For a few pennies more. A film speed question.

[Ducky]

This is not a question about saving money or the charactistics of 100 v. 400 speed film.
Specifically: Why does 400 speed film cost a few pennies more than 100 speed. Is it just silver content or has it to do with manufacturing?

 

[kshapero]

Because most folks perceive they are getting more. Maybe also a real reason but I do not know it.

 

[Gumby]

Maybe also a real reason but I do not know it.

Me neither.

This phenomenon happens in other products as well. I was buying flouresent light bulbs the other day and discovered that, for the same size and manufacturer, a "warm" (3000 degK) bulb costs 20% less than the "daylight" bulbs (either 5000 or 5100 degK).

 

[Roger Hicks]

More silver. It's that simple!

Cheers,

R.

 

[valdas]

More silver. It's that simple!

Cheers,

R.

and perceived value (which has nothing to do with cost of production)
v.

 

[Roger Hicks]

and perceived value (which has nothing to do with cost of production)
v.

No doubt you can add a premium for that, but truly, faster film does contain more silver and costs more to make. In other words (taking absolutely random figures for illustration), if the extra cost of manufacture added 25 pence to the retail price, you could charge 50 pence more for it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[delft]

Interestingly, when I looked at the dutch calumet-site (www.calumet.nl), TMX and TMY were the same price, and lower than either of the US-based prices too, if I'm not mistaking (EU 3.50 vs USD 5.19/5.99). From what i've read on this forum, it would be interesting to look at the prices our friends from down under are asked to cough up. I think actual manufacturing costs have little impact on the shelf-price.

Dirk

 

[usagisakana]

Interestingly, when I looked at the dutch calumet-site (www.calumet.nl), TMX and TMY were the same price, and lower than either of the US-based prices too, if I'm not mistaking (EU 3.50 vs USD 5.19/5.99). From what i've read on this forum, it would be interesting to look at the prices our friends from down under are asked to cough up. I think actual manufacturing costs have little impact on the shelf-price.

Dirk

The cheapest I have been able to find tri-x locally (here in perth, western australia) is about $7.50 AUD. I can get arista premium for $3.30 AUD shipped to my door, if I order more than 40 rolls.

 

[Sparrow]

Fuji Superia gets a lot more expensive as it gets faster, I seem to recall the 1600 was twice the price of the 400 earlier this year

 

[sevo]

No doubt you can add a premium for that, but truly, faster film does contain more silver and costs more to make. In other words (taking absolutely random figures for illustration), if the extra cost of manufacture added 25 pence to the retail price, you could charge 50 pence more for it.

So why then is CN film - which contains about 4x the silver of the speed equivalent black and white and has a far more complex coating - cheaper?

The silver content in film briefly had some impact on film pricing while the Hunt brothers destroyed their fortune. But that mostly hit x-ray and process film, which have both higher silver content and a greater surface area. Photographic film is not silver heavy, with a silver content of only 2-10g/m², and black and white in the lower half of that. Cents per roll at current prices.

Sevo

 

[usagisakana]

So why then is CN film - which contains about 4x the silver of the speed equivalent black and white and has a far more complex coating - cheaper?

The silver content in film briefly had some impact on film pricing while the Hunt brothers destroyed their fortune. But that mostly hit x-ray and process film, which have both higher silver content and a greater surface area. Photographic film is not silver heavy, with a silver content of only 2-10g/m², and black and white in the lower half of that. Cents per roll at current prices.

Sevo

My guess would be economies of scale- CN film is produced in far larger quantities than traditional B+W. Just a guess though, I'd be interested in the real reason.

 

[Roger Hicks]

My guess would be economies of scale- CN film is produced in far larger quantities than traditional B+W. Just a guess though, I'd be interested in the real reason.

As far as I am aware, this is correct. I'll see if I can find someone to ask.

Cheers,

R.

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

A better question is, why is Plus-X one of the most expensive B&W films?
Answer me that!

 

[btgc]

Why does 400 speed film cost a few pennies more than 100 speed. Is it just silver content or has it to do with manufacturing?

Because grain costs more 🙂

well, I see that slow fine grained BW films cost really just a two pennies less than faster films, exceeding price of cheaper ISO400 films. But that's different business, right?