For $60 I can buy a lot of 9 volt and AA's. Yes the cuddeback does eat them but I get them at Sam's Club for about $8 for 12 D Batteries. That will do the cuddeback for about 2 months. At 26 pics a week I would have to go there every week (80 Miles each way) and developing and film would be about $70-$80 for the same 2 months. Factor in twice the gas because I have to go out twice as often I would spend probably and extra $100 every couple of months. I leave my camera out year round. I know I don't get the same number of pictures per week in the winter but I would guess that the film camera would cost me about $200 more per year to operate. That is just in my situation. Everyone's is different.