peter_kim2 Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 Ive been shooting a lot more recently and the film costs are adding up. I was wondering what people's opinions are on cheap everyday films. Something that can do everything resonablly well for the price. I norally like Fuji Reala for 100 speed and Portra UC for 400, these are great films but a little on the expensive side to be using everyday. So what do you all use? Presoanlly I was thinking about comparing Agfa Vista, Imported Kodak Supra or Fuji X-tra 400. All of these films seem to go for about $2 a roll from places like BandH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbq Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 I have a bunch of expired Agfa Vista 100 (re-branded as Walgreens), expired Astia, and expired Fuji Press 800 in the freezer (I'm running out of the latter, though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincent_j_m Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 My "cheap" everyday film is Fuji superia 200 or 400. They perform admirably with tight grain and decent colors when rated properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissa_eiselein Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Before I went digital, I was using Fuji Superia 200 and 400 that I usually purchased on eBay or on sale at the local drug store. I still have 20-30 rolls in my fridge--along with 15-20 rolls of T-Max 100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moore_photography Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 My cheap everyday film is Ilford FP4+ in 120 for my Bronica, Imported Kodak C41 B&W in 120 for the Holga, and a Canon G2 (digital camera) for my color work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moore_photography Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Just a quick word of thanks, this thread reminded me that I need to replenish my supplies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goemon Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 I shoot B&W, so I tend to use FP4+ which is only a little over $2 a roll. The thing is I process it myself. Economizing on lab costs is usually trouble, and a half decent lab will usually be more significant than the film cost. The two things that people do that are probably okay are getting grey market film and bulk rolls; in both of these situations you get worthwhile film. I don't bother, but maybe this is a path you might find useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_kim2 Posted March 1, 2004 Author Share Posted March 1, 2004 Hi Graham, as a matter of fact I bulk roll Tri-x and develop it in xtol myself. Although I'm thinkin its probly alomst as cheap just to buy imported rolls instead of going through the headache of rolling it myself. I was more thinking about 400 speed color films to carry around in my point and shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goemon Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 You can get color film in bulk rolls, though. Conceeded that I can only seem to find Portra 400NC in the speed you want at Adorama right now (which I think is a very nice film, but if what you want is UC or Reala it's not going to do what you need). Reala isn't that expensive at Adorama, by the way--$2.69. Conceded that 400UC can be pricey. You might check out Press 400 ($2.75); it's more consistent then the consumer stuff (although not quite as nice as NPH). The other films I've heard good things about are Supra 400 (which you can get grey market, but it's almost as much as UC), or HD 400 (as expensive as UC on a per shot basis). I honestly don't shoot anything other than Reala these days in color negative film, so there's a limited amount of use I can be here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris haake Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 HD400 and Kodak Bright Sun (Gold 100). Cheap and good. And when prices are working for me, Reala. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oskar_ojala Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 APX100 and Fuji Sensia in 35mm and FP4+ in MF, but of those you list Agfa Vista. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_watson Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 For everyday, non-critical shooting:C41(Fuji Superia 200 and Superia 800 rated 500-640); E6(Fuji Sensia 100); B&W(Agfa APX 100 in 35 and 120). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd peach seattle, washi Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Kodak Gold 200 purchased at my local warehouse store (Costco). The stuff is widely reviled around here, but I've been using it for years and find it very predictable. I also order Fuji Press 800 grey market from B&H at about $2.50 a roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phule Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 and 800 make up most of my inexpensive C41 color films. Have these printed with a Fuji Frontier and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_gage Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 I use Reala, NPH, and TMAX in my cameras pretty much all the time. I don't get many great shots, but when I do I want to make sure I have good film in there. I use a few different cameras depending on what I feel like, so one 36 exposure roll might have pictures from 2 or 3 different outings...so when I load the film I rarely know for sure what it will be used for. I buy imported film from B&H and don't think the cost/exposure is all that much more then a cheaper roll film. Especially considering I don't burn up a whole lot of film. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hans_beckert Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Kodak and Fuji sell their films in bulk five-packs. That is the way to cut costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mph Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Where are you getting your Reala? From B&H, it costs $2.69 for 36 exposures. At that cost per exposure, a 4x24 pack (like consumer films are sold in at discount stores) would be $7.17. Maybe not incredibly cheap, but not incredibly expensive, either. To answer your question, my "cheap" film right now is a bunch of NPH that I got for under $1.50 a roll, shipped, on eBay. Can't beat that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silent1 Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 My "cheap, everyday" film is TMY 120, which I get on eBay, recently expired, for about $1.75 per roll in pro-packs. For color, I shoot Portra 400NC, same source, similar price, but I don't shoot it as much because it costs me $10 or more to dev and proof and I don't get into the store where I had it done as much now that I've moved 30 miles away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry_akiyoshi Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 I buy FujiPress 800 in 20-roll packs and HP5+ in hundred-foot rolls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_bundick Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Gold 100. It beats the crap out or Reala on overcast days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goemon Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 The problem I've noticed with the bulk packs, Hans, is that when one buys film through the NY stores the price of a 5 pack of almost anything is invariably 5 * the price of one roll, and ditto for 20 packs. Thus the search for bulk rolls and import film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brady_dillsworth Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 For 35mm snapshot film, I like Kodak Supra 400. I was given a decent size stock a few months back, and have most of it frozen, with my month to month quantities in the refridgerator. Brady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_linn Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 Agfa Vista 400. Exceptional stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discpad Posted March 1, 2004 Share Posted March 1, 2004 <br> I shoot any E6 film I can find in bulk rolls on eBay for under $20/roll. Lately, I've been shooting a whole bunch of EPJ (ISO 320 tungsten balanced) film with an 82a or 82b filter. The bonus with it is that I can shoot indoors without a flash, without having to change films. I bought five one hundred foot rolls last spring for $11.95/roll... And I still have two in my freezer. <br><br> Cheers!<br> <a href = "http://www.focusphotolabs.com/prod07.htm"><u>Dan Schwartz</u></a><br> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psul_aul Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Kodak Gold 100. Just do not have it printed on Fuji paper. Reala is great, not that expensive in 36xp rolls from B&H or Adorama, but I agree with the above poster; Gold 100 is better on overcast days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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