Ilford film price increase

[chuckroast]

A worthwhile consideration....i think..... back when i bought by first Leica M2, I was fed & housed by my parents...took the bus to university. My net worth was my Leica and my Gibson acoustic guitar. These days we're much much older.....have a $1000 cell phone, a laptop or home computer.... paid for house & car....retirement savings....& we're going to gripe about the cost of a roll of film?

Wanna see my 1962 ES 335 butterscotch? Bwhahaha

 

[mshchem]

No guitar talk. Moderators!!!

 

[retina_restoration]

A worthwhile consideration....i think..... back when i bought by first Leica M2, I was fed & housed by my parents...took the bus to university. My net worth was my Leica and my Gibson acoustic guitar. These days we're much much older.....have a $1000 cell phone, a laptop or home computer.... paid for house & car....retirement savings....& we're going to gripe about the cost of a roll of film?

You got a lotta nerve, buddy - putting things into perspective like that! Sheesh!! ;-)

 

[GregY]

You got a lotta nerve, buddy - putting things into perspective like that! Sheesh!! ;-)

 

[GregY]

No guitar talk. Moderators!!!

 

[chuckroast]

Ignore him, he's just jealous ...

 

[GregY]

Ignore him, he's just jealous ...

1936 Martin D-18

 

[chuckroast]

1936 Martin D-18View attachment 418288

Now I'm jealous. Those things just get better with age.

A buddy of mine had a neighbor cleaning out his attic who said "I found this old guitar, do you want it?" It was a 30 or 40 year old D-35. I said bad words to him. Consider my having also said them about you

 

[mshchem]

1936 Martin D-18View attachment 418288

Do you ever use your black paint M4 and this guitar while eating a pastrami on rye from Carnegie deli?

I guess no worries about film price

 

[GregY]

Do you ever use your black paint M4 and this guitar while eating a pastrami on rye from Carnegie deli?

I guess no worries about film price

Haven't had a pastrami or smoked meat since i was last at Schwartz' Deli in Montreal!

 

[mshchem]

Haven't had a pastrami or smoked meat since i was last at Schwartz' Deli in Montreal!

At that time did you have at least the M4?

 

[GregY]

At that time did you have at least the M4?

Of course!

 

[JMB]

Was totally floored this morning ordering film (I usually stock up during the winter months). Ilford HP5+ and FP4 at 120 size now costs $11 per roll (B+H and Adorama) and 4x5 HP5+ costs a whopping $95 for 25 sheets!! Kodak prices have remained stable. . . . is it wrong to understand this is a senseless tariff hike?

It ain't politics, it ain't tariffs, it ain't the price of silver. It's old fashioned Ilford gouging. I'll make my own plates before I purchase one square inch of Ilford film.

 

[koraks]

It ain't politics, it ain't tariffs, it ain't the price of silver. It's old fashioned Ilford gouging.

Show the facts to support this crass statement.
Tarriffs have a significant impact on US retail prices of Harman products - obviously. Material costs, energy, labor and overall inflation also play a role and affect every product out there - obviously. So I'd like to see a robust calculation of the supposed excess rents and increase therefor that Harman is apparently reaping. I'll be here waiting (probably until hell freezes over).

 

[bernard_L]

Was totally floored this morning ordering film (I usually stock up during the winter months). Ilford HP5+ and FP4 at 120 size now costs $11 per roll (B+H and Adorama) and 4x5 HP5+ costs a whopping $95 for 25 sheets!! Kodak prices have remained stable. . . . is it wrong to understand this is a senseless tariff hike?

What are you complaining about? These people are selling HP5 135/36 @15.90€ if bought in lots of 10. And they have the nerve to state "pas cher".

Film noir et blanc ILFORD HP5 PLUS 400 Format 135 - 36 poses

Achat ILFORD HP5 PLUS 400 Format 135 - 36 poses - Film noir et blanc Pas Cher chez MB Tech - Matériel photo professionnel - Livraison rapide et soignée.

www.mbtech.fr

Possibly it's a way of signalling they don't want to bother with amateurs; the Pro price is hidden.
OTOH, at fotoimpex, it's 11.04€ apiece VAT included. ==13.02 USD, still more than your B+H price.

 

[Craig]

So I'd like to see a robust calculation of the supposed excess rents and increase therefor that Harman is apparently reaping. I'll be here waiting (probably until hell freezes over).

Harman's financial statements are public. Last full year available is 2024. Profit was 2.5% of gross income, or not much. Apple in comparison was 27%

 

[mshchem]

One thing, Harman introduced and are promoting Kentmere films, lovely conventional films. These are not lacking. Even with the political nonsense that's going on Harman is delivering competitive products. (Not sure about the Phoenix stuff, a work in progress )

Ilford films come into the market as "Cadillac" Kentmere as "Chevy" . Sorry for the Americanism.

 

[mshchem]

Harman's financial statements are public. Last full year available is 2024. Profit was 2.5% of gross income, or not much. Apple in comparison was 27%

Sounds like Harman is putting money back into the business, new equipment etc. I really admire what they're doing. It's a good thing!

 

[Craig]

Sounds like Harman is putting money back into the business, new equipment etc. I really admire what they're doing. It's a good thing!

Income was down by about £2 million compared to 2023, and that came off the profit, that was down by a similar amount.

They said that they have invested £4.23 million in increasing finishing capacity in 2024, that money mainly came out of cash on hand.

 

[mshchem]

Income was down by about £2 million compared to 2023, and that came off the profit, that was down by a similar amount.

They said that they have invested £4.23 million in increasing finishing capacity in 2024, that money mainly came out of cash on hand.

Sounds like capital has been available for plant expansion. 4 million £ is a lot of money. I hope it's all good.
These guys are critical to me. I need black and white film and paper. I use Ilford and Foma papers. I've been using the new Kentmere 200 in 120.

We need more processing labs for black and white that are available to the masses. Huge impediment for Harman. Thus Phoenix.

 

[retina_restoration]

It ain't politics, it ain't tariffs, it ain't the price of silver. It's old fashioned Ilford gouging. I'll make my own plates before I purchase one square inch of Ilford film.

BS

 

[Craig]

They said the expansion is to double output capacity. My guess is much of that will be colour film.

 

[Agulliver]

Remember also that Harman received a £10m injection from Lloyds in the form of a business partnership to help Harman grow....and that Lloyds will eventually expect a return on their investment. Worth mentioning that £10m is tiny for Lloyds but means a lot for Harman in their ability to increase finishing/confectioning capacity and research new products (eg colour film).

They do pretty much have every possible part of the B&W market in their portfolio of products....films at all price points and speeds, 135, 120 and sheets (plus the annual ULF)....paper, chemicals. Their intention is to also grab a portion of the C41 market, which dwarfs all other film sales put together many times...that might actually permit price stability on the B&W products or even some reductions.

 

[fdonadio]

Of course!

Whoa, a photo of a Leica and a really great camera!

 

[chuckroast]

Whoa, a photo of a Leica and a really great camera!

I also have both of those AND I have a deep love of cats. Does that make me bi-fur-cated?

(Well mine isn't that old worn brassed out camera on the left but still ...