New to APUG, new to Australia

[Joachim_I]

Thanks! Tony, I know, that little island is high on my list. Wayne, we are almost neighbours, Newport here. Ian, judging from the feedback here, it seems Victoria compares favourably. Good to see this.

 

[Molli]

I don't want to hijack Joachim's thread, but have too bad a case of "shy" to be starting a thread simply to say "Hi, I'm new here also" (although not to Australia at all). I live down on the Mornington Peninsula and was wondering if anyone else was from around these parts. If so, please, please, please... where are you getting your black and white film? I've just bought my first ever slr camera. The intention originally was to buy a film slr (which I could afford) in order to learn how to use one in hopes of one day buying one of those (gasp, the horror) plastic, wizz bang, new fangled thingies (which I most certainly can NOT afford). Now that I've put a couple of rolls through it, thoughts of digital have been completely eradicated from my mind and all I want do to is learn every possible thing I can about shooting, processing and (one day) printing my own photos - no one's hand at the helm but mine. Aside from the major budget restrictions, my major problem is lack of access to film and chemicals. Everywhere I've looked, it's far cheaper to buy overseas for traditional black and white film, but some of the P&H costs are simply ludicrous! (I racked up a whole eleven dollar order on one site in the U.S. and the p&h was seventy five dollars!)

Um, I think I just went entirely off topic there. I was supposed to be limiting myself to "Hello". Apologies, I've been up for a few days reading around here and the seven in the morning blathers have kicked in. To avoid taking up any more of Joachim's welcome page, could anyone please boot me out of here and into the right thread for these questions?

Many thanks to anyone in advance for any time and advice they can give...
... and welcome to Australia, Joachim!

Molli

 

[wazza]

Welcome Joachim from the Blue Mountains NSW
Wazza

 

[nick mulder]

I racked up a whole eleven dollar order on one site in the U.S. and the p&h was seventy five dollars!)
Molli

Thats why we all have large sections of the fridge/freezer sectioned off for film - half of it brand new - the other half near or past expiry cos we've moved up or down format in terms of 'current fascination'

Buy in bulk and share expenses with a colleague and the film price per roll/sheet becomes much less.

 

[OldBikerPete]

I don't want to hijack Joachim's thread, but have too bad a case of "shy" to be starting a thread simply to say "Hi, I'm new here also" (although not to Australia at all). I live down on the Mornington Peninsula and was wondering if anyone else was from around these parts. If so, please, please, please... where are you getting your black and white film?
............<snip>.......
... and welcome to Australia, Joachim!

Molli

I don't use B&W film any more. I buy my 5x4 Color film in $500 lots from Badger graphics in the US - they are the only ones I've found who seem to use an inexpensive postal service. Buy in bulk and store in the fridge or freezer until you need it. It will stil be good decades past its use-by date.
You should buy your 35mm film in 100 foot rolls. That will make up about 40 off 36exposure rolls of film for your SLR. If bulk-loading in this way it is easier if you have a daylight bulk-loader. I have one I haven't used for years if you are willing to come to Keilor to get it you can have it, gratis.
You will be able to buy empty, used, film cassettes for a very low price from places like Vanbar in the city - or someone on this forum might sell you some. Ilford are the best to reload as they disassemble and reassemble easily. I gave all mine away - I think. I will check and let you know if I have any left. If I have, you can have them, gratis.

 

[Molli]

Thank you, Pete. That's a very lovely offer. I wound up hijacking the "Buying film from overseas" thread instead, and we've started up a bulk order. I'm only able to buy a very, very small amount of film at a time so, while I know buying in bulk makes far more sense, it's not currently possible for me. When I have a better idea of what I'm doing (very new to everything), I'll start saving my pennies to put in a 'proper' order later in the year.

 

[tony lockerbie]

Welcome Joachim, from a little further north. If the weather down there gets to you, a trip north is always good! Molli, I buy all my B&W film from a fellow on Ebay, cheapshots au, is his ID.
Not an ad for him, but he keeps a very good range and is nice to deal with.

 

[Molli]

Thanks Tony, I have him already bookmarked on eBay. He's been highly recommended elsewhere in the forum as well so it's always nice to get further confirmation.

 

[OldBikerPete]

Thank you, Pete. That's a very lovely offer. I wound up hijacking the "Buying film from overseas" thread instead, and we've started up a bulk order. I'm only able to buy a very, very small amount of film at a time so, while I know buying in bulk makes far more sense, it's not currently possible for me. When I have a better idea of what I'm doing (very new to everything), I'll start saving my pennies to put in a 'proper' order later in the year.

A friend of mine (Mick Fagan, who posts on here occasionally) bulk loads his B&W 35mm film and I think I recall him saying his film costs him AU$0.40 per roll - I suppose that means that he buys 100foot rolls for AU$16.00 each or so. I don't know where from, although he has mentioned the Japanese site people talk about.Perhaps you should PM him.

I had a look at the first few pages of that other thread.
I have some Jobo tanks and reels suitable for 35mm development that were thrown in when i bought a few Jobo film processors. Don't want them, so they're also yours if you want them.
I also have an old olympus 35mm B&W only enlarger that was given to me, I can pass that on to you also - anything to unclutter my darkroom.

 

[Molli]

Mick was kind enough to contact me regarding all of this also, Pete. You gentlemen are absolutely lovely! Without getting all weepy here... you two have just made Christmas Christmas for me

I don't want to be putting anyone out and I've really no money to offer.... but when people tell me they need to 'unclutter' their homes, here I am with my hands out smiling

I tend to hoard things and can't bear to see things thrown away so if I can help anyone declutter, I would be overjoyed to help (it's much easier to say yes when I think I'm helping someone else rather than vice versa!).

Thank you, Pete (and Mick, too, if you're still awake).

 

[OldBikerPete]

Mick was kind enough to contact me regarding all of this also, Pete. You gentlemen are absolutely lovely! Without getting all weepy here... you two have just made Christmas Christmas for me

I don't want to be putting anyone out and I've really no money to offer.... but when people tell me they need to 'unclutter' their homes, here I am with my hands out smiling

I tend to hoard things and can't bear to see things thrown away so if I can help anyone declutter, I would be overjoyed to help (it's much easier to say yes when I think I'm helping someone else rather than vice versa!).

Thank you, Pete (and Mick, too, if you're still awake).

Molli. Private Message sent. Driving down to Rye on the Peninsula tomorrow. If you want me to bring the gear, call me.

 

[Molli]

Molli. Private Message sent. Driving down to Rye on the Peninsula tomorrow. If you want me to bring the gear, call me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It's probably a little late to be phoning, so I'll try and catch you in the morning before you head down this way.

 

[gamincurieux]

OldBikerPete, what do you mean 'Ilford' cassettes? Used Ilford cassettes, or do you mean Ilford make reusable cassettes? I'd never heard that they make reusable cassettes, if that's what you mean.

I've got some bulk Tri-X in the fridge, a new loader, so I'm about to tackle self-loading, but am still unsure which is the best way to go re cassettes, whether to use color film throw-outs from a color lab (taping the Tri-X onto the color film tail left poking out then winding it on), or the big back of 'Kalt' brand cassettes I bought from someone on Ebay. Goes without saying I don't want to stuff it up.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I've been using the Kalt type of unit for yonks, some of them have seen service for close to 20 years.

They have had every conceivable type of film in them.

One has to be careful and ensure that the side that you take on and off, is securely screwed on. Also when using the cassettes take care when placing in your camera that you don't inadvertently unscrew the end cover a little bit.

If you find a stray piece of material from the light trap, snip it off with scissors, otherwise it can get into your picture, or worse still, your shutter, although I have never had that problem.

In short they are a very good piece of equipment for next to nothing cost wise, especially when considering that they are re-usable for many films.

I have discarded some after around 5 rolls yet others have had around 40 rolls through and are still going strong.

Mick.

 

[OldBikerPete]

OldBikerPete, what do you mean 'Ilford' cassettes? Used Ilford cassettes, or do you mean Ilford make reusable cassettes? I'd never heard that they make reusable cassettes, if that's what you mean.

I've got some bulk Tri-X in the fridge, a new loader, so I'm about to tackle self-loading, but am still unsure which is the best way to go re cassettes, whether to use color film throw-outs from a color lab (taping the Tri-X onto the color film tail left poking out then winding it on), or the big back of 'Kalt' brand cassettes I bought from someone on Ebay. Goes without saying I don't want to stuff it up.

I mean that Ilford (and Agfa IIRC) sell film in cassettes which happen to disassemble and reassemble easily - compared with Kodak cassettes which I HAVE reloaded but their disassembly and reassembly is difficult (If you've ever tried reloading a Kodak cassette, you'll know what I mean).
As far as I know Ilford do not sell new empty cassettes, nor does anyone else. You can, however often buy used cassettes from film processing labs who would otherwise throw them away.

Peter.

 

[Nige]

I didn't think Ilford cassettes were reusable anymore (haven't bought any 35mm for a long time) but their old ones were the duck-guts for reloading. Don't know what I did with mine unfortantely. I know have a mixture of Ilford style (squeeze off caps) and the screw type. Prefer the Squeeze style but if careful, the screw ones are fine. I rarely use them now and have 2 bulk loaders with FP4 & HP5 in them. From memory I used to get 20 30exp rolls from a 30m bulk roll, so at Vanbar prices, that's about $3.65 - $4.40 a roll depending on your preffered film. Your 1st roll will pay for a bulk loader and some cassettes.

If you order $100 worth (film,paper,chems), 'PhotoScope' will deliver for free. They used to have a shop/warehouse in Glen Waverly you could go to but now only mail-order/deliver. However, if you can organise a overseas 'group-buy', you'll get it a lot cheaper.

Cheers, Nige

 

[wotalegend]

I just had a look at the Photoscope web site. I have never heard of them before, even though I live only about 3km from them. In Ilford products, they appear to have only inkjet paper. No film or chemicals are listed. I have sent them an email enquiry, but as it is midnight Saturday I don't expect a reply until Monday at the earliest.

 

[Nige]

yep, website only lists inkjet paper but they can supply anything Ilford

 

[gamincurieux]

Just looked there too, nothing traditional listed in the catalog, but go on to the pics of the showroom and it's all looks traditional, big school supplier it seems, worth a drive out there to look...

 

[Nige]

don't think they have a showroom anymore (could be wrong... but those pics are from their old premises in Mt Waverley) as I think they work out of their garage now. best to give them a ring to check.

 

[gamincurieux]

I've had an email from them assuring me they've got everything to do with traditional paper/chems. Unfortunately their website doesn't let you see what they actually stock aside from inkjet paper. Going to call them to see if I can go SEE what they stock.

 

[wotalegend]

I checked on Google Street View and it is just a house.

No response to my enquiry yet after 5 days. Maybe they are on holidays.

I would like to be able to see what their range and prices are like to give a comparison to the alternative supplier. Isn't that what web sites are good at?

 

[Nige]

I checked on Google Street View and it is just a house.

I did that too after dropping by their old premises and no one was home!

No response to my enquiry yet after 5 days. Maybe they are on holidays.

could be. I've always found them pleasant to deal with

I would like to be able to see what their range and prices are like to give a comparison to the alternative supplier. Isn't that what web sites are good at?

you'd think so! Even if prices weren't shown, a solid statement saying traditional materials are available would be the mimimum, listing some basic stuff in the catalog would be nice.

 

[w9cae]

Just looking over the PhotoScope web site under contact us they are listed as Wantirna now not Glen Waverley or Mt Waverley.

http://www.photoscope.net.au/catalog/contact_us.php

 

[Mick Fagan]

Photoscope has been around for quite some time. I had an account with them and used to telephone the lovely Simone to order materials.

Nearly always, their terrific driver would deliver the next day, he and I had some funny times with jokes.

I think you will find that as they are a schools provider, they would certainly be stocking wet photographic stuff.

They were never really geared to retail sales, basically they were, and probably still are, geared for wholesale!

Mick.