skibeerr
Well-known
We are moving to Melbourne for a period of one to five years, how is the film situation in OZ, seems film is expensive and I read horror stories on RFF about the price of color dev.
with my Kayak stuffed with film I might survive
Are there darkrooms for rent in Melbourne or should I bring down my own, we are considering shipping to move our stuff but this depends if the one year contract turns into a five year one.
See you down under,
Wim
with my Kayak stuffed with film I might survive
Are there darkrooms for rent in Melbourne or should I bring down my own, we are considering shipping to move our stuff but this depends if the one year contract turns into a five year one.
See you down under,
Wim
Liquid-Sky
Unregistered consumer
Hi, Melbourne is a nice place, i've been traveling there many times.
There is a very good pro shop in Carlton near the victoria museum. i remember the cost is about 20 aud for b&w a bit more for colors. don't go anywhere else, i paid once 67aud for two films in Chapel street.
You'll find everyting you need in Queen street also.
There is a very good pro shop in Carlton near the victoria museum. i remember the cost is about 20 aud for b&w a bit more for colors. don't go anywhere else, i paid once 67aud for two films in Chapel street.
You'll find everyting you need in Queen street also.
ChrisN
Striving
Welcome! I'm not in Melbourne, but yes film is very expensive, and I buy mine by internet order from B&H or Freestyle. There is no tax or import duty so I pay the US price plus postage.
skibeerr
Well-known
That is good news, in Belgium we pay US price plus 25% vat and tax plus between 10 to 20 euro handling charge. Dev I can handle myself, long live cafenol and the Rollei color kit.
So no news on the Melbourne darkrooms? Film and print off course
W.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I've only been to Melbourne a couple of times and to me parts of it have an atmosphere really lacking in a lot of Australian cities. I was in Brunswick in the late afternoon early evening and it was just alive with trams, people, lots of grungy but charming old buildings and a throb of life that I don't sense here in Brisbane ... which has become something in between a tacky tourist destination and a building site IMO.
Film in Oz is a rip off generally ... plan on buying it off shore like most sensible Oz shooters do.
Film in Oz is a rip off generally ... plan on buying it off shore like most sensible Oz shooters do.
skibeerr
Well-known
Thanks Keith, where are you located?
W.
W.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Sunny Brisbane which is a couple of thousand K's away from Melbourne ... north!
Actually not so sunny at the moment ... the weather has been the strangest for this time of year I can remember since I've lived here. It's been cool and almost constantly overcast and showery for months now ... it's like living in a big dim damp softbox! Normally we'd be having days in the thirties (C) and lots of sun with clear blue skies this time of year.
Actually not so sunny at the moment ... the weather has been the strangest for this time of year I can remember since I've lived here. It's been cool and almost constantly overcast and showery for months now ... it's like living in a big dim damp softbox! Normally we'd be having days in the thirties (C) and lots of sun with clear blue skies this time of year.
skibeerr
Well-known
I'll wave when I get to Melbourne
Coming from Belgium I know the damp softbox, you learn to love 400asa.
W.
Coming from Belgium I know the damp softbox, you learn to love 400asa.
W.
Haigh
Gary Haigh
I love Brunswick street also: lotsa life. Good advice from film users, so many of whom buy offshore. Enjoy Melbourne.
kully
Happy Snapper
"cool, overcast and showery", sounds like a normal summer.
The film prices your saying... it seems incredibe that anyone is buying film there (and someone must be for them to continue selling it)
The film prices your saying... it seems incredibe that anyone is buying film there (and someone must be for them to continue selling it)
Liquid-Sky
Unregistered consumer
Fast Colour Processing Photo Shop 231 Lygon St , Carlton Melbourne, VIC, 3053 Australia P:03 9347 2969. Try this shop .
Spyro
Well-known
Ηey Wim, just join us Melbourne film shooters at MSM, we do monthly group orders from B&H to share shipping costs. The beauty with Australia, as you're soon to find out, is that for imports <$1k you pay nothing at customs. So for all intents and purposes film/consumables prices are basically B&H/freestyle prices if you're happy to wait 3 days for the UPS man. Do your B&W at home, drop your c41 at the 1hr labs in Elizabeth St (city centre) for $6 a roll. There are a couple of E6 labs left, about $10 a roll. Not sure about darkrooms, there have been a couple of threads at MSM but I didnt follow. Dont miss the biannual camera markets at Campberwell.
wotalegend
Well-known
Hi Wim,
I'm Melbourne born and bred and lived here most of my life.
Most advice you've received so far is correct. Film is rip-off prices locally. I buy from Freestyle in US, big order twice a year, cost plus shipping only provided you keep the total under AUD1,000. Chemicals need to be bought locally because of inability to ship by air. I buy from Vanbar who have two shops close to the city, one in Carlton and one in North Melbourne.
Elizabeth Street is the street for camera shops, not Queen Street. Like most retail camera shops worldwide these days, they will all tell you that film is dead, but there are a couple who deal in second-hand film gear - at premium prices. You'll get a much better deal on RFF or even eBay.
Bring all your own darkroom gear if you can. I don't know of any for rent, but Melbourne is a big city and there is sure to be one somewhere. Maybe the solution to that is to join a well-resourced camera club like Melbourne Camera Club which is in South Melbourne. I get C41 development for AUD6.00 dev only. There are still a reasonable number of C41 labs around, but E6 labs are getting rare. The last E6 I had done was AUD10.00 but that lab has just gone under.
If you are coming soon, you have picked the right time. We are just on the start of summer now and you can expect good weather through to about Easter. Send me a PM when you get here, and I'll be happy to show you all the places you need to know. Are you a member of APUG? There are several Melbourne-based photogs there too.
Cheers, Peter.
I'm Melbourne born and bred and lived here most of my life.
Most advice you've received so far is correct. Film is rip-off prices locally. I buy from Freestyle in US, big order twice a year, cost plus shipping only provided you keep the total under AUD1,000. Chemicals need to be bought locally because of inability to ship by air. I buy from Vanbar who have two shops close to the city, one in Carlton and one in North Melbourne.
Elizabeth Street is the street for camera shops, not Queen Street. Like most retail camera shops worldwide these days, they will all tell you that film is dead, but there are a couple who deal in second-hand film gear - at premium prices. You'll get a much better deal on RFF or even eBay.
Bring all your own darkroom gear if you can. I don't know of any for rent, but Melbourne is a big city and there is sure to be one somewhere. Maybe the solution to that is to join a well-resourced camera club like Melbourne Camera Club which is in South Melbourne. I get C41 development for AUD6.00 dev only. There are still a reasonable number of C41 labs around, but E6 labs are getting rare. The last E6 I had done was AUD10.00 but that lab has just gone under.
If you are coming soon, you have picked the right time. We are just on the start of summer now and you can expect good weather through to about Easter. Send me a PM when you get here, and I'll be happy to show you all the places you need to know. Are you a member of APUG? There are several Melbourne-based photogs there too.
Cheers, Peter.
Richard G
Veteran
Welcome to Melbourne. It's a beautiful city with some lovely Victorian architecture, and lots of parks and gardens close to the city centre. The city centre is in evolution but the city lanes are a cosy contrast to some of the more chilly city main streets. The trams are a signature item. The immediately surrounding suburbs of East Melbourne, North Melbourne, South Melbourne, Richmond, Fitzroy, Carlton and Prahran each have their own style and St Kilda by the sea has a similar vibe to parts of Sydney. A wonderful contrast to that frenzy on a Friday night is the almost scary emptiness of the streets and parks on a Sunday morning. I can't think of anywhere else where perfect tennis weather can see a whole tennis complex empty at 10.30 am. The weather is actually pretty good from now till June, and the beautiful late autumn and early winter Melbourne days are a well kept secret, especially from Melburnians, who sincerely remark on the marvellous weather every year like it's never happened before. I don't think it wins the most liveable city in the world comp any more, but apart from the house prices it still is. It won't necessarily be love at first sight, but you'll love it.
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Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
All the best Australian music has come out of Melbourne IMO ... the city has a culture that encourages creativity.
My favourite Oz band of all time with a song about life in Melbourne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWHZhfWPTFQ
My favourite Oz band of all time with a song about life in Melbourne.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWHZhfWPTFQ
Spyro
Well-known
mine from sydney http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkKiZ9VSD6U
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Hi Wim,
I think you'll like Melbourne. We lived there for 14 years before having to return reluctantly to Sydney for work. Victoria is a compact State and there's plenty to do and see. Downhill and cross country skiing in winter; sailing on the Bay in summer as well as safe swimming beaches; beautiful scenery in the North East corner amongst the mountains; great coastal scenery; and not much more than four hours drive to the next State. The weather is more changeable than Sydney but that's no real drama and it's generally less humid which is always welcome.
Tasmania is just across the water and a bit further away and a bit further east is New Zealand - it's often cheaper to go there for a skiing holiday than in Australia and the scenery is spectacular especially in the South island.
Melbourne is an attractive city with a more "European" feeling to it than other Australian cities and it has great parks, markets and a large natural scenic area called "The Dandenongs" just east of the city. Very popular with families taking picnics or walking at the weekends. Not to be confused with the satellite city/suburb named Dandenong which is neither natural nor scenic.
I think you'll like Melbourne. We lived there for 14 years before having to return reluctantly to Sydney for work. Victoria is a compact State and there's plenty to do and see. Downhill and cross country skiing in winter; sailing on the Bay in summer as well as safe swimming beaches; beautiful scenery in the North East corner amongst the mountains; great coastal scenery; and not much more than four hours drive to the next State. The weather is more changeable than Sydney but that's no real drama and it's generally less humid which is always welcome.
Tasmania is just across the water and a bit further away and a bit further east is New Zealand - it's often cheaper to go there for a skiing holiday than in Australia and the scenery is spectacular especially in the South island.
Melbourne is an attractive city with a more "European" feeling to it than other Australian cities and it has great parks, markets and a large natural scenic area called "The Dandenongs" just east of the city. Very popular with families taking picnics or walking at the weekends. Not to be confused with the satellite city/suburb named Dandenong which is neither natural nor scenic.
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newsgrunt
Well-known
Queen Vic Market is great and also wonderful street shooting there. Not far away is the Mornington Peninsula and Cape Schank is a must if you go. They have cottages for rent as well which are really charming. Would go back in a heartbeat.
And as Leigh noted, a very European feel, very much a coffee culture kinda place imo. SWMBO is from Melbourne and bugs me to move back so she can feel and smell the ocean again.
And as Leigh noted, a very European feel, very much a coffee culture kinda place imo. SWMBO is from Melbourne and bugs me to move back so she can feel and smell the ocean again.
MikeAUS
Well-known
I live in Melbourne all my life. As others have said, don't buy film here. I usually just get it via Ebay. You never pay duty on anything like that and shipping is fast and reliable from US & Asia. LAB X is good for prints/processing http://www.labx.com.au/, but not the cheapest. Be prepared for the brightness, summer can be blindingly hot here. I notice people mention all the 'cool' places and what a great place it is. People from Melbourne tend to delude themselves that it is one of the great cities, it is not. It's good and better than most though. It suffers from massive urban sprawl growing rapidly and the problems that ensue from that. If you want to check out what is one of the worst Architectural jokes of any city, have a look at Federation Square. Make sure you do it during the day, as at night in the city it's risky, as hundreds of drunken bogans from the outer suburbs patrol the streets looking for someone to fight or somewhere to spew their guts up. There are some great places here too, I'm sure you will work it out quick Good luck!
Good luck!
peterm1
Veteran
I live in Adelaide and even I love Melbourne. It has a slightly European feel compared to most Australian cities.
Here are some of my shots from there when last visiting
More Melbourne here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/life_in_shadows/page4/
Here are some of my shots from there when last visiting
More Melbourne here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/life_in_shadows/page4/
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