The expense of shooting film

Huss · Mar 9, 2023

I love film. Which is why I shoot it, a lot.

But when people say film is cheaper than digital cuz u can buy a Nikon N80 for $20 (I just did), while a FF Nikon is (for argument's sake) $1000. Shooting film is cheaper! As long as you do not shoot much film.

I've been tracking my film use since Sep 2014. From then until now - 1025 rolls. Some of it colour film, some B&W. Some E6 etc. Just rough guessing it (remember some films are much more expensive than others) picking an arbitrary number of $7/roll of film, that is $7175.

$7175 in film since end of 2014. But wait, there's more! Developing. Only in the last few years I've developed B&W myself. So again, taking that into account, I'll estimate $7/roll for all my C41, B&W, E6.

$7175 x $7 = $50,225. When I came to... I of course realized that does not include the cost of scanning. But I have been scanning myself using digicams for a long while now so just to pretend there is little cost there (I had to buy the camera, lens, stand etc), let's say $2k

$52,000 for 10 years worth of film photography. Ok, maybe saying $5000 a year makes it less painful? Eeeeesh.

EDIT!! Serious math error !

Film dev = 1025x7 =$7175.

So total cost is Film $7175 + Dev $7175 + gear to scan $2K = $16350. So $1635/yr.

I seriously feel so much better, thanks for pointing that out (I'll blame it on a long day at work..). It went from questioning my life choices to celebrating them!

Pieter12 · Mar 9, 2023

Yes. Most digital shooters are happy with a single camera and a single zoom lens, too. That's it, no need to spend a penny more, since printing is not in their world. On the other hand, it seems like film shooters need at least a couple of cameras plus multiple primes (the zooms from film days were either mediocre or very expensive). And those darn film cameras break down and need servicing or replacement and on and on...

mshchem · Mar 9, 2023

I bought a Nikon D200 new, $1600.00, when I sold it on Ebay through my local camera store, the fellow that listed it called me because it had only 700 shots, I remember telling him every time I went to use it the silly rechargeable battery was drained.
So, subtract the $200 bucks I got back from selling it that's about $2 a shot.

Paul Howell · Mar 9, 2023

In the 2000s to early, around, 2009 shooting was not too expensive, I was able to buy various brands for as little as a buck a roll, some bulk film was really cheap. As the supply dried up and prices began to rise I shot less and less. Today I am not shooting or printing color, and have cut my black and white back to just a few rolls a month, at time I was shooting 3 or 4 rolls a week. I save to shoot Tmax when I'm traveling, otherwise Foma, Double X, and R9 and now HC 110 for developer, will not replace MCM 100, DK50 or D76. Tomorrow I'm going to the local zoo, will take only digital.

Dwight Anderson · Mar 9, 2023

Your math seems off, but even at that, compared to other hobbies such as golf or camping, off roading or going to concerts and sporting events, it's not too bad

GregY · Mar 9, 2023

Pieter12 said:
Yes. Most digital shooters are happy with a single camera and a single zoom lens, too. That's it, no need to spend a penny more, since printing is not in their world. On the other hand, it seems like film shooters need at least a couple of cameras plus multiple primes (the zooms from film days were either mediocre or very expensive). And those darn film cameras break down and need servicing or replacement and on and on...

Pieter, How many times have those digital shooters sold or upgraded their digital camera? How many are still using the one they bought in 2000? How many computers, hard drives, printers, ink sets? .....not that it really matters. Whatever choices you make...you live with....the rest is all accounting.....& of what value is that?

AnselMortensen · Mar 9, 2023

Anybody check the price of Velvia or Provia 8x10 film recently?

mshchem · Mar 9, 2023

AnselMortensen said:
Anybody check the price of Velvia or Provia 8x10 film recently?

I wonder when Fujifilm last coated Fujichrome sheet film?

madNbad · Mar 9, 2023

Look at it this way, it’s about $13 usd a day. Some people spend that on coffee drinks each day and what do they have to show for it?
I haven’t found a digital camera yet that doesn’t feel like carrying a brick around. As long as I’m able, I’ll keep using film.

albada · Mar 9, 2023

Huss said:
I love film. Which is why I shoot it, a lot.

But when people say film is cheaper than digital cuz u can buy a Nikon N80 for $20 (I just did), while a FF Nikon is (for argument's sake) $1000. Shooting film is cheaper! As long as you do not shoot much film.

I've been tracking my film use since Sep 2014. From then until now - 1025 rolls. Some of it colour film, some B&W. Some E6 etc. Just rough guessing it (remember some films are much more expensive than others) picking an arbitrary number of $7/roll of film, that is $7175.

$7175 in film since end of 2014. But wait, there's more! Developing. Only in the last few years I've developed B&W myself. So again, taking that into account, I'll estimate $7/roll for all my C41, B&W, E6.

$7175 x $7 = $50,225. When I came to... I of course realized that does not include the cost of scanning. But I have been scanning myself using digicams for a long while now so just to pretend there is little cost there (I had to buy the camera, lens, stand etc), let's say $2k

$52,000 for 10 years worth of film photography. Ok, maybe saying $5000 a year makes it less painful? Eeeeesh.

$14 per roll (film+dev) multiplied by 1025 rolls = $14350. That's $1435 per year. Many hobbies are more expensive than that.

Mark

BradS · Mar 9, 2023

Huss said:
I love film. Which is why I shoot it, a lot.

But when people say film is cheaper than digital cuz u can buy a Nikon N80 for $20 (I just did), while a FF Nikon is (for argument's sake) $1000. Shooting film is cheaper! As long as you do not shoot much film.

I've been tracking my film use since Sep 2014. From then until now - 1025 rolls. Some of it colour film, some B&W. Some E6 etc. Just rough guessing it (remember some films are much more expensive than others) picking an arbitrary number of $7/roll of film, that is $7175.

$7175 in film since end of 2014. But wait, there's more! Developing. Only in the last few years I've developed B&W myself. So again, taking that into account, I'll estimate $7/roll for all my C41, B&W, E6.

$7175 x $7 = $50,225. When I came to... I of course realized that does not include the cost of scanning. But I have been scanning myself using digicams for a long while now so just to pretend there is little cost there (I had to buy the camera, lens, stand etc), let's say $2k

$52,000 for 10 years worth of film photography. Ok, maybe saying $5000 a year makes it less painful? Eeeeesh.

Dude,
Your accounting is kinda wonky here. Let's try this...
for each roll you spend, $7 for the film plus an additional $7 for processing. So that's $14 per roll
(1025 rolls) * ($7 + $7) = $14,350

still, your point is valid. Of course the costs of digital add up to when you figure in upgrades and managing storage.

Sigh. I remember back in the early 2000's I was exposing a roll or two a day. I used a lot of J&C ClassicPan400 because it was really inexpensive (like $2.59 per roll of 24exp) and, once I figured out how to expose and develop it, it was also really good.

Melvin J Bramley · Mar 9, 2023

madNbad said:
Look at it this way, it’s about $13 usd a day. Some people spend that on coffee drinks each day and what do they have to show for it?
I haven’t found a digital camera yet that doesn’t feel like carrying a brick around. As long as I’m able, I’ll keep using film.

Quite true , but what film camera makes exposures at a movie camera rate with a 20mm to 300mm Zoom so the creative artist can produce a couple of good images?
We live in an age where good photographs are produced by volume not by skill!!

TB

madNbad · Mar 9, 2023

Just for fun, I looked up the greens fees for Bandon Dunes. $295 for the first eighteen holes, half as much for a second round.

madNbad · Mar 9, 2023

Melvin J Bramley said:
Quite true , but what film camera makes exposures at a movie camera rate with a 20mm to 300mm Zoom so the creative artist can produce a couple of good images?
We live in an age where good photographs are produced by volume not by skill!!

TB

I do wish we had a like button.

Pieter12 · Mar 9, 2023

GregY said:
Pieter, How many times have those digital shooters sold or upgraded their digital camera? How many are still using the one they bought in 2000? How many computers, hard drives, printers, ink sets? .....not that it really matters. Whatever choices you make...you live with....the rest is all accounting.....& of what value is that?

I know many who shoot digital with 20 year old cameras. And so many film shooters end up with scanned files, so the computer, drives, software, ink and printers is on a par. One does not need to constantly upgrade unless it is a compulsion for the latest whatever.

logan2z · Mar 9, 2023

A rule I learned from owning classic cars that applies to film usage as well - never add up the receipts

GregY · Mar 9, 2023

Pieter12 said:
I know many who shoot digital with 20 year old cameras. And so many film shooters end up with scanned files, so the computer, drives, software, ink and printers is on a par. One does not need to constantly upgrade unless it is a compulsion for the latest whatever.

Pieter, we all know there's lots of compulsion among camera users. This is just another variant of the old digital vs film story.....& we're in our own corners. I could care less what the relative costs are. My personal photography choices are not made by some bottom line arithmetic.

ic-racer · Mar 9, 2023

I think much of my yearly expense is paper more than film. I don't think I use that much film; I have so many negatives to print already. I think in a year I'll use 100ft 35mm, one box of 4x5 and one box of 8x10 and scattered 120 here and there. Pretty much all HP5 these days.

Kino · Mar 9, 2023

If it's cutting into your basic necessities like rent or food funds, then I would worry. Otherwise, have fun!

Look, you could be collecting beanie babies or precious moment figurines. Right?

Patrick Robert James · Mar 9, 2023

Some of us, despite shooting mostly film, also own nicey nice digital cameras, so there is that. Can't really say one has the advantage over the other when they both add up.

But- life is short.

I think for young people today though film is getting to be a hard sell. Especially with the glut of old digital cameras that are perfect for posting online and carrying in your pocket. Sometimes I wonder if Kodak et al aren't shooting themselves in the foot.

P.S. Huss- Your math is a little tweaked but at least you are famous and good looking!

Sirius Glass · Mar 9, 2023

Huss said:
I love film. Which is why I shoot it, a lot.

But when people say film is cheaper than digital cuz u can buy a Nikon N80 for $20 (I just did), while a FF Nikon is (for argument's sake) $1000. Shooting film is cheaper! As long as you do not shoot much film.

I've been tracking my film use since Sep 2014. From then until now - 1025 rolls. Some of it colour film, some B&W. Some E6 etc. Just rough guessing it (remember some films are much more expensive than others) picking an arbitrary number of $7/roll of film, that is $7175.

$7175 in film since end of 2014. But wait, there's more! Developing. Only in the last few years I've developed B&W myself. So again, taking that into account, I'll estimate $7/roll for all my C41, B&W, E6.

$7175 x $7 = $50,225. When I came to... I of course realized that does not include the cost of scanning. But I have been scanning myself using digicams for a long while now so just to pretend there is little cost there (I had to buy the camera, lens, stand etc), let's say $2k

$52,000 for 10 years worth of film photography. Ok, maybe saying $5000 a year makes it less painful? Eeeeesh.

Compare that to the cost of the top of the line Nikon or Canon DSLR or the cost of skiing. Ever buy a Super Bowl ticket?

Huss · Mar 9, 2023

Ahaha! Oh my, don't let me do your taxes! My math was so wonky (I'll blame it to a long day at work..)

Correction in the OP and here:

Film dev = 1025x7 =$7175.

So total cost is Film $7175 + Dev $7175 + gear to scan $2K = $16350. So $1635/yr.

I seriously feel so much better, thanks for pointing that out (I'll blame it on a long day at work..). It went from questioning my life choices to celebrating them!

Alex Benjamin · Mar 9, 2023

albada said:
$14 per roll (film+dev) multiplied by 1025 rolls = $14350. That's $1435 per year. Many hobbies are more expensive than that.

Mark

Hobbies and sports. When I played badminton, just the high-end feather shuttlecocks would cost me over 1,000$ a year.

Huss · Mar 9, 2023

Alex Benjamin said:
Hobbies and sports. When I played badminton, just the high-end feather shuttlecocks would cost me over 1,000$ a year.

I'm sure a keen tennis player would have a similar issue w balls.

albada · Mar 10, 2023

Huss said:
I'm sure a keen tennis player would have a similar issue w balls.

@Huss, you live near the beach. Do you know what a boat slip rents for in a harbor? Next time you're shooting, look at the boats on the water and shake your head at how much they're costing. The $8 roll of film you're shooting is nothing compared to that, and you're getting as much enjoyment as they are, but without the maintenance headaches of a boat.

Mark

The expense of shooting film

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