Fuji film prices to rise

[Photo_Smith]

Pick one of the few places around here that still sells slide film. I was going to give you a link to one of the stores, but seeing as they are quite decent otherwise and stock probably the largest selection of film in this city (one whole fridge full!) I decided against it.

The story is the same anywhere here, both Velvia and Provia 100F will set you back $30+/roll. Very low demand in a country with a relatively small and decentralised population and large distances make a lot of things expensive here and film (any film) is another one of those things, as a general rule.

The cheapest single rolls of slide film I've seen lately were at shop over east where they were selling out expired lots of Kodak Elite Chrome Extracolor for...$12/roll. Last time I bought some of that I thought I was getting a great deal at $19/roll so I bought five!


As much as yet another price rise sucks, I'll still buy the stuff until I can no longer afford it. I love slides just too much to give it up.

There can be no excuse for retardation-period. Someone paying $40 for a slide film is an idiot, there is no better way of putting it, don't let them near any sharp objects!

I'm presuming you come from Australia and the $ you talk about is non American which is fair enough, you are a captured consumer on an Island with 22m people.
Your only redress is to purchase from either the US or UK.
My local shop sells The last batch of Kodak E-6 for £5.99 and current Velvia for £7.49 which is expensive compared to the national Chemist Boots which sold 3 for 2 on process paid Fuji 100 that's 3 rolls for £20 processed.

Don't be dumb and pay though the nose shop smart!
here is a clue to not paying $40 a roll
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/350515512820?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y

 

[Photo_Smith]

In USA, processing C41 is about $10-14. Not economic to continue using film.

You'd only pay that if you were really, really stupid. either that or getting 7x5" prints, scans and a free film. Thank god I live in Europe where I can get film and process for less than a fiver!

 

[jsrockit]

You'd only pay that if you were really, really stupid. either that or getting 7x5" prints, scans and a free film. Thank god I live in Europe where I can get film and process for less than a fiver!

I'm pretty sure he meant with scanning (bad scanning at that). In NYC, it'll cost $18 with bad scans from a pro lab for C-41. If you want to go lower than that, you get really horrible scans and scratched negatives. I guess it all depends on what level of quality you are willing to accept.

 

[anjoca76]

I think good points are being made, but they are being undermined by inconsiderate remarks. Ignorance about other better and cheaper film options does not mean someone is stupid or, worse, "retardation." Just my 2 cents...

I am going to look into Precisa from macrodirect. I didn't realize that was available for such a good deal.

 

[semilog]

Prices change, inflation brought into account, film is still pretty cheap compared to the recent past. The cheapest colour film I can find in the UK is £1.49 for a 24 exposure roll. Inflation considered, that would have been under £1 in 1995. Some slide films are getting pretty crazy, but it really isn't that bad compared like for like.

THIS. Exactly so.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I think good points are being made, but they are being undermined by inconsiderate remarks. Ignorance about other better and cheaper film options does not mean someone is stupid or, worse, "retardation." Just my 2 cents...

I am going to look into Precisa from macrodirect. I didn't realize that was available for such a good deal.

I disagree someone paying $40 for a roll of film is a retard. There can be no excuse when you can pay a quarter of that for the exact same film on the internet.
If in this day and age someone can enrol in a forum, make a post but can't find the cheapest price with a simple google search?
There can be no other excuse; either you can find the product less than $40 or you're not playing with the full deck!
If petrol was $25 a gallon in your town and $5 just down the road would you drive there? People that wouldn't have more money than sense.
Just use ebay, Google and search for a cheaper price if you can't do that then you don't have any sympathy coming from me!

 

[anjoca76]

I disagree someone paying $40 for a roll of film is a retard. There can be no excuse when you can pay a quarter of that for the exact same film on the internet.
If in this day and age someone can enrol in a forum, make a post but can't find the cheapest price with a simple google search?
There can be no other excuse; either you can find the product less than $40 or you're not playing with the full deck!
If petrol was $25 a gallon in your town and $5 just down the road would you drive there? People that wouldn't have more money than sense.
Just use ebay, Google and search for a cheaper price if you can't do that then you don't have any sympathy coming from me!

I'm not a RFF moderator, and I certainly have no interest in getting into an argument, but there are many people--myself included--who take offense to the use of the word "retard." It is hurtful, particularly when used as you are using it.

 

[HHPhoto]

Your only redress is to purchase from either the US or UK.

Don't be dumb and pay though the nose shop smart!
here is a clue to not paying $40 a roll
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/350515512820?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y

No, often the best solution is to buy from Germany.
Especially concerning slide film!
Germany is "the slide film country", because reversal film has always been very popular here.
Therefore the attractive prices.

You can get CT Precisa even about 20% cheaper compared to your example ordering in Germany at e.g.
- macodirect
http://www.macodirect.de/positive-films-c-416_417.html?osCsid=c26d2b2efee0baf52cf5341ac53faff7

or
- Fotoimpex
http://www.fotoimpex.de/shop/filme/farbdiafilme/kleinbildfilme-135/

By the way: The current CT Precisa is excellent. It is cut from Provia 100F masterrolls.
Much cheaper than Ektar, but delivering even a bit finer grain, and significantly higher resolution and better sharpness.
The color film with the best price-performance ratio.

Cheers, Jan

 

[Photo_Smith]

Good, it was supposed to be! If I get banned then Ok I don't mind–I feel that strongly about it. There is no argument; anyone paying 5 times the going rate for a product isn't someone who could be described as anything else.

What we have here is the usual 'film is expensive', 'it costs $40 per roll and $25 to process crowd'.

Sorry but I can find no other way of putting it, if that's hurtful, OK I'd say it to their face anyone who pays $40 for a roll of film can't chew gum and walk at the same time.

 

[Photo_Smith]

No, often the best solution is to buy from Germany.
Especially concerning slide film!
Germany is "the slide film country", because reversal film has always been very popular here.
Therefore the attractive prices.
Cheers, Jan

Absolutely just buy from where is cheapest, don't go onto the internet an whine like you can't do this when another internet site has a price 1/5 of what you quote.
Just empower yourself and use your common sense, don't choose to pay though the nose!

 

[noisycheese]

I'm just happy to still be able to get Velvia - even at such godawful prices.

The prices of E6 film and chems have caused me to shoot more and more B&W in the last couple of years, but it is still good to be able to get Velvia 50 for landscapes. Its color palette is without equal for sunrises, sunsets and flower photography.

 

[clayne]

Exactly.
How often I hear statements "I have to stop film because it is to expensive" from people who buy all two years a new digicam for 2000 bucks.
Yo could shoot a huge amount of film for that money.

We should be RFF-accurate here: more like 8-10k$ worth of digital Leica gear in 2-3 years for some people.

"But it's so much sharper!"

 

[btgc]

By the way: The current CT Precisa is excellent. It is cut from Provia 100F masterrolls.

Thanks, didn't know that. Provia, hmmm. I've got some nice images from it in past. Probably I'll try Precisa, while I can have E6 processed locally for $6 or so.

P.S. btw fotoimpex calls CT Precisa a Nachfolgeprodukt für FUJI Sensia 100, successor of Sensia 100. Probably error or master rolls may have been changed during production of Precisa.

 

[clayne]

Thanks, didn't know that. Provia, hmmm. I've got some nice images from it in past. Probably I'll try Precisa, while I can have E6 processed locally for $6 or so.

P.S. btw fotoimpex calls CT Precisa a Nachfolgeprodukt für FUJI Sensia 100, successor of Sensia 100. Probably error or master rolls may have been changed during production of Precisa.

You can also process it yourself for 1/4 to 1/2 half that - provided you have the inclination to do so.

 

[btgc]

You can also process it yourself for 1/4 to 1/2 half that - provided you have the inclination to do so.

If you say so. Sensitivity to chems, kid and pet leave me thinking if my hobby is sufficient reason to do any of color processes at home. I read B&W process is less harmful than C41 or E6, if such comparison can be made. Even B&W printing makes me affected for a day or two.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I disagree someone paying $40 for a roll of film is a retard. There can be no excuse when you can pay a quarter of that for the exact same film on the internet.
If in this day and age someone can enrol in a forum, make a post but can't find the cheapest price with a simple google search?
There can be no other excuse; either you can find the product less than $40 or you're not playing with the full deck!
If petrol was $25 a gallon in your town and $5 just down the road would you drive there? People that wouldn't have more money than sense.
Just use ebay, Google and search for a cheaper price if you can't do that then you don't have any sympathy coming from me!

As a general rule I agree, of course, I'd drive to where it was cheaper. But if (unusually for me, but nevertheless), I was stuck in town A with an empty petrol tank, well, I'm pretty sure I'd buy a few litres at whatever premium, to get me to where it was cheaper. Obviously running out of fuel is a situation you've never personally experienced, or if so, I'm sure you walked a jerry can to the cheapest local outlet on principal, even if it was an extra couple of miles, right? 😉

Similarly, I think most of us have had occasions where we needed film at short notice, and had to settle for what we could get, at the price we could get it for.

Just because someone, somewhere, once paid $40 for a roll of film doesn't necessarily make them a retard. It might mean that they were desperate, though. Big difference...

Postage from northern hemisphere to Australia can frequently take a couple of weeks or more at affordable prices. I buy some of my film on line like many of us but it's important to plan ahead. Last time I checked a few weeks ago, B&H were a waste of time because the excessive postage negated any savings. Freestyle were a lot better. A couple of ebay sellers are also pretty good. None of them are in Australia, the closest I'm aware of is in Thailand. What I'm saying is that it is not always as simple as saying "buy online, it's cheaper". Yes, it's the way to go for $$ savings but if one needs a particular type of film not on hand you either wait weeks or, if you're not able to do so, you pay the cheapest price you can locally. By any measure, Australia is not "just down the road". This isn't a complicated concept, so I'm not sure where retardation comes into it...no, I've never paid $40 for a film roll, although the day is getting closer for all of us faster than we'd like.

Cheers
Brett

 

[znapper]

Brett; Just out of curiosity, wouldn't it be cheaper and faster for you to order from Japan?

I would believe that it's "closer" to you than New York (B&H) at least....?

 

[jonmanjiro]

I don't know of any local film sellers that sell overseas - too much of a hassle to do business in English and deal with overseas shipping.

 

[HHPhoto]

Thanks, didn't know that. Provia, hmmm. I've got some nice images from it in past. Probably I'll try Precisa, while I can have E6 processed locally for $6 or so.

Provia 100F / AgfaPhoto CT Precisa is excellent stuff: Outstanding detail rendition (better compared to Ektar and Reala) and very exact neutral, natural colors.
There is a reason why Fujifilm has been the leading reversal film manufacturer for the last 20 years.

Developing:
Even if you would not have a local E6 lab, there is no reason not to use slide film because of developing:
Self developing of slide film is easy. Only the temperature control of the developer must be more precise compared to BW. All other steps are indeed even easier than BW because it is a standardised process (same is valid for C-41 home developing).
The Tetenal E6 3-bath kit is cheap and easy, and delivers very good quality.
The Fuji E6 6-bath kit is also cheap and delivers top-notch professional quality.

Furthermore there are enough excellent mail-order labs (even in the US 😉 ).
Mail ordering for films is common practise.
Why not use it also for film development?

Mail order is in most cases even cheaper than local processing, because mail cost is lower than fuel cost and parking fees for driving to your local lab. And visiting your local lab is time consuming, time is money. You loose that time and don't have it for other important things.

P.S. btw fotoimpex calls CT Precisa a Nachfolgeprodukt für FUJI Sensia 100, successor of Sensia 100. Probably error or master rolls may have been changed during production of Precisa.

What Fotoimpex mean is that CT Precisa is kind of a Sensia successor concerning the price.

CT Precisa is definitely not Sensia, and it has never been Sensia.
There have been lots of direct comparison tests here in Germany where film experts have compared the current Fujifilm-made CT Precisa to Sensia and Provia 100F (I've done this test, too).
And all get the same results:
CT Precisa is definitely cut from Provia 100F masterrolls.

That has also been confirmed by Fujifilm Germany and Lupus Imaging, which is the responsible company selling the AgfaPhoto films.

Cheers, Jan

 

[Mystyler]

I don't know of any local film sellers that sell overseas - too much of a hassle to do business in English and deal with overseas shipping.

Indeed, instead of buying from the U.S. I had that brilliant idea, so I thought, of buying direct from the country that makes most of the film I shoot. Of anywhere that would ship overseas it ended up being pretty well on par with the prices here after shipping, which I was surprised at.

Photo_Smith, Sarcophilus Harrisii has summed it up fairly well but regardless, when you need something before the post can get it to you, what choice do you have? I'd say the majority of us here buy online in bulk when shipping rates are decent but I know that if I get caught short I'm going to buy local, I'm going to pay local prices and hopefully keep a bit of local demand going. I've had to pay 2-3x "online" prices for some b&w film but I've yet to pay $39.95AUD ($42.90US...!!) for a roll of any film, however one day I accept I might have to. It's nice to know what the going rates are!