Is Your Local Photography Shop Running Out of Film - Paper - Chemicals ?

[DF]

Is now the time to start stocking up on the film, paper, and what ever else you need because of "supply chain" issues?
The 8'X10" paper is use is nowhere to be found at the places I go to in the Chicago area.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Run out and buy EVERYTHING to keep them from the hoarders.

 

[Anon Ymous]

I don't have a local shop, so...

 

[Sirius Glass]

I don't have a local shop, so...

Internet will enable your addictions.

 

[warden]

I stopped visiting my local shop when they stopped developing film so I'm not sure what they have any more. I used to pick up film and darkroom supplies while I was there, but I'd be shocked if they had anything now. I miss visiting the place.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I ordered a whack of 120 Pan F, and HP5 about two weeks ago. Usually they'd get it in in a few days. The HP5 arrived, but the Pan F hasn't. They told me their supplier is out of stock...

 

[foc]

 

[BrianShaw]

Which local photography shop are you asking about; there are several.

 

[faberryman]

My local photography shop ran out of customers.

 

[removed account4]

Is now the time to start stocking up on the film, paper, and what ever else you need because of "supply chain" issues?
The 8'X10" paper is use is nowhere to be found at the places I go to in the Chicago area.

If you can't find things locally contact Photo Warehouse ( UltraFine ) or Freestyle. They are both in California and Photrio sponsors. They always seem to have copious amounts of film and paper. PhotoWarehouse used to have a flat shipping fee ... no matter the weight of your package it was $X to ship. I wouldn't bother buying more than you need, that's kind of dopey ... people who do that are like hoarders, its for chumps who want to ruin it for everyone else. If Paper, and Film and Chemistry become scarce you can always order bulk chemistry from places like Artcraft or The Formulary or Bostick and Sullivan. Developers are not hard to make from scratch ( they sometimes just take a teaspoon to make ) and no matter what propoganda you have read, making photo emulsion is not hard. I regularly make an emulsion that takes barely 20 minutes to make from start to finish. The Lightfarm will give you all the information you need, and Denise Ross has a book available on BLURB that has known, tested formulas and methods to make emulsion for paper and making your own film. If worst comes to worst ( and it won't ) making things from scratch are not hard and are much cheaper than ready-made stuff..

 

[Arthurwg]

Just discovered a fantastic shop here in Manhattan near where where I'm staying. Billed as a complete professional processing lab, all dip and dunk, The Color House has vast supplies of film including 4x5 and even Cinestill. They process E-6, C41, B&W, and they can make roll and drum scans. They also make inkjet and digital C-prints, all from what appears to be a small storefront plus basement. Apparently you can bring in B&W in the morning and have it back by evening. 177 Lafayette St.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My local photography shop ran out of customers.

That infection has been spreading world wide and there does not seem to have a vaccine for it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My local store is FreeStyle. They have film, paper and chemicals.

 

[mshchem]

I have so much paper, film and chemistry it's ridiculous. Frozen Polywarmtone, etc. My local shop closed up 3 or 4 years back. University Camera, Roger Christian, the owner sold me 13 or 14 100 sheet boxes of "Promaster" rc paper. After I bought it I realized I didn't need it. At one point I was taking it up to another great shop, PhotoPro in Cedar Rapids. I would slip a box onto the shelf.
I still have 7 or 8 boxes that I use to show the younger crowd how to print.
I currently use new Ilford and Foma papers. I think the currently available papers are as good as ever.

 

[markjwyatt]

If you can't find things locally contact Photo Warehouse ( UltraFine ) or Freestyle. They are both in California and Photrio sponsors. They always seem to have copious amounts of film and paper. PhotoWarehouse used to have a flat shipping fee ... no matter the weight of your package it was $X to ship. I wouldn't bother buying more than you need, that's kind of dopey ... people who do that are like hoarders, its for chumps who want to ruin it for everyone else. If Paper, and Film and Chemistry become scarce you can always order bulk chemistry from places like Artcraft or The Formulary or Bostick and Sullivan. Developers are not hard to make from scratch ( they sometimes just take a teaspoon to make ) and no matter what propoganda you have read, making photo emulsion is not hard. I regularly make an emulsion that takes barely 20 minutes to make from start to finish. The Lightfarm will give you all the information you need, and Denise Ross has a book available on BLURB that has known, tested formulas and methods to make emulsion for paper and making your own film. If worst comes to worst ( and it won't ) making things from scratch are not hard and are much cheaper than ready-made stuff..

My local store is FreeStyle. They have film, paper and chemicals.

Freestyle is running out of a lot of B&W film (and some color too) and some chemicals. There are still alternates available. I think this may happen every year, plus may be part of rotation in of the new higher priced products coming down the pike. The new Fuji color film in rotating in already at higher prices.

Example: If you want 135, ISO400, 36 Exposures, 19 choices (individual rolls only); 14 out of stock (HP5+, Delta 400, Bergger, TMX, Foma, etc.); 1 low stock (FPP Derev); 4 in stock (Tri-X, Kentmere, JC Street Pan, Astrum). Tri-X is likely the last thing they would run out of! A few of the out of stock are available in 24 exposure, bulk packages, etc.

 

[gone]

Don't worry, film is dead anyway. Seems it actually died some time ago, but as usual I'm the last to know. But I'm definitely, pretty sure that an old internet article mentioned that film died back in 2008, 2009, sometime around then. It was just a small article, sort of an after thought, tacked between a chip dip recipe and 8mm videos of women smoking.

 

[markjwyatt]

...back in 2008, 2009... tacked between a clam dip recipe and videos of women smoking cigarettes .

Are you sure that wasn't 1954? Well, ok, videos...

 

[gone]

Whenever it was, I swear I saw that in a Mechanics Illustrated magazine, from way back.

 

[Mike Lopez]

Don't worry, film is dead anyway. Seems it actually died some time ago, but as usual I'm the last to know. But I'm definitely, pretty sure that an old internet article mentioned that film died back in 2008, 2009, sometime around then. It was just a small article, sort of an after thought, tacked between a chip dip recipe and 8mm videos of women smoking.

I think the Internet itself was supposed to have died out about 20 years ago.

 

[markjwyatt]

I think the Internet itself was supposed to have died out about 20 years ago.

Al Gore invented the internet.

 

[Mike Lopez]

I stopped in one of my three local stores two weekends ago. This one is by far the most digital-oriented of my local stores and I wasn’t sure they’d have the negative sleeves that I wanted on hand. Much to my surprise, they had more paper and chemistry than I’ve seen on their shelves in quite awhile. I think I have a lifetime supply of paper on hand already, but I did find my negative sleeves and a bonus bottle of Permawash that I will need soon enough.

 

[removed account4]

But I'm definitely, pretty sure that an old internet article mentioned that film died back in 2008, 2009, sometime around then.

That was the CEO of Eastman Kodak and it was around 2005

Freestyle is running out of a lot of B&W film (and some color too) and some chemicals

Bummer .. must be all the chumps hoarding or the chumps hoarding before the hoarders

Hunt Drug in Melrose MA also does internet sales.

I think the Internet itself was supposed to have died out about 20 years ago.

it did. a large portion of the internet is augmented or virtual reality, why do you think FB changed their name ?

 

[Bikerider]

I think the Internet itself was supposed to have died out about 20 years ago.

Wishful thinking!

 

[Bikerider]

In UK I think we have about 8 or 10 good outlets for film and paper, (B&W + Colour,) Kodak paper rolls are not obtainable Fuji boxed paper is Ok (at the moment). Both Kodak and Fuji colour Neg film are both in short supply, but slightly better than a few months ago. B&W at the moment, both film and paper is supply Ok. Plus Foma film and a few variations of paper from the Continent are around. Chemicals are OK as well
Will this change - I don't know, but I think we are in a better position than elsewhere for B&W, because the Ilford factory is in UK and we don't have to wait for sea born supplies.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

In UK I think we have about 8 or 10 good outlets for film and paper

I'm slightly surprised by how many online / mail-order outlets there are for supplies here, there must be a certain level of demand. I suppose what we don't have in general in the current climate are many opportunities to go somewhere more local and pick up items "off the shelf" - unless you happen to live near a larger supplier with a showroom / store.