Where to buy film for reasonable prices?

Luckless · Sep 16, 2019

Ko.Fe. said:
I have no idea why would you bother to buy film anywhere else than from BH if you are in USA. I'm Canada and still buy film from them with free shipping.

I had been buying from them for my film and shipping to Canada, but thankfully have moved to a location with local retailers who actually still stock film and aren't excessive with their markup. I'll happily pay the ~15% extra to have film-in-hand on the same day, and an excuse to visit my now favourite used camera store to see what else they happen to have in stock...

They've also changed their Canadian Shipping carrier, and I rather not go back to playing Brokerage and Fees Roulette if I don't have to. If I can find something reasonably priced locally, then I rather just pay the bit more to have it in my hand and have the transaction over and done with at the time I buy.

Sirius Glass · Sep 16, 2019

destroya said:
I buy my film from samy's. they have the lower or the same prices and much better customer service than any of the NY places. I still buy from BH or adaorama though, depending on what im looking for. now that BH collects sales tax for california, they have lost a major edge they used to have. so now I get the same price ow lower from samys and instate shipping, so much faster. also freestyle, now that they are selling kodak color liquid C41 chems, shipiing is much cheaper than across the country from unique. so I usually get some arista film to go with my order.

BradS said:
Good to know. I just placed an order with B&H today and got hit with sales tax...and will suffer 7~10 days shipping delays. Will be looking to Samy's next time. Thanks.

But Adorama does not collect California sales tax. I just bought two boxes of 250 sheets of RC paper, no sales tax, free three day shipping approximately $370.

BradS · Sep 16, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
But Adorama does not collect California sales tax. I just bought two boxes of 250 sheets of RC paper, no sales tax, free three day shipping approximately $370.

This is interesting and good to know. Thanks.

BradS · Sep 16, 2019

destroya said:
I think you are local to SF right? if you go to the store, the prices will be a little different, but they will match their own online prices at the store, just ask. they even have a nice free parking lot!

Thanks! I live in Sonora but get into the City pretty frequently. Glass key is my usual goto place in the city for all things photographic but will make an effort to get down to Samy's next time too. It looks like they might be in or near the old Calumet store ?

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 16, 2019

If you get a B&H credit card, they reimburse the sales tax. Also, if you purchase more than $100 of stuff, you can use their free parking lot across the street from their store in Manhattan. There's a time limit. You can stay for free longer if you buy more stuff.

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 16, 2019

I'm curious how expiration dates vary among the different sellers.

jim10219 · Sep 16, 2019

B&H, Adorama, and Freestyle are much cheaper than any of the stores near me. My local stores usually run about double their prices. The downside is, you have to buy enough to get the free shipping, or it's still pretty expensive.

Oddly enough, their film processing is cheaper than I can find online. And the used gear isn't too far off eBay. But the film, paper, chemicals, new digital gear, and accessories are ridiculously expensive.

runswithsizzers · Sep 17, 2019

Alan Edward Klein said:
I'm curious how expiration dates vary among the different sellers.

This is an issue I have with my one-and-only local retailer. Three out of the last four times I've bought film there, I was handed an expired roll. Fortunately, I noticed before I left the parking lot, so I was able to to exchange the expired roll for in-date film. But I'm pretty sure they just put the expired roll back on the shelf, hoping the next customer won't notice.

I don't order very much film online, but, so far, it has all been fresh (from B&H).

ParkerSmithPhoto · Sep 17, 2019

With the price of tanks and chemistry, there is really no reason not to develop your own B&W film. And if you have to shoot color, there is really no reason not to choose an alternative method of image acquisition. Since color photography is, as Walker Evans said, vulgar, I stick with B&W.

mgb74 · Sep 17, 2019

When I last ordered, Adorama offered free shipping (no minimum) if you a Shoprunner account. And there are a few ways to get a free Shoprunner account.

wjlapier · Sep 18, 2019

Example is Kodak Portra 400 120 box of 5 rolls. B&H charges me tax but free shipping ( slow ). Freestyle doesn't charge tax but does charge shipping ( slow ). Amazon charges me tax and delivers faster than B&H ( two day ).

B&H total cost is: $37.99 includes tax--free shipping
Freestyle total cost is: $41.28 no tax-- includes $7.99 shipping
Amazon total cost is $37.99 includes tax--free shipping

Amazon and B&H are same price but Amazon delivers quicker. Using the Amazon credit card I receive cash back and that accumulates and the balance can be used towards a purchase. Amazon Prime cost $119/yr but with the amount we purchase from Amazon I figure the cost added to the purchase of film is practically negligible.

esearing · Sep 21, 2019

I have had some luck on Ebay with Samys camera selling off soon to expire paper and film. Buy it when you see it. Dont think of it as $7 per roll Think of it as $ per keeper vs trash. IN LF we start at $2 per sheet so we dont waste a lot of film on images that are not pleasing and really work hard to reduce capture errors. i

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2019

While I look for the best price for film, I stick to film companies that have quality that is good and consistent, Ilford, Kodak, ..., and I will not buy out dated film unless I know that it was stored frozen or refrigerator by a trusted seller. I cannot afford to loose photographs because of off brand or poorly stored film.

Where to buy film for reasonable prices?

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