That dose it!....I'm finished!

[Dave Wilkinson]

As Popeye the sailor used to say - "That's all I can stand, I can't stands no more!". Just got back from shopping in town, and while there I had the thought that the Rolliecord that came at Christmas had not been tested with a colour film yet - just with the HP5 from my fridge. In 'Jacobs' ( one of two stores left here ) the young lady smiled and handed me a roll of Fuji 'Superia X-Tra' 400 - "The only 120 colour film we have now" she said.
O.K.! - I thought - it's good stuff!, but nearly fell over when told the price! - UK £5-99 (that's just over $12 USD) for twelve f#*king shots! 😱. Well, I love the quality of my medium format scans, but at the size I normally print (A4) the DSLR is not that much different, and certainly not worth paying that kind of money - plus process, and the hassle involved!.
So, sadly - one aspect of my hobby has come to an end, but there is still some cheap 35mm 200 stuff at the same place, and I can have it developed at 'Tesco' - very cheaply, so all is not lost!, and unless there is a similar jump in price, I can continue to exercise the 'golden oldies' occasionally!, but it looks like my time for going totally digital is not too far off now 🙁
Dave.

 

[zuikologist]

I have spare roll of 120 colour somewhere if you want it. Just to get you over the remorse period!

 

[thegman]

Why not get your film mail order:

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/fuji-pro-400h-120-5-pack-968-p.asp

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/kodak-ektar-120-5-pack-328-p.asp

I think those work out a smidge cheaper...

 

[ferider]

Consider mail ordering. On the other hand, if you are happy with the DSLR, enjoy. Maybe sharing photos with us will be easier 🙄

 

[Philly]

Well if you're only going to dabble at it occasionally that's what it's going to cost.

If you're serious about it then buying in bulk from the internet is the way to go, much less expensive.

"Use it or lose it".

 

[dexdog]

O.K.! - I thought - it's good stuff!, but nearly fell over when told the price! - UK £5-99 (that's just over $12 USD)

Hey, the USD is weak, but at current rate, this is about 9 bucks, not 12. Still seems kinda expensive, though

 

[nimcod]

ebay has the odd good deal when you shop around for a while. Otherwise http://www.7dayshop.com will do you colour rolls shipped from about 2.70 for 1 and going down with bulk buying.

 

[hans voralberg]

Dave it's never a bright idea buying from the high street. It's called the high street for a reason. Just order some from 7daysshop 😉

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Hey, the USD is weak, but at current rate, this is about 9 bucks, not 12. Still seems kinda expensive, though

Yes - my mistake - actually $9-12....but still a little high for a pensioner!. I know bulk buying is cheaper, but for the amount of medium format colour that I shoot these days, I probably shall not bother with the hassle of that route.
Dave.

 

[frko]

I order films via internet all the time. Local store wants more than 5 euros for a roll of Tri-x, what the hell...

 

[Lilserenity]

Calumet sell Fuji in the UK in 5 packs of 120 which works out at little over £2 a roll. If you can buy in store, great, if not + postage.

But I've never paid anywhere near £5.99, you may well pay that on the high street but he hobby doesn't have to come to an end if you even buy a couple of rolls off the 'net. 7DayShop sell Superia 400 120 at £2.89 for one roll with postage, 2.79 for 2-4 rolls, and £2.69 for 5+. 160S is simarlarly priced.

Neopan 100 Acros is £2 generally everywhere.

Prices inclusive of VAT.

 

[Jamie123]

9-12$ is not that expensive for single rolls of 120 at a consumer store. At least not compared to what I pay here in Switzerland. I don't even bother with consumer stores and only buy at pro stores. A Pro-pack (5 rolls) of Portra 160 is about $38 (equiv.) while a pro-pack of Portra 400 is around $42 (equiv.).

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

they sell HP5 in 35mm format for CHF 15,- in Switzerland (CHF 1,00 = more or less USD 1,00). what a shock when I first ran out of film there last year. however, I found a little shop that sold hp5 and tri-x (it was also the only one in Vevey to even have Tri-X) for about CHF 7,50-8,00.
I'd keep on looking for alternative places to buy in your area before throwing it all away 🙂

good luck!

 

[johannielscom]

Yes - my mistake - actually $9-12....but still a little high for a pensioner!. I know bulk buying is cheaper, but for the amount of medium format colour that I shoot these days, I probably shall not bother with the hassle of that route.
Dave.

Dave,

you should consider buying bulk IMHO. If the wife gets annoyed with the room in the fridge taken up, you can still sell here or at eBay and get your money back for sure.

You can't lose!

 

[johnny9fingers]

While film isn't quite that expensive here in Wisconsin yet, I've already made the transition to digital. Picked up the E-P2 with the 17mm f2.8 lens. The micro four thirds system will allow you to use that sweet Hexanon AR glass you have. I've seen some photos taken with m43 and Hexanon lenses that looks quite nice.....

 

[John Lawrence]

As others have said just buy it from 7dayshop.com or any of the other online retailers and save.

Your original post reminds me of a chat I had with an OAP this week who was astounded when I told her I paid 63p for a tube of toothpaste as opposed to £2.95 for the same tube of toothpaste elsewhere.

All I can say is thank heavens for Wilkinsons .🙂

 

[Mongo Park]

Despair thee not Dave. Get in touch with Mailshots at mailshots.co.uk, phone them up. Service is excellent - the film you are after is £2.70 (£3.03 incl VAT).

 

[ruby.monkey]

Jacobs exists to sell you reasonably interesting digital cameras and lenses; Jessops, as far as I can tell, is there to sell entry-level dSLRs to people who really only need a point'n'shoot. Film comes from 7dayshop, chemicals (and whatever film 7dayshop has sold out, and fomapan when I'm particularly poor) from Silverprint, and odds and ends from Speed Graphic.

 

[brainwood]

Despair thee not Dave. Get in touch with Mailshots at mailshots.co.uk, phone them up. Service is excellent - the film you are after is £2.70 (£3.03 incl VAT).

Yep the service is great , fast delivery and good prices. It just means planning a couple of days ahead rather than the one you're used to when popping into town.

Chris

 

[PhotoJim]

You'll shoot differently with a TLR than you will with an SLR or DSLR. Don't think of an SLR as a substitute for a TLR - it isn't.

A friend gave me a bunch of expired C41 120 film and I thought I'd play with it in an Autocord, since it was free. I shot a couple of rolls, got them processed, and was entranced . I now have a freezer with a ton of C41 120 film so that I can shoot colour prints on demand.