What is the exchange rate nowadays on $US $CAD Euro, etc.? Rambling without a good conclusion: When I was learning I bought 100ft. rolls of 35mm film, and a bulk loader. Hundred feet of Tri-X now costs about $24US. [May be cheaper from discount places, but I guess all the discount places have gone away???] That's about 18 36 eposure rolls. The film cans seem expensive now, $0.50, but they are reuseable. Most cases this means you need to develop your own; probably only practical of good class or photo club in area, at least to get started. From looking around the web, cost of the B&W film doesn't seem too bad compared with these bulk prices. It's processing that's killer nowadays. Too bad film scanners are so pricey, but they are coming down. Developing own (conventional silver) film is easy, and get to experiment with different chemicals). The dye cloud chromotegenic stuff is best left to the jiffy-mart. Jordy's suggestion sounds the best so far; go digital!