Foma or Ilford factory outlet?

[Dr. no]

I'll be spending a good bit of time this year in Europe (which, from where I live, includes the UK...sorry!). Are there outlets from any of the manufacturers for good deals on film or paper, specifically Foma or Ilford, or any others (Ferrania, Bergger, etc)? I'm not basing my trip on shopping for supplies, but if I'm driving by anyway... I'm multifomat and buy dozens of rolls of 120 each year, and would be happy to invest in more new 4x5 than I have been getting.

Thanks!
Scott

 

[Craig]

I can buy Ilford products cheaper in Canada than I can in the UK. Foma is slightly cheaper. I have been looking in Spain, and it seems that Ilford is more expensive there than in the UK.

I have no experience with Eastern Europe, you may find things cheaper there.

 

[pentaxuser]

I can buy Ilford products cheaper in Canada than I can in the UK.

So there is the OP's answer as it applies to the U.S . probably even more so than Canada. At this point a U.K. resident has steam coming out of his/her ears I choose to laugh rather than cry because we lack the N. American muscle when it comes to pricing or Ilford charges what they think the market will bear and in either case we lose out

There of course may be good reasons why we are charged more for a product made in the U.K. and none of the pricing is Ilford's fault. If it is not Ilford's fault then I am sure to hear why this is

pentaxuser

 

[Kino]

 

[Craig]

I just checked B&H, and with the currency exchange it is slightly more expensive than I can buy it from at The Camera Store in Calgary at $11.75 CAD for a 35mm roll of HP5+, while B&H is about $12.20 CAD.

Historically, it has always been cheaper to buy Ilford products in Canada vs USA.

The Photographers Gallery in London was one of the cheaper places in the UK I found to buy film, and it works out to ~$13.00 (£7.99) for a roll of HP5. However, that includes 20% VAT, and the tax rate in Alberta is 5%. Ex-VAT that under $11 CAD, so it is cheaper in the UK on a non taxed basis.

 

[Tel]

Used to be we non-citizens could get a VAT rebate from the UK. It involved some paperwork and delay, and I'm not sure it's still in force, but it did work.

 

[Craig]

Used to be we non-citizens could get a VAT rebate from the UK. It involved some paperwork and delay, and I'm not sure it's still in force, but it did work.

Only on goods exported, and not all retailers participated. Some also had minimum purchase requirements, typically between £100-250. Many also used third party providers to manage the paperwork, and naturally they charged a fee. I found that they typically took half the refund, so instead of getting 20% back, you would get 10%.

The UK government abolished that exemption for goods personally exported, the only way to shop VAT free was to have the retailer ship the goods directly out of the country. I don't know if the personal export has been reinstated or not. I remember there was talk of it recently during the revolving door of "lettuce" prime ministers, but I don't know if it ever happened.

I do remember one time at Heathrow in the VAT refund line the person in front of me wanted his refund in cash, not applied to a credit card. They ran out of cash and had to get more, as his refund was £50,000!

 

[otto.f]

And you fly back by plane after having passed a few CT-scans?

 

[koraks]

And you fly back by plane after having passed a few CT-scans?

That's a risk for sure. To add to this: note that film and paper will have to be carried as cabin baggage since cargo hold luggage will go through xray scanners that *will* damage these products. With cabin baggage, there still *may* be such problems, but 'may' over 'will' is already an improvement in terms of risk management...

 

[Nitroplait]

...To add to this: note that film and paper will have to be carried as cabin baggage since cargo hold luggage will go through xray scanners that *will* damage these products...

That is not "will" but "may". I have done intercontinental test of this theory with 400 ISO film, exposed and unexposed in the checked luggage, with up to 3 legs (that is a total of 6 flights including return) and have seen no effect on the film.

Not that I recommend counting on this being the case.

It is certainly more controllable to carry the film in the hand-luggage as you can try to influence security to have hand inspection - especially if you encounter a CT-scanner on the way.

 

[relistan]

One of cheapest places in Europe to order film, including Ilford, is Fotoimpex (they are sister company to ADOX) in Berlin. If you will be in Berlin I suggest going to Fotoimpex since they have a physical shop. Note that if you have to pay VAT it will likely be cheaper to buy at home. Or have it shipped.

 

[Stanislav Boščík]

Some notes if you consider visiting Czechia as well: Foma closed their own shop in Hradec Kralove so they sell directly only on their e-shop. From my experience I can get better prices on Foma products from befoto.cz (eshop and shop located in Prague). I was told that they get bigger part of their stock from Germany as due to small Czech market they cannot reach volume discounts...

 

[Radost]

I can buy Ilford products cheaper in Canada than I can in the UK. Foma is slightly cheaper. I have been looking in Spain, and it seems that Ilford is more expensive there than in the UK.

I have no experience with Eastern Europe, you may find things cheaper there.

EASTERN EUROPE is more expansive.
Maybe FOMA is cheaper in the CHeczh republic.

 

[Dr. no]

Thank you all for your replies, I had forgotten Fotoimpex. Worth looking at.

I’m not too worried about x-rays, my choices are to develop while there (months, not days, of travel), or ship as freight by a couple of potential routes. Or just mail to myself, if savings are adequate.

I have rolls of outdated tri-x that have crossed the Atlantic several times without perceptible extra degradation, but I have yet to encounter the dreaded airport CT for cabin baggage.

At any rate, buying in Europe saves the XR exposure going east, so why even bring that up?

 

[IMoL]

Other Eu based shops that I like/use:

Retro Camera - Analog photography for everyone.

Retro Camera is a (web)store run by father and son, specialized in analog photography. As a beginning or experienced analog photographer, here you will find the widest range of analog (instant) cameras, film, darkroom supplies, photo paper and much more.

www.retrocamera.be

Film | Chemistry | Photography | Nijmegen | Netherlands | Nederland | BCG

Photographic Film and Chemistry is available from BCG Film & Phtotography specializing in analog materials. Nijmegen, Netherlands. Low Prices! Great Service!

www.nijmegenpasfotofilm.nl

Les ateliers de Marinette

Les ateliers de Marinette is a Vintage store settled in the "Vieux Lyon" district of Lyon since 2011. We hunt and find for you antique stocks of stores, factories, workshops all over France.

www.ateliers-marinette.fr

The last one sometimes has interesting expired films

 

[Dr. no]

Lyon is definitely on my itinerary…

 

[koraks]

At any rate, buying in Europe saves the XR exposure going east, so why even bring that up?

Because it wasn't clear you were going to buy, shoot & process all on the same continent. It looked as if you were going to purchase in EU and then take back with you to US to shoot & process. If you're going to be around here for a couple of months and intend to shoot & process locally, of course it makes perfect sense to purchase locally as well.

You'll find most countries have two or three retailers at least that offer comparable price levels. The main differences you'll find in Western Europe will be between the UK and actual Europe due to the tax situation. Buying your Ilford stuff in the UK and your Foma on the mainland would probably make the most sense.

 

[bernard_L]

Foma e-shop used to be (IIRC) on: https://www.foma.cz, now separate, e.g.:

FOMASPEED VARIANT 313

producer of black & white photo materials, films, papers, processing chemicals

fomaobchod.cz

Almost as cheap (maybe cheaper once shipping is taken into account), what seems to ba also a factory outlet, since they offer only Foma products, and most Foma products are available for delivery.

Papier dit "velours" (légèrement perlé ou satiné) à contratse variable sur une base RC (résine couché).

Papier dit "velours" (légèrement perlé ou satiné)

cyberlabophoto.com

No physical address, however; e-shop only.

 

[Dr. no]

Wow, fossil thread...shame on me. Answering my own question, very late. Film was a good enough deal in Prague.

Centrum FotoŠkoda​

Vodičkova 37, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia

Foma B&W varieties, roughly $4.50-6/roll.

Plus, next door is a really cool "Radio Tesla" stained glass.

 

[loccdor]

Nice. You could very briefly in late 2023 get Fomapan 100 36 exposures under the Flic Film brand from B&H in the USA for $4 a roll. It was the lowest fresh film price I had seen for a long time.