Buying film in Canada

mehguy · Apr 20, 2016

Where's a good place online where I can buy film online that's operated in Canada. Honestly, I find myself that film prices for black and white film in Canada are almost 3 times as much as B and H. B and H is only good when buying large quantities of film if you are importing due to the customs. The only film where I've seen priced reasonably compared to American shops is Foma film (which I would have no problem in using). Where do you Canadians get your film?

Ko.Fe. · Apr 20, 2016

Canada? It is big and different country by each province.
In Quebec we have Argentix. Good film options.
Where I'm I have good deals locally at Burlington camera.
I have color ECN-2 from APUG classifieds. And I'm also using BH for bulk bw. 99 CAD and it is free shipping.

MattKing · Apr 21, 2016

When I buy local, I use Beau Photo in Vancouver. They are not cheap, but they are fair and worthy of support.

The Canadian distributors have very high prices, so the Canadian retail stores do as well.

I live very close to the US border and have a shipping address across the line, so I can take advantage of the big US alternatives.

mehguy · Apr 21, 2016

http://m.henrys.com/Categories/379-B-And-W-Film.aspx/1

This is what I'm talking about. 10 dollars for a roll of HP5 is way too much. It used to be 7 dollars which was OK (but not the best price) but there was a recent upping on the price and now it's 10 dollars... Some other ilford film is even 15!

spijker · Apr 21, 2016

In Ottawa I get my film from GPC Labworks, they're downtown on Bank St. Last week I got 4 rolls of 120 Delta 100 for CAN$31 incl 13% HST. So about CAN$6.85 + HST per roll. Another option for online shopping is Amplis: Dead Link Removed
I haven't ordered here myself.

MattKing · Apr 21, 2016

spijker said:
Another option for online shopping is Amplis: Dead Link Removed
I haven't ordered here myself.

Amplis is the Canadian distributor, and it is their "wholesale" price to the stores that contributes greatly to the high retail cost in the Canadian stores.

Of course, Amplis has to pay what Harman is charging them, and pay to import the film....

spijker · Apr 21, 2016

MattKing said:
Amplis is the Canadian distributor, and it is their "wholesale" price to the stores that contributes greatly to the high retail cost in the Canadian stores.

Of course, Amplis has to pay what Harman is charging them, and pay to import the film....

GPC Labworks charges about the same as Amplis though. So I doubt that the consumer pays wholesale prices at Amplis. Or that GPC Labworks sells film with no mark-up.

MattKing · Apr 21, 2016

spijker said:
GPC Labworks charges about the same as Amplis though. So I doubt that the consumer pays wholesale prices at Amplis. Or that GPC Labworks sells film with no mark-up.

I was unclear.
I'm sure that Amplis' price on their website includes retail markup.
I was grumbling about how high their wholesale price to other retailers is, and probably grumbling as well that while they sell wholesale to retailers, they are then competing directly against those retailers.

gordrob · Apr 21, 2016

Prices here in Calgary seem to be a bit better than in the east plus an added advantage is there is no PST.
Check out the Camera Store - the carry a wide selection of film and darkroom materials.

http://www.thecamerastore.com/

Gord

adelorenzo · Apr 21, 2016

I buy almost all my film, chems and paper from Beau Photo via mail order. They are great to deal with and their prices are fairly competitive, occasionally on par with the US even. They have quite a bit in stock and are always willing to bring things in on special order.

shoot6x7 · Apr 21, 2016

I used to buy 10 rolls at a time from Amplis, but will be buying 100 ft rolls either from them or B&H from now on.

skorpiius · Apr 21, 2016

mehguy said:
http://m.henrys.com/Categories/379-B-And-W-Film.aspx/1

This is what I'm talking about. 10 dollars for a roll of HP5 is way too much. It used to be 7 dollars which was OK (but not the best price) but there was a recent upping on the price and now it's 10 dollars... Some other ilford film is even 15!

See that's nuts. the BH price of $3.99 converted to CAD is $5.09, yet Henrys is selling for $10.

MattKing · Apr 21, 2016

skorpiius said:
See that's nuts. the BH price of $3.99 converted to CAD is $5.09, yet Henrys is selling for $10.

Particularly since Henrys may actually be buying it from B&H for $3.99 USD and re-selling it.

If you make a special order through Beau Photo, they will check both B&H and their wholesale suppliers. Frequently, they can buy things from B&H and import them for a lower cost than their wholesale distributor sells to them.

skorpiius · Apr 21, 2016

Also Henrys seems to be overly expensive. As was mentioned, I looked at vistek.ca and thecamerastore.ca and they are selling *36* frame rolls of the same film for $8-something.

Julie McLeod · Apr 21, 2016

adelorenzo said:
I buy almost all my film, chems and paper from Beau Photo via mail order. They are great to deal with and their prices are fairly competitive, occasionally on par with the US even. They have quite a bit in stock and are always willing to bring things in on special order.

Do they publish their film prices online or do you have to call/email? I notice they have something that looks like it's supposed to be a .pdf price list on the site but it doesn't seem to be clickable...

mehguy · Apr 21, 2016

Julie McLeod said:
Do they publish their film prices online or do you have to call/email? I notice they have something that looks like it's supposed to be a .pdf price list on the site but it doesn't seem to be clickable...

"The film pricing is being reworked due to the fluctuating dollar. Please check back soon or call us to get the most updated prices." -Beau Photo Website

Julie McLeod · Apr 21, 2016

mehguy said:
"The film pricing is being reworked due to the fluctuating dollar. Please check back soon or call us to get the most updated prices." -Beau Photo Website

Oh, thanks. I missed that somehow.

MattKing · Apr 21, 2016

Talk to Beau - Nicole in Film and Darkroom is great, and everyone else there is very helpful too.

Here is a link to their April newsletter (the film and darkroom stuff is relatively close to the end, but there is other good stuff there too): http://www.beauphoto.com/frames/contact/news/2016/apr2016.pdf

Julie McLeod · Apr 21, 2016

MattKing said:
Talk to Beau - Nicole in Film and Darkroom is great, and everyone else there is very helpful too.

Here is a link to their April newsletter (the film and darkroom stuff is relatively close to the end, but there is other good stuff there too): http://www.beauphoto.com/frames/contact/news/2016/apr2016.pdf

Now why'd you have to go and show me that newsletter? Now I've got my eye on a new bag.

BradleyK · Apr 21, 2016

As much as I would like to buy film in Canada, the prices up here, generally speaking, are a little too expensive for my liking (and don't even get me started on how we Canadians are being raped by our cell phone providers!). For the most part, most of my film is sourced, in bulk (usually in 100 roll lots), from either B&H or Adorama. That said, I generally patronize the locals for other supplies and equipment (Matt mentioned Beau; Leo's is another outstanding local establishment). When I do buy film locally, it's generally for a couple of rolls of 35mm Tri-X/HP5, or, on occasion, Velvia, because I've found myself having run out of film in downtown Vancouver, etc., and don't want to make the trek back up the mountain to Burnaby.

Dennis S · Apr 22, 2016

I have always liked Freestyle, Orwo NA. or Argentix.ca. for large orders. I noticed the exchange rate is getting more reasonable lately which is good. The prices @ Beau photo for chems and paper are starting to be quite reasonable lately and Lens & Shutter on B/way is another one that sees my business occasionally.

sportster44 · Apr 22, 2016

I too shop at GPC Labworks for film but I also go to Galaxy camera, further down Bank street. Cash only and they will discount you if you are buying 10 rolls in total.

Julie McLeod · Apr 22, 2016

sportster44 said:
I too shop at GPC Labworks for film but I also go to Galaxy camera, further down Bank street. Cash only and they will discount you if you are buying 10 rolls in total.

Do you have a preference for one over the other? I've been buying film at Galaxy but thought I'd try GPC next time. Do they stock different film?

naeroscatu · Apr 22, 2016

BradleyK said:
As much as I would like to buy film in Canada, the prices up here, generally speaking, are a little too expensive for my liking (and don't even get me started on how we Canadians are being raped by our cell phone providers!).

+1

Andrew O'Neill · Apr 22, 2016

I usually get my HP5 sheet film from Beau Photo in Vancouver. I just about had a stroke when I saw how much a box of 8x10 costs! $179! She gave me an educator discount, so I ended up paying $165.

Buying film in Canada

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