How dependent on the internet is your continued use of film?

[hausen]

I'm with you Keith, NZ prices are ridiculous, so I am 100% online, mostly from B&H.

 

[yanchep_mike]

Keith your not wrong, i voted most of it but i have to say it is all of it. If i want to buy in a shop here i will travel about 70km, (only a few shops selling film now) i will pay 3 times as much and not get what i want.
So internet shopping is the only way for me, really.
I get stuff from the US and Germany and have no problems at all.

 

[Mystyler]

I buy in bulk online, and a few boxes here and there if I need to from local shops and the price is decent, I think I paid $9/roll for Agfa CT100. Can't really argue, but then you'll get me started on the now discontinued Provia 400X at $42/roll locally...there is no future in that!
Superia 3 pack are reasonable, around $20 for the lot. Anything else and it is online.

 

[Contarama]

Well if I want Arista Premium then it's internet 'Freestyle'
But as of Late I'm hooked on Tmax 400 so its Adorama or B&H just a busride away

For the poll I Chose... Very little of it

You took the words right out of my brain! Sorceress!

One of the many advantages to living in Rome...I mean the Big Apple... 🙂

 

[pakeha]

Almost exclusively on line. I buy the occasional short dated rolls from the local pharmacy that does colour processing.[ In fact they are still quite busy..and they sometimes give the stuff away].
The same whining from retailers has been happening here, though in the main it is from book sellers.Government has been approached to lower the GST threshold for online purchasers.
It is easier for them moan and whine rather than make change.Buy local..pa - they don`t deserve my money so I purchase as much as I can online....love those Hong Kong sellers.

 

[dof]

I am fortunate to live in a larger city, and one with a deep history of photographers. I have bought film online, but it's a rarity. I sometimes have to go to a few different stores to get what I want, but I'm lucky to have all of them so close by.

 

[rhl-oregon]

I'm lucky to have a 3rd generation family camera shop in Eugene, Oregon. Ilford, Kodak, Fuji, 35, 120, 4x5, Fujiroid, refrigerated pro films. That's where I get FP2, Delta3200, SFX, Ektar, occasional Velvia....But I also buy from RFFers (Leo Christoffer's Fomapan, e.g) and Freestyle (Arista).

 

[thegman]

I would likely never have known about, much less bought any, Arista Premium 400 or Efke KB 25 had it not been for the www.

Freestyle along with B&H feed my need.

I think this is an important point, without the internet, I never would have heard of companies like Fotoman, Horseman, or even Voigtlander.

The film and film camera market on a per-town basis is pretty small generally, viewed globally, it's still massive. The internet has meant that I'm wondering whether to buy a Razzledog or a Fotoman 45SPS, two cameras from different continents which I'd never have heard of without the web.

I think generally retailers would do well to embrace the web, not fight it. I own 4 cameras right now, all found via the net. My prized Rollieflex GX was found online, but bought in the bricks and mortar store. That store's website won them a sale, without the web I never would have known they had it in stock.

 

[pete hogan]

Color Fuji 200 comes from the local Walgreens drug and is processed and scanned there. I believe that source will continue, but it's hard to say for how long.

B&W FOMAPAN 400 comes from Freestyle and is processed and scanned by NCPS, or it goes into the refr.

The refr stock is building steadily, so my strategy is Internet-dependent.

 

[sevo]

I tend to order all more special film on the internet - but there are several local shops that still have the more common formats and types. And all places I order from seem to take orders by telephone and mail as well - so even if the Internet vanishes, I'll still be able to get my film.

 

[Hamfish]

Living in Aus too makes buying film IRL an overpriced joke. I will do it when I have to but cringe every time at the smarmy sales clerk. Luckily the internet exists or I would not be able to support my filthy habbit.

 

[Godfrey]

I can get most films locally but at 20% over prices from the bigbinternet suppliers. I do both, depending on need.

G

 

[skibeerr]

Just came back from a visit to Vanbar to pick up a bulk roll of tri x.
Just $70 but guess what, expires in three months 🙁

There was a big yellow sign at the paper section which said there was a 10 percent price increase from 27 of august.

I will not pay these ridiculous prices so it's the internet for me.

 

[furbs]

I'm fortunate that my shop is a half block from Central Camera, Chicago's oldest camera store. I have been going there for almost 30 years, and do my best to keep them in business.

I bought my first roll of Velvia from them many moons ago - nice little shop, and very friendly. Now I save a few dollars by purchasing online, though my film needs are by no means online-dependent. A number of local shops stock the regulars, and even some discontinued films, though at a markup; real estate doesn't come cheap in the city.

 

[Black]

Just to add a bit of balance to this thread, I buy almost exclusively from Mathers of Lancashire, in store - whose prices are very competitive. I'm lucky enough to live only a short car ride away (12 miles).

 

[Keith]

Here's an example for you people who don't live on our fair shores! Photo Continental is probably the largest outlet for this type of thing in Brisbane. LINK

 

[furbs]

Here's an example for you people who don't live on our fair shores! Photo Continental is probably the largest outlet for this type of thing in Brisbane. LINK

I can see why you ship from overseas 😱

The mind reels at their prices for Provia 400...

 

[Bobfrance]

Being in Manchester (UK) there are still quite a few camera shops that still sell film. There is even an 'Impossible project' shop that sells instant. However I'm a medium format shooter and most sell only 35mm these days. Coupled with higher price and the fact that none of the shops are conveniently near enough for me to just pop-in I still buy my film (and chemicals) online.

It must be tough for some of you guys out there. I'm lucky I could probably drive from my house to the Ilford factory in less time than it takes some of you to reach the nearest town.

 

[michaelwj]

Just came back from a visit to Vanbar to pick up a bulk roll of tri x.
Just $70 but guess what, expires in three months 🙁

There was a big yellow sign at the paper section which said there was a 10 percent price increase from 27 of august.

I will not pay these ridiculous prices so it's the internet for me.

Really, A$70 is ridiculous? A lot of people mention B&H, see the attached screen shot, US$100 inc shipping. Gimme a break. And if that came already expired what would you do? Send it back and wait a month with no guarantee? So a 10% increase puts it at $77, and you're still better off.

I normally buy bulk film from vanbar, TMax400 (~$75 I think), if it was expiring in less than 6 months I'd ask for a discount. I live close by though, its easier for me, and once shipping is taken into account, its about the same price unless I'm buying a lot of it. I like being able to get it on the spot, I can pick up a roll of Delta 3200 on my way into town if I'm doing some night street shooting for instance, rather than planning ahead. I also like to support the shops that seem to care about more than the latest wiz bang, if no-one does, they'll all be gone.

Michael

 

[michaelwj]

Really, A$70 is ridiculous? A lot of people mention B&H, see the attached screen shot, US$100 inc shipping. Gimme a break. And if that came already expired what would you do? Send it back and wait a month with no guarantee? So a 10% increase puts it at $77, and you're still better off.

And an update, want to get it from Freestyle or Adorama? Still cheaper here. I'm getting pretty sick of this "its so much cheaper online" garbage. It sounds like you're just lazy or somehow feel like the camera salespeople are beneath you (not directed at anyone in particular btw)

Michael