Ilford HP5 + 2 for $5 !

[Morca007]

Could be completely off base here, but maybe with today's lower demand for film the cost of the film itself, raw material and such, might now be only a very small part of the overall production cost in relationship to other costs such as employees salary, benefits, power ext. So they've simply decided that instead of worrying about maxing X amount on each roll to focus on overall profits.
Example if I can make a Widget for $1. and sell 100 for $2.00 each but can sell 1000 at $1.35 I end up with an increased over profit of $250 based of course on the other related cost remaining the same.

The price of silver has gone up significantly recently.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/go...ly-to-fresh-records-2011-04-14?dist=countdown

 

[semilog]

That's about what HP5+ is worth IMO! (ducking)

😀

You should duck, after a crack like that. HP5+ is my second-favorite 400-speed film, bettered only by 2TMY.

 

[semilog]

To anybody who's recently purchased one of these 2-packs from Freestyle: can you please post the expiration date?

 

[Keith]

You should duck, after a crack like that. HP5+ is my second-favorite 400-speed film, bettered only by 2TMY.

I'm beginning to think I should give HP5 another chance. When I first tried it I was new into developing my own black and white film and because I wasn't totally happy with the results blamed the film ... like any sensible newbie! 😀

This current price is the same or there abouts as Arista Premium ... very hard to go past. I have some other stuff to order from Freestyle so why not ... I'll give it another go!

 

[Eric L]

What a great price... between Tri-X and HP5+ ...it's six of one, half dozen of the other for me. I like both. But the one plus for HP5+ is it dries flat, flat, flat.... unlike the serious curl that Tri-X or Arista Prem gives me.

 

[kmallick]

What a deal! I just bought 5 2-packs from Freestyle too, although I have a bunch in the freezer.

 

[Ljós]

HP5 in Rodinal 1:25?

HP5 in Rodinal 1:25?

And at 800 in Rodinal 1:25 it is magnificent.

Sepiareverb, it would be interesting to hear more about your technique and experience with Hp5 and Rodinal 1:25!

I have Hp5 dialed in for my needs with HC-110 Dil. B. (And I like it with DD-X, too, but too expensive as a mainstay).

The last 50 rolls were TMY2 in HC-110, have that dialed in too but sometimes I find it too "clean" - if only the grain of Hp5 and Dil B were a bit "crisper", I'd not hesitate to stay with this film 100 %. So, you have made HP5 work for you with Rodinal 1:25?
Tell us more, pretty please!

Greetings, Ljós

 

[sepiareverb]

I'll run HP5 at 400 in Studionol or HC-110b the most. I too use DD-X with it from time to time. I chose Microphen for a long time when pushing it, and will use HC-110b when I'm looking for harsher grain, but since giving Rodinal a try Microphen has gone by the wayside. Grain is nice and tight, yet visible, rather like what I get with DD-X at 400.

Rollei FW / HP5+ @ 800 in Rodinal 1:25 9 minutes.

 

[Ljós]

I'll run HP5 at 400 in Studionol or HC-110b the most. I too use DD-X with it from time to time. I chose Microphen for a long time when pushing it, and will use HC-110b when I'm looking for harsher grain, but since giving Rodinal a try Microphen has gone by the wayside. Grain is nice and tight, yet visible, rather like what I get with DD-X at 400.
Rollei FW / HP5+ @ 800 in Rodinal 1:25 9 minutes.

Thank you sepiareverb, much appreciated! I shall have to experiment with that. (Another possibility would be to try TMY2 with Rodinal, for when I want a more "traditional" look - we'll see.


By the way, has anyone come across a similarly good offer for Hp5 in Europe? I buy my film at macodirekt, where 10 rolls of Hp5 in 35mm come in at 42 Euro. TMY2 is actually the cheapest of the "Big Player" emulsions, even though it is the latest and most recently improved.

 

[Lilserenity]

Always amuses me how a roll of film can be shipped across an ocean and end up almost half the price of it in the UK for 2 rolls vs. 1, when in the UK where it is made, seemingly its trip down the M6 doubles the price 😉

I'll still support Ilford mind but I do think something is out of whack here, short dated stock? Oversupply?

Vicky

 

[VTHokiEE]

Now only if they'd do this for 120... fingers crossed

 

[Brad Bireley]

I must be blind...can't seem to find it on either site. Can someone give me the link please. Thanks!

 

[kmallick]

Here is the link to Freestyle page.

 

[illuminati_02]

http://www.adorama.com/ILHP5362.html
Here you go. I bought 60 rolls..

 

[marduk]

By the way, has anyone come across a similarly good offer for Hp5 in Europe? I buy my film at macodirekt, where 10 rolls of Hp5 in 35mm come in at 42 Euro. TMY2 is actually the cheapest of the "Big Player" emulsions, even though it is the latest and most recently improved.

It seems the prices in Europe are off by far. But we can make something like a group order if there are enough interested members 😛 Too bad that shipping say from Germany to Ukraine still costs quite a bit.

 

[kxl]

I just ordered 100 rolls from Freestyle.

 

[tlitody]

there is a reason why it's called rip off britain...

http://www.harmanexpress.com/prod/25/ILFORD-HP5-PLUS.htm

there are a growing number of people in the UK who dumping Ilford due to over pricing.

 

[Keith]

there is a reason why it's called rip off britain...

http://www.harmanexpress.com/prod/25/ILFORD-HP5-PLUS.htm

there are a growing number of people in the UK who dumping Ilford due to over pricing.

It's bizarre when you think about it! Ilford lists the film for five quid a roll which equates to over eight US dollars yet Freestyle are selling the same film for effectively $2.29 per roll via this two pack special.

Film isn't dead ... it's just confused!

 

[bmasonoh]

Excellent! I usually use Tri-X or Tmax but I ordered a bunch of this. Too good a price to pass up. Ordered at Freestyle.

 

[Ljós]

there is a reason why it's called rip off britain...

http://www.harmanexpress.com/prod/25/ILFORD-HP5-PLUS.htm

there are a growing number of people in the UK who dumping Ilford due to over pricing.

Well.... there must be a number of factors in this, and I feel quite sure there is no deliberate price gouging going on from Ilford's side. Remember Ilford staved off foreclosure some years ago, and they have (for example via their employee Simon Galley, over at APUG) been very transparent in communicating the motivations for recent price hikes. They charge what they have to to stay profitable, fair and square.

Come to think of it, what's working against Ilford in the European market is probably the low value of the US Dollar, allowing Tri-X and TMY2 to be imported and sold comparatively cheap. But, as Keith etc. pointed out, how do you then explain the sale in the US pointed out by the OP? Would be truly interesting to hear about the freshness/expiration date of the stock sold in the sale. If it is about moving batches of less than perfectly fresh film, that would explain it quite a bit.

On a side note, I finished shooting and developing 10 rolls of Fomapan 200 Creative. This film is being backed by quite a number of RFFers here, and I tried it in Rodinal 1:50, exposed at 100 (including yellow filter). All ten films turned out to have flaws in the emulsion - not the super serious pinhole-pockmarks that would render pictures unusable, but enough to not want to make me try another 10 rolls. I'll stick with Ilford, Kodak...