Local availability of B&W film in your area

[michaelbsc]

OK gang, I posted in another thread about surprisingly finding Tri-X in a CVS drug store last weekend, and I started thinking about where B&W film might be available.

How any of this might relate to outside the USA is beyond me. I don't get to Canada or Mexico more than once every 4-5 years, and I haven't been to Europe or the East in decades.

Regardless, let's all see just what is and isn't available at walk-in places other than Ritz Camera or Photo Express. Here is my preliminary experience in Charleston, SC.

Thread where I got started on this wagon. (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I can say that two years ago I could pop into a Wal-mart almost anywhere and grab a couple of rolls of 135 Tri-X, but I can't find it in any Wal-mart I've checked in for at least a year. It's true that they never had more than two or three rolls on the pegboard, but there were almost always a few rolls of Tri-X 135 there. Same story for Walgreens. I did check one Kerr drugstore without any luck yesterday, but there aren't any Kerr stores on my way home. I still haven't had a chance to check the local CVS stores in my hometown, but I plan to check one this afternoon while I'm running some errands.

My guess is that since the CVS chains still have Kodak drop boxes, while Wal-mart has Fuji drop boxes, there may be an incentive for CVS to keep some in stock or they may simply get pricing from Kodak that makes it worthwhile. And since K-mart also has Kodak drop boxes, I plan to check them as well just to see what the story is.

I'll check on a few stores this week, and start a new thread about B&W film availability later in the week.

So, here's what I discovered at lunch today running my errands.

I checked the Wal-mart near the office, and there is no B&W film other than the chromagenic C41. So that's two Wal-marts this week and a bunch of other Wal-marts over the past year with the same result, no B&W film.

Then I checked the K-mart near the office, and again the same story, only the C41 stuff for B&W.

Then I checked another Walgreens, with the same story, nothing, nada, fagedaboudit.

Then I went to another CVS pharmacy, and lo and behold, there were 6, count them 6 rolls of Tri-X dated Feb, 2011 available. All were 135-24, but at least there were some true B&W rolls for sale. (I bought two rolls to show inventory turn over, and I'll go back and buy one a week for a while to see if they restock it or just let it sell out. The price is about $0.45 cheaper than Ritz camera in the mall and about the same as the local Photo Express for the same item.)

So, here are my results so far. Wal-mart hasn't had B&W film for at least a year, although I did get it there occasionally two years ago. I can't say much about K-mart in the past, since there's not one close to my route home and I never go out of my way to go to K-mart. However today I could not find any B&W in the K-mart near work. It seems that I did used to be able to find B&W at Walgreens in the past, but I couldn't find any at the two stores I checked this week, so I think they're out of the B&W film business, too. Same for two Kerr drug stores, nothing at either of those.

Finally, two out of two CVS stores, one in Raleigh NC and one in Charleston SC, have had Tri-X 135-24 in stock and fresh.

I have not looked at any grocery chains yet, although I can remember decades ago that one could buy B&W, Color Print, or Color Slide film at grocery stores. Honestly, I can't recall seeing boxed film at a grocery store in ages, despite the fact that some of them *DO* have the disposable cameras. I also don't know of any grocery chains with film drop boxes like the drug stores. So the grocery chains might be a bust, too, at least in my area. The grocery chains are very regional, so that may be different other places.

I also have not look at any of the Rite-Aide stores, since they are a bit inconvenient for me. As soon as I can pass by one that's not difficult I'll check and see what's available if anything.

So, everybody who thinks of it, check locally in places *OTHER* than photo stores and see if you can find B&W film. My hunch is that Wal-mart and K-mart will turn up nothing unless it's expired and still hanging around. I also think Walgreens and Kerr Drugs will be the same story. Rite-Aide is unknown.

But CVS seems to be a reasonable candidate for buying film in a pinch. Of course, we'll have to buy more than just "in a pinch" for them to keep it on the shelf, but at least knowing some information is better than knowing no information.

 

[reellis67]

As far as black and white goes, our CVS (down the street a ways) has Tri-X in 35mm most of the time, although they do occasionally sell out. They also have C-41 black and white, about three color print films (all Kodak) and on occasion some E-6. I don't shop at any of the other places you listed so I can't say anything about them. The local grocery store stocks Polaroid (not much left) and various and sundry Kodak 35mm color print films only, no black and white even in C-41.

- Randy

 

[fschifano]

I honestly haven't even had the incentive to check since I no longer even entertain the prospect of finding any. I buy in bulk, by mail order. The prices are better, and with a little planning, I never run short. The only exception is with Kodak films and chemistry. I can source these items locally for less than mail order prices if you count shipping costs. Both B&H and Adorama are only a subway ride away.

 

[hal9000]

Here in Berlin we are lucky to have FotoImpex and Monochrom as well as Calumet and a few traditional photography stores that offer a quite satisfactory selection of analog products.

 

[michaelbsc]

Here in Berlin we are lucky to have FotoImpex and Monochrom as well as Calumet and a few traditional photography stores that offer a quite satisfactory selection of analog products.

Yes, you are pretty lucky. In the larger markets in the US things aren't too hard to find, but in the smaller markets it isn't so easy.

MB

 

[Venchka]

Houston isn't exactly a small market. I do have a Wolf Camera nearby. They usually have a so-so selection of Ilford 35mm film. Otherwise, if I want Kodak or Fuji or any size larger than 35mm, I have to trek a long way to find a decent film and chemical and paper supply in one of the two real camera stores left in this mostly 100% Digital town.

 

[Stan160]

Here in the UK, local to where I live there is a branch of Boots (drug-store chain) with HP5+ (with and without Ilford process and prints included), XP2+ and Kodak C41 B&W.

 

[Henning Serger]

No problems to get BW film in 35mm and 120 from Ilford, Kodak and Fuji in Hanover, Germany; a city of about 500.000 inhabitants. At several places (supply of 35mm is of course better than 120, but the best local camera shop orders all you want if necessary).

Best regards,
Henning

 

[David Brown]

I've never been too concerned that I can't buy film at the drug store. I've never been able to get a prescription filled at the camera shop, either. :rolleyes:

 

[Poohblah]

since my favorite local photo shop closed down, i only have one place left to go unless i want to drive 30 minutes for an unknown selection of films.

ordering online is the best; the local places overcharge.

 

[reellis67]

ordering online is the best; the local places overcharge.

I tend to agree, but in order to support the very few remaining family owned and operated photography related businesses (we have TWO in the area - amazingly lucky I suppose) I willing pay the extra when I can afford it. I only see what the drugstore sells when I stop in for aftershave or milk (it's $2.50/gallon less there than what the grocery is asking for the same brand).

- Randy

 

[zenrhino]

Thankfully we have a wonderful art school with a strong analog tradition, so it's pretty easy to find anything that's not totally off the wall. Not every location of NatCam may have exactly what I want, and West may run dry of Tri-X during student rush, but no big deal if I plan ahead.

Now, getting my hands on a liter of DDX or a bottle of HC-110 -- that's another matter. For some reason, I can always find C-41 press kits but simple soups for b/w? If you don't want Sprint, it's time to go digging.

 

[ricksplace]

You need another box to tick off. "Nowhere"

That's where I can find real b&w film other than the local pro lab. (unless I want to drive 750km to Winnipeg, or 1600 km to Toronto.)

 

[Akki14]

I'm not totally sure where it fits in but the 1hr photo store chain, Snappy Snaps stocks HP4 and FP4 usually, sometimes even in 120. You can get 35mm HP5 at Boots (drugstore chain). It's all quite expensive though. Lucky for me, RK Photographic are close enough to be a local jaunt on the bus if I need anything... failing that, Silverprint isn't too far away either.

 

[michaelbsc]

I've never been too concerned that I can't buy film at the drug store. I've never been able to get a prescription filled at the camera shop, either. :rolleyes:

It's true that I live in a larger town now than where I grew up. As a kid the drug store was where all the photo stuff came from. I bought film, developer and fixer at the drug store, and learned from the pharmacist that stop bath is just vinegar, etc. Of course, I grew up in very small town. Well, that's not really true, I grew up on a farm 12 miles outside a very small town. Here's what the main street looks like in 2008, but it's not much different than it was in the '60s. Things don't change very fast in small Southern towns.

 

[Chris Nielsen]

Here in small town New Zealand, it's surprising that I can still get the basic b&w stuff - HP5 and the like. If I want better I can either drive 2 hours to Auckland where I can get just about anything, but at quite a price. Mostly I order from Adorama, and even taking into account the crappy exchange rate and shipping, if I'm smart about it I can save at least 50% off buying locally.

 

[phaedrus]

Ticked "Other, not mentioned" in the poll because you can always rob your local speed trap. There's perfectly good 135 format black and white film in it, big spools of it. Part of it may of course already have been exposed, mostly with boring and now inconsequential pictures of motorists.

... Oh allright, stuff the satire. I get mine over the internet, too. Local supplies have dried up.