In just one year, the prices for Kodak film have almost doubled in price. A box of Portra 400 was $41.99 last year and has skyrocketed to an insane price of $67. Ektar 100 was priced at an affordable $7.99 in September of 2020 and is currently to $13.99 and Pro Image 100 was $25, and is currently sitting at $39.99. Portra 800 was $11.99, and is now $15 a roll. Now knowing that the prices will increase twenty percent in 2022, is disheartening to say the least. Analog photography is an expensive and precious medium as is. Kodak you wildin! But whenever artists are met with resistance, we gotta do what we do best and just ADAPT out here.
Here are alternatives to feed your need for photography without busting your wallet wide open. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
Try Lomography-This brand is on fire, creating color, black and white, and experimental films that are a bit more affordable than Kodak and are actually great quality.
Try Black and White-Winter is coming, and what better way to capture the cool tones of the season with some Black and White photography? Black and white film STAYS underrated, but is an undefeated champion. It can be gritty, elegant, and create a level of drama that can take your photography to a level of expression that color just can’t do. Arista film is sitting pretty at over five bucks a roll, Fomapan is six and a half, Ilford varies between eight and fourteen, and Holga is chillin at $4.99. Come get you some!
Try Medium Format– Medium Format film is always cheaper to get 120 film than the ever popular 35mm. So, now’s the time to bust out that camera and create something dope. Don’t have one you say? Too expensive at the moment? We got you as we now offer rentals! Rent one with us here
Try Lower Speed ISO– Lower speed film is typically lower in cost as well. Kodak Pro Image is still $6.40 a roll, and Ektar is still $49.99 for a box of 120. It may not seem ideal to shoot photos in ISO 100, 160, and 200, now that we have less light from the sun as we enter wintertime. However, you can finesse that film speed to the max!
Pro Tip: If you have an automatic point and shoot, make sure to use flash with this film speed after the sun goes down. If you have an SLR, increase your aperture on your camera and gauge it based off the amount of sun you have. If it is a beautiful sunny day, your aperture can remain small to mid (f22 to 5.6). However if it is cloudy to night, keep your lens WIDE open, and slow down your shutter speed to 60, 30 or even manual, where you can actually hold the button down as long as you like to get fully expose the film to the subject that you are shooting. If it’s dark, use a flash. If your subject is static, get a tripod and use a manual release cable to expose the image without causing blur. You can make that low ISO werk for you!
