Pennies in the Piggy Bank : How to shoot film in a cost effective way
Why is Film so Expensive?
Everyone always says “why is film so expensive”. Admittedly, I used to brush it off and not really consider how much money I was spending on film. If you are like me, you appreciate the escape of film, the nostalgic feeling it gives you, and how easy it can be to shoot. Why break the bank though? In this blog, I will attempt to help you save some money if you shoot film. I can’t guarantee you will save hundreds, but your piggy bank might have some extra pennies in it.
Big Scary Math
I really didn’t realize how much film was until I sat down and did the math. Let me tell you, it’s expensive.
I broke down the prices with regards to 16mm film. These prices all equate for,
The cost of the film
Shipping
Developing + Scanning
Shipping back or global access
Let’s assume that an average consumer “myself” would pay these prices for each category,
1 x Kodak VISION3 250D Color Negative Film #7207 (16mm, 100' Roll) 250D B&H
$69.99
Shipping Via USPS dependent on location
$15.00
Developing and scanning via Pro8mm Pro8mm
Processing
$35.00
2k Production scan
$56.00
4k Advanced scan
$70.00
6.5k Ultimate scan
$120.00
Global access
$5.00
Again, lets assume that most consumers will choose the 4k Advanced scan.
This means for 1 x Kodak VISION3 250D Color Negative Film #7207 (16mm, 100' Roll) + Shipping + Develop & Scan w/ global access = $195.00. We can break down this number even further to calculate the cost per second with a 100’ roll. Typically, a 100’ roll of 16mm film will equate to 2:30 of record time. Do the math. With this process, it will cost $1.30/second. Ridiculous.
Now for the Penny Saving
So you might be asking “well what do I do? I am not spending $195.00 to shoot 100’ of film”. Well, you don’t have too… However, there are some aspects we can’t control. We can’t control the cost of shipping or the cost of film unless expired / bulk film is purchased. Ultimately, we can control the price of developing and scanning.
With this outrageous price, there are a lot of alternatives. I would recommend supporting your own small film shop or neighborhood film processor. Personally, I use The Negative Space. The Negative Space
The Negative Space is a small film shop located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. They offer services for 8/16/35mm motion picture film, still photography, color grading, and rival everything that Pro8mm offers, but at a fraction of the cost.
“We are an artist-run, boutique style film lab with killer pricing and world-renowned quality for both Motion Picture and Photo”
After glancing at their website here is a simple price breakdown for 16mm film.
2k - 3.5k Scan
$0.5 per foot
4k - 6.5k Scan
$0.55 per foot
Global access included!
For the 2k - 3.5k scan @100’ = $50.00. For the 4k - 6.5k scan @100’ = $55.00. Using our fixed variables from before (shipping, cost of film, 4k scans), a scan & develop through The Negative Space = $140.00. This is $50 cheaper than using Pro8mm.
Quality?
Another concern is about quality. Many shooters assume that a large company like Pro8mm will provide better quality than a small company. I beg to differ. The Negative Space use a Lasergraphics Scanstation 6.5K HDR film scanner. This scanner is top of the line. Additionally, they are working on their own state of the art processing unit In House Processor
Below are some great examples of results.
Save the Money
Film should not have to break the bank. It should be something that is fun & affordable. As a new film shooter, I have loved navigating my way through the medium and watching my piggy bank grow larger in the process.
