Toronto

[Colin G.]

I'm returning to my homeland after living overseas for over four years and I'll be living in Toronto. I honestly can't wait (leaving in less than 2 weeks)!

I'm wondering if any Torontonian RFers have a shop they call their second home? Where do you get your gear? Where's the best and cheapest (could be mutually exclusive) place to get film and get it processed?

Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

[excellent]

Image works does a good job with film and for gear 8th elm always seems fair.
Hope you enojy Toronto

 

[Archlich]

Eight Elm carries a good selection of chemicals.

Nothing's cheap here, especially film. Expect a 2 times rate comparing to US retail prices (Tri-X 135/36 goes for $7.99 per roll). I almost always bulk order from the States.

 

[JeffL]

Once you're back it won't take long to find the places you like. Walmart has about the cheapest film developing. I like Silvano's on Weston Rd. A little more expensive, but less than I was quoted at Black's for just a develop only, and you don't have to explain anything- like film is not digital. Eight Elm and Downtown Photo, Henry's and Vistek are downtown. Film is rather expensive here like Archlich said, about 2X.

 

[Colin G.]

Thanks. Does Walmart develop black and white?

I checked out film on Henry's website and compared it to BH Photo, 2x. What's the deal? Why would anyone buy film locally unless to support a local business. I would like to, but at 2x the price, it's just silly.

 

[FrankS]

Collin, if you are socially inclined, you will find a friendly gaggle of RFF members meeting up in Toronto regularly. Perhaps we could even organize a "welcome back to TO" gathering.

 

[tapesonthefloor]

Downtown Camera tends to be my lab of choice for colour rolls. Their scan-at-time-of-processing scans are in a frighteningly high resolution, they're close to work, they're not particularly expensive, and they know my name.

My self-processed b&w rolls end up at Black's for scanning, and the results are good enough.

I go to Eight Elm when Downtown Camera runs out of Rapid Fixer and I want to gawk at nice cameras, though the birth-year M4-2 he had for awhile has recently disappeared. le sigh!

I've never met up with any of these fine folks, but WELCOME BACK COLIN!!!! seems like a great excuse to me, too.

 

[Vilk]

Eight Elm. Nothing but warm fuzzy feeling. In fact, sometimes I can even forget it's Toronto outside.

And if you ever feel like asking questions there, make sure the first one is, "Which of you is Mike Lee?" Top class. Anytime.

 

[JeffL]

Walmart don't do b&w as far as I know. Its so easy to do yourself. I take my colour in and do b&w myself. I'd do my own colour if the chemicals were readily available. I'll get some (and more film) next time I'm in NYC. I bought a bunch of Kodak Max 400 for about $2 a roll at Walgreens. We do get ripped off when it comes to film.

 

[IgalSc]

Colin,
welcome home.
I landed in Toronto in June
This is what I found:

* As for the cheap way to get b&w film - see this tread http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99831
For good prices for color film - Black's sells packs of 10 own-branded films (ISO200 if i'm not mistaken) for $70 (including developing)
* As for scanning - I found a refurb v500 for $80 at Future Shop and I'm happy with my results
* As for cheapest way to develop b&w - I think DIY is the cheapest one.

 

[Colin G.]

Wow, thanks a lot everyone.

I would like to develop my b&w but I don't have the facilities or the know-how. I plan on learning when I get back. I'll be getting a scanner for sure, so I'll just have to pay the processing expense of developing. I guess I'll be going to Eight Elm.

Frank you're too kind to suggest a meet up based on my humble return to the home and native land. A meet up would be excellent though. However, I'm going to be really busy my first couple of weeks back. Let us all know when the next meet will happen. During these, what do you guys do? Walk about and take photos or show work and shoot the s*** or both?

 

[Colin G.]

IgalSc, thanks for the link. Seems like B&H is the way to go.