bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

A certain really really big online store is selling Fujifilm Superia 800 speed 35mm 24-exposure color film FOUR rolls for $14.74, with free S&H -- only $3.69/roll!

I could not find any info about expiration date. I am not worried about the possibility that this stuff might turn out to be 100 year old expired junk. This online store will readily accept returns. Even so, stuff that looks too good to be true often has a nasty hook hidden away somewhere. So I seek your thoughts on this dreamy deal...

My QUESTIONS are as follows:
1- How can this film be cheaper than the best prices I have been able to find for Fujifilm & Kodak color film of lesser speed?

2- I avoided citing the name of the online store. I also avoided giving a link directly to the store's web page where this film is sold. Reason -- some forums object to posts that include info that might be construed as advertising. I read the Hog's helps but could find no info on this matter. Will you folks please advise me about the permissability of providing such info in a post on this forum? Is it okay to mention the store's name? Is it okay to link to a store's web page where stuff is being sold?

BebuLamar

I think the 200 speed is less than $2 a roll. I think the price you have is reasonable and not too good to be true. You can not compared the price of Fujifilm superia 800 to something like fuji proH 160. The pro film is more expensive.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

The last time I bought Fujifilm superia, it was $1.84 for a roll (36 exp.), so yours are not all that cheap!

bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Ah ha, so I shall seek a source that will sell me fewer rolls at a lower cost. Thank you very much!

BebuLamar

Walmart has it for a little bit less

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fuji-Film-800SP-4-pk/17300769

bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

walmart! I checked their nearest brick & mortar store. They have lots of color film. Excellent prices, too. Shazam!. 10Q very much Bebu.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Film IS cheap unless you get certain types. The Fuji film is a cheap film to shoot.

Why wouldn't it be ok to say the store's name???

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Superia 400 is an excellent film. But at a higher cost, Portra 400 blows it away.

bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

In what way? (This is an honest question, not a challenge. I believe there is a difference, but I need to understand more about what that difference might be.)

DaveC1 Loc: South East US

I believe the Kodak film in general has better color (an opinion) and the film itself is more resistant to scratches which may be important if your doing your own scanning or enlarging, it also seems less grainy to my eye.

BebuLamar

The price difference is not because it's Fuji or Kodak. The Fuji 400H is slightly more expensive than the Kodak Portra 400. They are both expensive because they are rated as professional film. Is professional film better? May be may be not. Generally consumer film were made and released early anticipating that by the time it's used the film has aged to about the right age. Professional films are aged until they are at their peak and refrigerated to keep the characteristic the same. Both Portra and Pro H films are for portrait which has good skin tone and low contrast.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

MUCH finer grain, better flesh tones and it scans beautifully. If you would like, I can send you a high res scan. You’ll be shocked at how fine the grain is. As I said, Superia 400 is an excellent 400 speed film.

DaveC1 Loc: South East US

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

And Portra pushes a stop or two, with excellent results.

elee950021 Loc: New York, NY

Photographic film is also available as "grey market" goods. Back in the day, I bought loads of black and white film from the leading stores here in NYC as both B&H and Adorama were both just down the block or around the corner from my studio location at 5th Avenue and 17th Streets. Very often "short-dated" or slightly out-dated film was also available at a discount. Never a problem!

Two short stories. When Ilford (UK) was first introducing their black and white films, they were publicized and sold by "Reps," commissioned independent sales people. They would visit us periodically and sell us photo equipment or new products from photo lines that they handled. The Ilford Rep told me that originally their film was dated for 7 to 8 years but to increase sales, reduced the expiration date to only 3! A few years later, we purchased a leader transport black and white film processor from Ilford and they gave us a few cases of 1-year short dated Delta 100 film for test purposes, 4800 rolls to be exact! The film lasted 5 years before slowly taking on a very minor age fog of the unexposed portions of the film. I believe the rep when he said film would last longer than its dating if kept in good storage.

Cheers! Ed