Film availability in Italy/Vienna/Prague

[mooseontheloose]

I'm currently in Italy and 5 days in I've already gone through a third of my 120 film stock (I brought 100 rolls with me). At this rate I'll probably run out by the time I leave Venice at the end of the month. I'd like to know of any good places where I can stock up on 120 black and white film (particularly Tri-X or HP5+, and possibly Acros) in any of the following cities: Bologna, Venice, Vienna, or Prague. After Prague I'll be in Paris (then London) so I know where to go once I'm there, should I need more film.

The research I've done so far hasn't been too helpful as many of those posts/websites are a bit old so I'm not sure if the shops are still around (even if there websites still are) - I've had this problem before chasing shops that ended up being shuttered although their website gave no indication that that had happened. The more promising ones don't have film listed on their websites, or if they do, it's all lomo, not what I need.

On a side note, if anyone knows of any interesting photo exhibitions going on in any of the cities listed above, that would be great to know too.

Cheers.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Worst case you could always order some from Ars Imago in Rome and have it delivered, or take a day trip from Bologna to Florence, and Bongi (just around the corner from the Palazzo Vecchio) carries Ilford, Kodak and Fuji.

 

[davidmasek]

Hi, in Prague, you can try this one: http://kontakty.fotoskoda.cz/ it is in center and has convenient openning hours. https://www.fotoskoda.cz/filmy/?params[11][values][]=104&category

=159&category

=172&category[categoryId]=176 ...this page shows what they have in 120. I hope you´ll like it here​

 

[mnemosyne]

Foto Prisma in Bologna
http://www.fotoprisma.bo.it/contatti_eng.asp
is a small shop at the southern end of the centro storico and in convenient walking distance from many of the tourist attractions.
They had a choice of film and darkroom supplies and used film cameras and seemed alive and kicking when I last visited them about three years ago.
The owner is a very nice guy, speaks a bit of English too. I didn't buy any film there (bought a nice Leitz SBLOO finder!) but the prices for used camera stuff are very reasonable. Call him in advance to make sure they have the type and quantity of film you require.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Hi Rachelle

If you need film wile in London, you can go to Silverprint in South London (Elephant and Castle) or Process Supplies in Mount Pleasant/ Rosebery Avenue during a weekday.
If you visit the British Museum, Aperture is nearby in Museum Street.

I'll be glad to meet you in Central London if you want to. And I'm sure that another London APUGers would come up as well.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

In Vienna, there are a couple of places in Westbahnstrasse

Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

 

[absolutedesmond]

Some links for Vienna (although I'm afraid most of them are german only) as Kevin said most are near or on Westbahnstrasse (sometimes called the photography mile)
http://www.blende7.at/
https://www.digitalstore.at/
http://www.sobotka.at/
http://www.leicashop.com/brandnew_en/filme/mittelformat.html
http://www.unitedcamera.info/store/shop/specials.asp (although it doesnt list film on ist Website)

If you stay a couple of days or know beforehand where you'll be staying I recommend http://www.fotofachversand.com/Startseite-1 as they are considerably cheaper and offer free shipping to Austria for orders exceeding 150€ (considering the rate you are going through film that should be no Problem )

For photo exhibitions i'd have a look at westlicht (also on westbahnstrasse) http://www.westlicht.com/ (closed until 10 sept) after that theres the world press photo Exhibition
at the Moment theres a Joel Meyerowitz retrospective at kunsthaus http://www.kunsthauswien.com/en/home
then theres also Ostlicht http://www.ostlicht.at/en/

Have fun on your trip
BR
Thomas

 

[mooseontheloose]

Wow - I knew you guys would come through! That was really fast. I literally just arrived in Bologna and opened my computer and this is what came up. I'll look more closely at the links and recommendations after I've had something to eat.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I should have included these earlier -
http://www.ars-imago.com/

http://www.otticabongi.it/

 

[mooseontheloose]

Thanks for all the tips guys!

I did get to Foto Prisma in Bologna and bought all of his HP5+ for 7 euros (!) a roll (of 120). I found another shop too, called Arcobaleno Foto on Via Augusto Righi which had a wide range of photo supplies (both digital and film) and a larger variety of film, which was slightly cheaper (he gave a discount for 5 rolls or more, about 6 euros each for Tri-X or HP5+). Foto Skoda in Prague was fantastic (also about 6 euros a roll) and the store across the street selling used gear was very tempting, but I stayed away. I was amazed at all the large format cameras in the window though! Unfortunately, I did not have time to visit Vienna properly, or go to any of the recommended stores there.

I'm currently in Paris and will have to stock up again (down to 5 rolls of Tri-X and then I'm done for 400 speed film) so will probably head down to Beaumarchais and the photo stores down there tomorrow. Silverprint will be on my to do list when I hit London next week. I'm debating the convenience of getting film developed before I head back to Japan (probably over 100 rolls) vs. the cost of doing so vs. the time I'd have to spend doing it myself AND figuring out how to get all back to Japan. I was lucky in getting my carry-on plus purse + 3rd bag on the plane in Japan, I doubt I'll be so lucky at Heathrow. I'm at at least 150 rolls and counting, and it's amazing how heavy all those extra rolls are!

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all for the advice and to update the thread in case anyone else comes looking.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Before you head off to Heathrow, stop by a FedEx office and ship your film home, then process it at your leisure. Tell the FedEx folks to mark it as photographic film so it won't go through the high-dose CT-scanners.

 

[paul_c5x4]

A bit late, but as I recall, there is a camera shop tucked away behind St Marks Square in Venice that stocked 120 film - Or at least they did when i was there a couple of years back.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Before you head off to Heathrow, stop by a FedEx office and ship your film home, then process it at your leisure. Tell the FedEx folks to mark it as photographic film so it won't go through the high-dose CT-scanners.

I was thinking that too Scott. That may be the best option in the end.