What's Turkey like for film-buying?

[Matt White]

I'm heading there on my holiday in July. We'll be based in the tourist areas around Kalkan and Fethiye. So I thought I'd check whether anyone has experience of trying to buy black and white film in Turkey.

I'd rather not carry more than an emergency supply through airport security on the way out if I can get it there at a reasonable cost. My usual choices are Neopan 400, Neopan 400CN and Acros 100, but I'm not fussy if the usual alternatives from Kodak or Ilford are more easily found.

 

[MartinP]

Maybe you could post a large box to your hotel before you leave UK ? Or, maybe more fail-safe, a couple of smaller parcels. . . .

 

[Tegla]

I don't think that you can find there good choice of films. In tourist places you can find Superia and Gold 200. Last year i was in Turkey, Antalya. I had with me 20 rolls of 135 and 120 and i didn't have any problems on airport and x-rays.

 

[semrich]

I don't think you will find a great selection of B&W film there, they are primarily beach resort and blue cruise location areas.

I have done a lot of traveling with film here coming into the airport here with a hundred rolls of HP5 and on another trip in with almost as many rolls of 120 Kodak tmy-2 and 120 Delta 400 and never had any problems. I also travel out again with the film take my photos and come back with the exposed film and again no problems.

 

[Matt White]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'd be wise to travel with adequate film supplies.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Matt, it's better to carry what you know. When you travel, chances are that you'll find stuff you don't care about, at prices that will keep you awake at night. Better do what we all do: take all the film you need (and more) with you, in your carry-on and don't worry about X-rays. As long as your film is slower than ISO 800, the machines won't hurt it. And sometimes, even really fast film won't show signs of trouble (I forgot to ask for hand-checking of a roll of T-Max 3200 in Austin, TX, and nothing happened to it) won't suffer.

In case of doubt, simply ask them to hand-check your film. People at security gates have been doing it for a long time already. Just be corteous and nice when you ask. And have a nice trip! 🙂

 

[Matt White]

It's not so much the x-rays as the bulk that I'd like to avoid. The current hand baggage size and weight restrictions make it difficult to carry all the gear I'd like to. It's a while since I travelled with film cameras and 30 to 40 rolls of film take up a fair amount of space. I always used to reckon I could find at least Tri-X pretty much anywhere I was likely to be, but that's obviously changed a lot in the last 4 years.

Still, maybe I can persuade my children to leave their Nintendo DS consoles and games at home and carry some of my gear instead.