Chemistry in Canada

drhee39 · Feb 1, 2014

Hi,

I've recently moved to Winnipeg from the states. Does anyone develop their own C41 here in town? Can anyone please recommend a good source for C-41 chems (kodak or otherwise)? Any input is appreciated!

-Dennis

Jeff L · Feb 1, 2014

My recommendation would be B&H. They have very reasonable and fast shipping to Canada. I found the Jobo/Tetenal pwer kit works well enugh for what I need - and it can be shipped across boarder.
I spend some time in Winnipeg, and have not seen a lot of chemicals in the camera stores except, understandably, the very basic B+W ones.
I bought some film at one of the stores and they were surprised that I shot it, and very surprised I could develop it.
I read Beau photo in Vancouver ships but have not used them.

adelorenzo · Feb 1, 2014

Beau Photo in Vancouver is awesome I buy from them all the time.

mrred · Feb 2, 2014

I second Jeff L. I gave up on freestyle a long time ago due to their unreasonable shipping charges. B&H even has the ability to pre pay the taxes and duties.

Colin DeWolfe · Feb 2, 2014

In Halifax, I order through Henry's. We have 2 local ones here, and they can order in with their normal shipment. No shipping charges.

mrred · Feb 2, 2014

You should compare the prices. Henry's does not give anything away.

mooseontheloose · Feb 2, 2014

I agree with the others. While living in Toronto, Kamloops BC, and in a small town north of Winnipeg, I almost always ordered everything from Freestyle or B&H. Even with shipping and duty, it still usually worked out cheaper than buying in Canada (plus there is usually a greater selection at your disposal.) Things may have changed in the last few years since I've been there, but I doubt it. In any event, it pays to shop around and compare prices (including shipping).

mrred · Feb 2, 2014

Don't get me wrong; I prefer to buy in Canada. It's just getting past that bull's-eye on my head as I walk in the store.

Colin DeWolfe · Feb 2, 2014

Mostly for me it's the ability to get things in a couple of days, and not having to pay for shipping. And getting liquids shipped is nearly impossible. And now with the dollar falling, I find the cost differences to be not so great. It's not like I order so much C41 that it makes it worth it to deal with powders and pay for shipping and HST, and quite often, brokerage fees. I get my RA4 from the local lab.

That being said, I AM in the market for a couple of C41 packets to try, and some crystal archive... but, beau photo's pricelist is offline.

adelorenzo · Feb 2, 2014

Here are the llinks to the old prices I still have them in my browser history.

http://www.beauphoto.com/frames/filmnew/pricesheets/beau_chem_paper2013.pdf
http://www.beauphoto.com/frames/filmnew/pricesheets/beau_film2013.pdf

The Tetenal C-41 kits they sell are the liquid chems, not the powder. Prices are on par with Freestyle.

amateur_trombonist · Feb 2, 2014

Check my posting on this very query under "Sticky:List of Color Chemicals and Where to get them". My posting is now down on the 16th page posted on Sept. 15th, 2013. The company I order from is Hi-Tech Service Centre of Mississauga, ON, L4W 1P1. Ph. (905-238-0388).

amateur_trombonist · Feb 2, 2014

Oops! I just checked the website for Hi-Tech - it looks like they may have discontinued their color chemical supply business since I last ordered from them. Too bad, as they had very good prompt service. I'll continue to check and follow up if I'm successful.

amateur_trombonist · Feb 2, 2014

I checked further and found the website address for Hi-Tech. It is as follows: hitechemall.com. As I stated in my posting under the other thread (Sticky, the website needs some work done to it (even to just find it). I last ordered from them in April '12. Their email address is "fablenatural@gmail.com.

PhotoJim · Feb 2, 2014

Don's Photo is a good local store. There may be others, but we have a Don's here too and they do stock some darkroom stuff at reasonable prices. Alas, the selection is smaller than it once was.

drhee39 · Feb 2, 2014

Thanks everyone for the recommendations! I'll check them all out.

Stupid question for anyone who lives in Canada and shoots instant film: anyway to get my hands on some impossible project film without having it be frozen during shipping :confused:

Jeff L · Feb 2, 2014

I have ordered instant film (Fuji not Impossible) from B&H in the winter and it was fine. Purolator has not left any package outside when I was not there to receive it- so far.

adelorenzo · Feb 3, 2014

Wow that hitech place has low prices on C-41 chemicals. Obviously more for labs but has anyone used them for home developing?

I've ordered Impossible from Beau and also directly from the Impossible website. If it can survive the Yukon winter it should be fine in the 'peg.

Colin DeWolfe · Feb 3, 2014

Wow! I didn't know about those guys. Wonder how current those prices are.

amateur_trombonist · Feb 3, 2014

I've not used hitech's c-41 yet. Last time I developed my own film was probably over 30 years ago.
Regarding their specs for the ra-4 chems they give a developer working temperature range of 15-38C. I tried the developer once at about 20C, extending the time substantially (can't remember how long). The results were terrible. In fact on the bottles of the components they list a working range of 32-38C. I use 35C with excellent results.

akitakita · Mar 20, 2014

I used the first of the 10 litres of C41 i recently got from Hi Tech tonight. Did 10 rolls–they look fine at first glance, though I haven't taken densitometer measurements or anything. I was a bit disappointed to see that the part B blix bottle leaked a bit during shipping, but what do you expect from a place with a website that looks like it's from 1996?

duparis00 · Mar 21, 2014

I got my chemistry from http://www.argentix.ca/index01.php?=SID they're in Quebec. They have 1l and 2l tetenol/unicolor kits as well as liquid stuff. Pretty good prices too and very fast turn around.

WayneStevenson · Mar 21, 2014

What was their price on their chemistry?

mrred · Mar 21, 2014

It's on their site, but there is no kit. You have to pick and choose what you want.

WayneStevenson · Mar 21, 2014

Slick. Thanks.

duparis00 · Mar 21, 2014

WayneStevenson said:
What was their price on their chemistry?

I think I paid $42 with shipping for 1L C-41 kit, they list it as 23.99 which is about what it's going for in the states but I get it in like 3 days. The guys really nice too replied right away to my email questions.

Chemistry in Canada

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