advice on "low-end" film

[larsanders]

Hi,
Thought I'd take advantage of the expertise here with a, maybe, boring question. I have a tight budget, and prefer two rolls of cheap film to one expensive. So what's your recommendations on which colour negative film to choose and to avoid?

In my neighbourhood (in Munich, Germany), I can get a roll of Fuji C200 for EUR 1, Kodak Farbwelt 200 (I guess it's english name is "Gold") for EUR 2.25 and Fuji Reala for EUR 3.

Thanks in advance,
Lars-Anders

 

[NickTrop]

Kodak Gold best cheap overall.
Also like the Agfa stuff if it's still around

Nothing wrong - imo, with the major manufacturer's offerings in color print buy what's on sale. Generally for color print, I go Kodak for 400 and below and Fuji for 400 and above. Lately I use the Fuji 800 a good deal, a fairly inexpensive film and easy to find. Great color print for a rangefinder for color amient light stuff without springing for their 1600 speed.

Kodak 400 and below. Fuji 400 and above in standard color print. Either 400 offering is good. Kodak Gold is the best overall (though some will say not for people because its so saturated).

Just my opinion, YMMV.

 

[bensyverson]

Maybe it's just my scanner (Coolscan V), but I don't see much difference between cheap 400 and 800, so I always use either 200 or 800. Recently I bought a 20 pack of Fuji Press 800, and I've been liking that.

Fuji Superia 100 is leagues better than the 200, but sadly it's not very easy to find these days.

 

[dmr]

In my neighbourhood (in Munich, Germany), I can get a roll of Fuji C200 for EUR 1, Kodak Farbwelt 200 (I guess it's english name is "Gold") for EUR 2.25 and Fuji Reala for EUR 3.

Here in the States, my everyday film is usually off the shelf Fuji 200, either Fuji brand or Walgreens brand, depending which is cheaper at the time. Kodak Gold 200 is a close second, but it's usually slightly higher in price than the Fuji.

I've grown to like the (rebranded) Agfa 200, but it's seldom available anymore. I have a few rolls left and I do pick it up if I find it, but it's getting scarce.

Really, the expense in shooting film is not the film itself but the processing. Develop only and scan to CD usually comes to US$5 and change.

 

[rich815]

Farbwelt is great stuff. I pickled up all I could in my trips to Germany back in 2001 and 2002.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

larsanders: Those are very good prices. I'm paying double that in Portugal.

 

[Michael I.]

I use kodak profoto 100\fuji proplus II 100(5 x 36 for 12$).
fuji x-tra 400 is not bad.

 

[manfromh]

I use Fuji 200. Its about $7 for a 5 roll pack here. I find it to be a good film for everyday shooting

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

I've been enjoying Fuji 400 lately. Sensia I think it's called.

 

[junior]

I find that a lot of store brands say Product of Japan. I find them to be pretty good. Can I assume they are made by Fuji? or Konica(does Konica make film still)?

 

[kellymjones]

My favorite of the cheap films is Fuji 200. Walgreens labels it as "Studio 35" made in Japan. There's a sale every month or two which brings the cost to about $1 per roll.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Lars-anders, you're pretty safe with any kind of film. It's the developing you have to spend a bit more on, because a good lab won't wreck your colors, whereas a sloppy one can ruin your roll.

I purchased some "low end" locally (Fuji rebadged as Jewel, my grocery store), and had it developed at a lab I used to consider just decent: they gave me the ugliest, most unnatural greens I have seen in my life, and the photos were so soft all-around I thought there was something wrong with my camera. Later I took one roll of the stuff to another lab... and the difference was quite noticeable.

Hence, go for any of the films you mention. You won't get shortchanged. Just be careful choosing a lab.