The "How Many Rolls" poll

Todd.Hanz · 08-22-2004

Just curious, how many rolls of film do you use per month? Color or B/W doesn't matter, I thought it would be interesting to see the #'s we (RFF) consume. Please be honest and use the "poll thingy" up top.

Todd

Rich Silfver · 08-22-2004

Just to clarify - "20 or less" means "Between 10 and 20" right?

Doesn't really matter to me personally as I'm a 1-2 rolls a month kinda guy right now

Todd.Hanz · 08-22-2004

Yes, obviously I am not a very good polster!

Rich Silfver · 08-22-2004

I think I am just unusually slow

Kris · 08-22-2004

I'm quite a film waster. On average 2 rolls a week. In some weeks may go up to 10 and in some other weeks only 2 frames.

RML · 08-23-2004

In general I shoot about a roll per day. That includes holidays and trips abroad when I can shoot hald a dozen per day. So, over 20 per month for me.

Ya'all should feel so lucky that I'm not posting all those shots here on RFF. It could turn ungly, like having to sit through several hours of photos or slides from your not-so-favourite overweight aunt's sunny beach holiday in her teeny string bikini.

GeneW · 08-23-2004

I certainly don't burn up film these days. For one thing I shoot about 80% digital with an SLR (mainly nature photography) and that cuts down film consumption. A couple rolls a week is about my average.

Gene

Stu :) · 08-23-2004

Is this just 35mm RF? Or do I get to count my Hasselblad and LF monsters as well? If yes, what does sheet film count as?

Stu

Confusing the planet since 1976.

24x30 · 08-23-2004

I just gave the number of the films burnt with my ambi silette (5 to 10). The other stuff (medium format slr) is just used during trips.

rudi

Marc Jutras · 08-23-2004

I shoot so much during the week with DSLRs on the job that I'm unfortunately too tired to go out and do some real photography when I'm off. That sucks big time and I'm considering finding a new job.

So if I can shoot more than a roll per month right now, I'm happy. At least, I get the superb quality of film and CV optics. That's a reflief from the digital crap I have to deal with at the office.

SolaresLarrave · 08-23-2004

I shoot about 1 roll per week (after a long period of time of shooting about 2 or 3). That seems to place me in the 5 or less category.

There was a time when I was shooting almost three times that much. My cameras were never empty, and my film developing bills were a bit outrageous...

And then, I discovered slide film. And my university lab! They charge $5 for doing a 36-exposure roll, and $4.50 for a 24, same day developing, plus scanning and printing (before I got my own). Great posters too!

One drawback: lab subject to state budget cuts. So far, none, but it's always a threat we have to live with.

Sorry I went OT!

rover · 08-23-2004

On average, 5 or less. I have my spurts though, like over the last month or so, but things will slow down again.

pvdhaar · 08-23-2004

Until about five years ago, I could shoot up to a roll a day, but
currently I shoot a little over one roll per week on 35mm and about one per two weeks on rollfilm. Medium format has made me a more deliberate shooter. I now often look through the viewfinder and think ''nah, that's not great'', and then move on.

digitalox · 08-23-2004

Its hard for me to shoot much during the week with work and all, but I'm usually shooting a roll or two of B&W on the weekend and developing it, so 10 or less for me.

plexi · 08-23-2004

3-5 rolls a week, only B&W, develop myself, that keeps the cost reasonable and the real B&W films just look great!

Doug · 08-23-2004

I simply added up the number of rolls I've shot in the past year: 65, and dividing by 12 gives a little over 5/month on average. I souped only six of those myself, all on one day a few weeks ago.

yaadetgar · 11-03-2007

Well...I got 'waves'.
These days I do maybe 1 per week, but there are times I do 1 per day...
and sometimes more...

Yaad Etgar

phatnev · 11-03-2007

This shows whats wrong with us, we just dont shoot enough

sepiareverb · 11-08-2007

12 thus far this month. (the 8th today)

otaku · 11-10-2007

just started to shoot film but its looking like I'll shoot 5 or so tops. SO far I'm on roll three

Roger Hicks · 11-10-2007

In the last two weeks, shared with my wife Frances Schultz, 32 rolls 35mm + 22 rolls 120. In an empty 2 weeks .... None!

Cheers,

R.

sepiareverb · 11-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by otaku

just started to shoot film but its looking like I'll shoot 5 or so tops. SO far I'm on roll three

Good for you! Tell your friends! Film ain't dead- film is forever.

Avotius · 11-13-2007

Surprise, I use enough film a month to buy a dslr every 6 months, thats why I did.

Roger Hicks · 11-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avotius

Surprise, I use enough film a month to buy a dslr every 6 months, thats why I did.

Yeah, an interesting one that. In the same 2 weeks as Frances and I shot all that film, I also shot about 450 pics with the M8 -- the equivalent of (say) 15 rolls of slide film. Even at a fiver a roll (cheap film, home processed) that's 75 quid or $160. Now allow for the fact that I'm more profligate with digi than with film: I reckon that the M8 saves maybe $1000 a year in slides, so it pays for itself in 5 years tops -- maybe a lot less.

But it's not just money. When it's hack-work, the savings in time are even more important. I reckon that the Nikon D70 (my usual camera for pack shots and 'how to' shots for magazines and the web) pays for itself every year or less.

Cheers,

Roger

Avotius · 11-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

Yeah, an interesting one that. In the same 2 weeks as Frances and I shot all that film, I also shot about 450 pics with the M8 -- the equivalent of (say) 15 rolls of slide film. Even at a fiver a roll (cheap film, home processed) that's 75 quid or $160. Now allow for the fact that I'm more profligate with digi than with film: I reckon that the M8 saves maybe $1000 a year in slides, so it pays for itself in 5 years tops -- maybe a lot less.

But it's not just money. When it's hack-work, the savings in time are even more important. I reckon that the Nikon D70 (my usual camera for pack shots and 'how to' shots for magazines and the web) pays for itself every year or less.

Cheers,

Roger

Indeed, there is something to be said about the ease of digital in our fast paced world. That said I still love film, dont get me wrong, but time is pretty important to me as well and its difficult for me to spend 6 hours developing bw negs then 3-4 hours scanning them, then a few hours looking at them then many many hours editing. Either way I spend many many hours editing and looking, but I really do not miss the scanning part of the processes. My 20D has paid for itself many times over (and I bought it when they were 1500 bucks) and I never regretted buying one, man I love film though....pity the last place in town that sold pro films (ilford, slide, 120, the sort) just closed. Now I have to order my film....online....and who knows how many scanners it will go through here in china before it gets to me. But every trip I go out on I still take my trusty film camera, so there is something in that if you ask me. Hurrah for (agfa, fuji, ilford) film.

By the way, I figured that a M8 would pay for itself in a little over two years, and a 5D in a little more then 1. I need a life...