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Let's see, I live in the GTA and you don't. Thanks so much, h.v., for filling me in on what's in my own backyard. Jeesh!
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Keep in mind I don't live in Toronto, so I don't have the same eye on the scene as a local would. However, suburban areas like Mississauga are bound to not be film havens (not saying CGW doesn't go Old Toronto or anything). I wouldn't just base your information on CGW's opinion of the Toronto analogue market, nor would I say you should base it just off mine. If you're interested enough, just look at various sites (like flickr) and see an array of analogue photos from Toronto, you'll see more examples and opinions there.
he lives at the centre of the universe (- you probably have to be Canadian to understand this).
Matt, enjoy your off season. (you probably have to be Canucks fan to understand this)
Matt, enjoy your off season. (you probably have to be Canucks fan to understand this)
Anyone driving from Buffalo to Toronto via Mississississississagua can understand the importance of the area to Canada
Last time I was there (about 8 years ago) I was very impressed with the 2 Henry's I went into they wer probably the best photographic stores I'd ever visted. But I'm told things changed.
Ian
Are you a Leaf/Oilers/Flames fan by any chance, Dinesh?
(You probably have to be a hockey fan to understand this).
Let's see, I live in the GTA and you don't. Thanks so much, h.v., for filling me in on what's in my own backyard. Jeesh!
There isn't really much film locally however in Calgary one can buy almost whatever they want at theCamerastore. For most items they are competitive with the big chains. The one product that is not is Acros in 120 which is considerably less expensive at Freestyle or B&H than anywhere I have seen in Canada making me think it is Fuji and not the stores that are setting prices. For most products the brokerage fees make up the difference in prices.
Toronto is still a great photography city but it's not a great film photography city now. If Toronto Image Works scraps its film lines, I'm pretty much done. Bob Carnie is the city's preeminent printer. Henry's and Vistek marginalized film+darkroom 3-4 years ago.
Eight years ago is an eternity in photography. The landscape's quite different, especially in terms of the collapse of quality pro labs handling film workflow around the GTA.
Yeah, I've done pretend orders that I cancel to see what shipping/duties would be and that's great that B&H does that. However, I find that with all the shipping/duties to Alberta, it usually isn't worth it. Local stores here do bother, but they also realize that 97% of the photographic world is now digital, so film is no longer their top priority. I can get any Kodak, Fuji, or Ilford film here. One store even packs a fairly filled fridge. You can also sometimes find the Lomo/Holga style film too. Not to mention there is a pretty big and popular option for buying supplies right here in Alberta, the Camera Store in Calgary. The film isn't as cheap as B&H, but they've got great selection of various formats. However, so long as the prices don't become outrageous and I don't start finding it hard to find certain films, I'm going to try to support my local guys and therefore my local economy. Without people such as myself, of course there aren't going to be any local options.
I'm not sure what you'd call non-existent, but the GTA seems to have a heap load of film photographic infrastructure, including specialty shops (Toronto B&W and the Lomo Store or similar). I've also seen a lot of film photos on the web from Toronto. Seems like a pretty decent film photography scene. Of course it isn't going to be up to NYC levels, but that's kinda expected. And I'm also just shooting 35mm (for now), the most easily available format. But I've checked medium format supplies in Edmonton and things seem to be widely available (I've done this as I'm hoping to try medium format soon). I'd assume the product range and options would be double what they are here.
And of course, CGW suffers from one further problem - he lives at the centre of the universe (- you probably have to be Canadian to understand this).
It's a good thing these days to hear that the GTA, or any major metropolitan area for that matter, is still in the film game - movies or still photography. No one expects a return to the former glory days mentioned by Ian, but not being out of the game entirely is actually good news at this point.
As economies continue to recover I expect the modest return to film to continue as well. Not for the vast unwashed masses, but maybe for those who wash their hands at least occassionally?
I live an hour or so northeast of Seattle. Yet I am very aware of what my film purchasing and processing options are in that city. I might not live in Seattle, but I also don't live in a tar paper shack out in the woods.
Ken
I know Kodak is having problems but every CVS, Walgreens,Riteaid i've been at all only have Fuji 35mm color and Fuji one use cameras.
Does Kodak even sell film to the public anymore? I'm old enough to remember drug stores have those wall of little boxes w/ the yellow boxes in them.
yes I know u can get Tmax,etc at Samys,Adorama,etc but why no drugstores?
Interesting, zsas. Once cheap C-41 service vanished in my area, so did Kodak and Fuji consumer film. Who's processing that stuff?
Those shelves look like those at local Walmarts 2-3 years ago.
Wonder if it's actually selling? Fuji consumer stuff here often hits stale dates.
Although one store is not a trend, but the pharmacy near me (CVS) has Tri X, 400CN and some various color film and disposables. It is a brand new CVS...
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