Cheapest B&W 120 film available in USA?

[hgernhardt]

Folks—

So far, the least expensive 120 B&W roll film I've been able to find is Ultrafine Plus B&W 100, from Photo Warehouse (USD 2.10/roll when purchased in multiples of 5 rolls as of this posting). I was wondering if anyone knew of a reliable source of anything less expensive? I'm looking for cheap film with which to play. For more serious/specialty shoots I have a short list of go-to films.

Thanks!

[rich815]

Expired film on eBay?

[destroya]

look at the Arista films. Premium which is tri-x and the EDU which I believe is Foma. Now it is about $.70 more per roll, but c'mon. For 2 cents more per frame you can get a better film ( in my mind), and my pix are worth an extra 2 cents to me.

[rawhead]

I second rich815. I average around $1/roll for expired B&W film I get expired. Unless it's poorly stored film from the 70s, it's gonna develop fine. Craig's List also a good resource for cheap expired film.

[Newt_on_Swings]

Ebay and craigslist is just not consistent though with film deals, and as of recently there doesnt seem much of a deal to be had. I see lots of expired film sell for the cost of new and fresh film which is crazy. Your best bets are to try the ultrafine films and see how you like it, it looks to be the cheapest fresh source. Arista EDU films are about a dollar more at $3.19 a roll. This is actually higher than the price of fuji acros not too long ago which makes me kinda sad. Acros now is like $3.80 a roll now or so. Another option are the Shanghai films from ebay, they are about the same price of the Arista EDU films, but many have shipping for free while freestyle has a minimum order.

[John Wiegerink]

I have bought off eBay several times, but usually just certain slower films like PanF or something I can't get in my neck of the woods. If I find a real deal on eBay I might try to get it, but then that dang rich815 is always running the bid up. I too, would rather buy from Freestyle and know I'm getting a decent film at a reasonable price. I used to brag up Fuji Acros and really loved the film for the price. Of course Fuji figured that out too and jacked the price up. Maybe that was their plan all along? Sell it for near cost, get folks to fall in love with it and then jack the price up to just below the competition. Right now I'm testing Arista EDU 100 and if it works out I might just be using much more of it. Also, I've heard really good things about the Arista EDU(Foma) 200 film and might look into that also. As for Graig's list? Nothing much at all in my area and the same goes for expired film at camera stores 'cause there is only one of those left. JohnW

[desertratt]

Camera stores. I remember those. I also remember tail fins on cars, round 11 inch b&w TV sets and hula hoops.

[newcan1]

The ultrafine film is cheap, but I have found it to be contrasty and grainy for its speed. May be good to play with but if I were trying to make a fine art image, I guess I wouldn't use it for that. But just to play with, it should be fine. What about that Shanghai stuff available on ebay?

[ME Super]

B&H has Fomapan 400 in 120 for $3.89/roll. You can also get Fuji Acros 100 from them for the same price if you buy it in a 5-pack.

If you were looking for 35mm, you could get Kentmere 100 in a 24 or 36 exposure roll for $2.95 from them. Kentmere films are made by Ilford.

[StoneNYC]

I may just not have found the right developer but I find Acros not that impressive, besides the 2 minute reciprocity failure rate, I'm not that impressed, it just seems fuzzy to me, "fine" maybe but such that all the edge just look blurred and not sharp. I'm thinking I just have the wrong developer (have tried Ilfsol 3 and DD-X which the latter should have worked but apparently not). I just pushed PanF to EI 100 in Rodinal and got much better results (price aside).

Maybe I'll try the edu stuff next for the price.

Just buy a bunch and try them all, you'll drive yourself nuts trying to figure it out, If you don't care about quality and just want the ability to shoot, get the EDU mentioned above.




~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk