I'm starting to panic

[Don_ih]

film is a direct facsimile, and digital is an electronic one

Is that an old dial-up fax machine or just email?

How about that dead horse be left alone for a change?

 

[retina_restoration]

Is that an old dial-up fax machine or just email?

How about that dead horse be left alone for a change?

How about ignoring the Kettle, Mr. Pot?

 

[BradS]

Prompted by the OP, I just took a quick inventory of the two bottom drawers in my fridge:

Fuji Superia Xtra, 135-36: 9 rolls
FP4+ 135-36: 57 rolls
TMX 135-36: 20 rolls
K400 135-36: 10 rolls
HP5+ 4x5 : 100 sheets
Delta 100 4x5: ~ 130 sheets.
Tri-X 120: 5 rolls
FP4+ 120: 2 rolls

There was a time, not so long ago when that would have been just about enough film to last me a year but since buying a digital camera a couple years ago, I've not exposed even one frame of film...so I guess, I'm good for a while.

 

[NiallerM]

Today, I dropped into the local branch of one of our bigger consumer electronics chains. Their camera section sells some analogue supplies - mainly, I guess, as a result of the Instax and other types of camera which are popular at the moment. I noticed while there that the film stocks were almost all empty. I had no intention of buying film there - their prices are through the roof - but casually asked an assistant about the empty stands. She said thhat they can't keep the stuff on the shelves, that it goes as soon as it is put up for sale. Good news, in a way, if the manufacturers respond to demand. Yes, I know that price increase is one way to respond to high demand, but in a competitive market increased production is also a natural response.

At this stage, now that I'm pretty comfortable developing, the situation is reversed. The purchase of the roll is probably my bigger expenditure.

 

[DeletedAcct1]

but in a competitive market increased production is also a natural response.

and who said we are in a competitive market?
Producers have every interest in NOT increasing production, to keep the cost high...

 

[MattKing]

and who said we are in a competitive market?
Producers have every interest in NOT increasing production, to keep the cost high...

And distributors - such as Kodak Alaris - are interested in increasing sales, because that is how their profits increase.
They obtain zero benefit from decreased sales.

 

[DeletedAcct1]

And distributors - such as Kodak Alaris - are interested in increasing sales, because that is how their profits increase.
They obtain zero benefit from decreased sales.

Nope, they simply increase the price to counteract the decreasing sales figure.
If they sell more, the price decreases.
Have you seen any price decrease in recent years?

 

[Cholentpot]

I don't know why people insist on saying this when film is a direct facsimile, and digital is an electronic one.

Film is a chemical copy while digital is 0 and 1's. Both are a simulation of what our eyes see. Either format I have to work to get the photo to look correct to my vision.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

And distributors - such as Kodak Alaris - are interested in increasing sales, because that is how their profits increase.
They obtain zero benefit from decreased sales.

Manufacturers too.

 

[retina_restoration]

Nope, they simply increase the price to counteract the decreasing sales figure.
If they sell more, the price decreases.
Have you seen any price decrease in recent years?

Yes. The Tmax films are cheaper right now (In the USA) than they have been in years. I can buy a 120 roll of TMY for under $9 but a 120 roll of Delta 400 is closer to $12. A year ago, it was the other way around.

 

[DeletedAcct1]

Yes. The Tmax films are cheaper right now than they have been in years. Are you not paying attention?

That's completely false.

Kodak Alaris announces price rises for January 2025 – but Tri-X is getting cheaper

Kodak Gold 120 is seeeing a price increase of some 305 after being heavily reduced (Pic: Kodak ALARIS) Kodak Alaris has announced a price increase to its range of films and single-use cameras which…

kosmofoto.com

In 120 format both T-Max and Tri-X 120 films are rising, with the price of T-Max 100 and Tri-X rising by more than 20%.
It's you that are not paying attention...


Ahahaha https://www.ars-imago.com/shop/8532...mm-36-pose-5231#attr=4873,4874,4875,4876,4877
16€ for a roll of T-Max 100 35mm 36exp...
RI_DI_CU_LOUS...

 

[koraks]

Yes. The Tmax films are cheaper right now than they have been in years. Are you not paying attention?

That's completely false.

A lot depends on where you buy. In Europe, Kodak film is relatively expensive. Conversely, in the US, Ilford film is relatively expensive. Such are the realities of international trade.

 

[Samu]

Film is expensive, nobody can deny it. But it is not such a disaster as people often say it is. The brty loe prices about 10 years ago were also an anomaly. Professional quality film was never cheap - not even in the heyday of film. I realize this is a B&W forum, but this was especially true of pro quality color films in the 1980´s. Actually, what I find more like a problem id the very high price of black and white paper. It has really skyrocketed.

 

[pentaxuser]

There was a time, not so long ago when that would have been just about enough film to last me a year but since buying a digital camera a couple years ago, I've not exposed even one frame of film...so I guess, I'm good for a while.

Just out of curiosity, has the former ( acquisition of digital camera) been the direct cause of the latter( not exposing even one frame of film)?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Sirius Glass]

Film is expensive, nobody can deny it. But it is not such a disaster as people often say it is. The brty loe prices about 10 years ago were also an anomaly. Professional quality film was never cheap - not even in the heyday of film. I realize this is a B&W forum, but this was especially true of pro quality color films in the 1980´s. Actually, what I find more like a problem id the very high price of black and white paper. It has really skyrocketed.

I have as expected found that expanding to digital photograph will cost me about $1100US before taxes to up grade a 13 year old MAC to a 60 processor Mac Pro Tower with full memory and added drives. Film and other costs are a whole lot less.

 

[Don_ih]

I have as expected found that expanding to digital photograph will cost me about $1100US before taxes to up grade a 13 year old MAC to a 60 processor Mac Pro Tower with full memory and added drives. Film and other costs are a whole lot less.

Or don't buy that extra stuff, because what is it for? And I think you lost a zero in that price. The current Mac Pro is ~10000.

My bet is you could find a relatively unused Canon or Nikon 16mpix DSLR with a couple of lenses for about $200 any day of the week. And a 10mpix DSLR with probably the exact same lenses would probably be about $40. And use your current computer.

Nothing is cheaper than digital photography - but digital photography, like absolutely everything else, can be as expensive as you want it to be.

 

[BradS]

Just out of curiosity, has the former ( acquisition of digital camera) been the direct cause of the latter( not exposing even one frame of film)?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Mmm, the reality is rather more complex but in a nutshell, not having a darkroom space in this house, and the cost of having a roll of color film D&P'd coupled with the associated logistical difficulties made me receptive to looking at alternatives. Now, almost three years in, I wonder why I resisted trying digital for so long.

 

[Wallendo]

25 years ago, I was posting about $1 a shot for consumer color film, premium processing, printing, scanning and shipping. I could have used cheaper processing, but enjoyed the service I got from a premium lab. Film photography was never really cheap, especially for color.

I do try to spend money efficiently. For serious B&W (travel etc), I stick to FP4+, TX 400, and TMax. At times I shoot Fomapan 100 because I like the look, it is not really that cheap anymore.

For more routine photography. I have had success with UltraFine Extreme 100 and 400, Kentmere 100 and 400, UltraFine Finesse 400, Arista Pan 100, and Aviphot-based film from Adox.

What does worry me is the availability of metal reliable cartriges. The Current plastic alternatives are quite pricy.

But all of this pales when looking at the price of eggs.

 

[GregY]

"But all of this pales when looking at the price of eggs.".....or enlarging paper.....

 

[Don_ih]

"But all of this pales when looking at the price of eggs.".....or enlarging paper.....

Just think how bad it must be for albumen printers (in the States - eggs are normal price, here).

 

[STR1015]

Vision3 is absolutely splendid for stills, especially when optically printed onto color paper. I prefer it over Portra

Have you tried Benelli's ecn2 kit?

 

[koraks]

Have you tried Benelli's ecn2 kit?

No, I home-mix ECN2 developer and use C41 bleach & fix.

 

[pentaxuser]

Mmm, the reality is rather more complex but in a nutshell, not having a darkroom space in this house, and the cost of having a roll of color film D&P'd coupled with the associated logistical difficulties made me receptive to looking at alternatives. Now, almost three years in, I wonder why I resisted trying digital for so long.

Thanks for the reply and I can appreciate why all those reasons make sense. I am in the "film game" simply because I have a darkroom and thus can enjoy the processes that a darkroom allows but the rising expense I am experiencing plus my "added years" is becoming a hindrance to my doing as much as before or exploring future analogue avenues

pentaxuser

 

[NiallerM]

Or don't buy that extra stuff, because what is it for? And I think you lost a zero in that price. The current Mac Pro is ~10000.

My bet is you could find a relatively unused Canon or Nikon 16mpix DSLR with a couple of lenses for about $200 any day of the week. And a 10mpix DSLR with probably the exact same lenses would probably be about $40. And use your current computer.

Nothing is cheaper than digital photography - but digital photography, like absolutely everything else, can be as expensive as you want it to be.

Is everything cheaper than digital photography? Not necessarily if you are printing regularly.

I'm also counting in the number of discarded cameras that are not featured in pricing for photography. EVery time someone changes their smartphone they are tosing several hundred Euro worth of camera gear into the bin.

 

[albireo]

Have you tried Benelli's ecn2 kit?

It's pretty good, but not as good as their amazing vintage 2 stroke engine mopeds!