Fujifilm reversal film prices. Beyond all reason...

[Canyongazer]

For the past decade I have regretted selling my Mamiya 7II and lenses.
No more.

 

[oldwino]

At one point this past year I had the idea to maybe start shooting E-6 again, specifically the new Ektachrome 100. I had even rationalized the price and figured I could make it (maybe) work. But then I couldn’t find any to buy. And now I figure when it does become available again, it will probably cost more than the $19.99 a roll it is listed at now. So, no.
I have 15 or so rolls of C-41 35mm in the fridge, plus a few dozen rolls of various B&W emulsions. Plus I still have several 100’ rolls of HP5 and XP2. And a few dozen rolls of 120, I see. And a small stockpile of B&W and C-41 chemistry. Anyway, enough to get me through 2023 as a film shooter.

after that is gone…I don’t know. I may finally start using that Df more…

 

[james.liam]

I was cleaning out my closet over the weekend and found an expired 100ft roll of Portra. Should I shoot it, or trade it for a bar of gold?

You can buy 50 gallons of diesel in The Newsom Republic of California with the proceeds. About $350.

 

[Evergreen States]

I work at a lab/camera shop and I can assure you that besides fujifilms disinterest in it, film is most assuredly not dying - it's on an upward trajectory.
It would be nice if Fuji would stop being so pigheaded about it, but kodak is scrambling to keep up with demand and reinvest in their manufacturing.

edit - we're seeing about a 7-10 fold increase in film bought and film developed from 2 or so years ago 90% of it from younger people.

I seem to recall somebody in another RFF thread, who claimed to have insider information, say that Kodak scaling back their production facilities during their hard years - a necessary business move - has now made it hard to produce new supply to meet demand. The demand supposedly isn't at a level that would justify the capital costs of expanding production, so they're in this no man's land of having increasing demand but not enough to increase supply to match. Film will never again hold the popularity it did during the 20th century because the consumer market - which prioritizes convenience over quality - is almost entirely digital. But will demand reach a point where Kodak can reinvest in expanding manufacturing? I hope so. I'd also like to see new companies and revivals of old companies so that Kodak doesn't have a monopoly on color, but I imagine the startup costs are so high and the market so niche that it's a tall order for any new player.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I had a look at the latest Canadian offerings and prices are all over the place: whatever the fool pays (CAD 58 + 13% tax for 3x36 TriX anyone?).

Two items I'd be willing to consider:

- Kodak Pro Image 100 ISO 5x36 @ at CAD 99 + 13% tax on Amazon.ca;
- Kodak Gold 200 ISO 3x24 @ CAD 24 +13% tax from Walmart.

I still have a stash of B&W film in the freezer in Saigon.

Cheers, OtL

 

[fireblade]

All hobbies are expensive. You're here today...just buy it, and enjoy.

 

[jsrockit]

All hobbies are expensive. You're here today...just buy it, and enjoy.

While this is true, we do have alternatives in photography.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

While this is true, we do have alternatives in photography.

Consider all the alternatives: Bostick & Sullivan (bostick-sullivan.com)
Not being snarky here; while most of us think of conventional film as defining our photography, it can be interesting to consider (and try) some very different alternatives. They might be cheaper, and they might get some new creative juices flowing.
For myself, our plumbing and septic system would not stand for the sometimes corrosive or toxic ingredients in many alternative processes. But there are other options. I've recently discovered the world of possibilities with Fuji Instax, and I'm loving it! Now, if I leave home with my cameras, the Instax always comes along, too.

 

[Pál_K]

Some people enjoy using film cameras and enjoy the look of film and different films. So I’ll continue to use it for 96% of my work and I also have a good lab for color prints. Yes, it’s expensive, but I get enjoyment from film photography.

 

[Ste_S]

I seem to recall somebody in another RFF thread, who claimed to have insider information, say that Kodak scaling back their production facilities during their hard years - a necessary business move - has now made it hard to produce new supply to meet demand. The demand supposedly isn't at a level that would justify the capital costs of expanding production, so they're in this no man's land of having increasing demand but not enough to increase supply to match. Film will never again hold the popularity it did during the 20th century because the consumer market - which prioritizes convenience over quality - is almost entirely digital. But will demand reach a point where Kodak can reinvest in expanding manufacturing? I hope so. I'd also like to see new companies and revivals of old companies so that Kodak doesn't have a monopoly on color, but I imagine the startup costs are so high and the market so niche that it's a tall order for any new player.

I think Kodak is just cranking up prices until supply=demand, and that's it. There won't be any up-scaling of film production, why would there be? No one is making good quality reasonably priced 35mm consumer cameras, and the pool of used 35mm cameras is shrinking day by day.