4 Ways to Save Money in Film Photography
By: Talya Adams
Tags: Film Camera, Film Photography, Save Money, Analog Photography

If you’re anything like me, the satisfaction of firing the shutter and advancing the film in your favorite film camera is merely unrivaled by any digital camera, no matter how top of the line it may be.

For several years, film shooters have been getting away with cost-effective steals by continuing to shoot film. Heck, three years ago, I could walk into a thrift store on any given day of the week and find a quality 35mm slr camera. In fact, in 2017, I purchased five Canon AE-1 Program cameras for under $40 and managed to flip them on eBay for superior profit margins. Sadly, those days are over now.

Not only have the cost of film cameras gone up in thrift stores, online, and at garage sales of all places, but the cost of film rolls have also skyrocketed in 2020. In January, all Kodak products rose thirty percent in price. Why do you ask?

Well, the secret got out. Film shooters around the world started sharing the joys of shooting analog. Whether it was a catchy hashtag on Instagram, or your favorite Youtuber singing the gospel of their newly acquired Contax G2, word got out.

I had a field day when I switched over to primarily doing film photography. I became a film camera collector overnight, and a through and through #staypoorshootfilm enthusiast.

As with most good things that came to an end in 2020, so did my spending habits regarding film photography. Don’t cry for me. I’m not easily dissuaded. I came up with a game plan to ensure I didn’t lose much ground at all in my photographic pursuits despite the monetary obstacles in my way.

Here the top 4 ways I’ve been saving money in film photography in 2020:

1. Buy cheap film stocks

Suppose you decided to tune in to practically any top Youtube film channels. More than likely, you’ll be persuaded to buy Kodak Portra 400. If there were a poll taken today, this film stock would be voted most popular. It’s beautiful and versatile film stock, but it also costs about $10-$12 per roll of 35mm film, depending on where you buy it.

Now with that same $12, you could buy a three-pack of Fujicolor 200. My math’s a bit rusty at times, but I believe three is still greater than one.

Some other affordable film stocks to consider:

Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 400

Kodak Color Plus 200

Kodak Pro Image 100

Kodak Ultra Max 400

Kodak Gold 200

2. Shoot black and white film

Photo by <a href=”https://burst.shopify.com/@sarahpflugphoto?utm_campaign=photo_credit&utm_content=Free+Antique+Cameras+Black+White+Photo+%E2%80%94+High+Res+Pictures&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=credit">Sarah Pflug</a> from <a href=”https://burst.shopify.com/black-and-white?utm_campaign=photo_credit&utm_content=Free+Antique+Cameras+Black+White+Photo+%E2%80%94+High+Res+Pictures&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=credit">Burst</a>

If you thought the film stocks I mentioned above were cheap, you’d have a field day choosing a black and white film stock.

Let me paint the picture for you. As I mentioned earlier, the ever-popular color negative Kodak Portra 400 costs about $12 a roll of 35mm film. Kodak’s top of the line black and white film Kodak Tmax 400 costs about $8 a roll of 35mm film. Oh yeah, already cutting costs, and I haven’t even gotten to the cheap black and white films yet.

Allow me to introduce you to the world of bulk loading. What’s bulk loading, you ask? It’s buying one hundred feet of 35mm film and rolling it into film canisters yourself. Sound a little complicated and like a lot of work? Yeah, it is. However, it’s worth it if you’re committed to getting the most out of your money.

Bulk break down:

One hundred feet of Kodak Tmax 400 sells for roughly $100. Let’s be conservative and say you get 20 35mm rolls at 36 exposures a piece in each canister. That works out to $5 a roll, give or take. Now, if my math is right, that’s $3 cheaper per roll than if I were to buy this film stock sold per canister in stores.

The bottom line, shooting black and white film, allows you to stretch your dollar and shoot more film while doing it.

Cheap black and white film stocks to consider:

Kentmere 100 or 400

Arista EDU Ultra 100/200/400

Foma Fomapan 100/200/400

Ilford HP5

Ilford Delta 400

3. Choose 35mm film photography over 120mm film photography