Let's talk about film photography. Today I want to raise the topic, about which film lovers talk little, and sellers of old photographic equipment and accessories. shy, probably.

Of course you already know, What are you talking about - did you read the title?.

so, today we will talk about the cost of film photography. I'll try not to write too many words, but stay specific. If you want to listen to the same, then here is the link to mine Zen channel and on the roller, in which I say the same, but with minor changes. by the way, in Zen I write not only about photography, but also cities, streets and my observations. If you are interested in the notes of an old amateur photographer about life, then subscribe to the channel.

so, let's try to count, how much will our hobby cost us - film photography.

We will start with a one-time investment in our hobby and let's limit ourselves to the minimum budget, but reasonable - so as not to talk about junk at all.

Initial one-time investment is a camera and a lens. Maybe a light meter, but this is no longer necessary - you can get by with an application on your phone. I didn’t look at imported photographic equipment at all - it seems to me, what to start, for sample, better use our old cameras. Luckily there are plenty to choose from.. Then, I want to talk about Soviet photo production and believe me, we have something to be proud of. More precisely it was.

A camera with a lens can be purchased for 1500-2000 rubles. It will be a mirror Zenith or Kyiv, or rangefinder Zorkiy or FED.

These cameras can be purchased for that kind of money in relatively good condition.. You can find almost new cameras, but a little more expensive 2500-5000 rubles. This is the price with Industar lenses, Helios, Zenithar or Jupiter. Of course, this is not Zeiss optics, and cameras are not watering cans with contacts, but you can shoot the result, which these Soviet cameras give out is very good, and in some ways even comparable to imported counterparts.

We fix the average initial sum - 2 000 rubles.

Then, you may want to buy a wide or telephoto lens, but while we are talking about the initial investment, providing entry into film photography.

Now about the film

The cost of the film varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer.. And yes, I don’t consider expired Soviet film of the 80s or even 70s at all. There are ads describing the benefits of semi-exposed film., but still we, of course, masochists, took up film photography, but not to the same extent.

Especially, that you can buy something quite decent new for sane money. I will give some examples with prices for 35 mm film

The cost of film in Moscow stores and photo labs

• New Tasma with ISO 50 36 frames can be bought for 350 – 400 rubles
• FomaPan is a Czech black and white film of various types. Price of 600 rubles
• AGFA Aviphot Pan 200 iso – 390 rubles
• Isopan 100 iso – 250 rubles for 24 frame
• Ilford PAN ot 700 rubles
• Kentmere film from the same manufacturer as Ilford - slightly cheaper from 600 rubles.

It's all black and white.

The cost of color - from 800 rubles to 2500. But everything that is more expensive 1500 for me a big question - is it worth it?

I tried to average and I succeeded, that one film on average will cost 500 rubles. me and darling, and bought a cheap one, also colored. And I plan to continue in the same spirit. Now it's in my fridge 2 reels with color film lie.

Even though I'm new, but having done the calculations, I got it on average, I will spend on 500 rubles per coil.

Now about developing and scanning

The cost of these services varies from laboratory to laboratory., but everything revolves around 350 rubles for development with scanning. What 24, what 36 personnel. For calculations, I took 36 personnel. Scanners are different and the resolution is different - I took the middle option, so that it is enough for sites with social networks, and for printing in A4 format.

so, I got a very approximate amount for one film with purchase and processing - 850 rubles.

So how much does film photography cost??

How many shots do I take per week on average?

Film teaches you to be more careful with resources and so many shots, how many digital cameras do you make, You definitely won't do it on film.. Yes, and physically you will not be able to do so.

Considering film photography, as a hobby, then I hypothesized, that an enthusiastic amateur will shoot at least once a week half a film.

I.e, it turns out, what year will be used 26 films. After all, in a year we 52 of the week.

Multiply 26 on 850 and we get 22 thousands and 100 rubles.

We discard a hundred and remains 22 thousands. This is the minimum cost for our hobby. Cold, allowable, what you don't shoot every week. Then we get thousands 10-15 rubles.

I somehow calculated, what if I filmed like this, how to shoot with a digital camera 17 or 19 year, then my film costs could exceed 100 thousand. It's not an exaggeration, if consider, what i did in a year 30-50 thousand frames.

But, firstly, I filmed in series, and secondly, It wasn't really amateur footage.. For the most part it's all stock photography – food and street, who also went to photo stocks.

OK, stop at 10 thousand rubles per month. It's a small amount per year.. But there is one question, which is worth answering – and what are you into?

A photograph or ... I won’t even pick a name.

I have already mentioned, that for me film photography is a way of getting non-standard images to illustrate content and a way to distract, rest. I separate amateur film photography and commercial use of film.

I want to sum up something like this. It's my opinion, and I do not insist on his loyalty. Just for myself, I have already formulated, why do I need amateur film photography.

For me it's a way to relax. Relax, and ideal. You go, look around, watching, and since each frame costs an average 20 rubles, then you only shoot, what is really interesting or seems so, not all in a row. I.e, you are completely absorbed in this activity and are distracted from the routine, work and all, what is so annoying.

Psychologists say, what's the best way to relax, relax and unwind is to switch to something, what is different from the current activity. But it's very hard to do. Problems now constantly haunt us and we need something like this, that will divert our attention from work problems, money and other things at least for a while.

here 36 frames in a film camera can allow you to escape from everything. 'Cause we have a purpose – use our frames with meaning.

And for that you can give 10, and 20 thousand per year. Agree, that one or two thousand a month is a small amount, for recreation or, if you want to, for psychotherapy.

by the way, one hour appointment with a psychotherapist costs from 2500 rubles and more.

It's about hobbies.

Commercial use of film photography is also interesting. briefly:

Here is how many photos you need to illustrate an article or post − 2, 3 or 5. All this can be calculated - but here it is more difficult to talk about average numbers. One color frame will cost at least 35 rubles, and black and white in 17. In any case, all the costs of creating content can be taken into account. Why film?? Competition. Unclear?

Let me explain with one of the examples.. Look into Zen, and there you will see hundreds of blogs on the same topics - the stories of some artists, ladies and high society or women with low social responsibility, abandoned building stories, walks and chilling stories about bloody crimes. After, how GOOGLE covered the ability to monetize content in Russia, in the same Zen, very serious competition began to form. And every little thing matters, what will make your blog stand out from hundreds of similar ones.

Film photos, agree, different from those, what is done with digital cameras. If this is filed, then it's small, but competitive advantage. About this if I get together, then I will release more detailed material - that, as, why and why.

This is how I managed to talk about the cost of film photography. Inexpensive, as for me, but should you run right now to buy an old FED or a film Leica, decide for yourself.