Are you waiting to jump into ULF because of film.

I'm just curious. I'm waiting to move from 8x10 to 7x17 until the film availability problem is worked out. I know there are some suppliers but I want to be able to order film from a major source from my local store.

Are there others out there who are holding back until the dust clears, or are you bravely steam rolling ahead.

-Rob Skeoch

ULF film from a major source from a local store just isn't likely to happen unless you live in New York or Los Angeles. At B&H, which is my local store, there is some 11x14" in stock, but most other ULF sizes are special order, if they even are willing to bother.

Dealing with mail order suppliers, though, is not really that difficult. J&C, Freestyle, and Badger Graphic ship quickly and provides some fine products, and I know others are happy with suppliers like Photowarehouse and The View Camera Store.

Ordering film from your local store might be wishful thinking...
If someone is holding very tightly to their film choices, then avialability might be an issue, i.e. if you absolutely positively need FP4+, and will accept no substitute, then you might be in a fix...

I'll start experimenting with MACO films soon, since they are one of the companies who seem to be the most dynamically pushing forward...

PJ

Rob,

I don't know if what you're waiting for is ever going to happen. I'm confident that local merchants won't be stocking ULF in my town---they don't stock 5x7 or 8x10 either. ULF film from J and C is very good so why wait? (No, I don't work for J and C!)

ULF is kind of like Alaska. Once you make your first trip, your only regret will be that you've waited so long to make it.

Cheers!

My local shops don't stock LF film at all. All I use is mail order - 6.5x9cm, 9x12cm, 4x5", 5x7", 13x18cm, 18x24cm, 30x40cm.

Stop dithering.

Even when ULF film was available from major manufacturers it wasn't available except in a few stores in NYC, LA and from a couple of others dotted across the country.

Don't wait!
What is available from J&C is more of a selection then there has been since I started shooting ULF in 1992.

I placed the order for my 5x12 camera back in May and there was a 12-18 month wait for it at the time. In the meantime, I'm gathering the supplies I will need to use it when it arrives. This includes film.

As for LF film, I use mail order most of the time, though the local shop will order 8x10.

So, go for it.

Like waiting for the next batch of steam locomotives in 1955.

Lets face it, the dust will never clear. I think it safe to assume that your local camera store will never carry ULF film. It will always be a specialty item which is regularly carried by a handful of stores. That said, I don't think that ULF or any B&W film will become extinct in the near future. Eastern Europe has and soon China will pick-up where the so-called major producers have left off.

As Ole writes, "stop dithering", the only way we can make sure that ULF film remains available is to use it.

the largest format I saw in stock at my local store was Ilford FP4+ on 13*18cm.
Online ordering is the key to get your stuff quickly.

G

I have to agree with some of the above statements. Seems like a bit of a pipedream to think a local place will ever stock these oddly sized ULF films.
My $0.02 opinion is, why not support those people already supplying the film... show them (with your wallet) that ULF is rightfully stocked. Efke PL100 is a gorgeous film and can be ordered in damn-near every size imagineable.

When I worked in the local pro shop, the biggest format we ever kept in stock was 4x5, and I know there were stores in NY and LA that kept ULF in stock, but never has it been a common thing to see ULF in most stores in the US, agree with others, no better time than the present to start down the road to ULF bliss, because if your waiting for the dust to settle, I doubt it ever will.

Dave

Rob Skeoch said:

I'm just curious. I'm waiting to move from 8x10 to 7x17 until the film availability problem is worked out. I know there are some suppliers but I want to be able to order film from a major source from my local store.

Are there others out there who are holding back until the dust clears, or are you bravely steam rolling ahead.

-Rob Skeoch

Click to expand...

No need to wait, Rob. Since you're in Toronto, I suggest you order from Treckhall where you could pick up the film rather than have it sent (they are not a "walk in" store, though).

They do have 7x17 HP5 as a catalog item (the only 7x17 they have, though). They will very likely be cheaper than all other stores in T.O. Check them out, they are very good. Other than Ilford, you will simply not get any film in this size in Canada I don't think (correct me if you do). Bergger at 8th Elm maybe a very distant possibility. Otherwise, you'll have to order from the States (J&C, Freestyle, B&H etc...)

The idea of local stores stocking anything but the most basic supplies is long past. In the Omaha area with a population of about 700,000 we have been reduced to two stores. One is 95% digital and has one shelf with Kodak chemistry and ilford paper and the price is about 15-20% more then what you would pay ordering from B&H.

The other store is baiscally a backroom of a local commercial photographer who bought the stock of the last real analoge supplier in town when he closed shop. His business is students and hobbyists. He also basically stocks only Ilford paper and Ilford and Kodak chemistry along with darkroom supplies and gear. it is rediculous for him to stock anything like LF film when in th small quatiites he would purchase the mark up would have to be quite a bit over what I can buy it for from J&C.

The new paradigm with all niche markets is direct purchase from wholesalers (or better yet the OEM). The only other alternative is for groups of individuals to get together and make a large purchase to reduce cost or allow a big lot to be split up into more affordable smaller units via re-packaging.

With internet access to sites, current levels of security for purchases and delivery in the US in 1-3 days depending on your location, you just need to think in terms of people like J&C, B&H, Freestyle, Photographers Formulary, etc as your neighborhood store. After you you get used to using these sources it becomes almost more convieinent then a local store.

The best thing you can do is to buy a camera ordera box of film and start shooting.

Hi Rob - We used to do special orders from Ilford for 7x17, 8x20, 12x20, 14x17 and 20x24 HP5+. Our Ilford rep told us we were one of the few Ilford dealers to order ultra large format film. My company is the View Camera Store. Our last 12x20 order was cancelled by Ilford and it was very dissapointing to have to inform our customers. My advice to customers was to have at least a 6 month supply of film in the refrigerator/freezer. It took about 3 months for special orders.

I asked my current Ilford rep if it was possible to do special runs of film once a year and I'm still waiting for a reply. At present I have customers wanting 12x20, 7x17, 14x17 and 20x24. Hopefully Ilford will come to the rescue.

Kodak still has catalog numbers for 7x17 and 12x20 but the minimum order from the last time we ordered was about $15,000 of 12x20 film. Ilfords order was about $3000 for an order. The order was by square feet of film and for Ilford was 12 boxes of 12x20 film.

If I find out any information I will post it here but I'm sure someone will find out before me.

Fred Newman