Film, chemicals and camera repairs for Australia

ged

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Hi everyone,

Do you have any recommendations for where to get B+W film and chemistry these days? Also, any recommendations for local camera repairers (Leica and Rolleiflex)?


Thanks for our help,

Ged
 

guangong

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For film:/B&H Photo...free shipping for orders $50 and over. Also most chemicals. Freestyle, but shipping can be expensive because shipping cost depends upon cost of item, and not weight. However, Freestyle carries a wider selection of films and chemicals than B&H.
For repairs, check out advertisers on this site.
 

markbau

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I get most of my film and paper from VanBar in Melbourne, I do in store but I believe they ship within Australia. Great company to do business with.. B&H in New York are a superb company to deal with but shipping costs have gone through the roof. If you want chemicals Gold Street studios in Victoria are great.
For repairs I like
http://www.cameraclinic.com.au/index.php/en/
But II don't know if they do Leica and Rolleiflex but they are a great company to deal with.
 

gone

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Freestyle Photo is my go-to for all my photographic gear. Hopefully the Big Box stores in N.Y. have changed their ways, but I had so much trouble out of them in the past, it wasn't worth it. Freestyle has polite, professional, courteous people working for them. The N. Y. stores have.........bozos.
 

MattKing

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Thread title updated, for those who forget to check the sub-forum that a thread is posted in.
(Like me, sometimes )
 

markbau

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I've used B&H for over 30 years. Best company I've ever dealt with.
 

Maris

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I get film from: Walkens House of Film located at 101 Brunswick St in Fitzroy. Favourable prices, fast cheap shipping.
 

Nige

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I think I saw a post somewhere that Camera Clinic are shutting / have shut the doors.
 

Barry Kirsten

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Australian prices are high and it pays to shop around. I only use Vanbar when their prices are favourable and never for film and paper. I get rollfilm and 35mm film from Decisive Moment or Ikigai. Foma film and Paper from Blanco Negro is generably affordable and not bad in quality. If you prefer Ilford FB paper, which I do, it's definitely cheaper from B&H and Freestyle, even with freight, exchange rate and GST factored in. I get most of my chemicals and materials for alt printing from Ellie at Gold Street Studios; she has a great range and is only an hour away from me. I believe F16 Camera Service in Brisbane is good for repairs, but have not used them.
 
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markbau

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Barry, how long since you’ve checked B&H? Shipping to Australia is now through the roof and they now collect the duty for the Australian government. B&H and Vanbar prices are now about the same once you factor in exchange rate, shipping and duty.
 

Joachim_I

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Nige said:
I think I saw a post somewhere that Camera Clinic are shutting / have shut the doors.
Click to expand...
Yes, by the end of the month. Details on their webpage. Huge loss for Melbourne photographers.
 

markbau

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Nige said:
I think I saw a post somewhere that Camera Clinic are shutting / have shut the doors.
Click to expand...
I think you are correct. Whilst there website is still up, I sent them an email a few days ago and I haven't had a reply. Damn shame, they were repair masters.
 

guangong

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My experience has been just the opposite. B&H very good concerning returns. People who take phone orders always polite. Been dealing with them since their location on 17th street.
 

Barry Kirsten

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Mark I did a check only a week ago. It may depend on what you actually compare and on quantities involved.
 

Romanko

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Walkens House of Film and Decisive Moment for film and colour chemistry. I had good experience with VanBar and Photo Resource but they could be more expensive.
Gold Street Studios for raw chemistry.
For repairs I used Chris Sherlock before he retired. I am looking for someone in Australia with the same level of skills and expertise. No success so far.
 

whitelight

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+1 for getting chemistry from Vanbar. One of the very few places that have raw chemicals too, and the prices are reasonable. I tend to get film & paper from B&H but prices have gone up... thankfully stocked up already.
 

JParker

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For film I've made very good experiences with Ikigai film lab in Melbourne (it is also a very good lab).
And they are starting a project of recycling the plastic film canisters which I think is worth to be supported.
 

benderscameracorner

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Walkens, Photo Resource and Decisive Moment are all reliable, when they have stock.

I've had Mike from Camera Fix repair two cameras for me, one digital and one Super 8 camera, and he did a great job for what was a very reasonable price.
 

Romanko

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I got the following estimates for a CLA service in Sydney:

SLR: $280-380
medium format cameras: $380-$780
lenses: $90-280

The prices do not include GST and parts (when required). These are much higher than I paid Chris Sherlock a couple of years ago for repairing two folder cameras.

Are these prices typical for Sydney?
 

awty

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Last one I used was Camera Fix. Their prices were reasonable and turn around was only a couple of weeks.
That was a couple of years ago, so don't know if any thing has changed.
 

gbroadbridge

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Seems high.

I'm sending an ETRS+lenses in for a CLA next week, so I'd better check if prices have gone up since the last one 3 years ago.
 

Romanko

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I got my Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 532/16 back from Camera Fix in Sydney. I had a chance to talk to Alex, their technician. He is a very nice and knowledgeable person.

There are many excellent reviews of Camera Fix, including the ones above. Unfortunately, my experience was not that great. I have to admit that I am spoiled by the exceptional service provided by Chris Sherlock before his retirement.

The initial quote for CLA that I got via email was about $200. When I brought the camera for service Alex inspected it and confirmed that the quote was right. A few days later I got the final quotation by email and the price was almost twice that. I already paid $89 for the inspection, so I decided to proceed with the CLA. The service took about four weeks, and that was quite reasonable.

I expected a perfectly working and fully serviced camera, but the front door was still sluggish to open and the lens board did not automatically click into its sit as it should. Alex told me that the shutter was working properly, so he decided not to disassemble and clean it. I did not discuss the scope of work for the CLA and I can't really complain about it. I hoped that a CLA would automatically include cleaning of the shutter, as Chris normally did, but I was wrong. In a separate email I asked for the measurements of the shutter speeds to be recorded for my reference. That request was not fulfilled, and I understand the speeds were not actually measured. Subjectively, low speeds still appear too slow, though I have no means of verifying this.

Overall, Camera Fix did service my camera within reasonable time at a price that is comparable to other services here in Sydney. Apart from my two unreplied emails the communication was efficient and professional. If you have an expensive camera I would still recommend giving Camera Fix a go, at least once. For my old folding cameras I will be looking for more affordable options. At the local prices sending cameras overseas for repairs might be viable especially if you service several at once.
 
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