12 Exp film. Worth it?

ItsReallyDarren

ItsReallyDarren

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I got my hands on some really cheap C-41 color film recently. 40 rolls of Fuji Superia 400, paid about 5 bucks for all of them. The only problem is that they only have 12 exposures, I can squeeze 15 if I put them in my QL Canonet. Even though I got the film at a really great price, somethings been bothering me, so I finally sat down and ran the numbers.

I calculated the numbers and the total cost per frame (including price per roll of film and development cost) doesnt make it a better deal.

40 rolls of Superia 400 X 12 Exposures = 480 frames
Cost to develop $2.50 at a reliable 1hr lab near me.
The cost to develop all 40 rolls works out around $100
(the cost to buy 40 rolls; 5 bucks)

Total cost per exposure roughly works out to $ .22


Costco sells a 6 pack of Superia 400 at $8 bucks.

20 rolls of Superia 400 X 24 = 480 frames
$2.50 to develop
The cost to develop all 20 rolls works out around $50
(the cost to buy 20 rolls works out to $26.6)

Total cost per exposure roughly works out to $ .16

(Cost to purchase and develop are factored in the total price)


Sooo long story short even through I got a ton of really cheap film, the biggest cost to me is in the development. Unless I develop it myself it doesnt really add up, I also dont have much desire to process my own color film (yet), either that or stick it in rodinal and lose the color. It would be a completely different story if it was B/W film that I could develop myself.

So what to do with all this film? Easters over, I cant stick them in plastic eggs and give'em to kids, I dont have the heart to toss perfectly good film or let it languish in the fridge. I can keep a few rolls with me to fend off digital shooter when they mock me. Thats about all I can think of.
 
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I use lots of 12 exposure rolls when I want 1/2 dozen shots of something and off to the one hour, or for quick camera testing. It's cheaper than shooting up a 36 exposure roll when you really want 5 or 10 shots.

KenD
 
Well, DUH, even I don't need a calculator to figure what gives higher cost if it costs $2.50 to do one 12 exp roll and also $2.50 to do a 24 exp roll.... BUT- 12 exposure rolls do come in handy. I just love 12 exposure rolls especially after a GAS attack. They're great for a quick test of a new lens or camera body. If I use half a roll of 24 exposures I feel like I'm being wasteful, which, of course, I am.
 
Of course its not about economy, but convenience. I love 12 exposure film. Sometimes I let film languish in my camera for what seems like ages, sometimes I waste frames just trying to use it up. This is especially true since I've been having severe bouts of GAS recently and now have many more cameras than I used to. I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands; how much do you suppose shipping to Philadelphia would cost?
 
raid said:
I feel similarly about using 24 exposure film. It is a waste.
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I like twenty fours and load my own now ... it makes a good balance with my V700 scanner which holds twenty four exposures at a time and reduces the scanning procedure to one action! 🙂
 
iamzip said:
Of course its not about economy, but convenience. I love 12 exposure film. Sometimes I let film languish in my camera for what seems like ages, sometimes I waste frames just trying to use it up. This is especially true since I've been having severe bouts of GAS recently and now have many more cameras than I used to. I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands; how much do you suppose shipping to Philadelphia would cost?
Click to expand...

Good idea. Might as well give them to someone who can make better use of them than me.
I've already given away 20 rolls so Ive got a 10 pack left if your interested.


Ive used up 6 rolls testing out various minilabs in the area, found a pretty good place too. I'll save the other 4 for testing out future GAS attacks.
 
If you used Wal-mart's 1 hour film developing service (request developing only, without any prints), the cost would have been under $1. For 36 exposures, the cost is $1.76 plus tax.
 
The 12-exp are handy for checking out a new lens or camera to make sure it functions well before committing a lot of shots to chance problems. Also great for half-frame cameras, where you get about 26 exposures, an easily manageable number. I also like 24-exp rolls, figuring 36 is somewhat too long. Around 30 would be ideal for most purposes I think, and that's the length I did when bulk loading.
 
I sometimes carry a 12-exp roll on a trip, in case I have concerns about a camera's shutter. Shoot a short roll, drop it off at a minilab, and examine the negs to see if anything is grossly out of whack. Other than that, I don't shoot much C-41 of any length.
 
I have a few such rolls on hand. I use them exclusively for checking a new camera for shutter function and light leaks.

Processing ruins the savings though.
 
Ken D. has it right. There are those times when you need a short roll and don't want to waste a 36 exp. roll of the good stuff. Speaking for myself, I often use short rolls when I'm out with my half frame gear. 12 exp. becomes 24 exp.
 
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