Anyone know of a source of good 'cheap' film (bw/colour) in Canada? Or as an alternative a source across the line that doesn't charge an arm and a leg for shipping. Thanks
Film in Canada
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I just purchased a bulk pack of 20 Fuji NPS 160asa 36exp from TDA trading via ebay. (All that is a mouthful to be sure...). With shipping (USPS) and exchange it all came to about $60CAD. This was also a "buy it now" purchase on ebay so there was no bidding involved.
Now, that film was about one month out of date when I bought it. It had an expiry of April/06 and I bought it in May but it all sits in my freezer now and the few rolls that I have gone through have been totally fine. If you look at Henry's or The Camera Store that film is going for around $10/roll!!
Dealing with TDA trading was fine but they actually lied on their listing saying that all the film was June 2006 expiry. I took them to task on this and they have said that they will cut me a deal on my next purchase but I do not like the fact that they basically lied on the listing.
However, some very nice film for a very nice price and it only took a week for it to get to me in Cambridge from somewhere in NY state.
My only other source up to that point has been Zehr's with President's Choice 100 asa colour film. They occasionally throw some stuff on sale and I have reaped the benefits of that more than once.
Hope that helps, those are my only two recommendations right now.
Now, that film was about one month out of date when I bought it. It had an expiry of April/06 and I bought it in May but it all sits in my freezer now and the few rolls that I have gone through have been totally fine. If you look at Henry's or The Camera Store that film is going for around $10/roll!!
Dealing with TDA trading was fine but they actually lied on their listing saying that all the film was June 2006 expiry. I took them to task on this and they have said that they will cut me a deal on my next purchase but I do not like the fact that they basically lied on the listing.
However, some very nice film for a very nice price and it only took a week for it to get to me in Cambridge from somewhere in NY state.
My only other source up to that point has been Zehr's with President's Choice 100 asa colour film. They occasionally throw some stuff on sale and I have reaped the benefits of that more than once.
Hope that helps, those are my only two recommendations right now.
Both J&C and Freestyle have reasonable shipping to Canada. Other then that the best bet is likely to batch order from B&H. If you order enough shipping gets spread out. Used to be able to get Agfa cheaper in Canada then the US but no more Agfa.
Don's Photo in Winnipeg, Brandon, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon has pretty good film prices. I pay about $40 for 100' of Ilford black and white films, and $11-12 for Velvia 100F 135-36. Their 120 prices are fair. 4x5 b&w is a bit under a buck a sheet, which seems very reasonable to me.
Their prices are good enough that I buy almost all of my film locally. I do mail order obscure stuff like Efke though. Freestyle is good for that, but the shipping takes a little while to get to Canada.
Their prices are good enough that I buy almost all of my film locally. I do mail order obscure stuff like Efke though. Freestyle is good for that, but the shipping takes a little while to get to Canada.
It's not the shipping that costs $$, it's the brokerage fees. Since I live about 35 miles from the Canada-US border, I ship to a US address and drive there to pick it up, declare it at the border, and miss the brokerage fees.
Brokerage fees, indeed! That is why I now always specify USPS instead of UPS. I once bought a piece of sheet music from the states for just under $20. Once it got to my door with exchange and shipping it come out to about $40. Not so bad considering that I actually NEEDED the piece for an audition. A couple of weeks later UPS sent me a bill for $35 for brokerage. ACCCKKK!!! I called them on it knowing full well that they couldn't do anything about it and then I called the store asking them to never ship UPS to Canada. Or, at the very least, fully inform their customers north of the border of potential brokerage fees.
Oops! You got me started and I went a bit off topic there... Mmmmm, beer.
Oops! You got me started and I went a bit off topic there... Mmmmm, beer.
Ah yes, the joys of UPS crossing the border. Generally I find that the overnight shipping is always cheaper then ground, because brokerage is included with the air shipping. That being said UPS is terrible across the border. If an E bay seller in the US only ships UPS I won't even bid anymore, it just costs too much. The post office or fedex is always a better option.
Dons also has an online store that you can see at www.donsphoto.com (yes I'm shamelessly promoting my workplacePhotoJim said:
). I know we ship anywheres in Canada, we also, I believe, ship internationally, it just cost more and takes longer.Cooki
Rob Skeoch
Advertiser
I have a nice selection of sheet film available in Canada. You can see it on my site.
-Rob Skeoch
www.bigcameraworkshops.com
-Rob Skeoch
www.bigcameraworkshops.com
FWIW, Freestyle has some films in their clearance area with enticing prices. Of particular note: Arista Pro 50 (rebadged Ilford Pan F+) 100-foot bulk spools for US$11.69 and Fujicolor Super G 100 100-foot bulk spools for US$9.99. The Arista Pro 50 is 4 months past date, IIRC (I just got two bulk rolls today and tucked them into my freezer). The Fujicolor is also past-date, but I don't know by how much. At those prices, you could buy a bulk loader and some reloadable cartridges (or pick some up from a 1-hour lab to recycle them) and come out ahead with just one or two bulk rolls. I don't expect the Arista Pro 50 would be noticeably bad at only 4 months past date.
It looks like Freestyle offers both USPS/Canadian Parcel Post and FedEx shipping to Canada. As I live in the US, though, I can't offer any firsthand experiences with Freestyle shipping to Canada.
It looks like Freestyle offers both USPS/Canadian Parcel Post and FedEx shipping to Canada. As I live in the US, though, I can't offer any firsthand experiences with Freestyle shipping to Canada.
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Vistek.ca is my fav for film. Order over CDN $100 and shipping is free. Also, if you don't live in Ontario, you don't pay PST.
If you're looking for something more local, maybe Lens and Shutter in Victoria could help you out.
If you're looking for something more local, maybe Lens and Shutter in Victoria could help you out.
Another vote for Freestyle,
I typically buy in larger quantities, so I find that Freestyle is a pretty good deal. I last ordered some of there 'clearance' Arista Pro which was Delta-100. I also picked up 20 rolls of Fomapan 100. I find that if you buy in a largeish quantity, right now, with the CAD so strong, the deals are good.
I've also used Photoco in Montreal and Henry's in TO. Photoco has very inexpensive shipping. Henry's has higher prices, and higher shipping, but I've found that they always have what I want and are lightning fast in the processing and shipping and their customer service is excellent.
Just my $0.02
Kent
I typically buy in larger quantities, so I find that Freestyle is a pretty good deal. I last ordered some of there 'clearance' Arista Pro which was Delta-100. I also picked up 20 rolls of Fomapan 100. I find that if you buy in a largeish quantity, right now, with the CAD so strong, the deals are good.
I've also used Photoco in Montreal and Henry's in TO. Photoco has very inexpensive shipping. Henry's has higher prices, and higher shipping, but I've found that they always have what I want and are lightning fast in the processing and shipping and their customer service is excellent.
Just my $0.02
Kent
Downtown Camera in Toronto as rolls of Agfa Silvertone 400, 24 exposures for $2.50 or something like that.
Bill
Bill
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