Is it still worth shooting film in 2023?

Drop a comment and share your thoughts! Is film photography worthwhile or economically viable to you? If so, when?
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[@sebastianfichtner1876]

100% agree with you! I was shooting film as a teenager and re-discovered film 4-5 years ago. While shooting film was the only option in the late 90ies, it's now a passion that is obviously more expensive than shooting digital. I knew that from the moment I started to shoot film again and nevertheless, the process of shooting film, the look it gives, the possibility to work with so many great cameras...that's all totally worth it. Until today, there is not a single digital camera, that I fully enjoyed. And still, even when I shoot 4-5 rolls of film a month, it's still cheaper than a day of snowboarding, worth 2 vinyl records, going for dinner or a concert ticket.

[@pushingfilm]

Agreed! Yeah people can spend way more on a night out or a bottle of booze, so it's all about what brings you enjoyment relative to your own means.

[@theknivjocke]

One suggestion to those who want to reduce the amount of film they shoot: try switching to the analog darkroom. You will naturally start thinking twice about blasting away frames, when you realize the time you will then have to spend with the enlarger.

[@johntrin]

I don't think the kind of people who are worried about film costs have the resources or space to set up a dedicated darkroom.

[@ArchiesLens]

I love this conversation. For me personally, I'm just a lot more intentional when I shoot film. I'm a hybrid shooter anyway not exclusively film, so for me it just depends on what I'm shooting and what vibe I'm trying to invoke from an image. 🌸✨

[@pushingfilm]

Excellent way to approach it!

[@ArchiesLens]

@@pushingfilm thank you!

[@chrisnovakowski9827]

100% agree with you!

[@ArchiesLens]

@@chrisnovakowski9827 thanks! it's all about making the most of it!

[@theknivjocke]

To be fair, the great price increases are with the cheapest "amateur" film options. More premium films have increased significantly too, but not at all as much (proportionally). I couldn't afford to buy fresh Portra 400UC 15 years ago, either. While admittedly that was mostly because I was a poor student at the time, it's something to keep in mind. Premium films were never cheap. Ever.

[@pushingfilm]

Yeah that's an interesting point!

[@AlexOnStreets]

I believe everyone should approach film with a plan in mind. For example, I plan to shoot color film when it makes sense and black&white when that does. Color is reserved for only the best days. Weekends with sun and a location that color demands. B&W on weekdays, in my regular locations and in spotty or less than ideal weather. I believe if I stick to this mindset I should be saving money especially because I develop and scan at home. I calculated if I stick to this I should be able to not only keep shooting film regularly but I could go 3 years without buying a single roll past what I already have. Also I see film as a project based tool. I have projects that film benefits, therefore it's with a purpose I shoot film. Not just because tonez and vibez.

[@SY-mi8ii]

Great shout

[@pushingfilm]

What did tonez and vibez ever do to you Alex? Haha yeah that's a great take, I will probably also stock up on some black and white when I can afford it...

[@benjaminneoh]

I think as a more seasoned shooter, with a better hit rate than when I started for achieving frames I'm happy with, the price I'm willing to pay also has gone up over time. As my process is more effective, and so the value per roll has become higher for me personally. If I have more confidence in the results, then I would pay limitless amounts for the opportunity to document a priceless moment that I'd keep for life. Plus, if you sell your work and others find it valuable too, you can still pay $100/roll and go on to sell a print for easily twice that amount. I think once you've passed that threshold of hobby to passion, whether you can afford it or not, you'll probably still think it's worth it.

[@pushingfilm]

Well said, Ben!

[@Intangodelta]

I agree with the points you made. I dislike the question ‘is it worth it?’ because it suggests that there is a single definitive answer for everyone and that is clearly not the case. For my part the hobby is worth the price of entry. There are far more expensive hobbies out there.

[@pushingfilm]

Thanks :-) Yeah that's that's the exact point I was trying to make with this one!

[@whispersilk13]

Great points Hashem! What you mentioned around being even more selective as to when to roll out the film resonates a lot for me, personally. Also I feel like this drives me towards going more for medium/large format almost always now given the amount of planning it requires and my own preferences. Love your work and always happy to see your thoughts.

[@pushingfilm]

Thank you! That's right, being more intentional is a strength that film helps encourage.

[@GatorheadLuis]

I’m not shooting much film at all anymore. I got into film during the start of the pandemic and enjoyed shooting it for almost three years. Now that I’m back to shooting much more it just makes more sense to shoot more digital for me than film (the obvious convenience but yeah the prices have gotten crazy lately, doesn’t make too much sense for me anymore)… I won’t get rid of my film camera but it’s mostly going to stay on a display shelf for now.

[@ruffprophetproductions]

And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that. That’s ok. You tried it out, and realized what worked for you.

[@pushingfilm]

That's fair! It's good that you had a decent run before the current prices, and keeping that film camera for now means you have an easy point of entry back (even if occasional 🙂)

[@HippieMagic]

I’m getting back into film for when I want to relax and shoot as a hobby. I love just taking an old mechanical slr out and spending time exploring with it. I got the stuff to develop and scan my own negatives so it’s not a huge cost. I still have digital for when it counts though.

[@GTAYLOR1972]

I am 51 and got into shooting around the age of 14 or 15 yo and did photography up until a couple of years after I graduated from University. During that time I remember you could easily get a roll from anywhere a couple a bucks to maybe 4 dollars easily. I recently started to shoot again and have to admit that the prices are pretty steep. I have heard that Kodak and Fuji kept film prices artificially low to compete, I feel like what we are seeing is the prices catching up to what they probably should have been. I just hope it does not push people out of film- especially the younger generation who we need interested in film and shooting it to keep it alive.

[@neeravnaik]

I am definitely thinking more and trying make using film more “worthwhile”. Some things like street photography or certain casual everyday shooting I am using it lot less. Lately I have realised my film use is getting pushed to travel or some special projects

[@pushingfilm]

I know what you mean! Once my fridge stash whittles down, I'll have to re-assess more of my usage based on the situation

[@FelixJohnAttard]

Personally I just enjoy the process of shooting film. I feel it translates in my images, something I feel can’t personally achieve with other mediums. So as long as I can afford it, I will continue shooting film. Thanks for all the content you are putting on here Hashem.

[@roberthennings]

The biggest problem is that the price increase is totally counterproductive. If everyone shoots less film they raised the prices for nothing. I think this is the end for Color film photography 😢. The industry can’t survive this level of stupidity.

[@weisserth]

Your comment is a perfect example of unconscious bias. Color photography on film is not limited to E6 and C41, you are assuming these stocks consumed by amateurs mostly are sustaining Kodak's bottom line and their existence. That is probably nonsense. For every 36 exposures of Portra anyone shoots for USD15 a roll, someone in Hollywood shoots hundreds of feet of Kodak Vision film. It's simply not profitable for Kodak to have that many different C41 films on the market - especially variations of low margin consumer films - when each requires some dedication in setting up production lines, sourcing different chemicals and other raw materials. The few actual professional photographers who shoot on film do not care about the price increases. If their clients already accept a premium to have work done on film, these clients will just eat the price increase passed on to them by the photographer. I think in the long run, color photography at scale will have to shift to ECN2. Economies of scale cannot apply to C41 and E6 the same way they can for Kodak with ECN2. Either the ecosystem adapts with processing for ECN2 becoming more widely available at cheaper cost, or still photography on color film will indeed wane. BTW, the same is true for BW, as it's heavily dependent on expensive raw materials such as silver. The main issue with BW at scale is the lack of automated, machine based film processing, making development something you do at home (not every one can or is willing to) or pay high costs in labs as it's a manual, labor intensive process. Either way, film photography cannot be cheap. Just deal with it.

[@roberthennings]

Well, what I am worried about is the destruction of this new film shooter community. I can afford new film but a lot of people will now never start, it’s no fun shooting film by myself. What I have enjoyed is meeting and talking to people who started to love photography because they discovered film. Kodak themselves said they are raising prices to repair machines and increase production for this new market. As for movies, it’s really rare these days. I’m working with postproduction and 99.9 percent is Alexa and the rest is Christopher Nolan. The only thing keeping it going is this reprinting of Alexa footage back to film to get the grain back in. It’s just disappointing that’s all. One price increase to far I think.

[@jockturner1547]

@@weisserth Yeah. Nah, man. While everything you said is true that doesn’t mean C41 colour film should become so prohibitive for people and increasing prices due to a decrease in sales will only cause further drops in sales. As the OP said it is counter productive. The professional market has never and will never be big enough to support to development of film. To think that it’s the pros that are supporting it solely and the consumers are nothing in comparison to the money coming in is foolish, and to further suggest that they don’t impact each other is also foolish. Professional markets don’t uphold any thing in the camera industry. For the past 15 years the camera market, yes the digital market, has been shrinking and companies with camera departments are struggling to justify the RnD budgets to develop new cameras. All due to the loss of the consumer market, Canon become number 1 in the industry because of their consumer focus, they offered the cheapest decent quality cameras with a clear and easy to understand upgrade path from $200 Rebel Ti camera all the way up to the $7000ish 1DX. Without this consumer market sales and profits have dropped substantially and the upgrade path to capture new photographers has been lost with it, leading to even less sales. Professionals may be able to justify the increase in film costs, but the number of professionals still shooting c41 still photography is extremely niche and without the support of the consumer sales the film these professionals use will die out and it won’t matter how much it costs when it no longer exists. Then there’s the future knock on effect. There is a renaissance for film photography happening in younger generations now, but the will be squashed if the film prices push beyond what their parents can justify buying in support of their child’s hobbies. If you can’t capture the interest of the younger generation then film photography will die out. Believing film is expensive and you should just deal with it is such a shortsighted perspective to have.

[@Palestinian_holocaust]

Black and white film is timeless

[@pushingfilm]

It will be interesting to see where things go in the next years!

[@baladino]

Colour film prices seem to have raised exorbitantly this week. Coupled with film lab costs and scanning, colour film seems just priced out. Black and white film prices seem stable.I hope there’s another live stream from you Hash sometime down the line.

[@c.augustin]

I had to go self-developing C-41 and self-scanning even before the latest price increases for film - because with 4x5 the lab and scan costs were already unreal (while a single sheet of 4x5 Ektar 100 did cost me around 4 EUR two years ago, the lab development of this single sheet was already 8 EUR, scanning not included …). It all depends on the rate of shooting and the format. But yes, it does hurt (I'm now at 7.5 EUR per sheet + 0.5 EUR development chemicals per sheet).

[@pushingfilm]

Yep! makes me wonder if there will a tipping point.. Thanks mate, I'll do one soon! Feel free to give any suggestions for stream topics too.

[@pushingfilm]

Scanning yourself is such a great way to go!

[@suzannepedersen1856]

I won't stop as I love it too much. I definitely gravitate towards less expensive options though. I do shoot mostly black and white and develop and scan my own (color and bw) which helps cut costs! There are some great color options coming out too that are super cool films!! I do however, hope that eventually things level out and we can have more options that are feasible!!

[@pushingfilm]

100% agree! Yeah it would be quite nice if prices did level out a little bit, here's hoping.

[@jenohogan9254]

I appreciate your message in this video. I definitely think it's worth it. It's keeping film in the market for everyone, not just the younger generations. For me, film is special. I'll keep paying the high prices if I have too.

[@pushingfilm]

Thanks Jen, same here!

[@catey62]

Same here, film has a special feeling for me that I cant get with digital.

[@franksabatine9075]

I too will continue with film , i love my F100 too much to give it up .

[@gayleruble6529]

Excellent point!

[@pushingfilm]

Thanks!

[@dominicknepper2082]

Kodak is going nuts with their prices. Ilford seems pretty stable and I buy bulk rolls. (Cuts the cost almost in half.) If you shoot color, no idea. I don't, so I can't speak to the best way to do it, but for B+W, Ilford, bulk rolled, home developed is about $5.50/36exp. (15.3 cents per shot isn't hateful.)

[@pushingfilm]

Yeah, its a great way to go! I need to get another Ilford bulk roll or two 😃

[@chrissybabyist]

Honestly if this is your only vice (as it is my only vice) I say go for it!

[@pushingfilm]

Haha yes, better than a lot of others! And it can be productive

[@brookswitta]

Exactly, very good video!

[@pushingfilm]

Thanks man!

[@OneMonthTwoCameras]

Couldn't agree with this more. I throttled back my consumption a little while into Covid because I got financially nervous but film will always have a place in my kit and process. I just approach it in moderation.

[@pushingfilm]

The most sensible approach for most :-) Hope you've been well!

[@chrispatmore8944]

Living in the UK, shooting Ilford film is still relatively affordable. In 2022 I reckon I shot more B&W film than I have in the rest of my film shooting days, which began in the 1970s. That is primarily because I mainly shot colour slide (Kodachrome 64 or Ektachrome 400), and a couple of years of shooting a variety of colour neg stocks. I shoot live music gigs, and will usually only shoot two or three shots of each band and shoot the rest digitally, but shooting over 200 bands in 2022, it soon added up. I’m gonna keep shooting HP5 because I love using my old OM-1, and the results I get, plus the satisfaction of home developing and scanning. I have all these fantastic film cameras and lenses, and they need to be used not left on shelf as decorations or trophies. I’m moving to Italy later this year, so I may need to stock up before then.

[@pushingfilm]

Ilford is the saving grace for many right now 😁 Good luck with the move!

[@martinandreasson5504]

For me at least now at this stage its worth shooting film, sure i might become a little bit more conscious of what im shooting and with what film sometimes. As you say it will always be worth shooting if i can afford or make it a priority to afford it. And if its not i suspect it will be other factors driving me from using film, not the cost. There are also things we can do to affect or make it a little easier on the wallet too, invest in good scanner( not at first no! ), develop at home and try different films that are not the most expensive kinds. Also pick up a digital that at least gives you somewhat of a analog feeling that could "smooth" over those phases where you cannot afford it or want to shoot less film :) For me those are the M240 and the Nikon Df, if i ever stop shooting films those two or something similar would be what i would fall back on. Great little vid Hashem! /Martin the swede.

[@goldenhourkodak]

I'll just shoot more B&W, and look into bulk-rolling my own Vision films. I just cant get into digital for anything I care about.

[@ReimannPembroke]

Awesome talk Hashem! I still think shooting film is worth it, but I'm definitely going to shoot less. I think I'll probably be shooting 120 when I find subjects I want to capture on film. I'll use digital and some vintage lenses to fill in the gaps.

[@pushingfilm]

Agreed! That's a good way to go

[@Thegamerscorner]

Yo hashem, great video. I still think it's worth it to shoot film, in my case I only shoot black and white I should start developing my own film

[@pushingfilm]

Thank you! Yeah that's a great way to go I think :-)

[@catey62]

For me, I will still keep shooting film regardless. I may shoot less of it, but I will still keep shooting it. I get a feeling from using film that I just dont get from digital, and never will. and that, to me, is the most important point. great topic and video.

[@stephangottlicher6098]

I'm a photographer since 2000 with 4 years of assisting some great photographers prior to that, all film of cause. It is very true and really up to each person individually if film is still worth shooting today! I work day to day with a Nikon D850 and enjoy the digital freedom and ease of use for my jobs, but on the other side I have never stopped to shot 120 film for my personal projects because I just love the look and feel of film and I also like to have something physical in hand to file away from those special occasions. I now even started to go large format and after two years of 4x5 I just got my first 8x10 camera... can't wait to do more personal work and print it! With the cost of sheet film I will be very careful and try to become more and more patient and better, while using those amazing tools. I go hybrid from the lab on and have the films drum-scanned (not more than 25 per year though! ;)

[@pushingfilm]

Nice, it's important to enjoy the journey and not just the destination/result :-)

[@AnalogueDiaries]

I’ve started shooting film in 2020 and still will be shooting a lot of film this year. I’ve just opted out for more 35mm and using medium format only for specific projects., or when it makes more sense. Also I’ve started bulk loading film last year, and that decently cut down the cost, also developing and scanning at home. I shoot digitally for client work and using film for my personal creative projects is just more exciting and more challenging 😅

[@pushingfilm]

Sensible!

[@kenmccoll348]

I'm 74 so shot a lot of film. I also shoot digital, and for me it's horses for courses. I choose film when I want to be more intentional.

[@johntibbit9121]

I'm kind of sitting out in the field waiting for the rain and fog to roll in on this one Hashem, but to the point I think you are right, the cost of film is all relative to the experience you have with it. Be it as a casual user, or a serious film user. I suspect the additional costs that come in from the periphery of film and photography aren't always calculated into the equation. And I think once those are talked about like the gas, or travel time to get to a location to shoot, the time, the development of film and scanning etc., and then gets included into peoples decision making then a more clearer picture will come into focus, as far as real costs go. And as you said, being more selective of what you shoot and when, helps, and mixing digital and film doesn't hurt.

[@pushingfilm]

For sure! Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@SteSeed]

I decided to have a crack at film photography, I'm at an age where it was the only option when i was young. I decided to do it all, shooting film and having a go at developing myself. Yes, it cost me a fortune. Did i enjoy the process? Yes and no. It was fun to learn, and your so correct about the mistakes, but i decided it wasn't for me. Every process of it was a scrap, a stress, a nightmare etc. I accept that we are spoilt by the luxury of digital photography nowadays, but, my god its so much easier, and shooting film made me realise this even more. Sorry to say, but it's digital all the way for me from now on.

[@Skux720]

I've been priced out of shooting colour film, it's just not viable paying $1+ NZD per photo (after lab costs). But more importantly, I make *better* photos on digital, where I'm free to experiment, make mistakes, and take as many shots as I like without burning a hole in my bank account. Going back to digital from film is incredibly liberating.

[@pushingfilm]

That's good! Important to follow what works for you

[@joanmichel]

will continue as long as it exists :)

[@pushingfilm]

For sure! 😁

[@sdhute]

Question I’m trying to answer is it worth it to buy a high end film camera today Leica ma,mp, m6 ect compared to a digit. Film does have better archival purposes.

[@pushingfilm]

I think you'd ideally want to have fairly regular usage to justify it... but then again, the resale value is good!

[@Justfk001]

It won’t change anything. If you developed a love for film and all that goes with it, you will pay it’s price. But if you are new maybe put more effort into learning the exposure triangle sooner and limit the test shots 😅

[@jdpst20]

I shoot with a Canon 1n 35mm Film camera and a Hasselblad 500cm. I've had these cameras for about 6 years now and have really seen the price of film skyrocket as well as becoming harder and harder to find in local shops for their quantity on hand. Even the film cameras are getting more and more premium. Sure you can scoop up an old canon here and there but talking medium format that is going to cost you. My 500cm has almost tripled in value since I bought it. Pentax, Mamiya ect all up there. I don't shoot film for work or anything like that but more as a hobby. I shoot less of it now than I did a few years ago but I'm ok with that as it is more of a creative niche than anything. I have a Canon R5c that I use for travel, documentary, photoshoots ect that is the workhorse. For example in the US, a roll of portra 400 for me is about $16 usd a roll and another 8 to develop it. So $24 for 36 frames. 120 is even more expensive.

[@pushingfilm]

You're right! I think there will likely be some gradual regression in the cost of some of those cameras this year

[@kindredcameraschannel]

My solution to get my analogue fix - double down on alt processes!

[@mvonwalter6927]

Black and white film is still cost effective. BW film doesn't degrade after expiration in the way color does and stores easier. It's usually half the price or less of color, is easy to process at home. So I think this conversation really is about color film. The main issue with color film is we're now talking about one producer: Kodak (technically two, Kodak Motion and Kodak Alaris). With Fuji all but exiting the game it's (almost) a monopoly and Kodak is seeing this as a luxury craft rather than a consumer commodity. Interestingly these increased prices are making it so that brands like Adox and Wolfen see it as profitable to release color stocks of their own. I would also note that the cottage industry of respooling legacy cinema stock respooling is experiencing a boom. With 400' rolls of cinema ECN2 that have been buried in freezers somewhere in Hollywood we have an alternate source. 35mm stills cameras are relatively miserly consumers of film than 35mm movie cameras. Consider this: a two hour feature movie shot on 3-perf 35mm film, with no wasted film and no transfers, takes about 20 reels of film. That translates into over 1,400 rolls of film! We may simply need more labs that can handle the additional step of ECN2.

[@pushingfilm]

That would be a potential solution!

[@patrickjphotography7294]

I remember buying a 10 pack of b&w tri-x for less than 80.00! For me it will be the act and feel of shooting a certain camera. I will never stop shooting film.

[@pushingfilm]

That's such a big part of it! For me I spend way more time shooting and editing digital compared to film, because of work/paid gigs. So having film is also a nice outlet to help keep the passion for photography.

[@psychogeek8157]

It's up to an individual. As for me, I'll shoot with film only on certain occasion. But I think I should start again shooting black n white. Since I can develop it on my own.

[@pushingfilm]

Agreed! Black and white is a great way to go, and is personally what got me back into film :-)

[@weisserth]

I stocked up my fridge and did smart shopping. My local camera store sells (sold? not sure if they still have it) the 3-pack of Fujicolor 200 (made in USA = Kodak Gold) for USD15.99. That is the actual purchase price, they're passing on their buyer privileges to walk in customers at their store. I bought some 200 rolls of it at that price. I got about ~400 rolls of 135 C41 color in my fridge, another 30 or so E6, and another ~100 BW, plus another ~100 in 120. I will shoot like Garry Winogrand on film for years to come without spending a dime on new stock other than what I bought already at lower cost.

[@pushingfilm]

Nice! That's great that they sell at that price to encourage film shooters. 200 rolls should last a good while 😁

[@MattCicciarelli]

I thought I was going to be done shooting film, and was in a place to get an M11. Within two weeks, I missed the experience and the M11 has now been sold to fund more film.

[@pushingfilm]

Big move!

[@cggg490]

Started to shoot film seriously a few years ago after many years of disappointment with the look of digital photography. I still shoot digital but switched to a Leica M9 from shooting a Fujifilm XT4. But my main preference is to pick up my Leica MP film camera. Even for day to day documenting. The pleasure of shooting film still motivates me in spite of financial cost. I switched to scanning my own film a few years ago to save on cost but also because I now have better control about the scans I get. I know what I like. It’s funny because occasionally I think ok I can leave film, it’s just too expensive or involved to get the images but then I scan a roll (developed by lab) and I see the images. There is something about film that I just can’t let go of. I would not call it magical and I don’t even know the word for it. Film images are just more satisfying.

[@pushingfilm]

I know how you feel! How are you scanning by the way?

[@averywagg1839]

When I’m shooting for the newsletter, I shoot digital. However, when shooting for myself, it’s all film. Gold 200, Fuji Superia, and very occasionally Ektar when I open my wallet wide enough. Film has a vibe.

[@pushingfilm]

Agreed!

[@gentleman-shutterbug]

I develop my own film, and this past month I decided that while it was still affordable to shoot and develop B&W film (I bulk load my cartridges from a 100 ft. roll), it wasn't worthwhile to purchase more C-41 color chemicals if I either couldn't afford to purchase color film -- or even find it in the shops. When I want to shoot a bit of color, I use easily available instant film. For now, that will have to be enough. I'm fortunate, I suppose, to live in a part of the US that is full of drab earth tones. That makes the current situation a bit more bearable.

[@jermainebeckley]

I still have my orders saved from Freestyle photo showing the prices I payed for film 10 years ago and it’s crazy to think how much it’s increased. Some of it I still have in a freezer and it’s the reason I still by some today, if only to stash it while it’s at its current price before it’s out of reach for me financially. I’m still going through my old stock so any new film I buy will be used when I’m glad I paid the price they’re at now! 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@pushingfilm]

I can imagine how much lower those prices were!

[@aantonic]

I shoot mostly BW film, develop and darkroom print it myself. Tried RA 4 color printing, found it too expensive and color paper often unavailable. So i stick to BW for film. If i shoot color i want to go analog all the way to print. I reslly dont see the point of hybrid shooting, but thsts my thing, each to its own.

[@cafeallegro3321]

I'm on my first ever roll of 35mm film, I guess I'm chasing the "unique look" you mention and I'm happy to pay my way to learn, but it must suck for those who have experienced the rise!

[@pushingfilm]

Nice! It's good to hear a perspective from this side of things.

[@gorakphoto]

Yeah, I'm not too fussed on the price of film. But if I stopped getting the same time-stopping experience of making, developing and printing photographs on film, then I'd consider the costs. Thanks for the great video.

[@pushingfilm]

A pragmatic approach! Thanks for watching

[@CalumetVideo]

I’m seeing a lot of emphasis on small digicams. Many of the film cameras seem to be back on the market.

[@pushingfilm]

Yeah! It'll be interesting to see how things progress this next year

[@thomasl3008]

when i started photography, in the eighties, film was for me very expensive. I was in school at that time. So now film got more expensive, but i have more money to spend. So if I choose to buy film for a lifetime memories, instead of a cup of fancy coffee. I know how I would spent my money for.

[@sebvz89]

black and white on film, some kodak vision colour film/digital colour. That's the way I do my photos! Regards from Chile!

[@pushingfilm]

Agreed! Thank you 😃

[@klanny22]

I mean really you can argue film isn’t worth it seeing as how cheap digital photos can be over time. But same goes for a lot of media. Vinyls and record players are more expensive than digital, mechanical watches go into thousands and are less accurate than a quartz. I’ve just gotten into film and do wonder if I’ve made a mistake as it were given how pricey it is. But then idk if there’s the same ‘magic’ with digital. I guess if I’m sitting at a desk all day it’s nice to do something a bit more analogue, even if it does seem to be getting pricey. For me I’ve started in film whereas I know most people start digital then the other way round. So not thought yet if I’d ever make that switch

[@mp3remix171]

When i started i got a 10 pack of Colorplus each summer for 50 Euros... now i shoot no BW film and reserve color film for special occations or shoots and use my Fujifilm with decent film sims then i shoot more casually

[@pushingfilm]

Yep, I think this has been one of the most common approaches lately!

[@moot6794]

Those prices on the B&H page hurt to watch 😂

[@abjallen]

As a working photographer, for me shooting film will only be worth it if a client asked for it or if the budget suits it. At the same time, I’ve spent countless years learning how to shoot film when it was $2-5/roll at most for the good stuff. I couldn’t imagine having to learn and experiment with film as it is today and with no end in price increase in sight!

[@pushingfilm]

Makes sense! They'd ideally be paying a good premium for it too these days

[@grainybrews]

As long as they keep making film, I'll keep shooting it... I shot more film last year than any previous year since I began using it. Yeah it costs a lot of money, but I'd rather sacrifice a night out or getting Uber Eats and put that money towards something meaningful.

[@pushingfilm]

Exactly!

[@grainybrews]

@@pushingfilm just means more Mi Goreng dinners 😅

[@mr_cramberry]

It's even more painful when it comes to prices in Australia where the exchange rate is not great. Feel sorry for current photography students 😥

[@pushingfilm]

That's true!

[@willbaren]

Well, a long time ago I decided that I would only use black and white silver gelatin film and some time ago I started bulk rolling. I don’t use film wildly, taking multiple photos of the same thing. So I’m fortunate that the price increase is manageable to me. It’s still less than fifty cents per exposure.

[@pushingfilm]

Yep, if black and white had increased in price as much as colour I think more of us would be in serious trouble

[@willbaren]

@@pushingfilm thanks. Fortunately there are still several long term independent black and white film manufacturers that has resulted in big differences in price, which unfortunately can’t be said for colour film.

[@franksabatine9075]

I still shoot film and enjoy film much more than digital , film forces you to take more time to get the shot/more input.

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

Costs for everything as of late keep going up, eggs, petrol, bread, rent, etc. And I think that there is a definitive cost associated with shooting analogue film cameras, but I also suspect that there is an incongruent disparity between those who take the analogue film and the cameras that go with them more seriously, than those who are just mildly interested in the nostalgia factor of shooting film with a disposable film camera. Film photography in general, will - I suspect, become more for those who are serious about shooting film, be it for the art of creating, or even to some degree on a professional level. Photography has always been an 'Art' first and foremost, be it digital or shot with film. And just like the early days of film (1855-1915) film in the coming near future will be left for those with more disposable income to invest and create with this medium. In the mean time, we as a film/photographic community get our feathers ruffled every time there is a ripple in the costs associated in the purchase of film, and within that very group are the people that seem to bemoan that the loudest - most of them happen to own 1 or more Leica cameras, I suggest sell the Leica and buy a more affordable, dependable SLR of your choosing and buy some film with the extra money you've pocketed from the sale of your Leica - that in a nutshell is perspective.

[@cggg490]

Lot of assumptions here and not worth taking seriously.

[@borremoonkey]

​@C Ggg but it was worth it to tell him that he wasn't worth a response hahaha

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

@@cggg490 Hummm... I know maybe you could sell your Leica, and then we can talk about assumptions. Sadly every KZbin post about rising film costs is posted more as a flash point, mostly because it generates eyeballs and views. And if you took yourself seriously well then we wouldn't be so chummy here in the comment section would we. People find it far more tolerable to knock a though or a comment and slough it off as irrelevant especially it it hits a nerve, instead of contributing something consciously worthwhile.

[@johntibbit9121]

@@cggg490 I think you missed the mans point entirely.

[@buchsg]

My freezer and fridge are full of vision 3 in 400ft or 1000ft… before I go to all my stock things have time to change 😂

[@EdwardIglesias]

It's funny. I grew up with film before digital existed and for me the cost of film was negligible compared to the cost of developing. Of course this was the 80s where film labs were everywhere and there were no such things as digital scans. If you wanted to enlarge or copy a photo you needed the negative. Up until a few years ago I still was finding undeveloped rolls of film because while it was easy to buy film the cost of developing was much greater. When digital arrived I was incredibly pleased and sold my old gear keeping only my medium format camera because digital still couldn't compete. A few years ago I started to play with film again but this time b&w developing at home and scanning which is rewarding and does produce an effect I like. I still consider film a special occasion thing and digital my default unless there is a reason for film.

[@pushingfilm]

That's great, I find there is something uniquely worthwhile about black and white film, especially medium format 🙂

[@LensEthics]

I live in NYC - I don’t spend $5 + for a cup of coffee every day, I make a better cup for less at home. I’ve seen a milkshake with a price of $75. so nothing surprises me. I don’t notice the price increases on film too much in comparison to other increases. So far, the prices of film in NYC are the same as last week. Being intentional with your work and how you spend money on small stuff that adds up - makes a difference. Don’t sweat it and ask your regular photo store for a price match when sold at lower cost elsewhere. Ever seen the cost of a small tube of Gamblin Artist Oil paint? In the arts, painters have it bad.

[@pushingfilm]

Haha same here with coffee! Good points

[@BearKorn]

I learned more about photography and its art by shooting film. My digital photography has improved due to film. I think film teaches me to focus on other concepts other than sharpness and perfection. Today’s digital has become computer art and I need film to teach me the fine arts of photography…otherwise i might just be flying drones and steal a single shot from its video :).

[@URBONED]

The price of everything is going up. I think I’m just becoming numb to it. It probably has to get worse before it gets better.

[@pushingfilm]

True!

[@judasslip]

It has to be, I just got a Leica M4 and shooting film after a 20-year hiatus. I don't know to what extent, but what I keep hearing is that there is an increase in demand for film here in Japan, because of old timers like me rediscovering the hobby, and teenagers to young adults, who are shooting film for the first time ever. I know a number of the camera shops that limit the sales of film to one roll of film per kind, per person. Again I don't have statistics on hand, but I just feel that scarcity may have a bigger hand in killing interest in the hobby than prices.

[@pushingfilm]

I know what you mean! But I think that scarcity should (hopefully!) stabilise soon

[@thecoreelementsmoto]

back in 2015-16 I was shooting a whole lot of film. Now its a little more precious

[@pushingfilm]

Yep! I feel like there was as bit of a golden age of "value" which was bound to regress sooner or later

[@bankrungroj3765]

Steve Mccurry said he shot about 850,00 photos with kodachrome and I think for myself if I shot HP5+ for 23,000 rolls ++ in my next 10 years of photography I would not have any saving money in my bank acc or I maybe have a lot for debt. I always love film I really want to shoot a lot but sadly the price is my biggest problem :(

[@50mm_streets]

its still cheaper than buying a fuji x100 to get that film look, and the amount of good lenses available for older cameras is worth it to me!

[@ruffprophetproductions]

Shooting film never really made financial sense. Ever. To me at least. And to others even less so. So now that it’s gotten “expensive” it’s really challenging people’s motivations into why they choose that medium. And that’s good. If you realize that you don’t feel comfortable spending that much money per photo, then that’s ok. There’s other options and you aren’t less of a person because of that. A good image is a good image. Just like you said about analog v. Digital sound recording. Some people make great songs using an akai MPK and a laptop. Some people need the big boards and a whole sound stage. Neither is better than the other.

[@markthompson3977]

I won’t change anything as b&w film is still very cheap (Kodak excepted) and because I print in the darkroom. Ilford, Adox, Rollei and Foma films are not expensive and have risen very little in price. Also I would never use a lab to process or scan anything, b&w or colour. Back in the days before digital, it was very rare for any keen amateurs that I knew to shoot professional colour emulsions like Vericolor or Portra as they were always much more expensive than amateur emulsions; these films were almost exclusively used by professional portrait and wedding photographers. I blame many internet “influencers” for misinformation by making budding film photographers think that they have to shoot the most expensive professional emulsions for no good reason, especially if their images will never be printed.

[@pushingfilm]

Yeah it definitely seems a little extravagant to shoot stocks like Portra for everyday stuff these days

[@chenmunn]

The joy of composition and the thrill of anticipation that comes with film photography trumps the price increase (for now). There is a danger of digital photography forming a habitual muscle memory to keep snapping away, so it is worth being more mindful and bringing yourself back to the basics of what that roll of 36 exposures means to you.

[@pushingfilm]

Agreed!

[@DominicAJ]

Love film and don't see the people who enjoy it stopping, but it's just not economical for the average person at all.

[@pushingfilm]

The interesting thing (according to what I see locally at least), the majority of people dropping off film at labs are a rather young, student aged demographic...(and they haven't stopped)

[@DominicAJ]

@@pushingfilm Oh I don't doubt the tenacity of teenagers without major bills lol. I know if I was my high school self in today's climate I would be cutting costs like skipping school lunch just to pay for film. Those luxuries have become harder to justify as I've gotten older and have to be more careful with how I budget my money. Especially with the rise of digi cames in that demographic I'll be interested to see what the next couple years hold for film and photography in general.

[@pushingfilm]

@@DominicAJ for sure! That is definitely a big threat in that demographic, it'll be interesting to see how far it goes.

[@Somethingwithfilm]

Kodak has been announcing a price increase every year since 2019. And sure enough their prices are now at 200% of those in 2019. Ilford is still ok, perhaps 50% increase in some cases. So what is Kodak doing with the money, except false promises of bringing new/ old film stocks to the market?

[@pushingfilm]

I think their costs (silver, other material, staffing, equipment, shipping) would have surely increased over this period too... although I do wonder how much of the overall increase is profit-driven considering that black and white hasn't increased as much. On one hand I also think that film was crazy cheap for a few years, considering what it is and what it takes to manufacture it.

[@albertopaz84]

Sadly I'm not shooting color film anymore, except on very specific occasions.

[@pushingfilm]

Yep, I've been hearing this from a quite a few people!

[@JHurrenPhotography]

Buying new digital cameras, or nice older digital cameras are also expensive. Photography is expensive. Shooting colour film is still important to me, but I am in the midst of revamping that process by developing/scanning at home. It's time I'm working hard to find a way to afford. The film is in my freezer.

[@pushingfilm]

That's true! Home dev/scan should help offset a lot of cost

[@thursmornsunlight]

Worth the experience. Not the price.

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Film photography is the best way to fight digital dominance in your life. Stay calm and shoot film.

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

My fear is that we film users won't be able to convince Kodak to increase production. If I walk into my favorite camera store tomorrow they will only sell me one (1) roll of Kodak Portra 160. They're rationing 35mm color film! I have two Leica cameras, an M10-A (for film) and an M10-R for digital. Each photo that I take with the M10-A is, necessarily, more valuable than an equivalent photo that I've taken with my M10-R. I use my M10-A exclusively for family photographs, and I use my M10-R almost exclusively for "street" photographs. To me, family photographs ARE more valuable.

[@pushingfilm]

I see what you mean, although I'm hopeful that the supply/demand balance will stabilise soon enough and things like purchase limits will end.

[@josecarpin]

Here, in Madrid (Spain) back in 2018 I used to pay around 6,5€ for one roll of Portra 400. Today it costs over 16€.... Film is dead again.

[@pushingfilm]

Man that's nuts!

[@waveril5167]

I bought a Leica m2 so I have to keep shooting film lol haha

[@trotomas]

Fiim photography as a hobby is like gambling you should spend only the extra money. Also when I was a kid with a small compact film camera spray an pray (digital attitude) wasn’t an option even if the film cost was a lot cheaper back then. By the way digital has hidden costs and problems. Having your pictures printed on a almost same level of a fb silver gelatin is not cheap and maintain backups, buy new harddisks can be expensive. I shoot both film and digital.

[@pushingfilm]

Good points! Shooting both is the way to go 😁

[@extremelydave]

Yes indeed, film is more expensive these days, but THE point is EVERYTHING is more expensive. Do a historical price check on petrol. almost any food, housing....they have all increased, so the argument that FILM is expensive is moot. The big question is do YOU wish to pay the cost of pursuing film photography.

[@clarhettcoalfield3616]

Wisdom at its best.

[@pushingfilm]

Well put!

[@mpk33]

Everything except our wages, innit Dave?

[@letmebereal]

I remember when iceblocks were 4 cents

[@arricammarques1955]

6x6 wipes the floor with digital images.

[@djpikul]

B&W + Self Developing makes still sense. Just the Tri-X prices are a serious problem. Colorfilm is another thing. So it depends.

[@johntibbit9121]

I kinda like some of the Rollei B&W films available, which are still affordable.

[@pushingfilm]

Yep, I also naturally started gravitating to Ilford a while back- mainly because of the price of Tri-X (even before the last rises)

[@bernardkealey6449]

I was ready to hate this based on the title and the other versions of this I’ve seen…. But I totally agree, and thank you for putting it in these terms.

[@pushingfilm]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@Old-School-Liberal]

Kodak Gold for $15 is insane this was cheaper consumer film at a drug store. A 3 pack was like $7 And the Ektar was $5.50

[@digitalcake]

Bulk load guys. Colour too.

[@pushingfilm]

For sure! I'm thinking of buying a second bulk loader so I can have both running

[@jasongold6751]

I am in favour of Digital. Easy to use, faster and economical. Quick to share! Prefer colour in Digital. I handed in my last remaining C-41 from stash! In fact moving to phone, as some of my Film Apps and Digital not working unless I PAY! Snapseed on phone. Free! Phone images are great! My wife used phone, to make 2 albums of trip to South Africa!

[@d30gaijin]

For me? No.

[@pushingfilm]

That's totally fair!

[@crispin8888]

Worthwhile, yes. Economical, no. Unless you develop at home.

[@Geert890]

What about developing at home makes it economical?

[@crispin8888]

@@Geert890 Bulk developing and no shop profit.

[@c.augustin]

@@Geert890 Depends on the format. For 135 and 120 film you can cut development costs by around factor 4 or more, for sheet film you might end up paying only 1/8 to 1/16 of the cost per sheet (but you have to put in lots of time, but you also have no shipment costs or don't need to go to the lab twice). There is some initial investment in equipment, but this pays off rather quick. And it is much easier than many people think, especially for C-41 (that I by now prefer to B&W development with all its variables).

[@peterbarna6151]

That was a lot of …

[@Old-School-Liberal]

No

[@michaelwade3074]

It is important to acknowledge that you need to have a different mindset when shooting film and can’t just fire off frames like you can with digital. I think film and digital complement each other and each brings something the other can’t provide. Shooting film requires a lot more thought than digital and sometimes I find digital too easy and a bit boring because of that.