Prices of film today

bibowj · Sep 25, 2014

So like many of you Ive turned into bit of a film hoarder. Im always looking for it online, looking for deals.. expired or not. What Ive noticed lately is that I can't find anywhere thats cheaper than a place like BH. ...even ebay is quite a bit higher for new stock (and don't get me started on some of the prices for stuff thats barley expired). Why is this? I get why a megastore can offer it cheaper, but is there no where else to buy film? and is there never any deals/ sales out there?

I just keep wondering how the Kodaks/fujis of the world are discontinuing film stocks due to not being able to sell but theres no advertisement, no deals , no nothing?

So its a partial rant, partial question. Where else can I/should I look to buy film besides the megastore (assuming I don't want just expired).

Im posting this in this sub forum because BW is what I buy mostly... but it applies in general.

DannL. · Sep 25, 2014

Because of cost I'm perty much stuck using the least expensive (and usable) film that I can afford. In my case that happens to be film from Freestyle. I did try one distributor's brand that was even less expensive than Freestyle, and that was a big mistake. One day, when I am shooting less, or getting paid much more . . . I may use film that comes in a box of a different color.

As far as film companies . . . they should have sold plain-box (or no box) directly to the customers and skipped the distributors completely. Film would probably cost half of what it does now.

Bill Burk · Sep 25, 2014

When I buy film, I think of the difference between the megastore and my favorite independent camera store... as how much I am willing to spend to keep someone I can visit in person... in business.

bibowj · Sep 25, 2014

Bill - I agree 10000% with that, and try the same thing ..my local store though charges $11 per roll for Acros...shelf stored at that. I want to support them but a 100% mark up is a bit much..I do try to run all my color processing through them though for the reason you mentioned.

JRoosa · Sep 25, 2014

I consider buying film at the local camera store as charity and an investment in keeping the local stores open. It's about 50% to 100% more expensive there. I still buy a roll or two and maybe a bag of chemistry every time I go in the door, because those guys need to eat too.

I buy the bulk of what I need online. I just got 10 rolls of tri-x 135-36 for I think $51 or so with free shipping, no sales tax, and it was at the door in 2 days.

Think about getting an Amazon prime account. Amazon prices for film and photo stuff are close to or equal to B&H prices, and the free Prime shipping and quick delivery saves you time and gas driving around town. The prime account also get you a bunch of free movies and TV shows to watch streaming, which I use to not bother paying for cable. I can buy a lot of film per month for what I save on the cable subscription.

-J.

Two23 · Sep 25, 2014

The way I look at it, in the end film is the cheapest aspect of photography.

Kent in SD

Athiril · Sep 25, 2014

I prefer to buy fresh film as cheap as possible. I can afford to buy much more film this way. Not only do I get more to shoot and enjoy, but it's more sales for Kodak/Fuji/Ilford/etc.

Ken Nadvornick · Sep 25, 2014

Sales and deals of any products are designed to temporarily reduce price in order to temporarily increase market share, with the hope that when prices revert some of that newly acquired share will remain (and the competition will be hurt).

The hard fact these days is that the overall market for film has severely contracted over the last decade. And with it the motivation to offer sales and deals. Companies can no longer afford to temporarily offer lower-priced sales in order to increase their market share a few percentage points, when those points translate into only a small number of actual customers.

They need every penny they can get to survive. And if we also want them to survive so we may continue to practice film photography, then we are going to have to economize a bit elsewhere in our budgets to make room for the continued purchase of more expensive film.

It would not take much if everyone said "Cheaper or nothing" for the final outcome to indeed become nothing.

Ken

trythis · Sep 25, 2014

Filmphotographyproject.com. has some good deals and cheap shipping

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 25, 2014

Amazon is where I've been buying the majority of my fresh film. Unless I really need it for a trip I won't run to b&h to get it i person. I make bulk purchases of film at freestyle every so often when I need their house brand chemicals and such to save on combined shipping.

snapguy · Sep 25, 2014

by by local...

I love to buy local but the only "real" camera store within 100 miles of me is going totally digital.

JRoosa · Sep 25, 2014

I have three stores selling film/paper/chemicals within 10 miles or so. Open that up to 30 miles and maybe half a dozen.

J.

JW PHOTO · Sep 25, 2014

JRoosa said:
I have three stores selling film/paper/chemicals within 10 miles or so. Open that up to 30 miles and maybe half a dozen.

J.

You sure don't live near where I live. I live near the second largest city in Michigan and that city has one store that I know of that handles 120 B&W film and that's very limited. As far as darkroom supplies are concerned the stores stock is what I'd call sparse. John W

JRoosa · Sep 26, 2014

You sure don't live near where I live.

It's really an embarrassment of riches.

I assumed that I also lived in a film desert. I just came back to film in the last few months after a nearly 10 year hiatus of digital photography.

I also moved from Denver to Phoenix for a few years, and then moved back.

I assumed that the local chains were strictly digital, the local one-off store went under, and the big pro photo store would be the only place that had a little cabinet of stuff in the corner.

I was wrong...the chain camera store (Mike's) had a bunch of darkroom stuff, Walgreens has film and 1 hour C41 processing, Englewood Camera is still up and running with film and darkroom stuff, and Denver Pro Photo has piles of darkroom chemistry etc. Apparently the local schools still do B&W photography classes, god bless them.

Used film cameras are still to be had too, but clearly the bottom fell out of that market. I saw an $800 Hasselblad 80mm kit on the shelf, and it would be in my hot little hands if my wife wouldn't be so unreasonable about me acquiring new camera gear.

Good thing you have the Big Brown Truck of Happiness to bring you all the stuff you need at bargain basement Amazon and B&H prices with free shipping, though!

Fight the good fight.

-J.

destroya · Sep 26, 2014

I support my local store as much as I can. They have a great used camera department, where I got a great deal on a pentax 67, cheaper than KEH and I got to handle it to boot. Also many lenses, not to mention they had 3 hasselblad med format slide projectors, one of which I took home for the deal of a century. When I use a dark room to enlarge my photos, I get the paper there. they have a very nice selection of bulk chemicals, all from photo photog as well and many developers. So with those I get them there for the same as online, sometimes cheaper ( got a gallon set of diafine new for only $28). But film, forget it. like others have mentioned its double or more than B&H or amazon or freestyle. not sure why. I dont ask as I know the sales guys dont know. But at least there are many things I can and do get there.

Ken Nadvornick · Sep 26, 2014

JRoosa said:
Good thing you have the Big Brown Truck of Happiness to bring you all the stuff you need...

Dang! That is one cool signature line just waiting to happen!

:w00t:

Ken

Xmas · Sep 26, 2014

bad form to copy posts nowadays I'll report you little triangle bottom left..,

he he he

Xmas · Sep 26, 2014

I've had to use bulk, cine, survelliance cam film, Crotia, Check, etc. for the last decade. Agfa only after they failed.

Some nicely fogged from poor storage... or old age, freezer contents of chums gone digital.

Never used Plusx only ever bought Trix (in 220) after it was cancelled from wholesalers, only Fuji (bulk) after it was cancelled from wholesalers.

Heartbroken when Fotokemia went bust.

Ken Nadvornick · Sep 26, 2014

Xmas said:
bad form to copy posts nowadays I'll report you little triangle bottom left..,

he he he

Nah... not for me. I'm into Diane Arbus quotes lately. I read the "Slow Motion..." book recently. So I have another one waiting, along with one from the Weston Daybooks. Just need to decide which is next.

But I think he should charge for use of that one. Heck, UPS should pay him to use it...

Ken

Xmas · Sep 26, 2014

I was heart broken when heard of her death.

Roger Cole · Sep 26, 2014

Ken Nadvornick said:
Sales and deals of any products are designed to temporarily reduce price in order to temporarily increase market share, with the hope that when prices revert some of that newly acquired share will remain (and the competition will be hurt).

The hard fact these days is that the overall market for film has severely contracted over the last decade. And with it the motivation to offer sales and deals. Companies can no longer afford to temporarily offer lower-priced sales in order to increase their market share a few percentage points, when those points translate into only a small number of actual customers.

They need every penny they can get to survive. And if we also want them to survive so we may continue to practice film photography, then we are going to have to economize a bit elsewhere in our budgets to make room for the continued purchase of more expensive film.

It would not take much if everyone said "Cheaper or nothing" for the final outcome to indeed become nothing.

Ken

This.

Now I'll get the best price (including shipping - I envy those people who can apparently still buy locally) but won't take heroic measures to scour the 'net for it. And sometimes I'll buy from Freestyle when B&H is cheaper, because B&H is huge and has a vast electronics business as well where Freestyle is focused on photography and really supporting film. OTOH I can sometimes save SO much, especially on paper, from B&H versus FS that they get the nod.

Pay what it costs. If film were $20 a roll or something (disclaimer - yeah I know E6 is double that in Australia, that's insane) then I could see looking all over to get it for $12 or whatever. But to save a buck off a four dollar roll of film? Or two bucks on an eight dollar roll? Nah.

mr rusty · Sep 26, 2014

1 film = 1 pint premium beer in a London pub. Film lasts longer.

Ricardo Miranda · Sep 26, 2014

Ah ah! It sure does!

Jeff Kubach · Sep 26, 2014

Xmas said:
I was heart broken when heard of her death.

+1

Jeff

Athiril · Sep 26, 2014

Roger Cole said:
This.

Now I'll get the best price (including shipping - I envy those people who can apparently still buy locally) but won't take heroic measures to scour the 'net for it. And sometimes I'll buy from Freestyle when B&H is cheaper, because B&H is huge and has a vast electronics business as well where Freestyle is focused on photography and really supporting film. OTOH I can sometimes save SO much, especially on paper, from B&H versus FS that they get the nod.

Pay what it costs. If film were $20 a roll or something (disclaimer - yeah I know E6 is double that in Australia, that's insane) then I could see looking all over to get it for $12 or whatever. But to save a buck off a four dollar roll of film? Or two bucks on an eight dollar roll? Nah.

I work in one of those shops that sells it for $40+ a roll. Suffice to say they do not get my patronage on almost anything, with a couple exceptions, like CMS 20. Precisa used to be $6-7/roll, now that's gone way up as well iirc. But yeah.

Prices of film today

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