Super 8 Tri-X Prices - Cheapest!!!

[Phillip Rhodes]

I understand that Kodak now only produce one Super 8 Black and White film, namely Tri-X.

I was going to write about Kodak's ability to kill off the format by pricing Tri-X beyond the pockets of those who wish to sample Super 8 before it's finally killed off.

Question: where is the cheapest retailer in the known universe? It would be good to secure around 40 to 60 cassettes. Is it possible to buy stock at wholesale or factory prices (half what you usually pay in shops or online)?

Also, does anyone know how many units does Kodak sell each year?

Phil from England...

[Mana]

You could try calling Kodak in your area. I order all of my film direct, here in the States.

[Phillip Rhodes]

I did contact Kodak (July 2009):

The list price for Tri-X Super 8 is £10.92 per roll plus VAT.
Large bulk orders (100+ rolls) may be given 10% discount depending on whether they were regular orders or not.

I suspect that mark-up is 50%, so why not sell us this film at wholesale prices!

[richard p. t.]

Suspect away, however I think you will find that retailers aren't able to buy from kodak at the discount you are imagining. I know I certainly can't - basically I sell at $2 over cost. Kodak themselves are the main retialer of their motion picture stocks. Its not like a consumer product any more.

[nickrapak]

I would agree that Kodak will be your cheapest source from which to get Super 8 film. I get it dirt cheap because of the student discount (before you ask, yes I am a student), but even without the discount it's cheaper than other outlets.

[Phillip Rhodes]

Hello nickrapak, can I ask how much you pay for your film stock?

THINKS: Perhaps if Super 8 film was sold ONLY through Kodak then savings made could be passed on to us! I don't mind ordering direct from Kodak USA.

Perhaps $5 per cassette would be more appealing to those considering shooting on Super 8, but who are dissuaded by the price!

[aj]

Yeah, diesel at 50 Eurocent per liter again would be nice too.

You don’t really think Kodak could sell at $5 and still make a profit?
Processing at $2.50 and free teleciné . Prices from the sixties.


What is the purpose or value of prices of 2 years ago?

What is the problem with film price in proportion to all costs of 3 minutes of images. I.e. camera, personnel, processing, teleciné and film.

Every now and then somebody shows up who thinks Kodak needs no profit or retailers should not exist and certainly need no profit either. It is naive/stupid to think Kodak could sell at wholesale and then still expect that retailers could remain in business.

BTW You comparison is crooked. Wholesale is usually listed off factory ex VAT. As a private buyer you will need to pay VAT (some 20% in UK) and it is usually over the counter (incl transport)

Simplest is buying in UK. Try http://www.bluecinetech.co.uk/ Possibly you will get a nice discount when buying 100 pcs.

Long distance
http://www.wittner-cinetec.de/katalog/0 ... _filmm.php
or http://www.andecfilm.de

Even further away could be from USA. But when over Euro 50 you very likely will be charged import taxes. I know that will happen here. With the low dollar and people buying Apple and Nike from USA massively imposing taxes is strict.

You could also consider shooting 60meter long roll ORWO.
It will prove that your cost per minute will not be lower much.

Good luck

[Phillip Rhodes]

Both the Canon DS8 and Beaulieu cameras (that take the 60m magazine) are extremely rare and demand high prices - my last Super 8 camera Canon 514XL) cost me £1.99!!! Does anyone know of any other cameras (apart from the Beaulieu) that take 60m?

I don't mind anyone making a profit, but the way Kodak and many other companies dictate prices is not production cost + profit, rather they work on the premise of production cost + profit + what the market is willing to pay. Those who buy Super 8 are either amateurs or professionals. Professionals will consume dozens of rolls per day but don't worry about film prices because the cost is passed on, while amateurs will plan to shoot no more than one or two rolls. I'm in the middle. I have a project that needs around 40 to 60 rolls and I'm self-funded. I'm not phased by processing the film myself or DIY telecine. My biggest cost is film.

We have Super 8 because we have 16mm and 35mm. When digital cinema and digital production finally make it financially none-viable for Kodak Eastman to manufacture film then that will be the end of Super 8.

The cheapest Super 8 Tri-X is available from eBay (40 cassettes for around £10 each!) : http://cgi.ebay.com/40-NEW-SUPER-8-B-W- ... _746wt_905

That gives me a ratio of around 4/5 to 1...

[aj]

try dealing with this seller

Expect $60+ for shipping.
Expect 25-30% costs for import and red-tape.

Your view of basic economics is a bit off from reality.
Nobody works for nothing and sellers don't need buyer's approval on their costs, margins and profits.

Their was a DIY machine discussed (APUG?) for manufacturing your own film and emulsions

A DS8 takes rolls, the cost per produced meter is almost the same. Wittner has the choice. There are a few DS8 models. Either small roll and some with 30meter rolls.
There is a number of cameras which can take 60 meter Kodak magazines. Only the Beaulieu 6/7/9008 take the MickeyMouse ears from Beaulieu/Ritter themselves (only when the camera is modified).

Good luck,

[Mana]

You could also consider shooting 60meter long roll ORWO.
It will prove that your cost per minute will not be lower much.

Good luck

I am waiting for my shipment from Wiitner which includes a roll of Orwo. Can't wait to try it out since I used up all of my Plus-x. I have been doing more Processing and loading my own carts lately. Not just for the cost savings, but also the satisfaction.

[nickrapak]

Hello nickrapak, can I ask how much you pay for your film stock?

I pay $7.78 a cart for Tri-X and $9.80 a cart for 100D. List prices are $11.12 for Tri-X and $14 for 100D. It ends up being a 30% discount, which is not bad at all. They also sell the Vision stocks and 16mm film at the same 30% discount off of list.

[woods01]

Kodak also offers a 20% discount for members of film co-ops. For a large order like what you're proposing you could negotiate getting the same rate for an independent film. There are other benefits to being in a film co-op so it might be easier & beneficial to go that route.

[Uglipenguin]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and this will be my first posting

While I agree that super 8 film isnt cheap, I'd like to point out that it never has been cheap- even during its heyday as the only way to make movies. As an example I have a box of Kodachrome II, expired in April 1975. The price on the box is marked $2.59. Adjusted for inflation that would be equal to $11.32 in todays money. I also have a box of Ektachrome type G expried May 1982, which the price is marked as $6.99. Adjusted for inflation would be $16.55.

Today we pay around $14 direct from Kodak for Ektachrome 100d, and I have paid around $15.95 from online retailers. This is cheaper than the 1982 price. Averaging prices, I'd say that the price of super 8 has stayed pretty much the same since its introduction in 1965.

An earlier post seemed to critisize Kodak for making huge profits on the film, but I think we should instead applaud Kodak for not jacking up the price. This is in light that the film is now oriented more towards professionals and there are less people shooting super 8- economies of scale would usually dictate that we pay more. The fact that super 8 film is pretty rare these days and yet I can still buy it for the same price as a consumer would pay from a neighborhood drugstore in the 70's is pretty amazing.

So I think if you think about the price of film from that perspecitve it doesnt feel as bad.

[aj]

So I think if you think about the price of film from that perspecitve it doesnt feel as bad.

I mentioned such price compare too.

The only thing is aren't new cameras anymore. Then a camera would cost equal to 20-50 times a roll of film. Now a 'not new' camera can costs from 0.1 to 20 times the camera.

Not to forget most need a teleciné of their film too. That pushes the price per minute really up. And then the cost of the computer.

[aj]

Now a 'not new' camera can costs from 0.1 to 20 times the camera.

of course should read :
Now a 'not new' camera can costs from 0.1 to 20 times the film.