Another sad day in film land

[Avotius]

Yesterday I went into my usual place for buying film here in Chongqing, noticing they didn’t have any of the velvia 100f I wanted. I asked if they were going to be getting any in soon and they said that any film they have in the case was what was left then they were going to stop stocking it. Uh oh, they are the largest camera store in the city...off to the next place, no more film, another place, had a few rolls of provia left, and the last place had a few superia 400 left but that’s it. None of them are going to stock film anymore. One more place where I can order hard to find camera stuff and film where the owner is a friend of mine. He said that there will be very little imports of film anymore and most of anything I want I will have to special order from Japan and if I wanted anything I best order it 4-5 weeks in advance. That sounds expensive. Grasping for straws I call my photographer friend in beijing, he said its about the same. He not too long ago bought a 8x10 camera and said the only film he can get for it is either new old stock or special ordered from japan...and that he is looking at buying a hasselblad h2 with digital back and dumping his 8x10 asap.

eeep....now im sort of glad I wasn’t able to jump on a certain .58 m7 in the classifieds a couple of weeks ago, but still, what a dark day for me and my film lust....not only that, I find the M8 is 40,000 RMB, or 5200 USD. Double eeep....

 

[sharpf8]

Avotius,

Hope you have regained your composure, due to disappointment not being able to buy film. I usually buy my film from WalMart. If you are close to any WalMart, check them out. I can buy chromogenic and professional films from WalMart, close where I reside. It's worth checking them out.

Good luck.

 

[sf]

And that Chinese company, Lucky, just began with film!

Oh well. Glazers in Seattle has been very vocal about their intentions to maintain the film stock.

if all else fails, Freestylephoto.biz.

 

[gullevek]

Lucky to be in Japan

Lucky to be in Japan

Japan is like the last place on earth to get all the Film. Below a shot of the film outlet from Yodobashi Camera, a big electronic chain here in Japan.

They got all of them, except Agfa, which you need to order at a different place. But yes, I am lucky. I can find my Ilford, my Fuji Velvia 100F, my Neopan, ...

But I don't know for how long this will go on. Especially MF stuff. I think there are only arts people left who do MF with film. Any pro would shoot with a digital back to save tons of time scanning and after working on the slide ...

Perhaps I should pre-stock some MF film, for the day I finally buy myself some second hand film MF camera ...

 

[retrocam]

As long as there's Freestyle, I think my film stock will be fine...🙂

 

[rover]

As long as there's Freestyle, I think my film stock will be fine...🙂

I am starting to feel this way too. But I scanned some APX 400 yesterday, I am going to miss that stuff.

 

[ijohnnyz]

Either this is starting to get scary or I’m getting drunk. As much as I love my Tri-X, I have been thinking of switching to HP5 to support Ilford and their continuation of B&W photography. I believe film users need to take an active role in keeping film alive and in-demand whether it's c-41, silver halide, or slide. Photography is merely my indulgent hobby, but that hobby includes the entire processes of shooting and self-developing. I aspire to master the art of printing, but now I feel like giving up altogether and bow down to digital. Photoshop is still a vital process after my negs are scanned but only in part. I will have saved enough money by February to buy my dream Leica M6 + 35'cron and I sure as h3ll will. I know digital can look just as good as film but It's just not as rewarding. I don't photography just to get the shot. I savor the entire experience of getting out there, overcomming my shyness, meeting people, and not truly knowing what I've captured until it's developed. It feels like Christmas morning in my dark bathroom everytime.

 

[kully]

Walking around Wukesong with all the shops selling LF, medium format, pinhole and everything else under the sun, Photochance and the 798 Photo Gallery shop with its own store of LF gear and B&W processing/enlarging - I thought Beijing was the greatest place for film photography I'd ever seen...

Try googling 'Photochance', I think they do mail order and I know they had 8x10 in their fridge last week. They also had mucho Provia/Velvia in 35/120.

 

[oscroft]

As much as I love my Tri-X, I have been thinking of switching to HP5 to support Ilford and their continuation of B&W photography.

Sounds like a great idea - companies like Ilford need our support. Have you tried Delta 400? I used to be an HP5 fan, but now that I'm back doing b&w photography after a gap, I find I really prefer Delta. So I'm using a great 400ASA film and supporting Ilford into the bargain.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

you can also try :

http://www.unicircuits.com/shop/

email him and ask if you can get provia. Dirk is a RFF member

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Sounds like a great idea - companies like Ilford need our support. Have you tried Delta 400? I used to be an HP5 fan, but now that I'm back doing b&w photography after a gap, I find I really prefer Delta. So I'm using a great 400ASA film and supporting Ilford into the bargain.

Johnny and Alan are on to a great idea ... think of it as film activism or film conservancy 😉

In the US, the Ilford films are a bit more expensive than other films, but I think I will start switching too to show my support.

 

[Kin Lau]

Avotius,

Hope you have regained your composure, due to disappointment not being able to buy film. I usually buy my film from WalMart. If you are close to any WalMart, check them out. I can buy chromogenic and professional films from WalMart, close where I reside. It's worth checking them out.

Good luck.

Avotius lives in CHINA 🙄

 

[Avotius]

Avotius lives in CHINA 🙄

beleive it or not, there is a walmart but 10 minutes taxi trip from my apartment...

 

[Avotius]

And that Chinese company, Lucky, just began with film!

Oh well. Glazers in Seattle has been very vocal about their intentions to maintain the film stock.

if all else fails, Freestylephoto.biz.

actually lucky has been a chinese company making bw film for over 40 some years, its just recently that they showed up on the international table

 

[bsdunek]

That's really sad, Avotius. I thought there was a film industry in China, as we're getting Chinese film here. I have only seen B&W though, and maybe if they do make color it's not like Fuji or Kodak.
As others have said, here in the U.S., and apparently in the UK, we still can get film. Our Freestyle had pretty much dedicated themselves to providing film, paper and chemicals for photo-chemical process. If you can, try them, although shipping may be expensive.
I agree with supporting the film companies. I go through quite a lot of Ilford for B&W and EliteChrome for color.
😎