I went to Freestyle in Hollywood today

[david b]

Since I am out here in CA, I figured I better get in to see this place. Especially since I order 99% of my supplies from them.

The retail space in not huge but it is well stocked.

There was a wall of silver gelatin paper. All sizes and what looked like every available brand. Every chemical seems to be in stock too. They even had two brand new Fuji Quick Load holders.

Oh yeah, there was a whole bunch of Fotospeed paper developer on sale as well as some short date Efke infra red film.

I was really impressed with what I saw and I am thrilled they are now a partner here on APUG.

 

[bdial]

It's a great place, and impressive. But it was way more interesting back when they had surplus aerial cameras, parts of old movie cameras, and tons of other miscellaneous, barely useful, photographic junk.

It's a good thing I only had money for Arista film and Agfa paper then.

That they are now a partner is very cool.

 

[gr82bart]

I visit Freestyle almost every time I travel to LA. It's a place every APUGer should try to visit once.

Regards, Art.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

I've never made it to LA (almost, but LAX is avoided by every travel agent I've spoken to - wound up going through SFO), but I've been to Vanbar in North Melbourne, here in Australia. Big warehouse, stacks of Ilford paper as tall as people. Really renews your faith in analogue, with all the doom and gloom. If I ever get the chance I'll visit Freestyle, just as I'll visit Ilford.
Should we have a 7 wonders of the world for analogue photographers?

 

[PhotoJim]

B&H has to be at the top. The darkroom section is still large, the stocks of film are huge, and the place is beyond words. A fellow in the checkout next to me said, "I'm from New Hampshire and this is my first time here, and I'm overwhelmed!" and I understood exactly what he was saying.

 

[BradS]

never been there in person but, I doo order all my film from them. I am thrilled with their service and to have them as a valued and trusted reliable supplier.

 

[david b]

I guess what I enjoyed most, was the lack of digital gear. They did have printer paper, but not much else.

The people there were super nice too.

And I've been to B&H but hate the craziness.

 

[tim_walls]

My luggage has apparently been to LAX but sadly not me - one of these days I will though, and I'll make sure to look in on Freestyle. Any new partner on APUG is a great thing!

 

[LarryD]

My luggage has apparently been to LAX but sadly not me - one of these days I will though, and I'll make sure to look in on Freestyle. Any new partner on APUG is a great thing!

Well better than the time I went to Turkey and my luggage went to Italy.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I haven't been to the Freestyle shop yet, but I've been to their booths at PMA in Las Vegas and PhotoPlus in NYC, and Patrick DelliBovi, Senior VP for Sales and Marketing, has been very enthusiastic about APUG and says that APUG types are welcome to hang out at their booth at any of the trade shows they regularly attend. I think they are also at Photokina. They would love to be a gathering place where traditional photography enthusiasts can meet up, network, and exchange ideas.

 

[kiku]

It's a great place, and impressive. But it was way more interesting back when they had surplus aerial cameras, parts of old movie cameras, and tons of other miscellaneous, barely useful, photographic junk.

It's a good thing I only had money for Arista film and Agfa paper then.

That they are now a partner is very cool.

Did you visit them many moons ago when then had that hole-in-the-wall shop I believe on Western Ave.? I used to use their Essex brand VC paper (rebranded Ilford). Fond memories, Howard

 

[George Collier]

How long have they been in business? (I had never heard of them before APUG, being an Easterner).

 

[bdial]

From their web site;

Since 1946, Freestyle Photographic Supplies has provided photographic enthusiasts and professionals across America with quality photographic products, expert advice, and superior customer support.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/c_about.php


I've known of them since the 60's or early 70's from their ads in the various photo magazines. I've been an off and on customer since the late 70's

Did you visit them many moons ago when then had that hole-in-the-wall shop I believe on Western Ave?

I have only known them on Sunset Blvd, though I'm not sure if it's always been at their current address.

 

[Naples]

I became a Freestyle customer when they were able to stock and sell Kodak's TMY2 and Ektar films relatively soon after their releases, well before B&H did.