Is this the future of (slide) film??

[thegman]

There is the odd exception where slide film can be *crazy* expensive, like seems to be the case in Australia. 99% of examples though, when compared with prices in 1995, with inflation considered, film is cheaper than it used to be. I'd say processing is a lot cheaper. Genie lab charges less than £3 for processing E6 and C41 in any size (including 4x5), take inflation into account and see how cheap that would be in 1995.

I don't really know where the impression comes from that film is more expensive now, than in it's heyday, the facts show that this simply is not true. Not in the UK anyway.

Sometimes I think, "ouch, that box of Velvia 4x5 is expensive", but if I think about it, I spend quite a lot more than that, every single month on my gym membership, or takeaways, or restaurants, or simply my tube ticket to work. The film will last me a lot longer too.

Film is cheap, it's just not as cheap as digital, that's all. Film photography, as a hobby is cheaper than it used to be, the film costs less, processing costs less, and the cameras cost a great deal less. The internet means I have way more choice of film and labs too.

 

[froyd]

How so? I'm paying the same or less than I was 10 years ago not counting for inflation.
If you don't go mad and shoot 1-2 rolls of film per week you can get film, processing and prints for a weeks worth of photography for the same price as 10 litres of petrol (which won't last as long).

I pay £1 per roll for everyday 35mm C/N and £2 for B&W; a 5 box 120 of Ektar pro is less than £20 with 35mm about £4 a roll.

If it's too expensive to shoot film then possibly you either shoot 8 fps an 5k shots a week, which would make digital cheaper over time, or you just lack perspective when comparing the cost against other luxury goods like a bottle of wine.

That's your experience, but in many parts of the word this is quickly changing. See the OP: $35 a roll!

Where I am, Portra 400 35mm is $9, so now I just shoot Gold or something cheaper when I need color and save Portra for 120.

 

[mugent]

I just moved to Aus from the UK a few months ago, and have noticed a real over-pricing of some items, however, if you shop around, it's not that bad, beer is crazy expensive, I haven't found a solution to that yet though...

In the UK, many products are dirt cheap,especially food, but it's also very poor quality, Aus food is much more, but the quality is substantially better too.

So far, best deals on film is eBay.com.au

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I just moved to Aus from the UK a few months ago, and have noticed a real over-pricing of some items, however, if you shop around, it's not that bad, beer is crazy expensive, I haven't found a solution to that yet though...

In the UK, many products are dirt cheap,especially food, but it's also very poor quality, Aus food is much more, but the quality is substantially better too.

So far, best deals on film is eBay.com.au

Home brew.
The Coopers kits give excellent results, and are widely available, or, at least, they used to be last time I looked.
What part of Aus have you re-located to?
Cheers
Brett

 

[mugent]

That's your experience, but in many parts of the word this is quickly changing. See the OP: $35 a roll!

Where I am, Portra 400 35mm is $9, so now I just shoot Gold or something cheaper when I need color and save Portra for 120.

As a new immigrant to Aus, it doesn't surprise me, I can go into one shop and see a jar of instant coffee for $10, a different shop it's $4. A good example is cat treats, a shop in a Westfield sold simple dried chicked, a tiny pouch for $10, I could buy the whole frickin' chicken for that! UK shops are almost all the same prices, Aus shops are very far from it, some of them are profiteering on the shoppers ignorance, if you shop around, it's not really much more expensive. If you don't like the Velvia price, shop around, you'll get it a lot cheaper than that.

 

[mugent]

Home brew.
The Coopers kits give excellent results, and are widely available, or, at least, they used to be last time I looked.
What part of Aus have you re-located to?
Cheers
Brett

I've actually just started a Coopers home brew! It's in the tank now, fingers crossed.
I'm in Tecoma, Melbourne, up in the Dandenong ranges.

Cheers

Moray

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I've actually just started a Coopers home brew! It's in the tank now, fingers crossed.
I'm in Tecoma, Melbourne, up in the Dandenong ranges.

Cheers

Moray

Providing the equipment is cleaned well, follow the instructions and you'll be very happy with the results. I used to love the Real Ale, a close relative of Coopers own "Pale Ale". Although a resident of Tasmania now I'm a South Australian by birth, Coopers is a very nice drop. 😉 The Dandenongs are a lovely part of Victoria, be sure to visit Healesville Sanctuary when you can, to meet a platypus.
Cheers,
Brett

 

[Photo_Smith]

That's your experience, but in many parts of the word this is quickly changing. See the OP: $35 a roll!

Where I am, Portra 400 35mm is $9, so now I just shoot Gold or something cheaper when I need color and save Portra for 120.

Yes that is my experience (which is as valid as anybody else's), film here at least – is cheap as chips. Which countered the point that film is 'over' because it is so expensive; that is obviously false as its not expensive everywhere!!

I'm frankly amazed some people are daft enough to pay $35 a roll for something they can buy at a fraction of that through the internet.
I guess these people are happy to pay $15K for an iPhone or $50 for a litre of petrol?
Many parts of the world? Or just a small population on a large island in the southern hemisphere? Because in Europe at least consumers are a little more savvy.

You're paying $9 for a roll of film how much is a gallon of petrol or a round of beers? How much was a pro film in the 1990's? a similar amount I'll bet, unlike beer, petrol or other luxury goods.

Compared to the 1980's film is almost free; I used to pay £4.99 for 35mm Fuji HR200 in 1986 I buy the modern version for £1. It seems unless you live in Australia where people enjoy price gauging, and are willing to pay 4-5x what anyone else in the world does for the same product.
People are hungry in this world, what a waste!

 

[mugent]

Providing the equipment is cleaned well, follow the instructions and you'll be very happy with the results. I used to love the Real Ale, a close relative of Coopers own "Pale Ale". Although a resident of Tasmania now I'm a South Australian by birth, Coopers is a very nice drop. 😉 The Dandenongs are a lovely part of Victoria, be sure to visit Healesville Sanctuary when you can, to meet a platypus.
Cheers,
Brett

I went to Healesville on a holiday before we emigrated, a lovely place indeed.

Cheers

Moray