Should you buy AGO, strictly economically speaking…

Film photography is an incredible hobby, but it’s no secret that it can be costly. Beyond the price of purchasing film, the process of developing it is where expenses can add up. In this article, we’ll dive deep into whether investing in the AGO Film Processor is a wise financial decision for those who already develop their film at home or are thinking of starting to develop their own film. Does the number of rolls you shoot justify this investment? Let’s find out!

The Cost of Professional Film Processing

Before considering home development, it’s essential to compare it with the price of sending your film to a lab. To give you a clear picture, we researched five countries, surveying several film labs in each location:

• United States: Nice Film Club, Fromex, District Camera and Imaging
• the United Kingdom: Analogue Wonderland, FilmProcessing.co.uk, Take It Easy Lab
• Germany: Safelight Berlin, MeinFilmLab, Aperture Film Lab
• France: Nation Photo, Arka Lab
• Spain: Carmencita Film Lab, Malvarrosa Film Lab

We examined the average price of developing B&W, C-41, E-6, and ECN-2 films for both 35mm and 120mm formats. After calculating the data, we found the average price of film development across these countries to be €9.13 ($10.03) per roll. Prices varied by region, with Spain offering the cheapest average at €8.25 ($9.07), and the UK being the most expensive at €10.08 ($11.07). The average price of film development in the USA was €8.70 € ($9.56).

Here’s a quick breakdown of the average film development costs per country (in EUR):

* (Conversion rates: 1 USD = 0.91 EUR, 1 GBP = 1.19 EUR as of October 10, 2024)

The Costs of Home Film Development

Now let’s look at the expenses involved in developing film at home. Beyond the basic equipment, investing in the AGO Film Processor involves a fixed cost of €439 ($480.04). Add an estimated €50 ($54.67) for additional darkroom supplies, bringing the total initial investment to €489 ($534.72).

Then, you need to account for the cost of chemicals:

When Does It Make Financial Sense?

To decide whether the AGO Film Processor is right for you, let’s compare home development with professional lab services. Based on our calculations, investing in the AGO only becomes economical if you shoot a certain number of rolls over a multi-year period. How much time will it take for you depends on how many rolls you shoot each month. 

Here’s when the investment pays off:

• For ECN-2 or E-6 films: If you shoot more than 3 rolls per month over two years or 1 roll per month over four years, the AGO makes financial sense.

• For B&W films: If you shoot 5 rolls per month over two years or 2 rolls per month over four years, the AGO becomes worthwhile.

• For C-41 films: You need to shoot at least 6 rolls per month for two years or 3 rolls per month for four years.

• For all film types: If you shoot more than 8 rolls per month for two years or 4 rolls per month for four years, the investment is clearly justified.

In addition, photographers working with large formats (e.g., 4×5, 8×10) may find it especially beneficial to develop at home, as lab services for these formats are harder to find and often more expensive. 

There are also photographers living in rural locations with no access to a lab service unless using shipping. Shipping your film will be an additional cost too.

Beyond Economics

Financial factors aside, there are other advantages to developing your film at home with the AGO. You gain creative control, including the ability to push or pull your film to achieve specific effects. There’s also a personal satisfaction that comes from handling every part of the development process yourself. You’re not just creating photos; you’re crafting memories in a more intimate and hands-on way.

Final Thoughts

The AGO Film Processor might not be for everyone. If you shoot fewer than 2 rolls per month, it’s hard to justify the expense strictly from an economic perspective. However, for dedicated film photographers, especially those shooting frequently or working with multiple film types, the AGO Film Processor is a long-term investment that can save both money and time.

Plus, there’s something to be said for the freedom of developing your own film on your schedule, without relying on lab services.

DISCLAIMERS!

Reasonably there are some disclaimers:

1. All the prices in our calculations can change at any time which changes the conclusions drawn. 
2. The conversion rates we have used will change. In addition, there are differences between living standards as well as incomes between countries.
3. The prices gathered were mostly the first results we saw in Google. You may find better prices for each element in your research. There may be better and cheaper service providers as well as there could be cheaper vendors of developing chemistry.
4. Chemical prices used were found using only the Freestyle Photo website in the USA. Your local prices may not be the same.
5. Work of oneself is not accounted for in these calculations as well as shipping fees and customs fees you might have. 

View the calculations and data gathered here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O_-vwV5KfmAoQaqVqh_pfnRD9RCBMgmAgA2y-MOcvqo/edit?usp=sharing