Film prices don't reflect analogue resurgence

Skiff said:
Irrelevant for our case.
Because supply is definitely not limited by the film manufacturers.
After many hard years they are of cause happy now that the demand is significantly getting better step by step, year after year.
And they are producing in-line with that, satisfying the increasing demand.
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Fine.

Then how come supply and demand economics do not apply to film pricing?
 
willie_901 said:
Fine.

Then how come supply and demand economics do not apply to film pricing?
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Willie,

It seems like CatLabs the big JOBO distributor will also be getting into Polaroid, I think by their relationship with Berger. They have a link that explains why Fuji cannot sustain production of FP-100 because Fuji can only make profit by exploiting "economies of scale." It is further explained that the manufacturing equipment for FP-100 utilizes older technology that is not scalable.

I'll try to find those links.

So another possible player in the world of Polaroid...

Cal
 
It’s my understanding that CatLabs gave up on a peel-apart Polaroid-type film. Just too difficult and/or too expensive to produce.

Jim B.
 
Mackinaw said:
It’s my understanding that CatLabs gave up on a peel-apart Polaroid-type film. Just too difficult and/or too expensive to produce.

Jim B.
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Jim,

The link is still active on their homepage.

It's been a bit more than over a year. What you say makes sense. Where did you hear of any updated info.

Still worth reading about understanding the economies of scale and how it relates to sustainability.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
......Where did you hear of any updated info.........
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Sometime earlier this year (or last year), I was reading a post on some other photo-related website I was on. Apparently CatLabs was associated with Florian Kaps, the guy who formed the Impossible Project. Kaps met with Fuji about saving FP-100C or buying their equipment. When that fell through, Kaps investigated producing his own peel-part film. It was quickly determined that making new peel-apart film was not feasible. Too complex and too expensive.

Mind you, this is something I read on the internet, so take it with a grain of salt. Still, it makes sense.

Jim B.
 
Mackinaw said:
Sometime earlier this year (or last year), I was reading a post on some other photo-related website I was on. Apparently CatLabs was associated with Florian Kaps, the guy who formed the Impossible Project. Kaps met with Fuji about saving FP-100C or buying their equipment. When that fell through, Kaps investigated producing his own peel-part film. It was quickly determined that making new peel-apart film was not feasible. Too complex and too expensive.

Mind you, this is something I read on the internet, so take it with a grain of salt. Still, it makes sense.

Jim B.
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Jim,

Economic feasability makes all these start-ups difficult. I have been buying Berger Panchro 400, and playing with gifted Ferrania P30. I love the passion, spirit and dedication.

Let's see how all this plays out. Back when film was really cheap as rebranded Tri-X and rebranded Acros from Freestyle I really loaded up the truck with film. Glad I did. Today I'm shooting less film, I own digitals, and I'm happy to still have my own economic viability shooting film.

Cal
 
Prest_400 said:
Price wise I was thinking about Fomapan. The cheaper sources now basically have similar prices to what was the norm years ago. Good to shoot around and it was my idea for cutting my teeth on B&W.
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Jorde,

I want to know about Fomapan's QC. I read an old thread about bad QC. Currently is it better/good.

If with better QC Fomapan is viable for me to use in Grafmatics for use in Linhof's.

Also what developers did you like for Fomapan.

Thanks in advance.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Jorde,

I want to know about Fomapan's QC. I read an old thread about bad QC. Currently is it better/good.

If with better QC Fomapan is viable for me to use in Grafmatics for use in Linhof's.

Also what developers did you like for Fomapan.

Thanks in advance.

Cal
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Cal, sorry I wrote in the wrong verbal tense. I actually haven't tried it yet. Slacking a bit too much about moving B&W actually.
The idea is when I move again I'll want to be in a larger city with some Photography-Darkroom spaces. Probably will be a student again for a while. Nowadays I'm spending the $ on cheap Europe weekend outings.

HP5 isn't too bad here at 4.5€ a roll 120 and 5.50 135, the best of Ilford is that they seem to have a standardised price around. Ironically it is more expensive in UK.

Fomapan can go for 3.5€ a roll when bought in bricks. Sheet was nicely priced too.
Ironically they don't seem to have the paper backing issue that Kodak is so grieved about nowadays. The Foma 200 seems to be their semi modern allrounder
 
Prest_400 said:
Cal, sorry I wrote in the wrong verbal tense. I actually haven't tried it yet. Slacking a bit too much about moving B&W actually.
The idea is when I move again I'll want to be in a larger city with some Photography-Darkroom spaces. Probably will be a student again for a while. Nowadays I'm spending the $ on cheap Europe weekend outings.

HP5 isn't too bad here at 4.5€ a roll 120 and 5.50 135, the best of Ilford is that they seem to have a standardised price around. Ironically it is more expensive in UK.

Fomapan can go for 3.5€ a roll when bought in bricks. Sheet was nicely priced too.
Ironically they don't seem to have the paper backing issue that Kodak is so grieved about nowadays. The Foma 200 seems to be their semi modern allrounder
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Jorde,

Cutting my teeth on film in a big way and for a long time surely has made me a better photographer.

May I suggest just concentrating on just image capture and making great negatives. All that is really required is a tank, reel, and a changing bag. Don't let not having a darkroom stop you.

BTW retiring in Spain seems highly likely, and sooner rather than later: Madrid; or Barcelona.

Cal
 
Thanks for the inflation calculator comments.
Those are useful.

Could someone run this through for me please?
I have a roll of Kidak Gold 100/36 that expired in 07/2002 in its original box. The sticker price is $8.39
 
I've been seeing this thread for a while and I think film prices DO reflect a resurgence.

Demand up + supply down = Prices up

Cheap film was a result of;
Demand way down + supply steady, at a high level of output = Prices down

Joe
 
jszokoli said:
I've been seeing this thread for a while and I think film prices DO reflect a resurgence.

Demand up + supply down = Prices up

Cheap film was a result of;
Demand way down + supply steady, at a high level of output = Prices down

Joe
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Joe,

I don't want to take credit for the resurgence personally, but lately I'm part of it.

The low cost of great analog gear compelled some of us to revamp our thinking and made me shoot less digital.

I think your formulas represent the real market.

Cal
 
KoFe: I think we'll see Ilford's higher prices are temporary, and a reflection that they have temporarily lost their North American distributor. Until they get a new one, I think higher prices are what we're looking at. Prices may simply move more quickly than they used to... and more like gas pump prices and crude.

Fortunately, there are other choices.
 
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