View Full Version : How much to pay for film? Which film?
I need a large quantity of color negative film in the ASA 100 - ASA 200 range.
I have already purchased long rolls of Kodak Portra 160NC, and I am considering another type of film to get (maybe) a different flavor.
If I get some Reala film, what would be reasonable online prices for 24 and 36 exposure rolls? I saw one place where you can get the 24 exposure Reala for about $2.
Which film would you recommend based on your personal experience with it?
Depends on the project, I buy ISO200 C41 wherever it is cheapest, the labs here have a pretty consistend "quality" where you won't see much of a difference between Agfa XRG200 for 1 Euro a roll and Portra 160 for 4 Euros :-(
Depends on the project, I buy ISO200 C41 wherever it is cheapest, the labs here have a pretty consistend "quality" where you won't see much of a difference between Agfa XRG200 for 1 Euro a roll and Portra 160 for 4 Euros :-(
Volker: I also have relalized that with a Fuji Frontier precessing machine in most large labs, the best way to get good results is to use Fuji film and then maybe Kodak. Konica film does not come out well with such machines in my experience. I bought the Kodak Portra 100ft rolls for $10 each. I get 22 rolls of 36-exposure with one 100 roll.
Volker: I also have relalized that with a Fuji Frontier precessing machine in most large labs, the best way to get good results is to use Fuji film and then maybe Kodak. Konica film does not come out well with such machines in my experience. I bought the Kodak Portra 100ft rolls for $10 each. I get 22 rolls of 36-exposure with one 100 roll.
That's a good price! I have a bulkloader but no space dark enough to load the loader :)
I haven't had the XRG200 developed yet, I shot one roll so far, but it was so dirt cheap, that I couldn't pass by.
I'll send it to Eurocolor, which belongs to Fuji but uses Agfa machines, and have it developed in a three day timeframe which costs only 2.50 Euro per film and I get 4x6 prints for 1 Eurocent as well.
The idea to buy the cheapest colour film possible is from Al Kaplan, one can allways get the negs worth it properly filtered and printed in a minilab, especialy when you have a print to show them.
It depends on what you are shooting, but Reala is my favorite color print film. It is not expensive and it gives sharpness and saturation found only on professional films. Also, it does NOT need to be kept as cold. Note that some find Reala's skin tones a bit too warm.
For years I was a "chromista" and only recently started shooting color negative (a scanner changed my life :D ) and I really like Reala (gosh, that sounds "weird").
I usually get it on-line from Hunt's up in New England 10-roll brick of 36's cost around $37 or so as I recall. (I haven't bought any in a while because unlike you, Raid, I live in the grey in the winter Northeast - not "always green" Florida.)
Check out Hunt's - but I'm sure there are plenty of other e-tailers who have good prices.....
Volker: I use a changing bag to load my bulk loader with film. No need for a darkroom here.
Dimitri: I am trying to find some Reala film. The best offer so far is similar to what George has mentioned above; 20 rolls of 24-exp film for $30 plus $6 shipping.
George: I checked out Hunt's. Thanks for the tip.
I rarely shoot color negative in 35mm, but my local Target is blowing out BW400CN for $4.84 for a three-pack in case anyone is interested. It's not short-dated either, which makes me wonder if they're going to stop carrying it. I only bought one pack today but I may go back for more very soon if there's any left.
amateriat
03-24-2006, 20:12
Kodak Portra 160NC is my gold standard for color neg film (actually for color, period...I don't shoot as much 'chrome as I used to). Close second is Fuji Press 400/800, followed closely by Kodak UC 400. Really don't use much color outside these choices. As far as price goes, I flip a coin to choose between B&H and Adorama on a given Sunday. No bulk film, even though I have a decent bulk loader (mostly gathering dust).
- Barrett
When people are expected, I stick with Kodak ProFoto 100. Excellent rendition of skin tones, natural saturation, and comes at $2 per 36 exp here. Might not be avaliable in your region however.
Michael I.
03-25-2006, 04:44
kodak profoto 100 is an excellent film but not widely avalible (I've seen it in israel and i know it is available in russia - and i havent seen it in israel for a long time now).
I use fujifilm proplus II 100 iso - 11$ for 5 rolls(sells only in 5 packs like kodak profoto 100 iso) of 36 exp(here in israel). It has warmish colors so it isnt necesery the best film for skin tones(especially fair complexion).
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=583813 (shot with a nikkor 50/14 AI lens)
Looks moderatelty good - but the blacks go bluish if underexposed.
I think, Kodak Profoto is just another name given to the standard Kodak 100 film but packaged for the Middle East. I have seen it in Jordan, and in fact, I used it.
I would say a good counterbalance to Portra 160NC would be either the VC version or Fuji Pro NS. Perhaps this will sound elitest, but why spend so much on really good cameras and lenses to use drug store film? In many cases it is not even so much the film as the way it has been stored. You never really know what has been done to consumer film (bought at conusmer retailers). Has it been left in a sunny spot for six months, was it stored next to the boiler in the basement? With pro film the color balance is consistent, you know it has been refridgerated, and it has much more conservative expiration dating.
Stuart: I agree that I need to find a film to counter balance the Kodak Portra 160NC. Film does not have to be expensive to be good; I very much like the Fuji color 100 film, which is cheap and which is really excellent.
yossarian
03-25-2006, 17:44
Raid, If you can get Reala for two bucks a roll, that is not to be beat. And, Barrett, after studying both companies' product mix and pricing, I've concluded that B&H and
Adorama are part of the same organization. Just my little theory. But I find both
very easy to deal with.
Fred
Raid, If you can get Reala for two bucks a roll, that is not to be beat. And, Barrett, after studying both companies' product mix and pricing, I've concluded that B&H and
Adorama are part of the same organization. Just my little theory. But I find both
very easy to deal with.
Fred
Fred: I agree with you on the B&H/ADorama issue. I once used the term "fix same prices" and I got an angry email from Adorama. I did not mean actual "fixing", but the have nearly identical prices.
The Reala for $2 is for a 24 exposure roll.
wlewisiii
03-25-2006, 19:14
To me, Reala is the finest color neg emulsion on the market. It can saturate the background without making the people in the images look obscene (a bit warmer, yes, but not the way any of the Kodak UC films do) (I haven't used enough transparencey to try to make any opinions about it.) and in the end, it's still C-41... ;)
For what you are talking about, get a nice big pile of Reala-CS and snap away... :)
William
With pro film the color balance is consistent, you know it has been refridgerated, and it has much more conservative expiration dating.
Not here :confused:
A heads up that B&H has a film sale on Fuji pro films until 4/19. This is one of their email deals but you can find it on the web at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/email/fujifilm.htm.
Here are few prices:
FUJI PRO PRINT FILM
PRO 160C
135-36 $4.49
PRO 160S
135-36 $2.69
PRO 400H
135-36 $3.15
Thanks for the link, Jim... I prefer NPS/160S and NPH/400H in both 35mm and 220, and NPZ/800Z pretty much only in 220 size. I like the results, and the nearby pro lab manager suggested Fuji films did better through their Agfa machinery than Kodak.
I buy 36 count fuji reala 100 here for 11 RMB each when I buy it in large quantities, thats about $1.50 each. If I dont get it in good quantities it costs about $2.50 a roll. Like that film, a little weak on the saturation but very nice for people pictures.
I will be needing film for my China visit, so this is a good tip. Thanks.
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