Manila ...

lamefrog

lamefrog

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I will be in Manila tomorrow. Can anyone point me to where I may be able to purchase Tri-x ? Any used camera stores ? Many thanks .

Philippe
 
Hi I would not recommend to go to the downtown used camera stores as the place is not conducive to tourists. There are many pickpockets and snatchers in the area and very crowded. I suggest you contact and possibly go to this company which is in Makati area http://studio58.com.ph/catalog/contact_us.php. From the past, I buy all my Tri-X there.

lamefrog said:
I will be in Manila tomorrow. Can anyone point me to where I may be able to purchase Tri-x ? Any used camera stores ? Many thanks .

Philippe
Click to expand...
 
Btw, if you need something or into some kind of trouble, please don't hesitate call me. I'll PM you my cellphone no.
 
Thanks everyone. After searching on the Internet I found that Hidalgo St was the place for used cameras. Its 4km from my hotel and the LTR ticket lines were unbelievable so I walked there (taking photos on the way). I found a few camera stores, probably holdouts from a prior era of glory (like camera row in NYC , now down to 1 store), and drowning in a sea of market stalls. Anyways there were a few really beat-up SLRs and it was great to see them but it was meager pickings. There were also a few Contax RFs and Barnacks. But I was impressed by all the camera repair shops, these guys look like they know what they are doing. The contact for the cover on my XA is acting up and its driving me insane so I might have it repaired there tomorrow. As for the film, I did find a few rolls here and there: mostly Superia 200 and Kodak gold, but also some TMAX 400 (at one store ) and some Accros 100 (at 2 stores). So tomorrow I'll definitely take Gil's advice and go to Makati. Btw I stayed in Quiapo all day and encountered no problem. I keep the XA in my front pocket. No bag, no phone etc.. just shorts and sneakers . On my way back , crossing the bridge, I encountered a guy with a Nikon EM. I was so surprised I forgot to ask him where he got film. I figure I walked about 15km today which is about average when I'm on photo trips.
 
Haha you're a brave guy. For sure you have seen something similar. I took this quite some time ago in Quiapo.

HAF018res-L.jpg
 
gilpen123 said:
Haha you're a brave guy. For sure you have seen something similar. I took this quite some time ago in Quiapo.
Click to expand...

Yes ! thats exactly it . Thanks for posting. Its really worth spending time to dig in those piles of cameras. I don't think there are any bargains , at least from what was quoted to me . But that may be because they're giving me a special foreigner's price. Still , the prices are aligned with eBay and a lot better than in Hong Kong where I was last week.
 
Absolutely unless you know some used camera dealers there. Many years back, most camera enthusiasts go there and look for bargains. There used to be a lot of Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Canon film cameras there, can also find large format camera and accessories but nowadays nothing really is interesting.
 
I love shooting in historic areas in Manila especially Binondo. I have not heard abut Quiapo being dangerous but then Binondo also has a reputation for muggings.
 
I guess the usual rules apply. Just be alert and bring only what you will need. Manila is not well documented in this forum except for the airport controversy. The streets are interesting and the people are usually hospitable :)
 
Thanks everyone. I'm here until Monday. If anyone wants to meet up in central Manila this w/e , that would be nice, but only if you want to go out shooting. I don't want to impose on anyone and I do fine on my own... I'm shooting with an XA2 because I don't want to attract attention. Its been interesting.

So far the people here have been very friendly and the streets are awesome.
 
Would love to but I have something already over the weekend. Enjoy Manila, visit Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila. A nice place also to walk around the area as this is the old Manila. You can actually walk all the way to Roxas Blvd. by the bay and see the famous Manila Bay Sunset. You'll pass by Rizal Park as well.
 
lamefrog said:
Thanks , its now on my list .
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Binondo is one of the oldest areas in Manila and is where Chinatown is located. There is no shortage of subject matter (and good food) in that area. I spent 3 days there last November and still didn't have enough time.
 
Manila Post-Mortem

Manila Post-Mortem

Back to NYC .. Here's a post-mortem to close this thread and for Google posterity...

I quickly discovered that traffic in Manila was unbearable .. and so I basically stayed within an area that I could survey on foot: Quiapo - Binondo - Tondo. Fantastic photo opportunities everywhere. Unique blend of Asian and Chinese and American and Hispanic. Love those jeepneys. Didn't have a single bad experience (until my taxi ride back to airport .. ) Hot and crowded and busy streets , but everyone friendly and helpful. I did end up finding (very expensive) Tri-X at a shop on Hidalgo St.. it pays to visit every store. I also had my XA2 repaired. And I bought a $40 Pen EE for the day the XA2 was in the shop -definitely a wild bet; I haven't developed the rolls yet and I'm prepared for the worst.

I can't believe that I almost didn't go because of all the negative reports about taking photographs in Manila. I never felt unsafe , although I sometimes did put the camera away . Not out of fear but out of respect for the privacy of the residents, in dense alleyways where people live on the street .

One annoyance: my hotel in a sleazy neighborhood. I don't think governments should at all be in the business of cleaning up red light districts but that doesn't mean I want to live in one .

So all in all: a good experience photographically .. I hope to come back at some point and do more immersive work.
 
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