Japan in October - Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto

dugrant153 · Aug 4, 2014

Compared to Canada, that's pretty reasonable for Fuji Pro 400H (at least where I buy it).
Hmm... looks like I'll probably have some color ready to go. Ilford pretty popular in Japan?... or Tokyo at least ? (planning to hit Map Camera but definitely Yodobashi Camera by the sounds of it!)

ericdan · Aug 4, 2014

Ilford is very popular. You'll find it in every bic camera or yodobashi camera.
Superia varieties you can get at any convenience store. I'm just passing by a random yodobashi in Kawasaki now. Let me snap an iPhone pic real fast.

ericdan · Aug 4, 2014

ericdan · Aug 4, 2014

And the convenience store:

Nuff · Aug 4, 2014

I liked how it is still possible to buy tapes in Japanese supermarket I was very surprised the first time I saw that.

ericdan · Aug 4, 2014

Yes! Welcome to the past!

analoguey · Aug 4, 2014

ericdan said:

ericdan said:
And the convenience store:

Wow. *Drool*

Sent from Tap-a-talk

mooseontheloose · Aug 5, 2014

That reminds me. You might be able to buy consumer film in the convenience stores in Hiroshima, but the last time I was there I was not able to find any camera sores that sold film. The old Bic Camera is now a Best Denki (electronics) store. Kyoto has a decent film selection at Yodobashi Camera (but not Bic Camera),although it's nothing like the ones in Tokyo.

This is a recent photo from Kyoto Yodobashi:

dugrant153 · Aug 5, 2014

Thank you for all the pics, folks! I'm glad to know there's places that stock film. This will save me a lot of hassle of having to bring brickloads of film through customs... guh. Seriously, I was going to bring brickloads.
At this point, I'm planning on only bringing a bit of 35mm color film (maybe some black and white) but I'll get the black and white and 120 (220??) color from Yodabashi in Tokyo on my travels
Really appreciate those photos!!

Now that the topic of film has come up, this trip is also my opportunity to "expand" and "improve" my film camera setup. I know Japan has a vast selection that I can't get here in Vancouver, BC. What are some good places to buy used cameras? I'm mainly a Pentax shooter but also looking for Olympus OM glass (i.e. 40mm F2 or 55mm F1.2... or 28mm F2) or pickup a Voigtlander CV rangefinder setup. I was at Map Camera in 2009 but that was when I was entirely digital and my photographic priorities were a bit different.

dugrant153 · Sep 26, 2014

Alright, sorry to bump this thread but I'm leaving in about a week and getting all my planning together now!

In order to save some airport hassle, i'm thinking of getting C41 developed there.
I'm staying by Ikkebukuro Station when I'm in Tokyo... not sure if there's a shop nearby that does 1 hour C41 developing?

ericdan · Sep 26, 2014

Bic Camera right outside of the station. c-41 in 30 mins for 550yen.

ericdan · Sep 26, 2014

East exit of the station, it's so big you can't miss it.
http://www.biccamera.co.jp.e.lj.hp.transer.com/shoplist/shop-002.html

if you give them portra film they try to send it off to Kodak for development, just tell them fujifilm developing is fine.
All other films, ektar, gold, pro400h, superia is done in the store in 30 mins. Very clean. Never had any problems.
E-6 will cost you 800 yen per roll and you'll get it back the next day.

dugrant153 · Sep 26, 2014

Waahh??? Seriously?? That's awesome!

mooseontheloose · Sep 26, 2014

Yeah, it's funny, I just had E-6 developed here in Kyoto (3-day turnaround, unless it's a holiday, where it's closer to a week) and they asked me if I wanted Fuji or Kodak development -- that was a first for me! But being in Japan I knew that Fuji was the way to go.

Not that anyone ever goes there, but it's amazing to me that when I lived in Kumamoto (far off the tourist trail) I could get E-6 developed in two hours or less -- any size. Yet places like Tokyo (1 day) and Kyoto (3 days) can't offer that same level of service, where I imagine the number of film photographers is significantly larger.

ericdan · Sep 26, 2014

Where in Kumamoto was that?
Toy Lab by any chance?

mooseontheloose · Sep 26, 2014

No, It's Camera no ______ (sorry, I can never remember the kanji, I'm sure it's something simple. Sakabe maybe?). It's near the Muji store off Kamitori. I just happened to stumble across it because I lived in the neighbourhood. I normally probably would have never have tried to get film developed at such a place, but I took a chance, and in the four years I lived in Kumamoto the service never changed.

They sometimes had real tempting cameras in their used camera window -- Rolleiflexes, Mamiyas, all manner of Nikon lenses for me -- but I never could afford whatever they had when then had them. They also carry a small variety of film (negative, positive, black and white, 35mm and 120) and some darkroom chemicals.

It makes me wonder if there are also smaller stores/labs out there in other cities that can do a faster turnaround than the bigger stores like Yodobashi. I don't shoot a lot of E-6 so I haven't really explored the options in Kyoto yet, other than Yodobashi.

ericdan · Sep 26, 2014

"Camera no Sakanashi"
And in big letters advertising of 60 min slide developing on the window.
I'm sure this is a little special.
But there's gotta be something like this in Tokyo somewhere.

dugrant153 · Oct 4, 2014

Okay I'm packing my suitcase now!! Excited to be in Japan in a matter of days. Thanks for the tips on developing. Any issues with street photography in Japan?

ericdan · Oct 4, 2014

Theoretically people can sue you if you take their picture and "make them feel uncomfortable " by doing so. It's very vague and as a foreigner you'll be just another tourist. You'll be fine.
When people notice me taking their photo I usually just say "arigato" and smile at them. 90% positive reactions 10% no reaction. 0% bad experience.

Nuff · Oct 4, 2014

And if It's a kid, they will run back to their mum saying that someone took photo of me, so I must be cute.

mooseontheloose · Oct 4, 2014

dugrant153 said:
Okay I'm packing my suitcase now!! Excited to be in Japan in a matter of days. Thanks for the tips on developing. Any issues with street photography in Japan?

Japan is very photographer-friendly -- I rarely feel out of place taking my camera out, even to shoot people, although as Dan has said if they notice you saying thank you is always appreciated, and asking beforehand (depending on the situation) usually results in a positive response (never had someone say no).

RattyMouse · Oct 4, 2014

I wouldn't worry about being sued in Japan for street photography. That's a ridiculous thought.

frank · Oct 4, 2014

Japan is a street photographer's heaven.

RattyMouse · Oct 4, 2014

frank said:
Japan is a street photographer's heaven.

Absolutely. Landscape folks enjoy this country too.

frank · Oct 4, 2014

RattyMouse said:
Absolutely. Landscape folks enjoy this country too.

It's win-win. I'd love to go back!

Japan in October - Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto

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