This Bodes Bad Things For Film & Papers

GregY · 2025-10-18T13:40:30-0400

jeffreyg said:
Of course it depends on what one wants to do with the prints. For me I have been making hand made books and using Hahnemuhle 17x22double sided cotton paper which runs just over $10 per sheet but
for 8 1/2 x 11 pages I can at least make 8 per sheet and rationalise that it’s $1 each image. So a box of 25 sheets can make up to 200 pages.

Hahnemule prices don't help with the price of enlarging paper.... Ilford warmtone 20x24" (50 sheets).... $818 USD ......$1200 Cad by the time it gets to me......

jeffreyg · 2025-10-18T13:52:58-0400

GregY said:
Hahnemule prices don't help with the price of enlarging paper.... Ilford warmtone 20x24" (50 sheets).... $818 USD ......$1200 Cad by the time it gets to me......

I understand. I was just relating what I have been doing. Most of the wet printing I do is pt/pd and that’s costly enough as well but fortunately I have enough supplies from before prices went crazy.

mshchem · 2025-10-18T17:49:54-0400

retina_restoration said:
Freestyle, Blue Moon and others all show a similar price breakdown: Kodak B&W films are less expensive than Ilford by a similar margin. It's not just a B&H thing.

Yes but the biggest players effect the prices. I suspect that Harman is choosing to price Kentmere at a value point, Ilford especially HP5 and FP4 as the premium traditional films they are. Hard to know.

retina_restoration · 2025-10-18T18:00:54-0400

mshchem said:
Yes but the biggest players effect the prices. I suspect that Harman is choosing to price Kentmere at a value point, Ilford especially HP5 and FP4 as the premium traditional films they are. Hard to know.

I simply wanted to point out that the Kodak/Ilford price ratio is similar at all the retailers I looked at, not just at B&H. Unfortunately, the tariffs have now pushed the price of Ilford sheet films beyond what I'm willing to pay. I will not pay $10+ USD per sheet of 8x10 film. I can make a collodion negative for about $2.50!

mshchem · 2025-10-18T18:21:06-0400

retina_restoration said:
I simply wanted to point out that the Kodak/Ilford price ratio is similar at all the retailers I looked at, not just at B&H. Unfortunately, the tariffs have now pushed the price of Ilford sheet films beyond what I'm willing to pay. I will not pay $10+ USD per sheet of 8x10 film. I can make a collodion negative for about $2.50!

Yeah, the sheet film thing is a real dilemma. I've got some I need to shoot. I do love Ilford (and Kodak, Foma, Adox) black and white film. I'll be a buyer as long as I'm able. I've been quite satisfied with Kentmere films too. Don't care for the Harman color films, I've bought a few rolls as a measure of supporting the cause.

chuckroast · 2025-10-18T18:42:08-0400

retina_restoration said:
I simply wanted to point out that the Kodak/Ilford price ratio is similar at all the retailers I looked at, not just at B&H. Unfortunately, the tariffs have now pushed the price of Ilford sheet films beyond what I'm willing to pay. I will not pay $10+ USD per sheet of 8x10 film. I can make a collodion negative for about $2.50!

This is what has kept me from entering the 8x10 world, even before the tariffs. I keep wondering if I should take a shot at it using x ray film.

retina_restoration · 2025-10-18T20:42:20-0400

chuckroast said:
This is what has kept me from entering the 8x10 world, even before the tariffs. I keep wondering if I should take a shot at it using x ray film.

I have enjoyed working with Fomapan 100, which is literally half the price of the Ilford equivalent, so I see plenty of Fomapan in my future. I'll likely do more 5x7 work and leave 8x10 for when I need to make a larger contact print.

RalphLambrecht · 2025-10-18T23:01:58-0400

Greg_E2 said:
Not very much, I'd guess less than a gram in an 8x10.

that would equate to roughly 1$ of silver /35mm film or an 8x10,but manufacturers charge us up to 10 times that.

This Bodes Bad Things For Film & Papers

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