Costa Rica - film & processing

[Marco Buonocore]

Hello,

It looks like I'll be heading to Costa Rica for a month or so in June; I'll be staying near Turrialba.

I am wondering if there is somewhere in San Jose that I could buy B&W supplies - I would like to develop rolls whilst I am over there. I was also curious about 4x5 film availability - specifically Provia. Is there somewhere I can get E6 processed?

If anyone has answers to any of these questions, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Peter Rockstroh]

Best place in Costa Rica to get film, processing, both B&W and color, is Miami.
Don´t expect to get materials there. The best photo stores are, at best, sporadical suppliers. Labs are average. But the country sure has many nice places to photograph.

Peace,

Peter

 

[Marco Buonocore]

Update on Costa Rica Supplies

So I´ve been in CR a week now. Delta Airlines managed to loose my bag, containing a lot of my darkroom supplies. Pretty angry about it, but that´s another story.

I spent a few more days than I would have liked to in San Jose, mainly dealing with Delta. However, on one of my strolls I came across a photo shop that was - lo and behold! - stocked to the gills with darkroom supplies.

To say I was shocked was an understatement. Every person I´ve spoken too has said "you´ll never find xxx in Costa Rica. Buy in Miami." Everyone! Quite ridiculous, when, without actively searching, I came across a well stocked shop.

Dima Industrial Y Comerical S.A.
Avenida Central, Called 3 y 5
Apdo. 871-1000
San Jose, Costa Rica
tel 506 222 3969
fax 506 255 3089
email dimaic@racsa.co.cr

The fellow I spoke with was Edmundo Palma. Didn´t speak English, but that was no worries.

What did they stock? in 120, they had Provia, and Ilford BW. I didn´t look at 35mm. No 4x5. Lots of Ilford and Tetenal chemistry, including DDX, wash aid, fixer, etc... They even had some (new!) jobo tanks and reels. Are you kidding me? I´m not familiar with the Tetenal stuff, but they had a good amount of it.

There was even some printing supplies - lots of RC paper and MG filters. I´m quite sure he processed e6 in 120. My spanish is arse, but I think that we understood each other on that.

I would wager that there are more suppliers than just this fellow in CR - so to all those who would say otherwise, I would suggest having a better look in San Jose before rushing of to Miami for supplies. Just a thought.

Good luck,