I'm goin to Ireland and Wales! Where's the film?

[rfaspen]

OK, finally taking my family to Ireland and Wales. I'll be taking 2 film bodies (Leica IIIc, Zorki C) and my Olympus EP-2 digital. The film bodies are coming along because they use my wonderful lenses like the m4/3 body just can't, but they need film. I'm going to take a couple rolls of FP4 when we leave, but I'll need to buy more while we're in travel. I'd love to find FP4 (I mean it is made in England, just next door).

So, anybody have any experience finding and buying film in Ireland or Wales? Here in Oregon, USA film is getting downright scarce. There is 1 photo shop in town and they refuse to carry the films I like, and carry precious little of the stuff I'll use because I have to. I'd like to find some FP4 (or any B+W film) while in Ireland or Wales. Am I off my rocker? Is it like the US and film difficult to find? Here, the chain stores stopped carrying B+W film a while ago and typically carry just a few rolls of color print film. Camera stores, when you can find them, often don't have B+W film either.

I'm hoping someone knows locations for B+W film in west and south Ireland. I'm landing in Shannon and meandering south along the coast to Dingle, then meandering east. I'm finishing up in Dublin for a day or 2, but hope to have found film by then. Then we take the ferry to Holyhead (Wales) and south to Aberystwyth which will be our base camp for a few days.

I'll post the gems (if I get any) when I return.

Thanks everyone!!!
jeff.

 

[KM-25]

I am confused....most people who are serious about shooting film buy it via the Internet at Freestyle or B&H. Local photo stores have been going out of business left and right since the Internet, nothing to do with film's popularity either. I would think some shops in London would be a good bet, no idea on the smaller towns you mentioned. When I travel, I just bring it with me, especially if it is ISO 400 and lower.

I am headed to DC next month for a week long project, I could buy it there but why chance it when I could just have it with me....

If having enough film to shoot is a priority, then why set your self up for possible disappointment, bring it with you, it will be a lot cheaper too. Just de-box, de-can it and put the rolls into ziplock bags, I have done that with as much as 80 rolls of film in a single flight.

If you are Hell bent on paying double the U.S. price on the other side of the pond, email Ilford and they will tell you who carries it.

 

[Murchu]

You'll have no issues getting film in Dublin, where I would recommend Gunnes on Wexford St, a real old fashioned, family run gem. You will need film before then, and suspect if you are in need of film in Ireland when you land, your best bet will most likely be Cork, and believe you should be able to buy b&w in either Barker Photographic (http://www.barkerphotographic.ie/) or O'Leary's Camera World (http://olearyscameraworld.ie/). Outside of Cork, your best bet is Limerick, but am not sure where there, if there is.

Not sure when your trip is, but the APUG Ireland group (http://www.apug.org/forums/forum237/) is quite friendly, and may be able to help if you are having real issues sourcing film. Likewise Photography Ireland (www.photographyireland.net).

Enjoy the trip, it sounds like a fun one 🙂

 

[greyelm]

in Wales and the rest of the UK there are branches of the Jessops chain where you should be able to get some film.

This is their store finder http://www.jessops.com/Storefinder

 

[ian_watts]

You'll have no problem finding basic film stocks in North Wales either – if you are desperate look for a branch of Boots (in almost every town) which usually still stocks a small range of film (including Ilford). However, expect to pay through the nose buying it this way.

 

[tbhv55]

I'm in England, so others with more local knowledge might be able to provide far better suggestions than mine, but here's one to get you started:-

Jessops (a chain, with stores across the UK) have a store in Aberystwyth, and also one in Llandudno - which is just over 40 miles from Holyhead. Their website (www.jessops.com) shows that they stock various colour films, and they also stock a number of Ilford films, including FP4. I'd be inclined to e-mail them beforehand to check they carry all these films, in all their stores, but hopefully you should have at least some films to choose from.

I hope that others on the forum can improve on the above, but at least it's a start.

Have a great trip - and yes, let's see the "gems"!

 

[tbhv55]

Sorry, others replied while I was typing!

 

[Murchu]

You'll have no issues getting film in Dublin, where I would recommend Gunnes on Wexford St, a real old fashioned, family run gem. You will need film before then, and suspect if you are in need of film in Ireland when you land, your best bet will most likely be Cork, and believe you should be able to buy b&w in either Barker Photographic (http://www.barkerphotographic.ie/) or O'Leary's Camera World (http://olearyscameraworld.ie/). Outside of Cork, your best bet is Limerick, but am not sure where there, if there is.

Not sure when your trip is, but the APUG Ireland group (http://www.apug.org/forums/forum237/) is quite friendly, and may be able to help if you are having real issues sourcing film. Likewise Photography Ireland (www.photographyireland.net).

Enjoy the trip, it sounds like a fun one 🙂

Would add to the above, Gunnes is the film mecca here in Ireland, of local shops. You will be able to get pretty much anything you want there, from b&w, colour negative and slide, in a variety of formats from 35mm, 120 & 4x5. If you can manage ok for film before you get there. I have no doubts you can stock up there for the remainder of your trip, although as always its never a bad idea to have options in the UK, if for whatever reason, you do not get to hit up Gunnes when in Dublin. Also, of really stuck, they will courier anything you want in one day, wherever you may be in Ireland.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

I'm in the UK and I'm with KM-25 on this one. Bring what you need with you! With the weakness of the dollar against the Euro in Ireland and pound in Wales and having to search out small High Street shops you are going to end up paying double what you'd pay if you bought from Freestyle, for example.
No problems with bringing through Airport check-in in your hand luggage in Ziplocks.

 

[rfaspen]

Well, Good information here. Thank you so much!

Clearly, I'll check out Gunne's in Dublin. Nice to know there's a chain or two that hopefully carries film (Boots, Jessops). At least I have a start for what to look for.

I used to bring all the film I need when travelling, but had issues when I last travelled through Bulgaria and Romania. Amazing trip of a lifetime, but I went through so many security checkpoints (at least 8), even my low speed film saw some effect. Of course, that was mostly color slide film, but mostly ISO 100 with a little 400 and 50 among them. I know it was security x-rays to blame because I mailed 2 rolls home with some souvenirs that didn't seem to suffer the "noise" that the rest had. Mexico is another story, fewer checkpoints and I have some wonderful images.

Aside from checkpoint issues, my hope is to travel lighter with the film this time. Bring a few rolls (of course ordered from Freestyle) and get the remainder while on travel. Unless the cost is ridiculous, I'll happily buy film while in Ireland and UK. Its more the availability that I'm concerned with. Just as an aside, my 50ft roll of FP4 has recently run out and I doubt another could arrive from freestyle before I leave. Ilford film is just not available around here and the B+W selection is a dismal few rolls of T-Max at the local university. In fact I pretty much bought them out to bring a few rolls with me on my trip. Looking in the fridge, I have 2 rolls FP4, 2 rolls TMax 100, 2 TMax 400 that will come with me.

Now, I have several boxes of 4x5 in there, but remember I'm travelling light 😉

Also, I'm thinking of mailing most of my film home instead of bringing it with me through countless airport checkpoints. What do you all think of that? I'd like to hear from anybody that's tried that approach? Aside from my fear (rational or otherwise) of security radiation, I figure I have 3 weeks of travel which, at the rate I waste film, could be a substantial lump in my luggage.

My wife is the smart one. She's just bringing her DSLR and 5 SD cards. I'm much too attached to my CZJ 50mm f1.5 Sonnar for my own good.

As always, thanks so much everyone.
jeff.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

Also recommend John Gunn's shop in Dublin (16 Wexford Street, a delightful hole-in-the-wall place off the SW corner of St. Stephen's Green), though it's in the middle of your trip. Don't know of any sources in the West or South, as I always bring what I need with me from the States.

Don't bother mailing your film home, or having it processed on your trip. Airport x-rays are not an issue, except for checked baggage. Keep it in your carry-on for flights, ask for a hand inspection when you have the time (don't expect to get one), but don't lose any sleep over it. I'm heading over on my third trip of the summer and have rolls of Tri-X and TMZ in my bag that have been through the hand-baggage scanners several times already.