Diafine in Japan?

David R Munson · May 9, 2015

So I moved to Tokyo. I'd really like to find some Diafine, but so far no luck.

Does anyone know if it's available at all in Japan? And better yet, in Tokyo?

At this point I have no leads, any and all contributions are appreciated.

(I'm pretty sure this is the best forum for this, if it's better placed elsewhere, moderators please feel free to move it)

IloveTLRs · May 9, 2015

How is it pronounced? I searched for DYE-A-FINE and DEE-A-FIN in Japanese but found nothing.

Here are two places I know of that sell film, chemicals, etc. besides Bic Camera & Yodobashi:

1. http://www.graltd.com/
2. http://kawauso.biz/

It's all in Japanese, but they have exotic films, chemicals & papers that Bic & Yodobashi (probably) don't have.

mooseontheloose · May 9, 2015

I've never found it in Japan (and yes, that includes all the places that IloveTLRs has recommended). In the end I ordered some from Freestyle in the US.

David R Munson · May 9, 2015

Do you remember how they were able to ship it? My impression was that it could not be shipped by air, and as far as I know surface shipping from the US ended when the USPS discontinued it in 2008. Not saying it didn't happen, of course, I just didn't think it could be shipped abroad on a per-order basis.

rbrigham · May 9, 2015

hi David

you might look at buying it from Europe here

Dead Link Removed

I still have some tins but when that's gone I intend buying this as its theo lay stockist I know of outside of the states

best

robin

cmacd123 · May 9, 2015

In the freestyle web site, it does not seem to be marked ORMD or Hazardous. http://www.freestylephoto.biz/16128-Acufine-Diafine-Powder-Film-Developer-1-Gallon so perhaps it can be shipped air mail. Not sure if you would have any issues with customs.

As a Canadian I am always running into the "we can't ship THAT' Problem.

mooseontheloose · May 9, 2015

David R Munson said:
Do you remember how they were able to ship it? My impression was that it could not be shipped by air, and as far as I know surface shipping from the US ended when the USPS discontinued it in 2008. Not saying it didn't happen, of course, I just didn't think it could be shipped abroad on a per-order basis.

cmacd123 said:
In the freestyle web site, it does not seem to be marked ORMD or Hazardous. http://www.freestylephoto.biz/16128-Acufine-Diafine-Powder-Film-Developer-1-Gallon so perhaps it can be shipped air mail. Not sure if you would have any issues with customs.

As a Canadian I am always running into the "we can't ship THAT' Problem.

As cmacd123 has noted, it is not ORMD. They shipped it no problem - I just ordered some last year, in the fall. Of course, I bought a lot more than Diafine, to help make the cost of shipping worthwhile.

I have had to pay customs on photo supplies shipped to Japan, but it's usually around 5-10% of the total (I don't know exactly, just working off memory). For whatever reason they don't ask for it when delivering the package, they just send a notice in the mail afterwards and I just pay it at 7-11 (or other convenience store) as one normally does here in Japan.

David R Munson · May 9, 2015

I could have sworn it was restricted. But hey, if they can ship it, that's great!

mooseontheloose · May 9, 2015

Actually, you may be right. I think it may have been restricted in the past - I was always interested in Diafine but could never get it. It was just when I was making up my last order that I realised I could have it shipped here. I think there are some things that are more available now for shipping than even just a few years ago. Not sure what the change is.

Interestingly, some items (like Fotospeed Lith Developer) can be OMRD in the US, but not from the UK. So it is worth checking out places like Silverprint and other European sellers for chemicals we can't get here in Japan.

David R Munson · May 10, 2015

I checked their site, and it looks like B&H won't ship it at all, listing it as "Available for in-Store pickup only."

In a few months I'll probably order a few packages of Diafine in just to make it worthwhile.

Thanks for the help, everyone - I appreciate it!

mooseontheloose · May 10, 2015

That may be true for B&H, but it's readily available for shipping from Freestyle.

cmacd123 · May 10, 2015

mooseontheloose said:
That may be true for B&H, but it's readily available for shipping from Freestyle.

B&H has lots of chemicals that they will not ship that are otherwise shippable, Strangest to me is that they will not ship the 1l bottles of HC-110, although when the slightly under a half litre old style bottles were around I would sometime order 3 at a time- No problem.

Richard S. (rich815) · May 10, 2015

cmacd123 said:
B&H has lots of chemicals that they will not ship that are otherwise shippable, Strangest to me is that they will not ship the 1l bottles of HC-110, although when the slightly under a half litre old style bottles were around I would sometime order 3 at a time- No problem.

Yeah this sucks. I loaded up big time from them just before the change of bottle and stock number so I still have a lot on hand but after that I guess it's no more HC-110 from B&H.

cmacd123 · May 11, 2015

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Yeah this sucks. I loaded up big time from them just before the change of bottle and stock number so I still have a lot on hand but after that I guess it's no more HC-110 from B&H.

At least you are in an area with a lot of fairly local full line camera stores. here we have henry's or vistek and that is it.

Diafine in Japan?

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