Ease of accessibility in the film format: does it matter?

[kaiwasoyokaze]

Hope this is in the correct section, but since I am contemplating ditching my digital micro four thirds system for film then here goes.


Looking at the lovely dedication from the members here for film I have a quick question, how hard is it to find film and develop where you live? (In North America) Does this factor in your decision to keep using shooting film? i got into film photography in a big way and am shooting with film so much I am contemplating getting rid of my m43 gear.

However this is also because film is still hugely popular (and "fashionable" is a better word) where I have been living and working in Asia. There are still film developers everywhere in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea where I have resided/residing. So I was wondering how much of a impact it would have on me when I come back (I'm an expat from Canada) and try to continue this film shooting lifestyle?

Do you guys bulk buy from the internets?
Send undeveloped negatives to specialty shops?

If you found film and developers and chemicals very easily as I can in Asia, would you keep shooting film? Why or why not?

I must admit that relatively speaking, shooting 35mm film in Asia has been easy for me. Lomography stores everywhere, excellent developers everywhere, and film shops and antiques everywhere.

I remember going on the 2nd hand market back home in Canada using craiglists and not having this much fun.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Film, etc., is still reasonably readily available in much of the UK and France. I know, that's not the USA -- but the USA is a big country, almost a series of countries. The coasts and the middle are very different, for a start.

Incidentally, why do people cling to the old Eastern Seaboard term, the 'mid west'? It´s the middle east to a Californian...

Cheers,

R.

 

[redisburning]

developing is tough. if I were shooting ANY color I would be mailing out. b&w at home is as easy as it gets, though.

I just buy film off the internet. there is no one local to me to sell me film. if I could easily go to a store and buy film I would. a little bit extra per roll doesnt make a difference to me.

 

[tempest68]

In York, PA there is one good camera store left. They stock a decent variety of 35mm films. They process color C41 as well as E6 (slides), but they do NOT process traditional B&W (but send it out to a lab to be developed for you, and then they do the prints or scan to disc if you want that). I just recently found out about Ilford XP2 which is a C41 process B&W film. The store sells it, so I'm going to be trying it soon. I don't know what quality difference I'll see (I'm new to this, so I might not see what others would see). But knowing they can process it in-house is a big reason for me to try it.

If there are films they don't normally stock, they will order it for you if you want. But I find that it's more convenient to just order it myself and have it shipped to my house or work.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

OK; I'm in the UK but I buy specialist film and not so specialised bargains from all over the world. I often see it cheaper in local shops and often dearer. So I reckon, if you have an address and a letter box you are OK for film and processing.

Regards, David

 

[shadowfox]

I must admit that relatively speaking, shooting 35mm film in Asia has been easy for me. Lomography stores everywhere, excellent developers everywhere, and film shops and antiques everywhere.

I remember going on the 2nd hand market back home in Canada using craiglists and not having this much fun.

Is it easy to get access to public darkroom where you live?
If not, is it easy to setup your own?

 

[JChrome]

New York City has me spoiled... but perhaps not for long. There are plenty (more than 5 places) that are devoted to developing c41, black and white and e6. They also have dark rooms and will allow you to print very large. I really love the people in this city and the creative drive of it. Also, there are plenty of places to buy film... but I look for bulk deals on Craigslist and online (money matters to me).

I think it just matters where you live.

J

 

[kaiwasoyokaze]

Is it easy to get access to public darkroom where you live?
If not, is it easy to setup your own?

i don't know about public darkrooms, but i can count 5 really good developers (privately owned and not a chain, although there are plenty of those too) all around HK. Also some nice vintage film stores for cameras (all formats) sprinkled everywhere on the island and kowloon.

For Korea:
When I was in Busan, the number was smaller but it was starting to get bigger there. In Seoul it was easy too. Go to Chungmuro and Namdaemun for some great strolls and lots of window shopping.

In Taipei (Taiwan) there was a street dedicated to film too near the main bus station. However it was more film and processing, not camera bodies.

I won't even mention Japan because I consider that a great (and last?) bastion of 35mm film fashionistas. (awesome, to say the least)

As for setting up a darkroom, my washroom was perfect for converting into one, hong kong apartments are usually small, dark, and well ventilated (at least the one i am at is).

thanks for all the replies so far though, it seems i need to go to NY for sure (for a lot of reasons, not just film!)

 

[rbiemer]

Where I live in the US, there are no local labs and very little film available at retail so I mail order--well, internet order--film and processing. I have 2 or 3 primary places I get film from and one lab that I use. They give me good, clean scans for not too much money. I would like to do my own BW developing but in my situation that's not possible.
And I shoot C-41 film for both color and BW in 35mm: Ektar for color and BW400CN for BW. I also shoot a little 120 and that same method works for me.

So, it is possible and no too inconvenient to continue to use film even in the hinterlands here.
Rob

EDIT: yes ease of accessibility does matter to me but it is not a deal breaker, for me.

 

[noisycheese]

B&H photo in New York will be able to get you pretty much any film or chemistry you will need. Black and white film is simple to develop at home - E6 is not really much more difficult - you just have to keep a closed eye on your chemistry temperatures during development.

The emulsions and lenses of today are so good that you can get easily get an exhibition quality print from a 35 mm negative when printed to 11"x14" or even 16"x20" with ISO 100 film.

 

[DrTebi]

For buying film, I prefer to order from one of these places:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
http://www.adorama.com/
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/

I prefer these over eBay or other not so known places, as I am quite certain they do properly store the film and don't sell outdated stuff. I would buy from my local lab, but their prices are just too high.

For developing, I use my local lab which is only three blocks away; but sometimes I have had a bunch of films and preferred these places for developing (and scanning if you want):
http://www.northcoastphoto.com/
http://www.dwaynesphoto.com/

I never had any bad experience with any these places in terms of buying or developing film.

So as long as film is available, you can probably count on these places or your local lab if there is one in your area.