Kodak out of stock in Tokyo

Xmas · Aug 22, 2014

HiRicardo

I was aware of pan 100 and 400 but the last shop I could buy them in closed last month.

Noel

Ricardo Miranda · Aug 22, 2014

Hi Noel

Lomo shop? Did they have it?
Last time I was in Silverprint, they had Pan 100. But, not much of it.

shutterlight · Aug 22, 2014

mooseontheloose said:
Noel,

...or Fuji? There's lots of their stock around, even if they no longer have the same equivalents to Kodak and Ilford. Tokyo is great in that it's possible to buy some of the smaller brands (now just Foma, Rollei, even Lomo-branded film, but in the past there was a lot more) but the rest of Japan mostly sticks to the big three: Fuji, Kodak, and Ilford (in that order). As for uni students shooting film...I know from experience that some members of the "film clubs" at universities shoot film, but I don't know that there are any classes that still support film/darkroom work. It might be possible at an arts university, but I've never taught at one.

When I got my first SLR in 2001 (a Nikon FE, which I still shoot with), most of the old Japanese photographers (all men, all retired) would kind of laugh at me, gently, like someone who didn't know any better (they were all shooting the latest Canon automatic whatevers) but they usually offered very useful advice. Now I kind of get wistful looks (from the same population -- it seems only younger people are shooting film here in Japan) whenever they spot my old manual film camera, whatever it may be. However, it's obvious that film still has a major following here in Japan, compared to most other places, because it's still possible to find film coolers and darkroom sections in camera stores, and getting film developed locally, whether slide, negative, or black and white, 35mm, 120, or large format, is still doable, and reasonably fast and cheap. One of the reasons why I prefer to live and work in Japan (as opposed to Canada) is for that very reason.

Eric -- thanks for the heads-up about Bic. I've used them before, but have always thought of them as a lesser version to Yodobashi (in Kyoto that's certainly the case). I'll definitely check them out the next time I put an order in.

Being someone who graduated from an art photo program, I can say that the people using film are not part of "film clubs." Film is still heavily used in art photo programs across the country in part because it offers various alternatives from 35mm. At this point in my photo life, 35mm is too wide a format for me, and I greatly prefer 4x5 (whether from 6x7 film or a view camera). I like 6x6 a lot as well if it's done well. The more organic look of film is also appreciated by a lot of art photo people, and I think that's why a lot of current art photo people use film.

If you go around art photo programs across the country, or look at the type of camera used to make images going into a lot of exhibitions and photo books today, film is all over the place, from 35mm on up to 8x10.

Xmas · Aug 23, 2014

@shutterlight
The uni tells the students that their 1st project has to be on film, some use 4x5 some 6x6, ... The Uni has its own lab and technicians. All oldy worlde cept for hazchem rules.
@Ricardo
No Retitled had both Pans

Ricardo Miranda · Aug 23, 2014

Oh! I didn't see them. I was only once there. Ufff!
The Pan films can be had from Firstcall, The Imaging Warehouse and over the counter at Silverprint (they don't advertise it online).

mooseontheloose · Aug 23, 2014

shutterlight said:
Being someone who graduated from an art photo program, I can say that the people using film are not part of "film clubs." Film is still heavily used in art photo programs across the country in part because it offers various alternatives from 35mm. At this point in my photo life, 35mm is too wide a format for me, and I greatly prefer 4x5 (whether from 6x7 film or a view camera). I like 6x6 a lot as well if it's done well. The more organic look of film is also appreciated by a lot of art photo people, and I think that's why a lot of current art photo people use film.

If you go around art photo programs across the country, or look at the type of camera used to make images going into a lot of exhibitions and photo books today, film is all over the place, from 35mm on up to 8x10.

Shutterlight -- of course I know that. However, I think you misunderstand me. I'm not talking about the US or Canada, I'm talking about Japan. And "clubs" or "circles" are something almost all Japanese students get involved in, whether they want to or not (it is more lax at the university level though). Some of the students I know who are in those clubs shoot film, even though they are not learning about it in school. I do imagine what photo clubs there are in this country are probably all digital.

ericdan · Jan 2, 2015

It's that time of the year again. Tokyo is out of Portra 400.
At least every major Yodobashi and Bic Camera is out right now.
According to Yodobashi staff this is a problem with the distributor in Japan. All the film has been sitting in the harbor waiting to be released. Don't know exactly what and why but that's what they told us when we asked.
Second time in 6 months that Kodak has this problem in Japan.

Pat Erson · Jan 3, 2015

Semi-OT question but with the Yen crashing against the USD has the price of Kodak stuff sky-rocketed in Japan?

ericdan · Jan 3, 2015

Hasn't changed since the last price increase. Think that was late summer 2014. I expect another rise this year.

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RattyMouse · Jan 3, 2015

I'd load up on any Ilford and Kodak film you like to shoot. The yen is sinking more every week. Prices have to rise soon.

ericdan · Jan 6, 2015

Fridge full of tri-x and freezer full of provia 400x. At this point I have enough to shoot for a year.
If Kodak gets more expensive I'll have to stick to fujifilm. Hopefully they don't cut Acros100.

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mooseontheloose · Jan 6, 2015

ericdan said:
Fridge full of tri-x and freezer full of provia 400x. At this point I have enough to shoot for a year.
If Kodak gets more expensive I'll have to stick to fujifilm. Hopefully they don't cut Acros100.

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+1

Nuff · Jan 6, 2015

I will need more trix soon...

Xmas · Jan 6, 2015

if you like Acros but don't like Tmax100, Delta 100 or PanF+ I'd stock up on Acros.

Recall what happened to Plusx?

ericdan · Jan 6, 2015

Yeah, I really like plus-x and have only one roll left!
Acros is a different animal.
When neopan was discontinued the remaining stock was dosclinted a lot in the stores here. At that point I'll stick up. For now I like that I can walk in the store and buy a three pack when I need to.

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StoneNYC · Jan 6, 2015

When my last rolls of Neopan400 were running out, I decided to face the music and after all these years switched to TMY-2 despite my earlier difficulties with it, it's the next best thing, totally different, but since I can't get Delta400 in sheet film, I'm switching, I hate having to choose between shooting different ways, and I'm streamlining, it's costly, but time is money and it saves time.

I think if I were in your situation Eric and I had this problem previously, I would stock up on your chosen films to the point you wouldn't have to worry during the next dry spell. I know that if I had to go a year without buying a single roll of film, I would still have enough to get me through. Mostly sheet film at this point, I'd probably run out of roll film pretty quickly. But I care less about roll film than you do probably.

ericdan · Jan 6, 2015

Good point. Stocking up for 2 months isn't too bad.

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Kodak out of stock in Tokyo

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