What Film to bring for two week Japan travel

[aleqx]

Hey there!

In about two months i will be traveling to Japan for two weeks. I will visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Since this is not my first time in Japan I thought about having some fun and I decided to leave my DSLR at home and only bring my Canonet QL17 and some nice film.

I think I will need about 10-15 rolls of film, but I’m not so sure what to bring. The „to-go” Film would be Kodak Gold 200, since I can buy three rolls for 8€ in Germany. But I wonder if it might be too slow as an all purpose film. I do have the Canolite D flash, but maybe a ISO 400 film might be better? There is the Fuji XTra 400, but it’s about double the price, so a bit expensive for everyday shooting.

As nice extra I thought about Cinestill 800 Tungsten for cool neon light shots, maybe some inexpensive B/W film (Agfa APX100, or some Fomapan stuff).

Do you have any other nice suggestions?

As for getting the right film for the right moment: I wonder if it’s feasible to rewind and later reload a film, if it’s not fully used, so I can switch to a higher ISO film after sundown? I would have to remember the shots and be careful not to completely roll it into the canister, but other than that it should work, right?

Thanks for your time and support!

aleqx

 

[Mute-on]

Kodak Portra 400, rate at 200, since you are only taking one camera. If need be you can rate it anywhere from 100 to 800 and still get acceptable results. Personally, I stick to 200 or 400.

If you were taking a second camera, I would add Kodak Ektar.

These are my selections in the last three trips to the same destinations in Japan, using two cameras.

As to the cost of the film, if you are paying for flights and accommodation to go to Japan, saving money on film is a totally false economy.

 

[DHK]

You could buy film in Japan.

 

[jbielikowski]

Japan is THE place to buy some film, especially if you like color negative.

 

[shimokita]

Re: buying film in Japan... I love to shoot with Kodak Gold 200 but I can't find it here... I order from NYC. It would be my go-to color film in Japan. I normally shoot b&w... Fuji Neopan 100 (discontinued) or Fuji Neopan 400 (discontinued), I carry ND4, PL, and R1/YA2 filters for daytime. I just purchased a couple of rolls of TRI-X 400 at Yen 935 per 36 exposure.

In Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in late March or early April some color would be good. The city can be quite bright at night (natural light fades early), interiors can be low light ; )

For the most part I do b&w film during the day and digital (x100t) in the evening.

Have a great trip...

 

[Colin Corneau]

400 speed film is a must for travel, I think -- it just gives you so much latitude and options, and the quality nowadays is terrific.
Colour or B&W is your choice, but black and white lets you focus on the light and the moment, it seems more timeless somehow. Anyway, your choice. But 400 speed seems like the obvious choice.

 

[Ted Striker]

Japan is THE place to buy some film, especially if you like color negative.

WARNING! I used to think that one could always buy film in Japan but that is not the case anymore, at least when it comes to Kodak film. Last year in the spring time I went to Kyoto with the intention of shooting Kodak Ektar film in my Fuji TX-1. I could not find a single roll of Ektar anywhere in Osaka or Kyoto. None. I really wanted the saturation and scan-ability of Ektar but I was out of luck. I shot Superia, which was easy to find.

Ilford and most Fujifilms were easy to find although film selections were waaay lower than seen in the past. I've been going to Japan yearly for a decade and film use there seems to have declined quite a lot. Yodobashi's film shelves are more than halved in size.

Bring films you must have!

 

[Ted Striker]

Hey there!

In about two months i will be traveling to Japan for two weeks. I will visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Since this is not my first time in Japan I thought about having some fun and I decided to leave my DSLR at home and only bring my Canonet QL17 and some nice film.

I think I will need about 10-15 rolls of film, but I’m not so sure what to bring. The „to-go” Film would be Kodak Gold 200, since I can buy three rolls for 8€ in Germany. But I wonder if it might be too slow as an all purpose film. I do have the Canolite D flash, but maybe a ISO 400 film might be better? There is the Fuji XTra 400, but it’s about double the price, so a bit expensive for everyday shooting.

As nice extra I thought about Cinestill 800 Tungsten for cool neon light shots, maybe some inexpensive B/W film (Agfa APX100, or some Fomapan stuff).

Do you have any other nice suggestions?

As for getting the right film for the right moment: I wonder if it’s feasible to rewind and later reload a film, if it’s not fully used, so I can switch to a higher ISO film after sundown? I would have to remember the shots and be careful not to completely roll it into the canister, but other than that it should work, right?

Thanks for your time and support!

aleqx

I didn't see a single roll of Kodak Gold film my last trip to Japan. If that's what you want, bring a supply.

 

[Arbitrarium]

I was in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka in November and film is sold all over the place. With stuff you can't get outside of Japan like Fuji Superia 400 Premium which turned out to be 100% better than regular Superia.

And yes, rewinding a partially shot film is something I do a lot. As you say, just listen carefully for when the film pops off the take up spool and stop winding before it goes back in the canister. Mark the shot you were on on the canister with a Sharpie and you're sorted.

 

[Ted Striker]

I was in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka in November and film is sold all over the place. With stuff you can't get outside of Japan like Fuji Superia 400 Premium which turned out to be 100% better than regular Superia.

And yes, rewinding a partially shot film is something I do a lot. As you say, just listen carefully for when the film pops off the take up spool and stop winding before it goes back in the canister. Mark the shot you were on on the canister with a Sharpie and you're sorted.

This is a very misleading post. The OP was interested in Kodak Gold. That film is certainly not sold "all over the place". If one is lucky, Yodobashi or Bic Camera will have some, but as mentioned earlier, this is not guaranteed.

Those interested in shooting Gold, Ektar, or even TMAX films should not rely on local supply, except perhaps in Tokyo. Smaller cities such as Kyoto do not have the film supply they once had. I've been going to Japan yearly for now 8 straight years and have witnessed the decline.

I'll be going to Japan this spring and I wont be relying on finding Ektar as I did last time. Not one roll was available in stores in spring of 2018 in Kyoto.

 

[Archlich]

Like Ted said. Kodak and Ilford are rarer and more expensive. Quite logical since they're all imported.

Instead you have lots of Fujifilm staff, including the Japan-exclusive specialties like the Superia Premium 400, all cheaper than in the US. Curiously you'd see less Kentmere but more of the rebadged Oriental film and paper.

So if you insist on shooting Kodak then bring your own supply. Otherwise give local stores a try - some grab bag deals can be amazing.

 

[aleqx]

Thanks everyone for the information!

I really like the way Kodak Gold renders, so I’ll bring at least a few rolls, just to be sure.

@Mute-on: when you say rate at 200, do you mean that I should set my camera to ISO 200 to overexpose the film by one stop? Would this work with other film as well, eg set the camera to ISO 400 if a 200 film is loaded? I heard the film can be forgiving to underexpose about one stop, so that should give me some headroom when working with Kodak gold.

I didn’t even think about buying film there, so that is a really good idea. I checked the yodobashi website and they have nice ISO 400 film, I think I will grab a few rolls of some nice Fujifilm, maybe even try the superia 400 premium. Apparently it’s designed for Asian skin tones, but I’ll just see how they turn out.

 

[Ted Striker]

I didn’t even think about buying film there, so that is a really good idea. I checked the yodobashi website and they have nice ISO 400 film, I think I will grab a few rolls of some nice Fujifilm, maybe even try the superia 400 premium. Apparently it’s designed for Asian skin tones, but I’ll just see how they turn out.

Be advised, what is on Yodobashi's web site is vastly different to in-store stock. You will have no problems buying any Fujifilm products, but imported material can be hit and miss. If Tokyo is your first stop, you will have your best chances there. Stock up on whatever you find there!

Enjoy Japan. It is an amazing place to visit.

 

[Ted Striker]

Oh, and Kamakura is a MUST visit sea side town if you have time in Tokyo. A very short train ride away.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

When I travel by air I buy my film after arrival and have it processed there.
For convenience I also have them mailed directly home when possible.

Unlike film, processed slides, negatives or prints are not likely to be subject to X-ray damage during repeated airport security inspections.

Chris

 

[aleqx]

Thank you everyone for your input, especially Ted for the first hand information. Actually I have been to Kamakura twice already and it was always really beautiful. As for the air travel, I hope that I can convice the airport staff to hand check my film, as I don't want to soley rely on buying film in Japan, but thanks anyway for the reminder!

I hope that leaving my digital camera at home will help me enjoy travelling more, as I started to notice that I became a slave to my camera and lenses, instead of enjoying the moment.

Instead I will try to take in the atmosphere and snap the occasional pic here and there. I will let you know how it worked out and what film I ended up using.

Cheers!

 

[jbielikowski]

Be advised, what is on Yodobashi's web site is vastly different to in-store stock. You will have no problems buying any Fujifilm products, but imported material can be hit and miss. If Tokyo is your first stop, you will have your best chances there. Stock up on whatever you find there!

Enjoy Japan. It is an amazing place to visit.

Doesn't camera geeks go to Shinjuku right after landing in Tokyo? There you can just stock up in Yodobashi some fancy stuff like Superia Venus and then you really start enjoying Japan 😉 Of course you're right, not all films are available nor as cheap as in Europe but those unique JDM emulsions are worth the money, and they just complete the whole experience.

 

[DominikDUK]

I would use the film you usually use and buy some interesting film you can experiment with in Japan. If your go to film is Kodak Gold get Kodak Gold 200 and take some 400 which isn't all that expensive as well. DM has both.

 

[Ted Striker]

Doesn't camera geeks go to Shinjuku right after landing in Tokyo? There you can just stock up in Yodobashi some fancy stuff like Superia Venus and then you really start enjoying Japan 😉 Of course you're right, not all films are available nor as cheap as in Europe but those unique JDM emulsions are worth the money, and they just complete the whole experience.

Yeah, I used to do that. Now that Natura 1600 is gone, along with some other unique emulsions, the film offerings in Japan aren not that special anymore.

 

[Ted Striker]

Thank you everyone for your input, especially Ted for the first hand information. Actually I have been to Kamakura twice already and it was always really beautiful. As for the air travel, I hope that I can convice the airport staff to hand check my film, as I don't want to soley rely on buying film in Japan, but thanks anyway for the reminder!

I hope that leaving my digital camera at home will help me enjoy travelling more, as I started to notice that I became a slave to my camera and lenses, instead of enjoying the moment.

Instead I will try to take in the atmosphere and snap the occasional pic here and there. I will let you know how it worked out and what film I ended up using.

Cheers!

Japanese security is usually pretty good about hand inspections if you ask. However, it's totally unnecessary as film today can be scanned a dozen times or more without effect. I shoot 40-60 rolls while in Japan and I dont want to burden the security guards so I just send it right through the x-ray machine. Never causes any problems. I've had rolls of film scanned 10 times over in Europe, again, never any problems.