A good source for film and chemistry in Canada

[Don_ih]

I recently discovered a store in Alberta called Film Experience Camera Store. It's reasonably priced and well-stocked with b&w and colour essentials. I have no idea how long they've been around but I was pleased to find they had what I wanted in stock. Their website is here.

 

[gordrob]

The Film Experience Camera Store is about an hour south west of Calgary and is almost all film related. Open on the weekends starting in April until I think October. They recently added on to there building for storage and the blending and packaging of chemicals.
If you go to https://flicfilm.ca/ it will give you a better idea of what chemicals they are selling and where you can buy them in Western Canada.
If you have looked at the https://filmexperiencecamerastore.com/ site click on the Facebook title at the bottom of the main page and it will give you a better idea of what some of the stock items are.
I have been there a few times when I have been in the area looking for wildlife pictures. Prices are definetely reasonable and there is a lot of film equipment in the store.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Thanks for the heads up. I get my 120 and 4x5 Rollei IR from Argentix, but looks like I'll try Film Experience Camera Store for Ilford films. Their price for Acros 120 is very good.

 

[Dennis S]

Thanks for that tip as a I found some Ultrafine Extreme 100 film I have been looking into but the Photo Warehouse in USA wants to charge me $100 just for shipping alone and that store will only charge me $20. They are definitely on my list of photo stores as Beau Photo here in Vancouver does not supply the low-priced films like that. The chemicals for Pyrocat HD are easy enough for me to get but some of their individual roll film is a bit too pricey for me as I am more of a bulk film user. And it is always nice to find another Canadian film supply store.

 

[Don_ih]

@gordrob -- thanks for the additional information.
@Andrew O'Neill -- I use Argentix all the time. They have a great selection of stuff, also, and I've never found the prices bad. Argentix was just about the only place to get c41 kits, 6-7 years ago. (That's how I first found the site, actually.)
@dances_w_clouds -- It's great to have another Canadian film supplier. I hope the market is large enough to support the ones we have. I don't know how long they will have the Ultrafine film, though. Photowarehouse is out of stock on bulk rolls of Ultrafine and has been for a while.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Argentix.ca is in Québec, but will ship by Canada Post. Best selection of bulk chemicals and hard to find stuff.

 

[Dennis S]

Been dealing with Argentix.ca for many years now also and they do charge a shipping price that is what Canada Post is charging them. I bought the last roll of Fomapan 100 and shipping cost me $18 so it's nice to have an honest shipper that doesn't try to make $$ on shipping costs. Freestyle & B&H give you shipping options to choose from which is nice to have depending on how fast you need it.

 

[Don_ih]

I agree that Argentix' shipping is great. It's important to remember that charging what Canada Post charges is a losing proposition. The boxes he uses need to be purchased - and that's not insignificant (last time I bought boxes, it was pretty expensive). He also has to purchase packing material. It would be perfectly fair to include that in the price of shipping.

 

[Dennis S]

Just ordered 400' (EDIT: actually 100') of film I've heard was supposed to be great and saw a few examples of the results. Does anyone know who the Ultrafine Extreme is manufactured by? Foma is my guess, but I've been known to be wrong a few times in my life. Hope their shipping is as fast as Argentix.

 

[Don_ih]

Just ordered 400' of film I've heard was supposed to be great and saw a few examples of the results. Does anyone know who the Ultrafine Extreme is manufactured by? Foma is my guess, but I've been known to be wrong a few times in my life. Hope their shipping is as fast as Argentix.

Shipping is good, in my experience. I don't think Ultrafine is made by Foma. I had some before and it seemed more like Kentmere. No one, so far as I know, is admitting who makes it.

 

[Dennis S]

Shipping is good, in my experience. I don't think Ultrafine is made by Foma. I had some before and it seemed more like Kentmere. No one, so far as I know, is admitting who makes it.

Yes the different companies like to leave the consumers mystified by their "magic film" Their Plus XX is probably Kodaks 5222 film. Other places sell it as "Dark Knight" and "Thunderbird" as all of them need to be exposed at 250iso. Every time I see those names I just chuckle as we all here know the facts.

 

[Dennis S]

Shipping is good, in my experience. I don't think Ultrafine is made by Foma. I had some before and it seemed more like Kentmere. No one, so far as I know, is admitting who makes it.

Kentmere film is produced by Ilford so it's got to be good regardless of the name. After the first roll is exposed and developed, I will have more information on it.

 

[GregY]

If you're in the Canadian West, Photo Formulary in Condon MT really is the kid's candy store & their shipping prices are good on non gallon liquid items. If I'm in Calgary....in a pinch Ilford Hypam or Developer in 5litre/gallon jugs will to the trick. You've got to love B&H with their free shipping over $99 for big things like gallons of 'you name it' or 20x24 paper. I'll have to check out the store in Longview once Highway 40 is open on June 15th..... I hear they've got lots of cameras but the chemical side of things looks pretty simple and small volume containers.....

 

[cmacd123]

Yes the different companies like to leave the consumers mystified by their "magic film" Their Plus XX is probably Kodak's 5222 film. Other places sell it as "Dark Knight" and "Thunderbird" as all of them need to be exposed at 250iso.

Part of the mystery in the case of 5222 is that Kodak's terms of sale mean that one is not suposed to convert it (form the 400 or 1000 ft rolls) and then sell it as a Kodak product. Some folks attempt to explain what they are selling, while others figure that they can add a fee for "Magic" if you get the movie version (I belive cine still buys it un perforated in larger widths) it will have edge printing every 18 inches saying EASTMAN, and "KE" as a type code, in fact it will say 5222 and a 4 digit date of manufacture these days..

As far as Ultrafine Extreme, the 120 rolls of that I bought a while back looked like they were converted by Harman/Ilford. the edge printing did say ultrafine extreme however. at the time, many here assumed that it was a private label version of Kentmere.

 

[Dennis S]

Part of the mystery in the case of 5222 is that Kodak's terms of sale mean that one is not suposed to convert it (form the 400 or 1000 ft rolls) and then sell it as a Kodak product. Some folks attempt to explain what they are selling, while others figure that they can add a fee for "Magic" if you get the movie version (I belive cine still buys it un perforated in larger widths) it will have edge printing every 18 inches saying EASTMAN, and "KE" as a type code, in fact it will say 5222 and a 4 digit date of manufacture these days..

As far as Ultrafine Extreme, the 120 rolls of that I bought a while back looked like they were converted by Harman/Ilford. the edge printing did say ultrafine extreme however. at the time, many here assumed that it was a private label version of Kentmere.

I don't suppose it is too challenging to get them to print what every you want on the edges if you order enough film from Kodak. I saw the video on film making and the type set for the sides looked easy as they make large rolls and then split it up for 35 and 120 and a larger one for 4x5 & 5x7 and even custom film sizes and that's when the edge makings are stamped on.

 

[Dennis S]

If you're in the Canadian West, Photo Formulary in Condon MT really is the kid's candy store & their shipping prices are good on non gallon liquid items. If I'm in Calgary....in a pinch Ilford Hypam or Developer in 5litre/gallon jugs will to the trick. You've got to love B&H with their free shipping over $99 for big things like gallons of 'you name it' or 20x24 paper. I'll have to check out the store in Longview once Highway 40 is open on June 15th..... I hear they've got lots of cameras but the chemical side of things looks pretty simple and small volume containers.....

I order from the USA occasionally, but the only problem is the 30% exchange rate on the dollar that holds me back. Unless NOBODY in Canada has it I will.

 

[GregY]

Dennis, There's lot's of stuff that nobody in Canada has....particularly in paper & chemistry. Even lenses.....I was interested in the new Voigtlander heliar 40mm f 2.8 that was just released. It's in the express post to me before the distributor even got the Canadian price to the Camera Store in Calgary...even though i inquired 3 weeks ago.

 

[Don_ih]

the chemical side of things looks pretty simple and small volume containers

I wouldn't say that small. They sell gallon jugs of rapid fixer. Anyway, the guy made a separate factory for Flic Film chemistry - you should be able to expect more and larger amounts of chemistry. I'd expect the more they sell, the more they'll produce. They're also selling in places like Beau Photo and Downtown Camera.

 

[GregY]

I wouldn't say that small. They sell gallon jugs of rapid fixer. Anyway, the guy made a separate factory for Flic Film chemistry - you should be able to expect more and larger amounts of chemistry. I'd expect the more they sell, the more they'll produce. They're also selling in places like Beau Photo and Downtown Camera.

Thanks Don, that's pretty interesting...I'll plan a visit when the Highway 40 seasonal closure ends on June 15th...it cuts down the driving time considerably....& it's through some of the most beautiful landscape in Alberta!

 

[Dennis S]

I have never been too big on change as the TF 4 I use really works well for me in my film developing quest. I'll wait until other people use that fixer and then give quality reviews on its longevity and quality. I thought the TF 5 fixer would be better until it started turning black (diluted) after a few uses as I still have half a liter left until I make my chemical recycling journey to dispose of it.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I prefer to support Canadian companies if at all possible.

 

[Dennis S]

I prefer to support Canadian companies if at all possible.

I try to do that also but there are a few places that their prices are incredible, and I can order from the US and pay the shipping plus the exchange rate and still get it cheaper. I really must budget my spending as income has to be higher than the monthly bills and photography has never been inexpensive like some people think.

 

[Don_ih]

photography has never been inexpensive

That's certainly true.

As for the rapid fixer, I'll be able to say how it is in a while. I have a gallon and will start using it for film relatively soon.

 

[cmacd123]

I don't suppose it is too challenging to get them to print what every you want on the edges if you order enough film from Kodak. I saw the video on film making and the type set for the sides looked easy as they make large rolls and then split it up for 35 and 120 and a larger one for 4x5 & 5x7 and even custom film sizes and that's when the edge makings are stamped on.

I would not say it is imposible, Kodak is NOW allowed to sell private label film, BUT I would expect that the required quanity is probaly an entire Master roll or two. they have elaborate procedures for quality purposes, and they would have to create a procedure to accomplish your order.