Kodak increasing film prices by 15%

[Drew Wiley]

Oh get real! Looked at a gallon of gas or a can of paint lately? Petrochemical and distribution costs are up all across the board. Film was probably kept artificially low for quite awhile due to direct competition. Now that they're tending to specialize in color neg
vs chrome, each is at liberty to make more profit. Sure it hurts to be spending almost double for a box of 8x10 color film compared to just a couple years ago. But it's gonna
keep happnin'. Look at current prices of even Ilford b&w paper compared to a year ago.
It's called inflation. And in this instance, it's a rubber band that has been too tight for too
long and is suddenly snapping.

[Will Whitaker]

You sure the post office isn't running Kodak?

[Vaughn]

You sure the post office isn't running Kodak?

If it was, we'd have all the film we want for a reasonable price. This is based on a Postal Service that handles 1/3 of the world's mail for a mere 44 cents for a letter anywhere in the US...and not much more to anywhere in the world (almost -- can one mail anything to Cuba?)

Quality control might be an issue...

Vaughn

[Ken Lee]

Brian Kosoff wrote here, a while back, a very compelling list of expenses for a photographic outing.

As I recall, meals, lodging and fuel were far more expensive than film. If we consider car rental and/or air tickets, the price of film dwindles to relative insignificance.

[Vaughn]

Brian Kosoff wrote here, a while back, a very compelling list of expenses for a photographic outing.

As I recall, meals, lodging and fuel were far more expensive than film. If we consider car rental and/or air tickets, the price of film dwindles to relative insignificance.

Also learn to edit before one sets up the camera and when looking at the GG. I spent 6 months photographing it NZ/Australia and exposed 75 sheets of film -- got a solid 20 print portfolio. The cost of the film (it was only 4x5 B&W) was way below the radar compared to any of my other costs! I just bought 50 sheets of 8x10 FP4+ -- okay, a big bite out of the old budget, but paid out of earnings giving a workshop and the film will last me months. I am thankful I could buy it and it was there to buy!

Vaughn

[Riccis]

It's either raise prices now or exit the film business entirely now. Which would you have them do?

As volume goes down, there's less film to carry the fixed costs of the factory and the labor; Kodak's cost to produce the film therefore goes up. They are just passing that cost along to us. You didn't really expect a bankrupt company to sell you film at a loss did you?

Of course not... And I don't mind paying more for film, specially if the additional profits go to the retirees they are trying to screw instead of executives. I also wouldn't think they will sell at a loss but didn't they state that film was one of the few profitable lines of their business?

Cheers!

[John Kasaian]

The price of film is going up, just like groceries. Kodak is already expensive and when they raise prices even higher that is bound to cause grumbling from hobbyists like me. Pros OTOH can pay whatever is neccessary and pass the expense on to their clients and good for them!
For me, complaining about the price of Kodak is like complaining about the price of a new Ferrari or Lagonda. It just isn't an issue. Maybe five or six years ago when I thought I could afford the stuff I'd sure be miffed (and indeed I was,) but not now. Ilford and Foma/Arista.edu Ultra will undoubtedly go up in price too, but i'll bet not as high as Kodak. I'll make up for that by shooting less and shooting more carefully so as not to waste film---but then thats been a part of every 8x10'ers SOP isn't it?

[vinny]

For a hobbyist like myself, it's a big expense. I don't rent cars or book hotels. I prefer to shoot both color and b+w and when I moved up to 8x10, it was expensive but now it's $13/sheet for color plus developing, which I do myself. Man, when I got into 8x10 Arista 125 (ilford fp4) was $37/box. It just won't be doable once my stash of film runs out. It's hard enough justifying (to my wife) how much time/space I take up with this moneypit I call photography. I'd rather not change my methods but we're being forced to.

Brian Kosoff wrote here, a while back, a very compelling list of expenses for a photographic outing.

As I recall, meals, lodging and fuel were far more expensive than film. If we consider car rental and/or air tickets, the price of film dwindles to relative insignificance.

[jp498]

Is there any US press release for this? The only source I've seen (and I haven't been looking) is a UK photo rag.

[Michael Batchelor]

You sure the post office isn't running Kodak?

Was Kodak asking Congress for help?