Film Pricing I don't understand

[HT Finley]

I am not making this thread to be a rant, at least in spirit. I just don't understand the prohibitive pricing of large format film. take any larger than 4x5 large format panchromatic film price, and it's absolutely prohibitive. My first thought is to wonder what the 8x10 and larger panchromatic film prices were, say in the 40's through 70's, inflation adjusted? Until I know that, I can't rant about pricing today. I'm talking about B&W film now. Color I can understand, as it requires much more production machinery and chemistry. Let's take X-ray film, which I'm limited to... Last I saw, it's still quite low compared to pan film. X ray film can get me from violet to green. All I'm missing is yellow to red. What's the big deal on the last few steps through the spectrum? Although as digital replaces it, I have little hope for that either. But 8x10 pan film B&W is at least $4.00 a sheet? (or is it even more now)?
Something seems totally out-of-kilter to me.

[Alan9940]

LF film is definitely more expensive nowadays, even inflation adjusted. For example, in the mid-80's I bought 50 sheet boxes of 8x10 Tri-X for $50.00 per box. Adjusted to today's dollars that's about $117.00. A 25 sheet box of HP-5+ runs about $109.00; and I won't even discuss the price for 8x10 Tri-X nowadays! IMO, one of the best deals for 8x10 film today is Fomapan 100. I typically buy it from fotoimpex because even with overseas shipping it's cheaper than buying it here in the states. All that said, though, 8x10 is my favorite format so I keep shooting it, pretty much regardless of the cost.

[Bernice Loui]

Back in the 1990's when 8x10 color transparency film was commercially viable for specific work. Cost per sheet of film & processions ran between $10 to $20 per sheet. This is simply the cost and way it has always been. Stepping down to 5x7 did not reduce the per sheet of film cost that much, further down to 4x5 did make enough cost difference to be significant.

*This is one of the reasons why 4x5 became the standard for most high quality color commercial images produced back in those days. In studio with a Sinar P system good lighting system and high quality processing lab with a truly artistic and skilled photographer, work flow could be very good indeed with a good cost to results ratio.

Film and processing cost pales compared to associated cost per image, models, support personal, rental of location and all other non-camera related tems often far exceeded the cost of film and processing.

As for cost per B&W sheet film, it is similar to color sheet film, a matter of production cost for a given market demand. Sheet film production compared to roll film production is tiny. This drives up the cost of sheet film regardless of color or B&W. There comes a point when the production cost of any given film format exceeds it's market sales volume making continued production of that given film format not economically viable. Essentially for those who are sheet film users, keep using sheet film or more and more of it will disappear resulting a continued shrinking sheet film varieties being available.


Per image cost per sheet of film is one of the reasons why learning how to achieve the desired image in a single sheet is SO important. It is also why learning how to use a view camera at 8x10 or larger is a extremely steep learning curve and expen$ive.

No complaints about todays film cost, what is far more worrisome is the availability of sheet film in general.



Bernice

[Jim Jones]

A sheet of 8x10 film (purchased in quantity) cost $0.27 when Edward Weston was budgeting for a Guggenheim financed photo project in 1937. Gasoline may have been around $0.20. Weston was concerned about both prices.

[Tin Can]

Compare cost per sq in between formats.

Same same mostly.

[Pere Casals]

Compare cost per sq in between formats.

Same same mostly.

Hello Randy,

This is true in the Ilford product range, but fuji and kodak have different policy, with LF products at $ x2 per sqi, and in the case of fuji 135 slides.

[Tin Can]

Which one is responsive to our needs and has a chance at still selling film in 10 years?

Hello Randy,

This is true in the Ilford product range, but fuji and kodak have different policy, with LF products at $ x2 per sqi, and in the case of fuji 135 slides.

[Tin Can]

Hello Randy,

This is true in the Ilford product range, but Fuji and kodak have different policy, with LF products at $ x2 per sqi, and in the case of fuji 135 slides.

As I have become more aware of LF sheet film performance differences, I now realize both Kodak Tri-X-320 and Ancros 100 are unusually excellent films when compared to others I have used.

I am stocking up on Kodak TriX-320 as I can in retirement. I an parsimonious in all expenses, except this hobby.

Today I shoot an F5 with Acros 100, but I never used it much. I am not stocking up on it. How can I miss a lover I never knew. Kodak I do know, like an ex-spouse.


I learned LF with X-Ray film cutting it to all sizes. Now I am trying to be more deliberate.

Kodak Sheet film is worth double. I wish they cut 2-1/4 X 3-1/4.

BTW Ilford 2-1/4 X 3-1/4 is more per sq inch than larger sizes. I buy plenty of it.

And for several years running Ilford 4.75 X 6.5 has cost significantly less per sq in during the Special Order. I buy to cut to 3-1/4 X 4-1/4. I post this oddity occasionally. Not all sellers price the same. Last year I bought it here. http://www.ultrafineonline.com/il20ulfprhp4.html The Prices are still there

[Pere Casals]

I am stocking up on Kodak TriX-320 as I can in retirement. I an parsimonious in all expenses, except this hobby...

...Kodak Sheet film is worth double. I wish they cut 2-1/4 X 3-1/4.

Randy, of course, film is something very personal, and TXP is amazing, no doubt.

you can cut 2-1/4 X 3-1/4 from 8x10, you just need this toy to do it with total convenience:: https://web.archive.org/save/https:/...s=night+vision.

[Tin Can]

Randy, of course, film is something very personal, and TXP is amazing, no doubt.

you can cut 2-1/4 X 3-1/4 from 8x10, you just need this toy to do it with total convenience:: https://web.archive.org/save/https:/...s=night+vision.

I cut in total darkness, practiced with X-Ray. I'm not cutting up 8X10 or 11X14 TriX...or any real film that size.