ron Mowrey interview on 'Inside Analog Photo'

Tom

sim · Aug 18, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
And so the layout people would be supplied with a black & white RC print? Why did you use Velvia 50 rather than another film?

Tom

We loved the colors and contrast available with Velvia, our first choice when we could get away with it (Provia next choice) but as this was for shooting sport the available light was the deciding criteria. At the time these were the best choices for trying to provide mags with content that could go to a double page spread (if we were lucky!!).

Matt5791 · Aug 21, 2009

Ok, so I've now had a chance to go through the prices in more detail as we just had to submit our advert for the issue of Black & White photography coming out mid September.

Having looked at everything, with a bit of flexibility and goodwill on our side (in the interests of promoting analogue ), we can keep the pain to a minimum. Further to this, although there has clearly been some panic buying over the last 10 days, I hope that our pre-rise stock of some of the popular lines will extend well into september - but even when it does go up, we are not talking mega amounts.

My advise is "Dont panic!"

Matt

Chazzy · Aug 21, 2009

I feel for the Brits. Really I do. Most of us will grit our teeth and accept a price increase, rather than start from scratch in adjusting to products from a competitor, but price increases really do add up over time. I only wish that Ilford had more competition in the area of enlarging papers: we never see black and white Fuji papers, at least in the United States, and that pretty much leaves us with just Foma and Slavich as alternatives. Kentmere, of course, is just Ilford by another name. Adox has revived one popular Agfa enlarging paper, and we can hope that they revive more.

clayne · Aug 21, 2009

Chazzy said:
I feel for the Brits. Really I do. Most of us will grit our teeth and accept a price increase, rather than start from scratch in adjusting to products from a competitor, but price increases really do add up over time. I only wish that Ilford had more competition in the area of enlarging papers: we never see black and white Fuji papers, at least in the United States, and that pretty much leaves us with just Foma and Slavich as alternatives. Kentmere, of course, is just Ilford by another name. Adox has revived one popular Agfa enlarging paper, and we can hope that they revive more.

Speaking of which, where can one actually buy Adox' MCC? I don't see it on Freestyle anywhere, or atleast the ones I see are entirely out of stock (not surprising I guess).

ath · Aug 21, 2009

clayne said:
Speaking of which, where can one actually buy Adox' MCC? I don't see it on Freestyle anywhere, or atleast the ones I see are entirely out of stock (not surprising I guess).

e.g. here: http://www.fotoimpex.de/shop/fotopa...050-premium-line-glaenzendes-barytpapier.html

Call or email them; they speak english.
Prices in the shop are including the german VAT of 19% which may be deductable for you.

Sal Santamaura · Aug 22, 2009

clayne said:
Speaking of which, where can one actually buy Adox' MCC? I don't see it on Freestyle anywhere, or atleast the ones I see are entirely out of stock (not surprising I guess).

After hardening and finishing, Adox will ship the very first batch of MCC in early September. Scroll to the bottom of this page:

http://www.adox.de/english/ADOX_Papers/MCC/MCC.html

That's why Freestyle shows it as "out of stock" until September 10. The paper isn't available anywhere earlier than that. In my opinion, well worth the wait.

Prest_400 · Aug 23, 2009

Well, even if the 35mm film hasn't been increased as much as the others, it can be a reason for try Kentmere film...

Matt5791 · Aug 24, 2009

Prest_400 said:
Well, even if the 35mm film hasn't been increased as much as the others, it can be a reason for try Kentmere film...

I think you might find the price will not rise in Spain. Check with your local dealers.

Prest_400 · Aug 25, 2009

Matt5791 said:
I think you might find the price will not rise in Spain. Check with your local dealers.

I think so. I follow a small spanish forum sponsored by a dealer and they post announce anything new. Local dealers are as expensive (or cheaper) as always they have been.

A bit off topic, but I think it can be written here: The other day, I found an old publication of a lab (2002), and shown prices of all kinds of films. Pro level reversal and negative films were more or less at the same price as today; But B&W negative was a lot lower priced than today. 2.5 for a roll of HP5+ 135-36 and roughly the same for TriX.

ajuk · Aug 25, 2009

Did somone phone Jessops and tell them Harman prices doubled?

delphine · Sep 5, 2009

Well les jeux sont faits! The price increase is now effective. Without commenting further on the increase itself, it is worth pointing out that if it was not for Martin Reed, we would not have known about the price increase, so kudos for the heads up.
I don't think that Ilford have played it fair on that one, and considering that they purposedly maintained an open communication strategy so far, it does not come across as fair play at all.

I bought some film, and I am expecting to have a major surpopulation in my fridge when I receive the stock.

fotch · Sep 5, 2009

Did Simon Galley ever respond? If so, I missed it. Its been over a month.

Krzys · Sep 5, 2009

Australian retailers will do anything to raise film prices. I wont be surprised if I see hp5 or tri-x for $20 a roll.

Smudger · Sep 5, 2009

And it's the same in New Zealand.
In my opinion Ilford prices here are a rip-off,plain and simple,and I say that as a loyal,long time user.
I'll be happy to give examples if anyone doubts that statement.

Andrew Moxom · Sep 6, 2009

12 pages of this and no sign of Ilford yet... Something doesn't smell right considering the openness we've had before from them....Simon, seems like the troops are stirring. What gives?

paul_c5x4 · Sep 6, 2009

Stumbled across some price lists from Silverprint dated April 2004. Comparing the prices of some of the Ilford papers between then and now, we are paying comparable amounts. Both Kodak and Ilford have seen increases of 50-60% in five years whilst Fuji & Maco appear to have suffered little, if any increase.
Having two price increases in a single year is difficult for many consumers to accept, and I for one will start experimenting with some of the cheaper Adox/Fuji/Maco offerings as a result. However, the price increase is not the sole reason for wanting to try alternative films.

Rather than bashing Ilford, I think they (and Silverprint) should be congratulated in maintaining a wide range of products when others are quiting the market and cutting back.

railwayman3 · Sep 6, 2009

paul_c5x4 said:
Rather than bashing Ilford, I think they (and Silverprint) should be congratulated in maintaining a wide range of products when others are quiting the market and cutting back.

I'm a great supporter and user of Ilford products, and I agree entirely...their support here and in analogue generally is wonderful. (Although rather quiet lately?)

But 50-60% price increase in five years is a lot at a time when people are having to be cautious (wish my salary had increased by 50% in the same time, more like 5% ), and I wonder whether such increases will be profitable for the manufacturers in the medium term. I, for one, have become more careful to make every frame count, and consequently use less film and paper, and I also use another imaging system (which I shall not name ) more frequently as being more economical for family pics and ephemeral "notebook" pictures for work, where it is not necessary to keep them permanently.

railwayman3 · Sep 6, 2009

PKM-25 said:
As a professional who has no desire to use digital means in creating my fine are prints, I will accept any price increase as the cost of doing business, even if it goes sky high to say, a 100% increase over a year or two ago.

I can see where this would hurt the hobby types though, they are not getting any financial return on their investment.

It has been repeatedly and widely predicted that the cost of using analog versus digital is going to keep going up, I think this is something we need to come to terms with, professional, hobby or otherwise.

All these companies need your support, they are not raising prices to spite your loyalty, they are between a rock and a hard place in terms of conducting a business in a declining market and crap economy.

I see your point, PKM-25, and I know that keen hobbyists will be the last people to give up photography, Our hobbies are something which we need even more in times of economic and other stress.

But analogue photography is never the cheapest hobby, and, if, like me, you enjoy several other interests, it may get to the point of chosing another, more economical, pastime.

And, yes, we want to support the companies which supply us, but we (and they) are not charities. I've worked in business and management myself, and I really would not like to be trying to advise these companies right now. And would you, really, accept "any" price increase as the cost of doing business, remembering that fine art prints are, ultimately, a discretionary purchase?

bill spears · Sep 7, 2009

Since the Ilford price increases I've been looking at other brands but was quite shocked when I saw them !
FB paper is my biggest expense, and I use alot of it. Here in the UK a box of 50shts 12x16 Ilford warmtone goes for arond £75-80. The Foma equivilent is about £90 and the new Adox is £50 for 25 shts... JESUS !

I'm really worried about all this, printing is my passion and if prices keep going in this direction I may have to consider other forms of printmaking such as intaglio/etching or something !!

I wish Simon would let us know whats happening ...

Tom Kershaw · Sep 7, 2009

Bill,

RK Photographic are worth trying for Foma products.

www.thedarkroom.co.uk

Tom

Solarize · Sep 7, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
Bill,

RK Photographic are worth trying for Foma products.

www.thedarkroom.co.uk

Tom

Agreed. They are about the cheapest I have found. Comparisons with my usual supplier were eye opening, with something like a £10 saving on a box of 9.5 x 12 last time I looked.

Harman Price Increases

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