mansio
Established
keep buying from oversea might help push the price higher
Film prices in Australia!
- Thread starter Johnmcd
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skibeerr
Well-known
mansio
Established
dont matter, you guys from australia are eating it, egg, chicken or kfc
rscheffler
Well-known
Not sure if you're joking... but I'll bite.
I used to operate and maintain a similar Fuji minilab as part of my job at a newspaper. That particular task ceased about 10 years ago, so my recollection is a bit foggy now, but I do remember these things don't like to sit idle for long periods. There are problems of evaporation and chemical deposits in the mechanisms. And it's a fair amount of chemistry to get it filled and ready, just to have sitting around. A major consideration is whether it's even operational, condition of the components and how long it's been sitting around.
It's an interesting idea to fill it with B&W chemistry.... One problem might be temperature. B&W is typically processed in the 20-25 ˚C range whereas C41 is 3:15 @ 38 ˚C. You'd want to check the manual whether you can even drop the temperature control to a low enough starting point. But I suppose a high development temperature would be in-line with how quickly the film is pulled through the machine. You would definitely want to do some test rolls.
This PDF from Kodak gives some overview of the C41 process.
The manuals home page.
Johnmcd
Well-known
I don't think that has anything to do with it. For example Fletchers has always been the 'iconic' camera retailer in Sydney since I was a teenager in the late '70's and early '80's. It now sells a large range of digital cameras as you would expect with a large photo processing area. This is where it makes its money not on the old analogue stuff. Now I can only imagine it can buy it from overseas wholesale at at least a 1/4 of the price it is selling it at. Now given that 100% mark up is usual, perhaps $7.50 instead of $15 would be considered a reasonable profit margin and make it worthwhile to take up the counter space (fridge space). At least they might move some stock.
There is no way in the world that if they sold a huge amount at $15, that they would drop the price. How does that make any sense? That only proves that their pricing is correct. In fact they would probably raise it!
For some reason all camera outlets have decided that film prices like this are now 'standard' for the local market. In my opinion they deserve to sell no film. I for one will not support a blantant 'rip off' in the hope that they might actually lower their prices. BTW, I use Vanbar in Sydney for all my chemicals and will continue to do so.
Cheers - John
batey_1020
Well-known
I've been using this group for a while.
http://www.lofico.com.au/
They have limited supply sometimes though but better the any of the reatail places.
http://www.lofico.com.au/
They have limited supply sometimes though but better the any of the reatail places.
pjdg1958
Newbie
I buy most of my film online. Lofico has fairly cheap prices, as do a number of Australian eBay suppliers. I support them because it keeps prices down. Although I can source 35mm relatively cheaply compared to US, the real price gouging takes place with large format sheets. I develop all my own b&w and colour, but believe it or not some Big W stores offer processing of C41 negatives without prints for around $4-.
batey_1020
Well-known
By the way im sure there are enough people using similar films here that we could do a bulk import of 200 rolls or so.
hausen
Well-known
No better here in NZ, and i agree with John. What is the point having it in the fridge at a 400-500% mark up and then bitch when it doesn't sell. I talked to my local shop explaining that I could get Delta 100/Acros delivered to my door from B&H at a third of what they were charging, and in 3 days. There response was, 'you would be crazy not to continue buying from NYC then? Retail market always bitch about how sales off the internet are killing them but in truth they are committing suicide.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I have plenty of 135 in the fridge ... about a thousand feet so I'm not in the market for any more currently.
I must be a cheapskate because I'm damned if I'll pay seven dollars for a roll of Tri-X! 😀
I must be a cheapskate because I'm damned if I'll pay seven dollars for a roll of Tri-X! 😀
charjohncarter
Veteran
So dilettantes and kooks will be the only people buying film in OZ. Let us know if we can be of help to make you look cool, as in we will smuggle it to you.
thereabouts
Established
Jubb Jubb
Well-known
Still very expensive. $12 for a roll of Ektar!? It's approx $5.00 at BH
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Interesting business who are obviously supporting film but ... LINK
How can anyone justify paying twelve dollars for a roll of Tri-X? Add the cost of developing and scanning and you're very close to a dollar per exposure. That's a little scary for me!
I guess this country just doesn't have the population to keep film afloat at a decent price.
Noll
Well-known
I don't live down there but someone might do well by looking into starting up the Australian version of Dwayne's photo in Parsons, Kansas. Mail order developing and fresh film sale too for reasonable cost. Probably nobody's gonna get rich doing it, though.
Mystyler
Established
I questioned the prices in more than one retail outlet and aside from, "that's how much our supplier charges" other responses were along just those very lines...!
Johnmcd
Well-known
I'm sick of the argument that we are just a small market. If that had any legs at all, we would be paying more for every imported article but we don't. In fact digital hardware isn't too much higher than in the US and cheaper than Europe. So what gives? Maybe there is a nice little 'business' for somebody...
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
There's a guy on Aust Ebay who calls himself 'cheap shots' and I did buy some film from him a while ago. Sells a five pack of 135 36 exp HP5+ for $34.50 which is still close to seven dollars per roll but a lot better than Vanbar and some of the alternatives.
Johnmcd
Well-known
I have done that before (as have others here) and it certainly works but it can take some effort calculating fair postage costs especially if each person's order is of a different size and weight. Then it has to be reposted locally.
I've just received a order from B&H of one new backpack camera bag, 60 rolls of 120mm and two reels of 100ft 35mm. Postage was over $100 dollars (from memory) but I saved nearly $200 on the bag and $325 on the film. Still way out in front despite the postage. And to my door in 4 days.
Mystyler
Established
I'm sure there is some weight in that argument, John, as would be the price of freight and the fact we have far better employment conditions for workers so I could understand if the price was slightly more expensive. That would be fine. However, four times the price or more even when our dollar was equal to or greater than the US? Something's amiss there! Yep, I generally wait until I'm low and the just cop the $100+ freight from B&H. Still cheaper...
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