Philippines Filipino RF users!!!

[wamjam]

They forgot the academic users. In school today, I had to assign shoots using the still available colour negative films, instead of the usual BW. I would assume that the other schools would also be doing the same for now.

i also called Joli's general merchandise today (art supplies right beside U.S.T.) hoping they would have some stock of colpan or even reloads...nada!

 

[eddie con]

I didn't see any yellow&grey boxes on the shelves today. Perhaps I wasn't looking. P240/roll is a bit steep, considering that it used to be possible to get 5 or 6 Colpan rolls for that amount. Besides, I don't like Tmax. I find it too fine. I prefer something grittier, with more character, with more 'kick'. Tmax seems too clean for me. The main reason why I still shoot film is for the random textures which arise from the many chemical reactions which take place between exposure and development.

Tmax for me just doesn't have "balls" If I wanted something that's clean and clear and fine, I could probably do better with digital :angel:

Jay

jay,
at the rate things are going with b/w films here in RP, i may have to settle for anything that can come close to showing anything that will decently show good "balls' complexion". :bang: and, all this at a time when i just got a tank and D76 to try out some old forgotten skill! the colpans or neopans would have been good test rolls for developing; not too painful to the pocket should i bungle ... before my ilfords arrive this december. (uhh... it has got no balls too, i know. but i need something that can tolerate my amateur skills). i hear the chinese films are great and cheap but i only see color films of that Lucky brand. i hope i get luckier in hong kong end of the month.

 

[Kat]

Kat,

Arista Edu Ultra = Fomapan. It's good.

Yep, everyone here has had good experience with it. I saw Jay's results with it, looks better than Colpan. Worst case though, I can live with purely color film.

 

[ZorkiKat]

jay,
i hear the chinese films are great and cheap but i only see color films of that Lucky brand. i hope i get luckier in hong kong end of the month.

Eddie

did you know that we used to have Lucky pan here? This film, as well as its colour neg brethren were imported by the now defunct V-Art Merchandising.
Lucky film sold for much less than Colpan in its time- surprising since Lucky is factory packed vs Columbia's home-spooled versions whose quality is sometimes questionable. Sakim lang talaga ang Columbia, but that's another story...and have I got a lot of stories which make this retailer really despicable. Lucky film went away almost 4 years ago. Never been seen again. Have you seen any Luckycolor recently?

Jay

 

[eddie con]

lucky color

lucky color

Eddie

did you know that we used to have Lucky pan here? This film, as well as its colour neg brethren were imported by the now defunct V-Art Merchandising.
Lucky film sold for much less than Colpan in its time- surprising since Lucky is factory packed vs Columbia's home-spooled versions whose quality is sometimes questionable. Sakim lang talaga ang Columbia, but that's another story...and have I got a lot of stories which make this retailer really despicable. Lucky film went away almost 4 years ago. Never been seen again. Have you seen any Luckycolor recently?

Jay

jay,
ayayayay! had i known that i should have bought the whole lot of the color film. a month ago, i bought a couple of lucky at sanly cubao. they were selling the lucky color 200 for Php68@.
i remember the pictures you took with lucky bw and they look great. are they good at being pushed as well whether from shooting and/or processing? if they are cheap and available in hong kong, i think i will buy tons. and sell them to you guys at un-columbia rates. :angel: i actually plan to scrounge for fast films but i am just worried they might get fogged by the xray machines at the airports.

 

[tsuma]

visiting manila

visiting manila

It always saddens me, to say the least, when I hear my own people talk down about their own country, especially in an international venue like this. Nakakahiya; especially when non-Filipinos speak fondly of the country, when it's not even their own. Nasaan ang pagmamahal mo para sa bayan mo? I have met nationals of countries such as Lebanon, Taiwan and Mexico who speak with much more pride about their own countries. I don't see how much different the Philippines is. I have lived in Manila most of my life, but I have been like a gypsy the last five years. I disagree that it is a dying city; what do you call all those developments in the Fort, in Southern and Eastern Manila? How do you think Hong Kong or Singapore looked 20, 30 years ago? Just like Manila, with all the shanties and run down buildings; but look where they are now! All metropolitan cities go through growing pains; and even cities like NYC/LA aren't all clean or have fast-moving traffic. It took me almost 3 hours to go thru LA a week ago; and by the way, just look at the horizon when you have a chance, and tell me if you see clear blue skies. That's why I have a lot of respect for the Ayalas, the Sys, and all the entrepreneurs who believe in and are helping to build the country. They haven't given up on the Phils. They are showing that they love the Phils.


uhh... visit manila? unless you are into photodocumenting a dying city, perhaps? one to two days might be tolerable but the traffic and the pollution can kill you. literally.
philippines will be more memorable if you go for the countryside. annie and kat's lists/tips are great.
you may wish to check out some domestic flights that come dirt cheap. they will email you to inform you of special bargain prices and buy online which you may have to do ahead of time. great savings.
cebu pacific is one example. their planes are as air-worthy as any of the domestic commercial planes. (and that is as assuring as i can get).
i have had no problems with the airport xrays but i am not sure how high speed films would fare. i don't know if the airport guys allow hand inspection. they just point you to the xray machine ALL THE TIME. no harm in requesting though. they tend to have a soft spot for foreigners. and kat is right; very few photo stores have 120 films and her list of films are what you often see around here. film processing can be a problem, too. black and white processing will take a week sometimes, and few shops still do that (island photo is one). it is diy as far as this is concerned. many shops are not good film handhandlers too. they smudge up the negatives by touching the film surface. (they are trained to handle memory cards now). there are a few good photo shops left that use fresh chemicals. i go to sanly photo shop in cubao and in edsa-shangrila in pasig for my film processing; they are nearer and i am a regular. (120 fuji films are available there). the owner is a photographer who is into medium format. i am sure the other pinoy rff members have their "suki" -- favored -- shops which they can refer you to.
as regards food, uhhh... maybe somebody else can pick that up.[/QUOTE]

 

[ray_g]

My advice to you is this: When you want comfort and fun with your vacation, (please) don't spend it in Manila.:angel: Europe or Australia, is the place for a relaxing, energizing and fun-filled vacation. We (Pinoys) vacation in Manila, exclusively to visit our relatives. If you expect, comfort and first class accomodation in Manila, you would be frustrated, and consequently will throw the white towel and complain.

I think Manila, and the Philippines in general is a great place to vacation. My only complaint is the long flight to get there from the East Coast.

When we were there last year, we spent a few nights at the Westin Philippine Plaza. For those who don't know, this is a five star hotel by the Manila Bay. I think the accomodations were just as good, if not better, than similarly classed hotels in Europe and the US that I have stayed in. The president of Indonesia was staying one floor above me. The best thing - it cost $88 a night.

I also had a chauffered car service 24 hours a day, and could drive to Baguio if I wanted to. Sure traffic is bad, but in an air-conditioned car with driver, the traffic is more bearable. No hassles with traffic. And besides, on vacation, i am rarely in a hurry. Besides, traffic is just as bad in many places. Thailand, Rome, Hongkong, for instance. I also lived in NYC for a few years. How much - $20 a day.

Of course, you have to stay with family and not in a hotel the whole time, or else be labeled as a supladong balikbayan. Still, I don't see the problem with accomodations. Meals cooked and served for you. All your clothes laundered and pressed for you? I don't think you can get that in Australia or Europe.

I was in "Old Panama" last week. The tourists were going around the old Spanish ruins. Intramuros is much better (not meaning any disrespect to any Panamanians) since rather than ruins, it is well preserved.

Street photography - the streets of manila certainly has lots to photograph. And moreso for a Filipino, who can speak the language. Most importantly, being a Filipino, you can get photos that are more than superficial, for lack of a better description.

I suppose it depends on what you look for in a vacation. Living in the west, I really do not look for the usual Western sites and amenities when I go on vacation. However, you can still get these in the Philippines, if you spend a little money. Still, much more inexpensively than in Europe or the US. Same for "fun and relaxation."

If you do it strictly to stay with relatives for free, often in an overcrowded home (God-bless them for their hospitality) with (for some) less amenities than you are used to, and rely on the family jeepney for your transportation, then that is hardly "Manila's" fault.

 

[Kat]

When I went to Apperture in Banawe a few months ago, they had Lucky color film, I think. But it wasn't dirt cheap, so I decided to stick with Solid Gold, which I love except for the grain.

 

[eddie con]

level headed arguments

level headed arguments

I think Manila, and the Philippines in general is a great place to vacation. My only complaint is the long flight to get there from the East Coast.

When we were there last year, we spent a few nights at the Westin Philippine Plaza. For those who don't know, this is a five star hotel by the Manila Bay. I think the accomodations were just as good, if not better, than similarly classed hotels in Europe and the US that I have stayed in. The president of Indonesia was staying one floor above me. The best thing - it cost $88 a night.

I also had a chauffered car service 24 hours a day, and could drive to Baguio if I wanted to. Sure traffic is bad, but in an air-conditioned car with driver, the traffic is more bearable. No hassles with traffic. And besides, on vacation, i am rarely in a hurry. Besides, traffic is just as bad in many places. Thailand, Rome, Hongkong, for instance. I also lived in NYC for a few years. How much - $20 a day.

Of course, you have to stay with family and not in a hotel the whole time, or else be labeled as a supladong balikbayan. Still, I don't see the problem with accomodations. Meals cooked and served for you. All your clothes laundered and pressed for you? I don't think you can get that in Australia or Europe.

I was in "Old Panama" last week. The tourists were going around the old Spanish ruins. Intramuros is much better (not meaning any disrespect to any Panamanians) since rather than ruins, it is well preserved.

Street photography - the streets of manila certainly has lots to photograph. And moreso for a Filipino, who can speak the language. Most importantly, being a Filipino, you can get photos that are more than superficial, for lack of a better description.

I suppose it depends on what you look for in a vacation. Living in the west, I really do not look for the usual Western sites and amenities when I go on vacation. However, you can still get these in the Philippines, if you spend a little money. Still, much more inexpensively than in Europe or the US. Same for "fun and relaxation."

If you do it strictly to stay with relatives for free, often in an overcrowded home (God-bless them for their hospitality) with (for some) less amenities than you are used to, and rely on the family jeepney for your transportation, then that is hardly "Manila's" fault.

ray,
your level-headed arguments may just change my mind about the dying state of manila. but i am keeping my stand until i see the rivers coming back to life and i can breathe in more deeply. i won't be holding my breath though to wait for that day. i will just practice zen. by the way, your gallery shows a good view of poverty in the philippines. they are not a rude depiction. more like a social commentary of someone who knows what nationalism truly means in a global society that we live in now.

 

[ray_g]

ray,
your level-headed arguments may just change my mind about the dying state of manila. but i am keeping my stand until i see the rivers coming back to life and i can breathe in more deeply. i won't be holding my breath though to wait for that day.

I would hold my breath, Eddie. Especially when eating at the Estero.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[ZorkiKat]

disappearing films

disappearing films

jay,
ayayayay! had i known that i should have bought the whole lot of the color film. a month ago, i bought a couple of lucky at sanly cubao. they were selling the lucky color 200 for Php68@.
i remember the pictures you took with lucky bw and they look great. are they good at being pushed as well whether from shooting and/or processing? if they are cheap and available in hong kong, i think i will buy tons. and sell them to you guys at un-columbia rates. :angel: i actually plan to scrounge for fast films but i am just worried they might get fogged by the xray machines at the airports.

Eddie

I wonder if sanly would still bring some Lucky film in? Php68/roll is quite cheap. I remember that V-art sold Lucky pan 100 at Php28/roll. Colpan was selling for about Php 30. When Luckypan disappeared, Colpan's price shot to Php42 then Php 48. Lucky color 100 sold for about Php 42/ per 36exp roll.

There were other "cheap" colour films. These often had charming qualities which would surely arouse the interest of even the most jaded film shooter. We used to have Ferrania/Imation in 100. 200, and 400 speeds. All sold for half of what Kodak films sold. Imation was last seen in 2000 or 2001. Their 400 speed colour negative film was so grainy and gritty. It was every bit like the early ISO 400 colourneg films from Kodak or Fuji of the 1970s. A postcard print from a correctly exposed Ferrania Imation 400 neg would show a lot of grain and pasty hues- so bad that it was good!

Agfa's distributor, Photokina, briefly put out generic European films (I suspect to be made by Ferrania or Perutz) in 100, 400 and 800 speeds. These disappeared around January this year. These films too were cheap. The 100's were fine. The 400 and 800 were, like the Imation 400, grainy and gritty. What they produced in even the most routine machine prints couldn't be matched by any Photoshp grain-adding filter.

Perutz, Agfa's 'inferior' stocks also used to be prominent. They always promised to have a surprise lurking inside their green boxes .. You'll never know the actual speed (even though its marked ISO 100) or what colour bias it will have. There was a time when a batch of Perutz shipped in with serious speed and colour issues. These were sold at Php 28/ 36 roll. Perutz disappeared around 4 years ago from the local market.

BTW, Luckypan (at least the ISO 100 version) BW will not push well. The film develops quickly and its densities build up quite fast. Pushing will make the developable densities really heavy and will cause you printing/scanning problems.

Jay

 

[eddie con]

Eddie

I wonder if sanly would still bring some Lucky film in? Php68/roll is quite cheap. I remember that V-art sold Lucky pan 100 at Php28/roll. Colpan was selling for about Php 30. When Luckypan disappeared, Colpan's price shot to Php42 then Php 48. Lucky color 100 sold for about Php 42/ per 36exp roll.

JAY,
I will bring this up with the owner. I hope the others who may drop by its branches raise it too with them. Besides, the lucky color sold like hot cakes. Last time I was there, I only saw two left on the shelf. Lovely, my favorite girl at the counter in Sanly Cubao, said that photographers buy them by the dozens.
And thanks for the very entertaining but sad tale of the soon-to-be halide legend (hopefully not). ... and the tip on pushing lucky bw film. now all i need is the film. :bang:

 

[eddie con]

I would hold my breath, Eddie. Especially when eating at the Estero.

Thanks for the comments.

Ray,
Remember physio ... the nose adapts to smells eh. And biochem ... the food there may not be organic but at least the smell of the place is -- as in decaying organic matter.
And you are welcome.

 

[retrocam]

Guys,

FWIW, last Christmas when I was visiting Pinas, I was able to get some Tri-X in Park Square, Makati. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the store...

 

[ZorkiKat]

Eddie

I wonder if sanly would still bring some Lucky film in? Php68/roll is quite cheap. I remember that V-art sold Lucky pan 100 at Php28/roll. Colpan was selling for about Php 30. When Luckypan disappeared, Colpan's price shot to Php42 then Php 48. Lucky color 100 sold for about Php 42/ per 36exp roll.

JAY,
I will bring this up with the owner. I hope the others who may drop by its branches raise it too with them. Besides, the lucky color sold like hot cakes. Last time I was there, I only saw two left on the shelf. Lovely, my favorite girl at the counter in Sanly Cubao, said that photographers buy them by the dozens.
And thanks for the very entertaining but sad tale of the soon-to-be halide legend (hopefully not). ... and the tip on pushing lucky bw film. now all i need is the film. :bang:

Eddie

I hope Sanly do bring some in- they would surely profit from us the film-deprived. From what I heard about Lucky China- from the former importers, V-art- the factory required a very large minimum order before they even start considering to notice to you. I had, at one time asked V-art if they could import the 120 versions as well as the 400 speed emulsions. The bulk of their import consisted mostly of Lucky RA-4 type colour paper, then followed with Lucky colour negative film. The BW films were, for the most part, just thrown in-pasingit lang. I've heard/read from other sources V-art's claim that Lucky require at least 10,000 rolls minimum per order.

Jay

 

[eddie con]

Eddie

I hope Sanly do bring some in- they would surely profit from us the film-deprived. From what I heard about Lucky China- from the former importers, V-art- the factory required a very large minimum order before they even start considering to notice to you. I had, at one time asked V-art if they could import the 120 versions as well as the 400 speed emulsions. The bulk of their import consisted mostly of Lucky RA-4 type colour paper, then followed with Lucky colour negative film. The BW films were, for the most part, just thrown in-pasingit lang. I've heard/read from other sources V-art's claim that Lucky require at least 10,000 rolls minimum per order.

Jay

jay,
i just checked again with sanly. they already posted orders for the lucky color films. i asked if they can include bw and i got a noncommittal response. maybe, if the others can call and press for the bw film, it might just work. their number is 912-0640. ask for lovely; she is a very accomodating saleslady and promptly relays client requests to her boss.

 

[ZorkiKat]

quickie EB at hidalgo

quickie EB at hidalgo

Was with Wam and Ditoy this afternoon at Hidalgo. Finally got to meet Ditoy and his R-D1. A lot of film cameras were still around in the used camera shops, mostly AF SLRs though. The most ridiculous thing I saw were two Lucky pan rolls which sold for Php 200 each! Aba, nakikihabol sa Kodak Tmax, which were around Php 250 per roll.

The R-D1 is truely awesome!

Jay

 

[ZorkiKat]

jay,
i just checked again with sanly. they already posted orders for the lucky color films. i asked if they can include bw and i got a noncommittal response. maybe, if the others can call and press for the bw film, it might just work. their number is 912-0640. ask for lovely; she is a very accomodating saleslady and promptly relays client requests to her boss.

Eddie

I should go to their shop. Cubao isn't too far from where I am. They might just take notice if they realise that they suddenly get queries for Lucky BW from different people. Huwag muna natin sabihin na magkakakilala tayo para hindi halatang conspiracy.

Jay

 

[eddie con]

Eddie

I should go to their shop. Cubao isn't too far from where I am. They might just take notice if they realise that they suddenly get queries for Lucky BW from different people. Huwag muna natin sabihin na magkakakilala tayo para hindi halatang conspiracy.

Jay

JAY,
what a scheme! it might just work.

 

[eddie con]

bw films, some from china, available in hidalgo. friend of mine snooped around and found some at the megacolor and another shop. some developers and fixer available too. sorry for scanty detail; the friend has defected to digital lately.