Film prices ...

[dmr]

Lately it seems like prices on film are a moving target and seem to change from day to day, worse than gasoline prices actually. The thread on the new Walgreens film and the prices (some very good, some out of line) got me curious, so I stopped this morning at Target' just to see what they were selling film for.

For those who don't know the store chain, Target is a midscale-but-wannabe-upscale discount department store here in the States. I think they might be in Canada too, eh. Since I first heard of them, when I first moved out here, people jokingly pronounced it "Tar-Jhay" and on line you'll see the acute accent used improperly to imply that pronunciation. 🙂 🙂 But anyway ... 🙂

Today they have the following prices, US dollars, all 4-packs, and many of these have one 36 exposure roll and three 24's:

Kodak Gold 200: $6.49
Fuji 200: $5.99
Fuji 400: $7.49
Fuji 800: $9.49

IMAO, these are not bad, actually. Those I usually buy are all under $2 per roll.

The only 100 they had in stock was Fuji, 12 exposure rolls for $0.99.

I've never seen a Target' house brand film.

Walgreens currently has the repackaged 200 at $4.99 per 4-pack of 24 exp and $6.99 for 400. Slightly cheaper.

With all of the recent talk of film prices skyrocketing, it sure doesn't seem like we're seeing it on the shelves as of this time.

Comments?

 

[jonasv]

I think it's mostly the b&w that goes up in price.

€6 for a roll of Ilford Delta when buying locally has certainly made me look at ordering online...

 

[bmattock]

First of all, film will live forever. That is because everyone knows that as long as one person is still alive who wants film, a factory will spring up to serve that need (as long as there is demand, there will be supply).

Digital is out of style already, and will soon be dead. Except maybe for the Lecia M8, which will issue forth electrons of golden goodness - the only 'correct' way to do digital if you just have to have digital.

Anyone who says the price of silver or fuel has gone up is a liar. Everything is the same. Don't read the news or pay attention to gasoline prices, they are cruel hoaxes, just refuse to listen to the naysayers.

Film prices going up are a hoax. They are not going up, they are going down. New emulsions are being introduced all the time. No film companies have gone out of business. No film companies have shut down production factories. It's all lies. Anyone who says that they went to their local Walgreens and found prices had gone up - or that there was less shelf space for film is OBVIOUSLY LYING.

Even if Kodak announced price hikes recently, they are just greedy bastards trying to kill off film so they can sell their awful digital cameras.

On the other hand, if Fujifilm announced price hikes recently, they are just trying to stay alive so that they can serve the true lovers of film.

And Ilford, why we just lay prostrate at the feet of Ilford, because they love us and support us - if they raise prices, we should pay it without complaint and in fact we should tithe a portion of our income to them for being so wonderful and bringing back 'postcards'. But they're not really raising prices. Even though they announced it and then prices went up, they didnt' really go up. It just seemed that way to naysayers and evil lying bad bad people.

At least, that's the wisdom I've gleaned from the True Believers on RFF.

And then we pat each other on the back and say "Well, it seems we all agree. Film will live forever, and we just proved that. No more discussion. Back to our cameras now."

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[hth]

It was a long time ago since I gave up on buying film locally, I order it from various places.

Prices on color film has raised a little bit, but prices on B&W have increased more.

At the moment I shop from a far away store and the recent hikes have been 20% on color and 50% on B&W. That was coming from a very low price level, so prices are still OK. But prices seem to raise after each time I shop...

I find it surprising that B&W goes up more, I would guess that sales for these hold better compared to color film.

/Håkan

 

[hth]

Bill, is that you or the Iraqi Information Minister talking? 😀

/Håkan

 

[Gid]

Bill,

If I didn't know better I'd think you were a cynic. 😉

I do enjoy your posts - you have an amusing way of bringing things back down to earth. 🙂

keep up the good work.

 

[kully]

Eloquently ironised Bill 🙂

This is a autumn of film, prices will carry on rising not going down.

However, there seems to be a large glut in the system of film that was made by the manufacturers but is not being sold on. That it keeping/bringing prices down temporarily.

As I'm a 'new' reconvert from digital, I'm making the most of it.

Hopefully, by the time film becomes unfeasible for my wallet digital will be what I want it to be.

 

[bmattock]

Bill, is that you or the Iraqi Information Minister talking? 😀

/Håkan

Hey, I'm just distilling and repeating back what I have learned here. Every bit of it can be found by searching the threads.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Kevin]

Those prices are high.

I just purchased 150 fresh rolls of Agfa films from the liquidators last week for 250 Euro, all on the bay.

That plus development costs will be a hell of a lot less than the 1 year depreciation of a newly purchased digital camera bought today.

 

[Kyle]

One local camera shop charges $7.99 for a roll of 36 exp. Tri-X. That was the price in March, before any price hikes. Wonder what its like now?

Luckily I can still go to Freestyle and pick up a roll for $3.50, or I can get a 100' roll for a good price. I dread the day when $7.99 for Tri-X is the best deal we can find...

 

[stet]

Prices here seem about on par with the states. Locally, it's about US$5.50 to $6 for 35mm Tri-X or Tmax. It can be a little bit cheaper in Bangkok, around $4. Two places here bulk roll Tmax 100, and they go for $2.75, and for a quarter more you can get Neopan SS 100. Fomapan 100 is the cheapest at two bucks a roll. The bonus is that I can get it at one of the two places that keeps film in a fridge.

 

[ch1]

I'm still burning off various kinds of film I had bulk ordered on eBay during last wintertime. [BTW: I find Hunt's Photo up in Beantown has good prices on fresh-dated stuff - and they even sell to Yankees fans w/o a markup 😀 ]

So for nowI haven't confronted the recent price increases.

But my supply of Reala is about gone. In fact, most print film of all flavors is about gone. So I might be in for a rude shock real soon. 😱

 

[raid]

Bill, is that you or the Iraqi Information Minister talking? 😀

/Håkan

"That" Minister was hilarious! He added a touch of humor to a sad situation. I still don't know why he did what he did. Was it a cover-up or was it an understood joke?

 

[raid]

I am able to buy film rather cheap in quantities. Last year, I got 100 24-exp. rolls of Fujicolor 100 film at $0.50 each and this year I got 60 24-exp. rolls of Fujicolor 200 at $0.60 each. The year before that I got 100 rolls of 36-exp Konica ASA 160 film at about $1 each. I am not complaining.

 

[Socke]

I have to buy online since the shops here don't stock as much film as they did a couple of years ago. B/W is something you won't find here outside of photo stores anymore and chemistry is even harder to find.
And I can understand the brick and mortar stores, why should they stock something when they can't compete against the online shops? Better use the space to stock something which sells fast.
So I can now pick up CD-Rs and memory cards, can get prints from everything digital etc.pp at the photo store in the train station between 8:00 and 22:00 but have to buy the film online or pay redicules prices for it.

 

[Socke]

Those prices are high.

I just purchased 150 fresh rolls of Agfa films from the liquidators last week for 250 Euro, all on the bay.

That plus development costs will be a hell of a lot less than the 1 year depreciation of a newly purchased digital camera bought today.

Do you expect to get more of that for the same prize next year?

 

[Kevin]

No, that is probably why I will buy some more and freeze. Hopefully by next year there will be digital film available 🙂

Hast Du bereits einige Afga-Filme über ebay gekauft? Ich kann es nur empfehlen!

 

[Kyle]

I am able to buy film rather cheap in quantities. Last year, I got 100 24-exp. rolls of Fujicolor 100 film at $0.50 each and this year I got 60 24-exp. rolls of Fujicolor 200 at $0.60 each. The year before that I got 100 rolls of 36-exp Konica ASA 160 film at about $1 each. I am not complaining.

Where on earth do you find such great deals?

 

[leafy]

It's time for all of us to start using Chinese films.

 

[picturetaker]

Is there any know source of 'cheap' film in Canada - or do we need to buy online across the line?