The price jump from Ilford is official

**Robert Skeoch** · 10-Jan-2011, 17:55

I received this Monday late afternoon. This is from the Canadian distributor of Ilford and Kentmere. I haven't had a chance to compare the prices but a quick glance looked like 25% on film like HP5 8x10.

As a result of the unprecedented rise in the price of silver over the past
year, the key raw material in Photographic film and paper, Harman
Technology - Ilford and Kentmere branded products - have announced a
significant price increase effective Feb. 1, 2011. The increase applies to
all Silver Halide based products including Ilford and Kentmere black and
white papers, films and Scientific products. Chemical and accessory items
are not affected by this increase.

Due to stock limitations, we reserve the right to limit purchases on all
Ilford and Kentmere film and paper products that are covered by this
increase.

I'll try and post the new prices on my website tomorrow.
-Rob Skeoch
www.bigcameraworkshops.com

**Sirius Glass** · 10-Jan-2011, 18:21

As the cost of materials, such as silver, rises and value of currencies decline, the price of chemicals, paper and film will rise.

In the past the cost of chemicals, paper and film were inexpensive compared to the cost of cameras and lenses. Due to the digital revolution, cameras are cheaper. I can now own cameras that in the past I could only dream about. Therefore, even with these incremental raises in photographic materials, I am still better off than I was ten years ago.

I would like to see Ilford, Kodak and Fuji stay in the film business.

Lets not start the mindless rants of "X raised the price of film! I will boycott X.", "Y stopped making my favorite film! I will boycott Y.", and "Z does not know anything about the film business any longer! I will boycott Z."

Steve

**Robert Skeoch** · 10-Jan-2011, 18:32

Hi Sirius,

I agree with you. I just made the posting to keep people up-to-date on the situation. Maybe we could close the thread and just leave the announcement open.

-rob

**Merg Ross** · 10-Jan-2011, 19:30

This increase was to be expected, although it is not an unprecedented increase in the price of silver. That occured in 1980 when it closed close to US$50 per ounce. All silver based photo supplies took a tremendous price jump shortly thereafter, and never retreated after the rapid decline in the price of silver. Fortunately, I was in a position to pass the increase on to my loyal customers.

As unwelcome as this news might be, the good news is that Ilford will continue to make materials for the silver based commuinity. For that we should applaud; after all, silver based users are only a niche in the overall market.

Thanks, Robert, for making the news official.

**Heroique** · 10-Jan-2011, 19:50

Originally Posted by Robert Skeoch

“Due to stock limitations, we reserve the right to limit purchases on all Ilford and Kentmere film and paper products that are covered by this increase.”

Thanks for the alert, Robert.

BTW, the distributor’s “we reserve the right” statement (above) is worth a chuckle.

Sounds like bank panics & withdrawal limits.

**Drew Wiley** · 10-Jan-2011, 19:58

Anything in black-and-white seems easy to me, at least if it's silver-based. I stocked
up with about a year's worth of Kentmere and Ilford papers for about the same cost
as two weeks of color printing! Most metal commodities are on a roller coaster.
I think what Merg was referring to was back when Bunker Hunt and his brother managed to control the entire silver market. They were sons of an infamous Texas billionaire, and their own financial empire thankfully crumbled due to family fighting over the fortune, and who was or was not a legal heir (the patriarch had two wives
at the same time - interesting history to say the least). Kodak and photographers in general were really pinched, and several well known fine art printers had to temporarily suspend activity due to the cost of paper.

**DrTang** · 10-Jan-2011, 21:03

Originally Posted by Drew Wiley

when Bunker Hunt and his brother managed to control the entire silver market. .

I remember those days

Kodak B&W film went up like 50 percent almost overnight

I sold all my silver quarters and dimes for like 15X face value

funny thing though.. when the price of silver plummeted, Kodak didn't lower their prices back down very much or any at all

**Wayne** · 10-Jan-2011, 21:47

Wonder what this will do to Ilfochrome prices. Doesnt matter, I cant afford it now.

**Merg Ross** · 10-Jan-2011, 21:49

Originally Posted by DrTang

Kodak B&W film went up like 50 percent almost overnight

That is correct.

funny thing though.. when the price of silver plummeted, Kodak didn't lower their prices back down very much or any at all

Correct again.

**Steven Tribe** · 11-Jan-2011, 02:58

I have the feeling that the cost of Ag in photographic material is only a small proportion of the total cost of the material. Has anyone made an analysis of the mass of silver in an sq. inch of negative? The contribution of silver content to total cost would be easy to find out. This must have been done at some time?