Good 10x8 retailers in California

[Stephen Samuels]

I'm having a holiday in California this June (will bring my own water!) and was wondering where the best places are to buy 10x8 B&W film as it's generally getting on for half the price in the US as it is here in the UK. I'll be in San Francisco, LA and San Diego and everywhere down the Pacific Highway so anywhere along that route would be of interest.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

In Los Angeles, first stop is Freestyle Photo. They'll definitely have it in stock. In San Francisco, first stop should be Glass Key Photo (Dead Link Removed) - Matt the owner is a really cool guy and an APUG member. You can also try Looking Glass Photo over in Berkeley, and just for a really cool shop, check out Keeble & Shuchat in Palo Alto (although I don't think they have much in the way of large format film anymore, but if you go by the Pro shop you'll see a mini camera museum on top of the glass cases in the store.

 

[pbromaghin]

A trip down Hwy 1! That's a fun trip. You will be going through Ventura, so be sure to stop at Dexter's Camera on Main St. I don't know if they'll have 8x10 film, but it is one of the coolest camera stores on earth. Google maps has it about a mile east of it's real location so don't use that. There's a nice old-style burger joint next door.

When you get to San Diego you must check out the other coolest camera store on earth, Camera Exposure on Adams Ave. Step inside with Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...2!3m1!1s0x80d9550278cf8791:0xf58ba5adcc68ef3b

 

[laser]

Keeble & Shuchat in Palo Alto had 8x10 when I was there in early March. They have two stores across the street from each other. One is pro and the other advanced amateur. It is worth the visit just to see a first class photo store.

Bob Shanebrook
Rochester, NY

 

[karl]

None of those places will be as cheap as buying it from B&H or Adorama and having it shipped to your location.

 

[BrianShaw]

But it might be more fun in person. I just love browsing at Freestyle and Dexters. It's worth every extra cent it may cost to shop there.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Freestyle will have competitive prices on their house-label film (their Ilford and Kodak will be close, but not cheaper than Beards N' Hats).

 

[vdonovan]

Your recommendations for the bay area are spot on. While it may be cheaper to buy online from the big guns, I always make the effort to support local small businesses, especially camera shops that specialize in film! Glass Key and Looking Glass are experiences in themselves, and well worth a visit.

 

[DREW WILEY]

First of all, you want find ANY 10X8 film in the US. When we signed the Declaration of Independence, it gave us the right to rename it 8x10. Looking Glass has only a small selection of 8x10 in stock, sometimes none. Gasser in SF used to, but I haven't needed to shop Frisco for a long time, so don't know about alternatives. Freestyle in LA should have a selection of black and white, but limited color choice, probably Samy's too. Just depends about how fussy you are about selection. FP4 and HP5 are common lots of places. Give yourself ample time driving Hwy 1, preferably several days so you can stop places and enjoy them. It's slow and winding, but a very scenic alternative to taking the miserable freeway.

 

[pbromaghin]

Speaking of Samy's, they also have a new store in Santa Barbara and you will be driving within a few blocks of it. Santa Barbara is also home to the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate with acres of orchids growing indoors. It's just a riot of color. As Drew says, take your time. Hwy 1 is a world class drive. Rent a Mustang convertible and do it in style.

 

[pschwart]

Also try Samy's in San Francisco on Bryant Street. Calumet and Photographer's Supply both closed in the past year, so not a lot of film and darkroom supplies to be found in SF.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

So Samys took over the old Calumet store on Bryant?

 

[rorye]

So Samys took over the old Calumet store on Bryant?

No, they have their own place on Bryant at 9th, including parking and a guard, you don't have to worry about getting ripped off while you browse.

Of course Glass Key is the best for analog folks!

 

[Stephen Samuels]

Thank you for all the suggestions, looks like i'm going to be on a great tour of West Coast camera stores though that's going to need some selling internally! Appreciate your help.

Sad news about the closures in SF though - people have stopped buying digital too these days??

 

[Stephen Samuels]

Thank you for all the suggestions, looks like i'm going to be on a great tour of West Coast camera stores though that's going to need some selling internally! Appreciate your help.

Sad news about the closures in SF though - people have stopped buying digital too these days??

 

[Fixcinater]

I've not seen film anything larger than 4x5 in San Diego but Camera Exposure on Adams Avenue, Nelson's in Little Italy (and their sister store: C&H in La Jolla) all have interesting film gear on hand. Camera Exposure has probably the best selection with only a little digital, and C&H has the most Leica gear in SD. "The Used Camera Store" in Costa Mesa seems to have high prices but is another option if you're looking at gear.

I'm about a half mile from Camera Exposure so if you end up stopping there and need a beverage, ping me and first round is on me.

 

[rorye]

Calumet closed all across the country so it wasn't SF specific.
Photo Supply was great but they didn't keep up with the times, they didn't need to because the owner was sitting on a real estate goldmine, he died and his kids sold it. San Francisco has always been a city of change, more than ever at the moment.

 

[karl]

Really, Glass Key is the best spot in SF for analog photography related stuff. Fair prices as well. Looking Glass is Berkeley is nice, and does have a fairly large selection, but their prices are high. There was a time when Keeble in Palo Alto was really good, but it's been pretty well gutted in terms of film/darkroom related gear. I've been in all three in the last few weeks.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

None of those places will be as cheap as buying it from B&H or Adorama and having it shipped to your location.

This.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Really, Glass Key is the best spot in SF for analog photography related stuff. Fair prices as well. Looking Glass is Berkeley is nice, and does have a fairly large selection, but their prices are high. There was a time when Keeble in Palo Alto was really good, but it's been pretty well gutted in terms of film/darkroom related gear. I've been in all three in the last few weeks.

I was at Looking Glass today for some D-76, TF-4 and some Diafine. Was quite dismayed at their film prices. Don't remember them being quite so high...

 

[DanielStone]

I'd order from B&H, Adorama or Badger Graphic and have it shipped to your first hotel/destination upon landing. This way, you can not have to worry about xrays/handling when entering the USA(there shouldn't be any coming in, but leaving Heathrow?) Leaving, however, you can just pass it through the carry-on machines, I wouldn't worry about it.

Freestyle is cool, it's nice to poke around, but if you want the best prices so your savings can be used elsewhere on the trip, I'd use the retailers listed above for ease of service and track record.

Simply have the package signed-for and held for you before you arrive, say at the front desk.

-Dan