Film selection: Japan in March

[taemo]

Hi Mute-on, I will also be in Kyoto and Tokyo on the last week of March (March 28-April3)
and my plan is to primarily shoot color with the M240 and B&W with the M3.
Reason I'm going for color is because end of March is usually the period of cherry blossom so some color would be nice.

If I were you, shooting color film, I would bring some portra 160 and 800 or gold 200.
B&W film I'm bringing will be Neopan 400.

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

I recommend buying some 5 packs of Fujifilm Superia 400 while you're there. You can get them at pretty much any Yodobashi store in Japan.

HERE

I think the price is quite reasonable and although it's not as good as Pro 400H it's still quite a nice film.

Yes, it scans beautifully. And is fairly cheap. I stocked up in Shinjuku. Also easily available was Fuji Natura 1600 which was great for some of the back alleys at night. Film was easily found in Shinjuku and I had a blast looking at all the options in the fridges.

 

[jordan.dickinson]

I'm on the Tri-X 400 for BW and Portra 400/160 for color. I'd also suggest the Kodak Ektar 100 for color, but i'm not sure if the 100 speed films are too slow for you. I find that if I can shoot 100-160 during the daytime and then swap to 400 at dusk and night photos, I feel pretty comfortable that I've got everything covered. I'm also a big fan of using one body for BW and one for Color. That way I'm covered in speed and format. Japan is beautiful that time of year. I'm hoping to get back there in 2016!

 

[taemo]

so what you're saying is not to bring too many film and just by them while in Japan? 😀
Dying to try some Natura 1600!
Do you think the Fuji 35mm 1.9 P&S is worth buying too for 330k yen?

 

[Mute-on]

Thanks All for the useful insights and suggestions.

I'm coming from Australia where Kodak is generally cheaper than Fuji overall, so I'll probably take along Kodak Tri-X and Portra 400, perhaps some Ektar for the Sakura, and purchase Fuji as needed in Japan. I'm keen to try Natura 1600, and Pro 400H (which is exorbitant in Oz).

I'm traveling with family (wife and two toddlers) so photo opportunities may be slightly limited ... Quality over volume. Gardens, parks, temples, shrines, street and everything between is in our sights. It's a logistical challenge but it will be a blast!!!!

Thanks again for your comments. Planning is key for a family trip, so I'm most grateful for the input.

Cheers

J

 

[harvester]

you'll no doubt end up here at some stage ...

* a shakey shot of yodobashi camera's film department taken while walking down the alley one night.

it's basically a separate shop in their sprawling camera/tech/complex devoted to film and processing.

it wasn't actually as exhaustive a selection as i'd hoped, but sure kept me going.

some oddities - ie kodak pro colour films ( eg: portra 400 ) were only sold in 5 roll pro-packs.

i'm sure there are some hidden film-dens with more esoteric selections in the alleyways of tokyo somewhere. i found the basics - tri-x acros etc all over the cities i visited, sometimes in stationery shops or clothes shops or train stations 🙂

AP

 

[Colin Corneau]

Tom A really hits the nail on the head, as the saying goes. Never scrimp on film or good shoes!

This may be of help, too. I saw a few small galleries that had bookshops attached and could easily have spent hundreds (maybe thousands) on books...so many great choices. I love photobooks and Tokyo is a terrific place to find some unique ones.

In that spirit, this may be of help:
http://kenshukan.net/john/archives/...l-guide-part-1-jimbocho-photobook-store-walk/

 

[Mute-on]

Thanks guys!! I've got Yodobashi on my camera shop list, along with many others ...

Colin, I have that link bookmarked as well!

I think I'll be spoiled for choice with film, so trying to keep it simple. I don't mind experimenting a bit, but I think I'll be sticking with neg film. I need to test some unfamiliar films (Ektar, Portra) as I'm traditionally a Fuji user. I'm open to new developments, though, since I've just come back to film after a 10 year break.

Cheers

J

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

Thanks guys!! I've got Yodobashi on my camera shop list, along with many others ...

Colin, I have that link bookmarked as well!

I think I'll be spoiled for choice with film, so trying to keep it simple. I don't mind experimenting a bit, but I think I'll be sticking with neg film. I need to test some unfamiliar films (Ektar, Portra) as I'm traditionally a Fuji user. I'm open to new developments, though, since I've just come back to film after a 10 year break.

Cheers

J

Now most important....post some scans here when you are back

 

[Mute-on]

Ok so I'm pretty set for film now I think. This is what's in the freezer:
Ektar X 14
XP2 X 5
Portra 400 X 10
Some other random colour neg that can stay at home.

Taking MP 0.58 with 35 Summaron and M2 with 50 Summicron, plus Sekonic 308, all crammed in a Billingham L2.

VERY EXCITED!!!!!!

Cheers

J

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

Ok so I'm pretty set for film now I think. This is what's in the freezer:
Ektar X 14
XP2 X 5
Portra 400 X 10
Some other random colour neg that can stay at home.

Taking MP 0.58 with 35 Summaron and M2 with 50 Summicron, plus Sekonic 308, all crammed in a Billingham L2.

VERY EXCITED!!!!!!

Cheers

J

Enjoy! And like I said....post some scans when you get back. And enjoy the food.

 

[mdwsta4]

Just seeing this now, but I'd highly recommend picking up Fuji Premium 400 while you're there. It's only sold in Japan and is essentially Fuji's equivalent to Portra. I bought 20 rolls or so while I was there and wish I bought more!

Like others mentioned (and it looks like you're packing), 400 speed works very well. If you want to shoot more wide open during the day I'd recommend a screw in 2-3 stop ND filter

Here are some samples of Fuji Superia Premium 400

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[tedium]

Japan

Japan

I was there 4 months ago and I took 25 rolls of film, Everything from ISO25 to 400, I bought ISO 800 colour over there and developed it there.
I found they still had film but not as much as previous years but you should be fine. I shot majority of 100 Black and White film.
You won't be short of things to shoot.
If you haven't already put Map Camera in Shinjuku on your list of shops to visit.

 

[Mute-on]

Scans: tick
Food: tick, tick
Fuji Premium 400: tick
MAP Camera: tick

Thanks very much, All!!

Just counting down to departure (in 3 weeks ....)

Cheers

J

 

[taemo]

can you guys please recommend a lab around Tokyo (Shinjuku preferably) that can develop 120 E6 within 2 days?
instead of bringing a 35mm camera, all of a sudden I'm thinking of bringing my 124-G

 

[jonmanjiro]

Also Kitamura Camera on the corner diagonally opposite Map Camera for fast on-premises C41 film developing if you'd prefer to get it developed before heading home. They have a used gear section on the 4th floor too.

I think Kitamura can do E6 with a two day turn around during the week. Not sure if a weekend gets in the way through. Horiuchi Color might be faster but you'll pay more too.

 

[Mute-on]

Also Kitamura Camera on the corner diagonally opposite Map Camera for fast on-premises C41 film developing if you'd prefer to get it developed before heading home. They have a used gear section on the 4th floor too.

Thanks Jon.

I have a few recommendations for film development. I'll definitely add this to the list.

I'll be checking out their used gear section regardless.

Many thanks

J

 

[DanskDynamit]

Tri-x & Hawkeye 400.

 

[taemo]

I think Kitamura can do E6 with a two day turn around during the week. Not sure if a weekend gets in the way through. Horiuchi Color might be faster but you'll pay more too.

thank you! just to confirm I got the 2 stores correctly, they are the ones by the Shinjukugyoen-Mae Station?

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Thanks Jon.

I have a few recommendations for film development. I'll definitely add this to the list.

I'll be checking out their used gear section regardless.

Many thanks

J

If you make it to Akihabara, there's a small used gear shop on the main street but down a ways towards Suehirocho. I never went there as a resident but stumbled upon it literally an hour before I was heading home from my last trip and grabbed a PnS I was after (for a good price). The guy that runs it is either Indian or Pakistani (forgot) but speaks English, and will allow some finagling on some items.