Q&A - Film Prices, Fav Camera of 2024, Frontier vs. Camera Scan, and more...

[@dominey]

Great video Kyle. Can relate to a number of points you mentioned, especially the part about having a family. Hard to feel creative and motivated on three hours of sleep.

[@markrawlings1496]

Bottom line: am always learning something from you. You keep posting videos, I'll keep watching.

[@liveinaweorg]

I think part of the challenge now is to make the best of the cheaper film. Anyway, black and white rules ;)

[@dfigphoto]

Just what I needed to hear. Thank you.

[@AndyDay]

I remember thinking a long time ago how much you would enjoy studying at Goldsmiths, and suddenly you mention Kyler Zeleny. Talk to him about Photography and Urban Cultures. Best two years of my life.

[@scottchenoweth4937]

I appreciate the balance of advice and insight into just how you operate. Congrats on the growing family.

[@ulfaxmacher999]

I loved hearing your take on photo books, it ties in nicely with your own work. Please consider doing whole episodes on books that interest and inspire you.

[@Analog_Ad]

Kyle, I watch way too many photography KZbin channels and yours truly stands out. I’m pretty sure one of those questions was mine, that or someone had a similar question, but regardless I appreciate all these thoughtful answers. I feel inspired to get back out there with my own projects!

[@davidselby8115]

Great session and lots of useful answers. Please keep it coming

[@rafaelschlegel1]

Thank you for your videos. It's always a joy and motivation for me. I just read that Kodak modernized their film factory in November to be prepared for the future.

[@itsahoax]

thanks Kyle, you’re such a breath of fresh air in the youtube photography space and i’m sure, beyond!✌🏼

[@jacobmaness7244]

Great video Kyle, enjoyed this one alot.

[@Jonas_Bernotaitis]

I guess this is as good a time as any to thank you for your work and dedication to film photography this year, Kyle! You've been a big inspiration to me and I always look forward to seeing what you have to show and say, both here on youtube, and on the newsletter (which I absolutely love)! Here's to another year as good as this one :)

[@ezpoppy55]

Good video. Yes, patience and acknowledgement that “This is the way things are, right now,” are key to saving a lot of self-inflicted banged up and bloodied foreheads from constantly running into that old brick wall. I have four sons: 40, 38, 17, and 15 (2 different mothers). Whenever anyone asks me what it’s like to have kids, I tell them, “There is no aspect of your life that will not be changed.” Plus I tell them I really enjoy being a dad and have zero regrets about each choice to have a child. Many nuggets of wisdom from your experience shared by you in this video, each thoughtfully presented. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@vivekp.5210]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insights..

[@SlavaVeres]

17:10 Back in early 2000s I started photographing (on point-and-shoot!) modernistic bus stops of Soviet period back in my home country of Ukraine 🇺🇦 They are just phenomenal pieces of art installations! And trust me, Kyle, the bust stops presented in “Soviet Bus Stops” book don’t come even close in their beauty to those we have in my region 😊 And speaking of Ukraine I love how Kyler Zeleny explores his Ukrainian Canadian heritage. ❤ Thank you for the video!

[@colossusX1]

Just getting into photography and film. Picked up a thrifted Concord 110 EF and Olympus Pen EE (over 60 years old now) and getting the hang of it. Thanks for the helpful tips on your channel.

[@ulfaxmacher999]

4:29 Those Gold 120 shots are gorgeous. With all that color saturation, it seems like you could get any "look" you want in post. Who needs pro film??

[@landsurveysfilms]

I too loved C200, it was my favorite 35mm film (I also really like Colorplus). But the film I'd really like to see make a comeback is Fuji Pro 400H in 120...

[@pretendwewerekissing2377]

soviet bus stops is one of my favourite photobooks that i also bought this year! highly recommend watching the companion piece documentary about it by kristoffer hegnsvad :-) christopher herwig also made a volume 2 of soviet bus stops and also made a book about soviet metro stations!

[@philbraithwaite1316]

Until 2018 I worked in a commercial lab (mostly holiday snaps, disposable cameras) we had boxes of out of date Kodak Gold for test purposes. We also had two of those Fuji scanners one of which (since closure) had ended up in a local startup.

[@dmay1100]

hey Kyle; Loved the video lot of great advice, thank you. I only miss two film stocks today, can't say i have tried a lot of Fuji films. I was a fan of Kodachrome 25 a stupid amount, and Agfa 50 RS pro sadly both gone. I have missed those films and trying unfamiliar film stocks is difficult. Or I am to cheap old man. LOL You inspired me to look for a project that I might be able to create after my medical issues have limited my endurance and physical abilities. One day I might proudly send a copy your way. A friend of mine said to me after 40+ years professional and semi pro I should be able to scare up enough images to do a book now but I have never been wired that way. We will see, anyway thanks again! I am glad I found your channel! Have a wonderful Christmas!!

[@erichstocker8358]

I have to say that I really enjoy your presentation very much. While I would never buy a Frontier scanner, it was very interesting to see how it worked. I enjoyed your "cheap camera scanning" video even though I have very good cameras with which to scan. You are absolutely correct that your ability and interest to experience different aspects of photo (film or otherwise) are an advantage for us. I suspect my greatest fear is Kodak's ever increasing film prices. I understand Gold is going up by 20% and TMAX is going up by 25%. I already stopped using Portra (just too expensive and I have no driving reason). I had switched to Gold but I suspect that will stop also given the price increase. I will just stop using color film and only shoot digital for that. I have already switched from TMAX to Delta as I can get that for a better price. For much of my black and white I use Kentmere or Forma (with semi-stand development). Keep up the great and very interesting videos whether in the studio or on the road. I love them all.

[@billbarraclough9653]

Great video, Kyle.

[@samue1991]

I've gotten very consistent results after switching to Alex Burke's conversion method over Negative lab pro. There was definitely a learning curve, but it gives me great controll and the best results. Would recommend it for camera scanning

[@TopherGentry]

Thanks so much for the thoughtful response! I’ll see you on YT in 2025 lol. Family and all.

[@jeffbannon1345]

Great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@thatguyoverthere115]

The film prices now really make you look at the "PROFESSIONAL" word on the boxes and make you question if your day to day photo walks need that level of quality. ColorPlus, Ultramax, Gold, Fuji 200/400 are perfectly rational for that stuff. When the time comes for those essential photoshoots or vacations, then buying into the pro films is very worth it to maximize quality. Other things like Lomography and Cinestill are good if you want that little extra fun effect (For a price). As I'm new overall to the film world, I look into it and realize everyone keeps reminiscing about the old prices and availability. It takes a LONG time to rebuild an empire. Especially one that is still being pulled back from near death. Money is tight these days for everyone. Hopefully the manufacturers have a hidden trick up their sleeve for the coming years. They better save slide film, too.

[@stevenwilson7460]

Nice video Kyle. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts and impressions so far and your outlook going forward in 2025. I truly miss Kodak Ektar100 (120), one of my favourite film emulsions. Books published in 2024 I would strongly recommend would be Bryan Schutmaat's "Sons of the Living" and Agnieszka Sosnowska's "För".

[@Anthony-fz9ye]

Really hope Kodak starts selling Vision 3 film to non movie making people again soon. I’ve been really happy using it + ECN2 processing. Price comes out to be similar to Colorplus + C41 in my country.

[@Invincibleagent]

To get 'pro quality' film at a cheaper price I just use re-spooled cinefilm that still has remjet. As long as you have a lab that does ECN for a reasonable price it's fine. I prefer it to Portra tbh, and it's about half the price where I live

[@darrenreynolds3531]

I recently looked at the prices of light meters and couldn't believe how expensive they are. Having done a quick search I found people saying that it is because they're a niche product nowadays and they don't sell many. And yet the response to the growing popularity in film has led to continual price increases from the film industry. Low sales- bump up the price. Rise in sales - bump up the price.

[@davidellinsworth3299]

Analogue photography in a nutshell - you can't win 😂

[@Rocking_J_Studio]

That Great Wall camera looks like a Kowa knock-off. I had a Kowa 66 back in the mid-1970's (yeah...I'm old) and I even used it professionally for awhile.

[@SlavaVeres]

Did you know that there is another photo book “Coal Faces” by Nick Hodgson photographed in UK?

[@foto-tz4tm]

Color films are getting more expensive, but if i remember correctly fomapan 100 5x7 b/w sheet film, has actually got cheaper. Compared to what it was 4 years ago.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Film prices have killed me. Been leaning on my 50R much more often. I'd love to shoot more, but I'm literally dropping $2-3 on the ground every time I click the shutter at this point and my frugality makes it too painful. 35mm is reasonably more affordable... but not by much. Portra has become more expensive than sushi dinners. Portra has left the realm of hobbyist/non-money making purposes.

[@L0rdGwyn801]

I assume this was filmed before the reported 30% price hike for Gold 120 coming in 2025.

[@Thorpal]

By the way, how do you like that Fujinon W 105mm for 4x5 ? Does it has enough image circle wide open ? Can you do some movements ? I mostly do portraits, so corner sharpness is not the priority. But having some wide angle that doesn't have the samed "perspective" as a 90mm to do environemental portrait or to operate in small places is more paramount to me 🙂

[@jordanscoots]

for next Q&A: how many subs to shave the beard?

[@BrianScott-e8c]

Thanks for the breakdown! Could you help me with something unrelated: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How can I transfer them to Binance?

[@c.augustin]

In my regards, film in 135 and 120 format are still halfway reasonable (depending on the type of photography you're doing). But 4x5 and above? Absolutely crazy by now. I stopped shooting color in 4x5 (well, changed to tri-chrome/tri-color with Fomapan), and HP5+ is still reasonably priced for B&W (other than the Kodak B&W stuff).

[@fibonacho]

The prices on HP5+ in 4x5 are crazy now. Is it really $250 for 100 sheets? I paid half of that at the start of 2020, and felt like I was being gouged then (because the news hit and retailers were jacking the prices every day up on existing stock).

[@c.augustin]

@@fibonacho I started later, and prices were already where they are now (maybe slightly lower) on Ilford stock in 4x5. $2.5 per sheet are a bargain compared to, say, T-Max in 4x5.

[@jeromebarry1739]

Wholesale price changes in 2025: Gold 200/120 increase by 30% for 5 pack; Portra range up 5%; Color Plus/Ultramax up 8%; Ektar 100 price decrease of 8%; Tri-X 24 exp. price decrease of 27%; Tri-X 36 exp. decrease of 21%.

[@familygonzcartwright]

I mean, everyone says it's an increase, but it's not on everything. That looks more like a readjustment of prices on the full lineup. Maybe to create a gap for something new?

[@jasongold6751]

I totally quit color film maybe 20 years ago! No! I'm not coming back, ever. I do BW film. You use it as a feature, color film. I don't buy your argument! Bravo to great work..

[@VariTimo]

I kinda go the other way with prices. I see how prices got to where they are right now and I’m almost fine with it. And I believe that they will inevitably have to go up too. I do think that consumer prices shouldn’t though. I’m fine paying more for your pro films if that means hobbyists and regular folks can afford to buy cheaper films. Don’t get me wrong Kodak should be mindful of pro prices too. Ektachrome can’t get any more expensive! But Portra, it’s so expensive now anyway, two or three bucks a roll really don’t make a difference anymore. And they do for consumer films. For people who shoot for fun and young people, two or three bucks make a big difference. And consumer films are so good, especially Gold that there is rarely a reason to go with Pro films for them. Especially when you consider that scanning is much more important to get a high quality image than the film. For daylight you can get so close to Portra 400 with Gold that I really only use Portra 400 for the stuff it’s been designed for. I’m mostly worried about labs. We need good affordable color film for labs to stay in good shape for long enough until other manufacturers can bring good quality alternatives to the masses. Harman, Adox, and OrWo all have stuff in the pipes and I’m sure it’s gonna be good enough in the end but until then people need to be able to keep shooting film and use labs. I’m especially hopeful about Wolfen NC200 right now which seems to be the first actually high quality film we’ll see from one of those guys. Not counting Adox Color Mission because that was a one time prototype batch, we don’t know if that’s how good the eventual film they’ll release is going to be, and it still falls apart in some specific situations which don’t make it as flexible as Gold. If we have a Gold or even Color Plus quality film for a similar or slightly lower price within the next year I think we’ll be fine.

[@giovannibistolfi515]

5:40 isn't Fuji C200 just rebranded Kodak Gold? I might be wrong, don't shoot me 😢

[@Amphibax]

Im not sure but heard the same thing, Fuji stopped its own production some time ago since then its rebranded

[@pesqair]

It's so nice that you don't try to force an English accent, unlike Evan Edinger.

[@joshmcdzz6925]

Let's show other films some love and not only Kodak and cinestill..there's other film out there like Harman, Orwo, lomography, fujifilm 200 & 400, Phoenix, ilford, Arista, etc.... We made them expensive by fawning over just one brand when there're a lot of others out there

[@daniloc6946]

Hi Kyle, please deactivate the automatic translation of the name of your videos. I'd like to read the original names in the original languages, otherwise becomes everything very confused. I am a big fan :)

[@innstikk]

Why are we in Europe sponsoring lower prices in US & Canada? Hope Ilford can come up with a proper colour film

[@lordmonkey3285]

Anyone in the Norfolk area, UK ? I got 18 rolls of 120 film that I would like to sell cheaply or give away in exchange for developing and scanning one roll for me.

[@stefanbadass5357]

Reading between the lines, it seems you will be diluting the purity of the photographic content in the name of views and consequently income. A pity, as I have greatly enjoyed your output so far. It seems like this is a common trajectory KZbinrs follow which you eloquently vocalised in this episode. Hey ho, so it goes. Good luck in 2025.