The Distinct Benefits of Film Still using film? Don’t let the digital age get you down; film has many advantages. Many film systems are faster and require less radiation. Believe it or not, some film speed systems are faster than digital, up to two times! If you are using a technique of 80Kvp at 100mAs for your 800 film speed system, you may need to use as much of a technique of 80Kvp at 200mAs for a 400 speed digital unit. That means in order for the above digital unit to match such film speed, the digital machine needs to double the radiation output! Most of our film customers tend to have either 400 or 800 film speed systems*. Most of the CR (computed radiography) units are approximately 250 speed systems and most of the higher end DR (direct radiography) units are approximately 400 speed systems. To convert from a 400 film speed system to a 250 speed CR digital solution, the techniques could increase by 60% or more. A practice that has an 800 film speed system going to a 400 speed DR digital solution will typically increase their techniques 100% or more. Film has a higher resolution. Some film cassette systems can provide up to 16 lp/mm resolution. The best resolution in digital is but a fraction of that level. Film is the real deal. Since film is an exact representation of the subject being radio-graphed, there is no manipulation of the data with film. While digital techniques are ever evolving and very dependable, the simple truth is that digital images involve some type of data conversion. Film costs less. The biggest advantage that film-based systems can offer is that at low volumes, these systems are very cost-effective. Taking into account basic operating costs, the chart below demonstrates the estimated costs of operating a film-based system. *For the record there are applications where digital requires less radiation, such as with dental applications (dental film systems do not use intensifying screens) or with extremity cassettes which have a system speed of 200 or less.

   Costs  per  film  Films  per  day   2   4   8   16  Film  cost  (intermix  sizes)   $1.80   $3.60   $7.20   $14.40  Replenishment  chemical  cost  per  film  

$0.52   $1.04   $2.08   $4.16  

Envelope   $0.35   $0.70   $1.40   $2.80            Total  $  per  day   $2.67   $5.34   $10.68   $21.36  Total  $  per  250  business  days   $667.00   $1335.00   $2670.00   $5340.00      Monthly  Costs  (PM)  [not  including  replenishment  chemicals  which  is  being  represented  above]  

Processor  Chemical  Replacement     $16.00  Cleaning  Materials     $15.00  Processor  Service     $65.00      Total  Monthly  Cost     $96.00  Total  Yearly  Cost   $1,152.00      Emergency  Processor  Repair  and  Parts  per  year  average  Machines  processing  2  or  4  films  per  day       $500.00  per  year  Machines  processing  8  or  16  films  per  day   $1,000.00  per  year      Total  Costs  Per  Year  Films  developed  per  day   2   4   8   16  Films  developed  per  year   520   1040   2080   4160  Total  Costs  per  year   $2319.00   $2987.00   $4822.00   $7492.00  Basic  Digital  System  (lease  per  year)  

$7200.00   $7200.00   $7200.00   $7200.00  

   It  should  be  noted  that  digital  imaging  offers  many  benefits  over  film  based  systems  such  as  a  greater  dynamic  range,  the  ability  to  manipulate  the  image  and  all  the  benefits  of  the  image  being  able  to  be  moved  around  the  internet.  This  information  is  presented  to  balance  the  decision  of  whether  to  use  a  film-­‐based  system  or  to  upgrade  to  digital.    By  no  means  do  the  above  figures  or  statements  defame  digital  imaging;  it  simply  puts  it  into  perspective.      All  data  and  calculations  are  based  on  our  experience  and  are  estimates  and  are  for  informational  purposes  only.    If  you  would  like  more  information  or  have  any  questions,  please  email  us  at  info@independentimaging.org  .