Hoarding Kodak = Killing Kodak?

Ricus.stormfire · Nov 3, 2012

Things might have looked better (maybe) if people bought FRESH FILM, instead of buying EXPIRED FILM ON EBAY....I think THAT market has a hand in the decline in film sales.....

just my 2c

michaelbsc · Nov 3, 2012

newcan1 said:
Much of the film I have "hoarded" would sell for considerably more today than even a year ago. I'm beginning to see it as an investment. It has probably out-performed the stock market.

I know what you mean. I bought several bricks of 120 Plus-X about 4 hours before it was announced discontinued. I could have sold it at a profit the next day.

marfa.tx · Nov 3, 2012

no, hoarding means buying == money to the pipe, to the player.

I 'capacitate' -- keep a stock, and deplete from it with replenishment. Since Kodak's problem is one of horizon-awareness, I have to figure they will crash. \

Ilford is playing a two footed game, and seems to have survived with that classic approach.

Paper is my current loss position.

marfa -- we need more freezers not more greenhouses, damn-it

newcan1 · Nov 4, 2012

I was buying Kodak Proimage - maybe have 200 rolls of it - fresh - for $10 per 5 rolls. In two weeks it's gone up to over $17 per 5 rolls. If Kodak is influencing that pricing, it must have a death wish, and I am glad I stocked up.

The outdated film I have bought selectively on ebay has been a success generally quality-wise, but even there prices have generally gone up significantly. The last twelve months has generally seen considerable increases in film prices and I think this will continue. Stockpiling is rational, the prices indicate we are indeed living at the end of an era.

newcan1 · Nov 4, 2012

...By the way, when it comes to "hoarding," how does one know when one has enough?

I think I am still light on medium format and on paper.

Sirius Glass · Nov 4, 2012

newcan1 said:
...By the way, when it comes to "hoarding," how does one know when one has enough?

I think I am still light on medium format and on paper.

You have a nice start. I am glad to see that you are doing your part on keeping film from the hoarders. I have a freezer on the West Coast for film as well as one on the East Coast. Please continue to work with me to prevent the hoarders from stockpiling film.

shutterlight · Dec 31, 2012

RobertoMiglioli said:
I think hoarding film is natural as we all want to keep shooting as long as we can. But we are missing the point: PROPAGANDA. Kodak needs change its marketing strategy. When digital cameras first came into market Kodak simply gave up the fight, assuming film was doomed. If they have marketed the benefits of using films they would be much better now.

C´mon!! There are companies selling CIGARETTE!! It smells bad and gives cancer and even so with good propaganda they sell cigarettes.

It is not too late for a change.

This made me laugh, because it's a good point, but at the same time, I wonder what the state of cigarettes as we know them would be if a truly non-toxic kind was available. If it had nicotine-like effects (to the point where only aficionados could tell, as is the case for the most part with film vs. digital these days) and none of the health drawbacks, would anyone still buy traditional cigarettes? I'm sure some would, but assuming a reasonable price for the non-toxic kind, I'm not sure how well sales would hold up.

newcan1 · Dec 31, 2012

My daughters, bless their souls, bought me a second freezer for Christmas! I think I already have enough to fill it. I'll probably need a third for paper.

j.c.denton · Jan 3, 2013

Whats the alternative to stocking up when a film gehts discontinued? So far, I've been only buying stocks of film when its running out. I managed to reserve one large tray in the freezer for E100G and Astia. But I already found a frozen supper in it as well.

The need of girls to freeze supper seems to exceed the appreciation of proper film storage.

Christian

wblynch · Jan 4, 2013

If we could trust Kodak we wouldn't have to 'hoard'. Sadly we cannot.

I am glad I hoarded 20 rolls of Elitechrome and 20 of Ektachrome and 60 of Plus-x 35mm and another 25 of Plus-X 120. My purchase did nothing to influence EK but at least I got some before it died.

shutterlight · Jan 4, 2013

Why hoard Plus-X when FP4 is a better film? I think so, at least. Ektachrome is more understandable, because of course it's a more unique film.

fotch · Jan 4, 2013

shutterlight said:
Why hoard Plus-X when FP4 is a better film? I think so, at least. Ektachrome is more understandable, because of course it's a more unique film.

I am glad you qualified your statement with "I think so" as my first choice would be Plus-X. However, did not stock up so, like many films that are gone, you use the next best thing. Ilford FP4 is a great film and a good choice.

shutterlight · Jan 4, 2013

I used a roll of Plus-X (just the one) and it seemed pretty pedestrian to me. Then again, I used just one roll of FP4 and then not again for over a year, after which I gave it another try and used it a lot.

wblynch · Jan 4, 2013

I adore Plus-X

Sirius Glass · Jan 4, 2013

"Hoard" is such a harsh word. I merely "stockpile" for use after a particular brand and type are no longer available.

cepwin · Jan 4, 2013

Sort of ironic since you live in Rochester...home of Kodak..
I'm in a suburb of DC and I've seen film in places like CVS but I usually order from B+H...more choice and cheaper...perhaps that's what really killing local film sales...it's not a day to day item for most people as it was years ago so the people who use it often do mail order (or go to specialty camera stores...but most of them have limited film choices.)

Photo Engineer said:
If the buyer is somehow convinced that he cannot buy film then it is not the buyer's fault. I now have no place near me to buy any sort of film. I can get disposable cameras and I can mail order film.

PE

wblynch · Jan 4, 2013

Funny how a store can stock paper clips or clothes pins or some other slow-moving item and not think about it but they feel photo film has to (((FLY))) off the shelves of they can't be bothered.

Newt_on_Swings · Jan 4, 2013

Expiration dates.

Plus x was a great film, shot it and arista rebadged stock of it until the end.

StoneNYC · Jan 5, 2013

I have 7 rolls of Plus-X, I had 9, shot 2 during a shoot I also shot Pan F+ with. Granted I developed both in Ilfsol 3 and not DD-X but I found Pan F+ to have less grain and still be sharper, in comparison I found Plus-X to be... Fuzzy... In comparison that is, it was still fine but not sharp and crisp like Pan F+

I'll try my next batch in DD-X

And if I can ever get my hands on some Rodinal... The suppliers have been out for MONTHS! I see it often referenced but haven't been able to buy any since I started home developing (about 9 months ago?).

So I'm a Newb at that, I admit, but the comparisons were if the same shoot developed at the same time, so there aren't many variables...

~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

wblynch · Jan 5, 2013

I tried Ilfosol-3. It sucked. I like D-76, HC-110 or Clayton F-76+ better. But Ilfosol-3 was not my cup of coffee.

I hope we don't have to hoard Kodak developers.

StoneNYC · Jan 5, 2013

wblynch said:
I tried Ilfosol-3. It sucked. I like D-76, HC-110 or Clayton F-76+ better. But Ilfosol-3 was not my cup of coffee.

I hope we don't have to hoard Kodak developers.

I read in another post that the company that makes the developer was not actually Kodak any longer and shouldn't worry as much about that, so long as the chemical company decides to make it anyway...

~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

Hoarding Kodak = Killing Kodak?

marfa.tx

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