Black Friday - Cyber Monday 2023
After making my first sales roundup post in 2021, I'm back again with a list of deals that film and hybrid photographers might find beneficial. Film photography is an even more expensive hobby than ever, so I try to save wherever I can! Feel free to use any of my links if you like; some of them may be affiliate links, which help me out with a small commission while not costing you any more. Once again, I'll try to update the post over the coming weeks as new deals get listed.
Kodak and Lomo 120 film price drop [Now - End of Year?]
This is a big one for me since film prices have practically doubled in a short time. Due to the newest prices, I have bought less film in the last year than ever before! So this price drop (while not a specific "Black Friday" deal) comes at a good time. According to my research, it's likely a temporary reduction made by Kodak in order to move stock. I don't know about you, but I'll take whatever I can get. Here is the list of reductions to some popular 120 stocks:
1075597 | 5 Pack 120 GOLD 200 FILM | -35% |
1808674 | 5 Pack 120 PORTRA 160 FILM | -10% |
8731200 | 5 Pack 120 EKTACHROME E100 FILM | -10% |
8572273 | 5 Pack TMX 120 T-MAX 100 FILM | -35% |
8568214 | 5 Pack TMY 120 T-MAX 400 FILM | -20% |
1153659 | 5 Pack TX 120 TRI-X 400 FILM | -28% |
It's worth noting that there was a similar announcement by Lomography (who use Kodak film under their brand). If you shoot 120, now is a good time to stock up and get some rolls to keep in the fridge or freezer!
I don't recommend any specific sources for buying film, since it varies so much depending on where you live. So, get it wherever you prefer or find the best prices! If you do happen to use Amazon though, feel free to use my affiliate link as I can earn a small commission (while not costing you any more... and it's much appreciated!)
Analogue Wonderland Black Friday Deals and Prizes [Now - 29th Nov]
Analogue Wonderland is doing their unique combo of discounts and prizes again! They are giving some nice discounts on film stock and cameras (these will rotate throughout the week) and also a daily raffle! This one is particularly good if you live in the UK! I've always liked what these guys do and wish we had them here in Australia! Head there using my referral link and you might even be eligible for another bonus.
The Essential Film Holder £57 shipped worldwide [Nov 15th - Unknown]
The first proper film holder I ever used and reviewed is back on sale again. This one remains a great all-rounder if you want to digitise your own film at home. It's one of the most affordable and reliable options and is even better value when it goes on sale. Andrew, the man behind EFH, has managed to make it even more affordable by means of the easy self-assembly option. This one is especially good value considering it includes Worldwide shipping. This year's deal is £57 including worldwide shipping for the EFH-09-SA (self-assembly kit) including masks for scanning 35mm, 120 film, and mounted 35mm slides.
Negative Lab Pro $10 off [Nov 24th - Nov 28th]
It's back! This one seems to only happen once a year... It's $10 off Negative Lab Pro (or the upgrade from v2 to v3). Use the code NLP2023 at checkout. If you've been waiting to get the licence for this great negative conversion software, get in quick!
Moment Shop Black Friday Sale - Up to 70% off [Now - Unknown]
Moment has started their sale early, with a whole heap of items discounted. There are a lot of film-related items including bulk film packs, Willem Verbeek's popular "Long Weekend" accessories, some plastic film cameras, lens filters, straps, and so on. I couldn't see anything that stood out to me as a particularly notable bargain... but there's so much on offer that I thought it's worth sharing this one. And if you happen to be in the US, they do free shipping on orders over $98.
Urth Black Friday Sale [Nov 21st - "Limited Time"]
Urth Co is having a Black Friday sale on their adapters and filters for a limited time (dates unclear). The discount appears to be 20% off these two lines, making it a good time to pick up any lens adapters or filters you might want. Adapting vintage lenses to digital is not only fun, but it extracts added value from gear you might already own. An effective way to replicate some of the film look in your digital images is the use of older lenses, and/or diffusion filters. I've discussed these and other methods in a video on YouTube if you want to dive deeper into the topic. Urth also plants trees with every purchase, which is another unique bonus!
Negative Supply Black Friday Sale [From Nov 24th]
Negative Supply has announced a sale starting at midnight on Friday. There are no advance details as of yet, but if we go off previous years, there will likely be select items at reduced prices (as opposed to a blanket discount percentage). When it comes to high end DIY film gear, a decent discount can go a long way. So if you've been wanting something from Negative Supply, check in on Black Friday to see what's on offer.
Viltrox Black Friday Sale [Now - Nov 27th]
Ever since making content on scanning film, I've used and recommended the Viltrox LED L116T as a great all-around option for a light source. It's perfect if you don't want to splurge on a dedicated, purpose-built unit. It does the job well for film scanning and can be used for general lighting requirements too. It has been the single biggest seller in terms of items I've recommended through Amazon over the last years. Viltrox is also having a decent sale on this and other items at their store if you'd rather get it from there directly. Either Amazon or the Viltrox Store might work out better for you, depending on the item and shipping cost to your location.
Film Photography Project's first Black Friday film sale [Now - Nov 27th]
The Film Photography Project is a long-time favourite in the film photography community. They have a great podcast, online resources for photographers, and a great store with unique and custom items. It was the first place I bought motion picture film before falling in love with the stuff. They just sent out a newsletter announcing a Black Friday sale with $3 off per item in their range of exclusive film stocks (not bad if you're in the US and buy individual rolls). It's a good chance to dabble in some unique film stocks if you've been waiting. It's only until the 27th of November, and you'll need the code "Black Friday" for the discount.
KEH Camera 10% off Black Friday sale [Now - Nov 27th]
One of the best places to get used camera gear in the world is KEH camera. Their inventory is huge, rating system is reliable, and customer service is great. I remember buying obscure things like backs and accessories for my Pentax 645N years ago; for a better price than eBay and in better condition. They don't exaggerate the condition of things with ratings like "EX++++++" that seem to have plagued eBay listings in the recent years. Anyway, whenever they have a sale, it's a good chance to save some money on any gear you might need. There are some exclusions as per their website, so head there to check it out.
I hope you found something useful there, and please let me know if you think anything else should be added to the list. I will come back and update the article if new sales pop up with reasonable timing windows.
Happy shooting!