When color film stock can be back to normal?

boojum said:
And there is the problem: hoarding.
Click to expand...

You obviously don't know what hoarding means.

I use the film I buy and stocking up has been common practice for years as it reduces the need for testing batch variations.
The problem is not my shopping pattern but the film manufactures ability to get their production logistics in order.
 
When film prices outpace the value of my cameras that’s when I’ll stop shooting 🙂

I’m fortunate I have a small stash of color films in the fridge including some B&W - among them, some Plus-X.
 
I think he knows exactly what hoarding means.

Just go back to January 2011 and count the number of ebay auctions that appeared (and continue to appear sporadically) for lots of Kodachrome slide film. Clearly a number of people bought 'extra' and either weren't actively shooting or weren't engaged enough to keep track of the ability to get the film processed. The processing cutoff was not exactly a secret for at least 2 years prior to 12/31/10. And to think of all the lovely rolls of K25 I could have shot in 2010 if not for these idiots.

Every hoarder sincerely believes they need and will use the things they hoard.

About B&H it should be pointed out that sometime in the last year or so they changed their decades-old business model for film sales. They were a high-volume, low margin seller of film. Now they are a high-margin film seller. Translation: B&H is no longer the go-to for best price on film. Whether or not that translates to lower volume, I believe it will take a while for buyers to adjust to the change. In fact I think they're banking on it right now. But there are already a few better options out there and I believe we will see more appear as time goes on.

But, the base price increases on film are outpacing inflation, one cannot deny it. It seems to be a perfect storm at the moment. Covid+politcal upheaval+high inflation all combined with hugely increased demand on an aging manufacturing infrastructure that was just barely hanging on. Even if Kodak, Fuji, et al, could have seen it coming 5 years ago, I don't think they would have believed it. The only consolation we can take is those extra $ are going to maintain and upgrade that manufacturing infrastructure. And to pay employees a living wage. I'm pretty certain for Kodak that's true. I don't know about Fuji🙁
 
Bulk load and develop at home. Even if I was a color film shooter I'd be looking into this. I know your options for bulk loading are more limited then B&W, and developing is a bit more of a hassle, but I was thinking the other day that in bulking loading I save about 40-50% on the cost of B&W film, and developing at home save a whopping 80-90%.
 
Thanks for the bulk recommendations. Will definitely look at getting some colour film, especially since we are a film shooting family and my girls burn through colour film as if they aren't the ones paying for it 🙂 But who am I to stand in the way of art?

Not wanting to take the thread too far off the tracks, but, what is the best method to get 400' rolls into 100' sections so that they can fit in the loading machine?
 
j.scooter said:
Thanks for the bulk recommendations. Will definitely look at getting some colour film, especially since we are a film shooting family and my girls burn through colour film as if they aren't the ones paying for it 🙂 But who am I to stand in the way of art?

Not wanting to take the thread too far off the tracks, but, what is the best method to get 400' rolls into 100' sections so that they can fit in the loading machine?
Click to expand...


In a dark room or film bag, sacrifice a 36 exp commercial cassette of film, and use that as a template to measure out 100' -- generally 18 rolls.

In a dark room, your outstretch arms, from side to side is around 36 exposures (mine is a bit more), but you can just make so many arm stretches (18 or so).

It doesn't have to be exact. When I load IXMOO's I have a Leica tool where 37 revolutions/twists will give me about 36 exposure or so. It varies from roll to roll -- sometimes I'll do 37 rev., sometimes 40 ect. Same is probably true with breaking down 400'. Long as you get close to 100' and don't go too much over, I suspect it'll fit in a daylight loader.

You'll need some plastic cores. I throw about 10-15 of those away (recycle) a year from my own bulk loading. Someone can probably give you some.

Just a note of caution, Kodak color movie stock requires something other than C41 developing. Not a color shooter anymore, so I defer to others on this subject, but look into it.

Ha, ha, because of this thread I might get 400' of XX.
 
j.scooter said:
Thanks for the bulk recommendations. Will definitely look at getting some colour film, especially since we are a film shooting family and my girls burn through colour film as if they aren't the ones paying for it 🙂 But who am I to stand in the way of art?

Not wanting to take the thread too far off the tracks, but, what is the best method to get 400' rolls into 100' sections so that they can fit in the loading machine?
Click to expand...

And remember everything needs to be stored light proof, obviously. I once put a little left over Fomapan from a bulk roll back into its' metal tin w/o the plastic bag. Not good enough. It showed some light leakage when I used it.
 
j.scooter said:
Not wanting to take the thread too far off the tracks, but, what is the best method to get 400' rolls into 100' sections so that they can fit in the loading machine?
Click to expand...

As I mentioned in another thread you can buy precut 100' rolls and develop them home in c41. Just don't give them to a lab cause you will ruin their chemistry batch...

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/nod...60#post4780660

see also this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rNeY9OVXu8&t=705s

Or you can buy directly from Kodak the 400' for a much lower price but as mentioned you have to load shorter segments into the bulk loader in the dark.
 
bluesun267 said:
I think he knows exactly what hoarding means.

Just go back to January 2011 and count the number of ebay auctions that appeared (and continue to appear sporadically) for lots of Kodachrome slide film. Clearly a number of people bought 'extra' and either weren't actively shooting or weren't engaged enough to keep track of the ability to get the film processed. The processing cutoff was not exactly a secret for at least 2 years prior to 12/31/10. And to think of all the lovely rolls of K25 I could have shot in 2010 if not for these idiots.

Every hoarder sincerely believes they need and will use the things they hoard.

About B&H it should be pointed out that sometime in the last year or so they changed their decades-old business model for film sales. They were a high-volume, low margin seller of film. Now they are a high-margin film seller. Translation: B&H is no longer the go-to for best price on film. Whether or not that translates to lower volume, I believe it will take a while for buyers to adjust to the change. In fact I think they're banking on it right now. But there are already a few better options out there and I believe we will see more appear as time goes on.

But, the base price increases on film are outpacing inflation, one cannot deny it. It seems to be a perfect storm at the moment. Covid+politcal upheaval+high inflation all combined with hugely increased demand on an aging manufacturing infrastructure that was just barely hanging on. Even if Kodak, Fuji, et al, could have seen it coming 5 years ago, I don't think they would have believed it. The only consolation we can take is those extra $ are going to maintain and upgrade that manufacturing infrastructure. And to pay employees a living wage. I'm pretty certain for Kodak that's true. I don't know about Fuji🙁
Click to expand...

Yes; couldn't agree more about the statement regarding B+H. I am still looking for other options to buy film in bulks (translated into: thousands of rolls per inquiry)
 
It all began in 2018 when Agfa (fuji C200) was discontinued. But C200 was affordable back then. Since 2021 C200 has increased price almost 2 fold.
By luck I found expired repackaged Ferrania 200 film branded as Agfa vista 200 (just before ferrania folded) expired in 2009 and kept refrigerated. Boght 50 rolls and wish I had bought more, because the rest (the seller had bought a complete pallet of rolls, yes) was gone in 10 days. Cost 3 euro per roll (expensive last year but a bargain today)
When my stocks deplete might switch to kodak vision motion picture film. As I have a bulk loader will be no problem. Will have to go to ECN-2 but...
Best regards
 
I seldom shoot color, usually just a couple rolls in autumn on our annual leaf-peeping trip.
Two rolls 135-36 of Kodak Ektar 100 just set me back close to $40 with tax and shipping.
Fortunately I bought 2 rolls of Ektachrome 100 months ago, before the big jump in prices.

Chris
 
I think in about a year or so the availability of color film will be much better and the price will come down a bit. Paying ten bucks a roll for consumer film is kind of ridiculous, but it is what it is. I just saw today Ultrafineonline has 35mm rolls of Velvia for a wallet gouging $40.

I don't shoot that much color, so it doesn't really affect me much. I was thinking about buying a roll of Vision though just to have it. Never know. That has shot up too in the last year. I was looking at prices on BH this morning and a 400' roll of Vision is in the $360ish range IIRC.

The big problem I see coming is if film is going to be that expensive then who is going to shoot it? The prices being what they are, the manufacturers are shooting themselves in the foot. Feels an awful lot like price gouging. I have a sneaking suspicion too that Fuji stopped making film altogether and did a Polaroid. I hope I am wrong on that. If that is the case then expect super high prices on color film.

By the way, Ultrafine Online has 100' rolls of respooled Vision for a little over $100 for those who are interested in that. Still has the remjet on it though.

I sure miss the days only a few years ago when you could pop into Wallyworld and buy a 4/24 pack of Fuji 800 for like $9.
 
For the most part, we're all lamenting the pricing of the film when we're running the hottest inflation in years. I'm wondering if we should all zoom out.

I'm also not 100% that it will come down, but there's a reason for these huge price increases.
 
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