Cheap Film
![Anthony Grizanti](https://www.snappiness.space/wp-content/uploads/ultimatemember/2634/profile_photo-80x80.jpeg?1724138327)
Quote from Anthony Grizanti on April 25, 2024, 2:52 amWhat is the cheapest film on the market? From what I can find, Kentmere black and White pan 100 and 400 seen to be the cheapest. I'm looking for something to practice with.
What is the cheapest film on the market? From what I can find, Kentmere black and White pan 100 and 400 seen to be the cheapest. I'm looking for something to practice with.
![Gideon Liddiard](https://www.snappiness.space/wp-content/uploads/ultimatemember/1645/profile_photo-80x80.jpg?1724138327)
Quote from Gideon Liddiard Photography on April 25, 2024, 7:13 amQuote from Anthony Grizanti on April 25, 2024, 2:52 amWhat is the cheapest film on the market? From what I can find, Kentmere black and White pan 100 and 400 seen to be the cheapest. I'm looking for something to practice with.
Yep, that's about the cheapest I know of, and it's actually not bad stuff either, more than good enough to practice with.
Quote from Anthony Grizanti on April 25, 2024, 2:52 amWhat is the cheapest film on the market? From what I can find, Kentmere black and White pan 100 and 400 seen to be the cheapest. I'm looking for something to practice with.
Yep, that's about the cheapest I know of, and it's actually not bad stuff either, more than good enough to practice with.
![Anthony Grizanti](https://www.snappiness.space/wp-content/uploads/ultimatemember/2634/profile_photo-80x80.jpeg?1724138327)
Quote from Anthony Grizanti on April 25, 2024, 4:21 pmI’m finding it for about $5.50 a roll, Kodak Gold 200 and Fuji 200 or Superia 400 for about $7-9 a roll. Seems with varying development costs they’re all about the same per roll. Any other C-41s to check out that are a few bucks cheaper?
I’m finding it for about $5.50 a roll, Kodak Gold 200 and Fuji 200 or Superia 400 for about $7-9 a roll. Seems with varying development costs they’re all about the same per roll. Any other C-41s to check out that are a few bucks cheaper?
Quote from whereSs on April 25, 2024, 4:39 pmYou'll be hard-pressed to find film for too much cheaper than ~$5 a roll. Assuming you're in the States, Midwest Photo generally has very nice film prices and free shipping above a threshold. Dirt Cheap Film has some good prices (for some things, stale prices for other things) and reasonable shipping.
Fomapan & Kentmere are the two lowest budget B&W films, and I am rather fond of them both. Midwest has Fomapan 100 under the Arista brand for ~4.89 for 36 exp/35mm, which is pretty good. No DX codes, though. You'd also be hardpressed to do better than ~$18 for a three-pack of Fujicolor 200 (which is Kodak Gold) since it manages to be about $6 a roll.
And that's about as good as it gets. (As far as I know.)
Generally, bigger savings come from:
- Scanning film yourself
- Developing film yourself
- Bulk rolling film from larger spools yourself
B&W film development is really lovely, and I wish I started on it a lil earlier in my film journey than I did, since local labs are a little pricy where I live. But, I did not expect myself to go as film crazy as I have.
You'll be hard-pressed to find film for too much cheaper than ~$5 a roll. Assuming you're in the States, Midwest Photo generally has very nice film prices and free shipping above a threshold. Dirt Cheap Film has some good prices (for some things, stale prices for other things) and reasonable shipping.
Fomapan & Kentmere are the two lowest budget B&W films, and I am rather fond of them both. Midwest has Fomapan 100 under the Arista brand for ~4.89 for 36 exp/35mm, which is pretty good. No DX codes, though. You'd also be hardpressed to do better than ~$18 for a three-pack of Fujicolor 200 (which is Kodak Gold) since it manages to be about $6 a roll.
And that's about as good as it gets. (As far as I know.)
Generally, bigger savings come from:
- Scanning film yourself
- Developing film yourself
- Bulk rolling film from larger spools yourself
B&W film development is really lovely, and I wish I started on it a lil earlier in my film journey than I did, since local labs are a little pricy where I live. But, I did not expect myself to go as film crazy as I have.
![Cory Maben](https://www.snappiness.space/wp-content/uploads/ultimatemember/2424/profile_photo-80x80.jpg?1724138327)
Quote from Cory Maben on April 27, 2024, 4:32 amI think it's a good deal if I can find something for under $9/roll. Buying in bulk can help, or like @wheress
mentioned bulk rolling. You could try looking at a local camera shop (if one exists). But personally I've just accepted it's kind of expensive. However, I think that it's actually cheaper than shooting digital. I noticed with my film gear, GAS doesn't really exist. I have the body and some lenses and I don't feel particularly compelled to more gear because there isn't really any improvement to be had, unlike when I think about my digital stuff.
I think it's a good deal if I can find something for under $9/roll. Buying in bulk can help, or like @wheress
mentioned bulk rolling. You could try looking at a local camera shop (if one exists). But personally I've just accepted it's kind of expensive. However, I think that it's actually cheaper than shooting digital. I noticed with my film gear, GAS doesn't really exist. I have the body and some lenses and I don't feel particularly compelled to more gear because there isn't really any improvement to be had, unlike when I think about my digital stuff.