Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I smoke 'White Ox' ... surely someone can come up with something original for that! 😛
Film may not be dead but plenty seem keen to kill it off!
- Thread starter Keith
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Gumby
Veteran
I'm folding.
gavinlg
Veteran
Honestly I don't buy film in Australia at all anymore. The prices are just extortionate. 30 dollars for 1 roll of velvia sounds about right, and now here in the Sunshine Coast (hour north of major city of Brisbane) there isn't anyone that processes e6, or 120 of any type. If you get c41 processing done here it comes back scratched and marked to hell and I have to spend hours getting it all out in photoshop.
Just horrible.
Just horrible.
bgb
Well-known
Aussies eh! the fact that you even think about Camels is a worry 🙂 Guess it's a big place with no one watching and you have lots of spare time on your hands ...
How much film do you need to order to make the postage worthwhile? Is 10 rolls enough or do you need to order lots?
How much film do you need to order to make the postage worthwhile? Is 10 rolls enough or do you need to order lots?
bgb
Well-known
Efke R100 Black and White 127 Size
10 rolls @ $4.95 each $49.50
Cheapest postage $46.25
Total $95.75 USD
or $146 Kiwi dollars
OUCH!
So it would seem you need to order lots and lots ...
:bang:
10 rolls @ $4.95 each $49.50
Cheapest postage $46.25
Total $95.75 USD
or $146 Kiwi dollars
OUCH!
So it would seem you need to order lots and lots ...
:bang:
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I have ordered from Freestyle on my own occasionally but it really has to be a few hundred dolllars worth of gear to make it worth the effort because of the freight. I'll usually get some 100ft rolls of 35mm and a fair amount of 120 and a few packs of Xtol developer for a start and then add a few other delectible goodies. Ink cartridges for my Epson 2400 are $20.00 here and about $13.00 at Freestyle so they are usually in the box as well!
We tend to get a group together via the forum here in Oz and buy as such which means we can split the freight charges up and the main benefit is of course it can be several small orders and be good value. Someone has to co-ordinate it of course and be prepared to put the money up front via their credit card and then organise to get it off to participants when it arrives ... I've done it a couple of times now and it's really not a lot of trouble and we share the responsibility!
I think I can feel another one coming on soon ... I need a few things and actually have a little money to spare at the moment! 😀
wotalegend
Well-known
I have all but given up on E6 even though I have a few rolls in the fridge. Even here in Melbourne there are only a very small number of labs doing E6 and they are all at least an hour from my home. There are still sufficient C41 processors around the suburbs but the experience is usually much the same - scratches and tramlines. And most of them won't/can't handle "odd" sizes (inc. 120). I have a heap of outdated C41 films in my freezer which were given to me from a bankrupted photo shop and I am trying to find a viable way of cross-processing them myself. It is the processing which is the real crunch factor, not the availability of film. I am quite happy and able to do my own B&W processing but if Vanbar folds where are we going to get our chemicals? All the overseas suppliers that I know of will not ship chemicals internationally.
Al Kaplan
Veteran
Can't you find somebody to order the chemicals and ship them to you? If they're dry powders it shouldn't be much of a problem.
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Shipping chemicals cross border can be tricky. Often you need detailed specifications and occasionally permission to bring it in. Before ordering, check with your customs and excise department. Just bring a list of the components and, usually, after some headscratching and flipping through huge binders, they will relent.
Most of the chemistry that can be shipped in "dry" form is OK - anything liquid is not. Air Carriers dont like bottles and cans.
Again, this is a case where you connect with other users and buy bulk to keep costs down. Shipping can cost more than the product in many cases.
Hmm, is there a photochemist among the this forums member?
Some stuff that are sold under "brand name" is actually common chemicals and can be found locally - only the more exotic stuff would have to be sourced overseas or cross border.
With black/white it is easy as many chemicals like sodium sulphite/carbonate are used in other industries (pool cleaners. meat preservatives etc) and can be bought locally. Color is generally more complex, but not impossible to get.
Most of the chemistry that can be shipped in "dry" form is OK - anything liquid is not. Air Carriers dont like bottles and cans.
Again, this is a case where you connect with other users and buy bulk to keep costs down. Shipping can cost more than the product in many cases.
Hmm, is there a photochemist among the this forums member?
Some stuff that are sold under "brand name" is actually common chemicals and can be found locally - only the more exotic stuff would have to be sourced overseas or cross border.
With black/white it is easy as many chemicals like sodium sulphite/carbonate are used in other industries (pool cleaners. meat preservatives etc) and can be bought locally. Color is generally more complex, but not impossible to get.
ZeissFan
Veteran
Holy cow -- $30 for a roll of Velvia! You're right -- that is extortion.
I've bought a good amount of film from Freestyle. I've been very pleased with their service.
And they have a nice variety of b/w emulsions.
The little Vollenda is a good camera. Most have the Radionar -- a decent triplet. Some have the Tessar, and I think you'll occasionally find some with an Elmar, which of course pushes up the price.
I've bought a good amount of film from Freestyle. I've been very pleased with their service.
And they have a nice variety of b/w emulsions.
The little Vollenda is a good camera. Most have the Radionar -- a decent triplet. Some have the Tessar, and I think you'll occasionally find some with an Elmar, which of course pushes up the price.