The Cost of Film

[DigitalRelish]

This is not meant to be a debate about the cost of digital versus film because we know that the cost of digital isn't limited to just camera kit and memory cards, but also computers, storage, electricity, etc., but I was rather suprised today when I was trying to find some non-expired slide film to buy online. Not only has it been increasing difficult to find stock in the formats and speeds I want (I'm not too fussed about brands as long as the film's decent), but it's also becoming rather expensive.

For example, 7 Day Shop are selling their last stocks of 135 36 exp Sensia process paid slide film at £20 a go. I know it's not going to be produced any more, but I had to email them to check it wasn't a pricing error. It wasn't!

So, I looked at Provia 400 (135-36) and it's still £10 a go before processing. In the end, I went for some Superia print film instead.

 

[Jao]

I haven't Shot 'in date' slide film forsome time for just at reason. Sadly it is a niche product now that commands a high price. I still have a decent stock of 120 Ektachrome but what I will do when it runs out I don't know?

 

[wickerman]

It does seem that the very high prices only apply to 135 film. For example, 7dayshop have Fuji Provia 400X Professional - 120 Roll - Colour Reversal Slide Film - 5 PACK at £18.99.

If you haven't already got one, surely this is the perfect excuse to buy a medium format camera.

 

[DigitalRelish]

It does seem that the very high prices only apply to 135 film. For example, 7dayshop have Fuji Provia 400X Professional - 120 Roll - Colour Reversal Slide Film - 5 PACK at £18.99.

That was the other item in my order I'll get my slide kicks through my Bronica

 

[freecom2]

Medium format slides are incredible to behold - and much cheaper to shoot with as well, bizarrely. I only really shoot consumer colour negative on 35mm, everything else seems better value (pro C-41, slide, B&W) on medium format.

 

[s162216]

If you want some cheaper slide film, try Agfa Precisia 100, its not the actual old Agfa film, its been a re-branded version of several films, currently it seems to be Provia 100 of some description that their using.

http://www.discountfilmsdirect.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Agfa_Photo_Precisa_100_Colour_Slide_Film.html

Sadly the price of slide film is going up as far less people are shooting it and with Kodak having pulled out the market a few months ago, only Fuji and Rollei (re-branded Agfa-Geveant film, not the same Agfa as above) seem to be in it still and E-6 films are technically more difficult to make. The price of silver has been steadily increasing so all film and paper prices have been as well.

Rollei Crossbird film is actually Agfa-Geveant RSX-II film rebranded and sold as 'cross-processing' film, if you run it through the normal E-6 process you end up with normal slides. Its also sold as Rollei Digibase CR200 Pro which is advertised as a slide film rather than for cross-processing, its the same thing!

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/rollei-cr200-35mm-36-2-rolls-2546-p.asp

 

[Kev M]

If anyone wants some cheap out of date but fridge stored Provia400 in 120 flavour give me a shout and I'll re-open my classifieds ad.

 

[TheGreatSoprendo]

It does seem that the very high prices only apply to 135 film. For example, 7dayshop have Fuji Provia 400X Professional - 120 Roll - Colour Reversal Slide Film - 5 PACK at £18.99.

If you haven't already got one, surely this is the perfect excuse to buy a medium format camera.

Beware of this - I just bought 2 of these 5 packs and when I've received them they're dated May 2012. I wouldn't mind if they'd been marked as expired and priced accordingly, but there was no indication that they were expired, and while the price is good for fresh film, it's not good enough for expired.

I have complained, and declined their derisory offer of 30p a roll refund!!! Wait and see what they come back with.

That place seems to be going down hill.

 

[DigitalRelish]

Beware of this - I just bought 2 of these 5 packs and when I've received them they're dated May 2012. I wouldn't mind if they'd been marked as expired and priced accordingly, but there was no indication that they were expired, and while the price is good for fresh film, it's not good enough for expired.

I have complained, and declined their derisory offer of 30p a roll refund!!! Wait and see what they come back with.

That place seems to be going down hill.

Just received my 5 pack of Provia 120 and it also expired May 2012. I've just emailed them to see WTF.

Where's good for fresh stock?

 

[robhooley167]

Just received my 5 pack of Provia 120 and it also expired May 2012. I've just emailed them to see WTF.

Where's good for fresh stock?

AG Photographic, Silverprint

 

[DigitalRelish]

Beware of this - I just bought 2 of these 5 packs and when I've received them they're dated May 2012. I wouldn't mind if they'd been marked as expired and priced accordingly, but there was no indication that they were expired, and while the price is good for fresh film, it's not good enough for expired.

AG Photographic, Silverprint

Compared to eBay prices for recently expired film, 7DS are selling their pack of 5 Provia 400X 120 at similar prices.

Looking at the same film on AG Photographic and Silverprint they are both about £10 more expensive for presumably fresh stock.

 

[s162216]

Well if we want to get some cheap high quality slide film then there is this:

http://www.stanleysonline.co.uk/product-1925.htm

Kodak Ektachrome 100D 5285 reversal motion picture film on a 400' roll, chop it into 100' sections and put it in a bulk loader before loading into bulk film cartridges. Apparently its quite similar to E100VS (which I was quite fond of), right who wants to help me raise £375?

Should get about 72 - 76 36 exposure rolls out of it, works out at the most £5.20 per roll, bargain.... :nuts:

 

[robhooley167]

Compared to eBay prices for recently expired film, 7DS are selling their pack of 5 Provia 400X 120 at similar prices.

Looking at the same film on AG Photographic and Silverprint they are both about £10 more expensive for presumably fresh stock.

What do you expect? Proper bricks and mortar shop selling fresh stock straight from fuji compared to a presumably front room ebay trader selling expired film...

 

[DigitalRelish]

What do you expect? Proper bricks and mortar shop selling fresh stock straight from fuji compared to a presumably front room ebay trader selling expired film...

I expect non-expired film to cost more than expired film.

TheGreatSoprendo suggested that the 7DS "price is good for fresh film, it's not good enough for expired."

I was pointing out that the 7DS price is actually in line with the eBay expired film sellers rather than the shops selling fresh film stock.