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

[Keith]

On line shopping has really caught on in Oz it seems and I'm sure many other countries are the same. Retailers here have been bleating about it for several years now and have been lobbying the government to do something about the situation by lowering the current tax free threshold of one thousand dollars down to a much lower figure. The government incidentally has expressed little interest in this idea.

If I couldn't buy my film on line from overseas suppliers I probably wouldn't be using it frankly because retail prices here are stupidly high so Freestyle and B&H etc get most of my business.

I suspect that without online purchasing film would be in a lot more trouble than it is currently! I guess many industries rely on online sales these days but film in particular would almost be gone without this option IMO.

 

[thegman]

I am from the UK, but now am in Australia. I buy 100% of film online, it's cheaper, easier, and better range. I buy pretty much everything online for the same reason. Books, whisky, batteries, computers, clothes, everything.

With a few exceptions, shopping retail is a pretty painful experience, so I don't bother.

Frankly, I'd still buy online if they paid more tax than retail, and charged higher prices, it's just a better service most of the time.

 

[Contarama]

At this phase in the game I have only three film cameras. The last time a bought a wad of film was when I was given a nice gift card for christmas and got myself about ten rolls. Used it up pronto and paid for the processing and was pleased with my progress. I bought a three pack from the store a while back and used it up in the RFs. I have been thinking about going down and buying some. You think people are in trouble. In the past two years I have watched several local sources of "drugstore" film and development dry up and go away. The internet is all we have left darn near then you have to buy it and pay freight too.

 

[DougK]

Good question, Keith. It seems like the only films that I both like and can reliably buy locally are 35mm Kodak BW400CN and Tri-X. Anything else is hit or miss, so I usually order my film online. Come to think of it, this may be another reason I shoot more black and white these days... it's what I can get.

 

[Bill Clark]

Buy all of my film on internet business sites.

Very few bricks & mortar places carry film here in Minneapolis anymore and, if they do carry film, a very limited amount of choices.

Good topic to survey.

 

[Gregoyle]

One option I would have chosen: online exclusively.

The only reasonably priced film available locally is 35mm Fuji color film (Superia? or a cheaper version?) at most Wal-Marts. Everyone else charges nearly double what B&H or Freestyle charge.

 

[Ranchu]

It's not, but I'd like to keep having the internet.

 

[gavinlg]

Totally dependent.

 

[colyn]

Most of my film comes from Freestyle.. I haven't bought film from a camera shop in over a year now..

 

[Tejasican]

I rarely if ever buy film online. Living near Houston has some advantages there. I buy some from Walmart, but also can go into town for a couple of camera shops. Lately though between some of the drug stores and local groceries closing out on the BW400CN I have gotten some real steals on that film.

 

[Chris101]

I buy (nearly) all my film at Tempe Camera, which is about 15 minutes away. Their prices rival the New York super stores, except that I have to pay tax. And I understand this will be changing soon.

 

[zuiko85]

I voted "most of it" because there was no "all of it" option.

There is just no place around here to purchase B&W film. And precious little color negative film, but color is 1% of what I use.

So, all my film is bought either from Freestyle or B&H and shipped to my address.

There is a place that used to be a camera store just down the street but now all they do is video transfer. He did have a few rolls of 120 TX at $11 a roll, no thanks.

 

[DNG]

All my film is online

Adorama sells TMAX 100/400 36x for 4.95 a roll...all day long!
If I want Tri-X, Freestyle labeled AP400 for under $3.00 a roll all day long

 

[YYV_146]

I still buy film from the supermarket, but I have to send color rolls in for processing...It's a pain and sometimes the color comes out weird, but I don't have a darkroom, only a kit for B&W only.

 

[mdarnton]

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.

 

[helen.HH]

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

 

[enero]

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!

 

[kokoshawnuff]

Luckily freestyle is a couple miles from home, their prices for their own labeled stuff (ie Arista Premium) are great...their prices for other stuff, not so great. So as long as they have it (they say 100000+ rolls), I'll buy Arista Premium, after that I'll buy trix from BH or Adorama.

 

[Gerry M]

When offered, I buy the occasional batch from forum posters. A tiny bit of Fuji from Wally's. B&W from Freestyle. So, by far, internet purchases.

 

[Keith]

I'd buy locally if it was an option because I find the whole internet thing a little tedious ... I have to drive twenty ks to our local post office to pick up anything I order for a start. If I could zip into the city every now then and buy a swag of film etc for up to twenty percent higher than what's available online I'd do it in preference.