Plug: Need 100' spools of Acros? How about Artdol?

My buddy Dirk in Japan has decided to set up a little web shop for folks seeking film from Japan that you just can't get over here in the U.S. (duh, I should have bought some when I was there last m'self...)

Dead Link Removed

(No, he didn't pay me, he's just my buddy)

You might suggest that he add films available in Fuji Quickchange format. I think Badger Graphic might carry them, but it wouldn't hurt to have a few suppliers out there. Robert White had them for a while, but I think they stopped carrying them.

Fuji Quickchange is a modern 8-shot Grafmatic-type holder. It takes pre-loaded cartridges, but the septums can be reloaded with any film. There are detailed instructions on reloading at f32.net.

David,
Good suggestion. The Fuji Quickchange and cartridges are available at Photo Habitat in NYC. Ray and Walter, the owners, are great guys.

bjorke,
Great to see a source for Acros in 8x10 again, since Badger dropped it. It would be beneficial for your friend to accept credit cards. There are a number of us who won't use Paypal.
Tom

Tom Duffy said:

It would be beneficial for your friend to accept credit cards. There are a number of us who won't use Paypal.
Tom

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Ask him! He probably would do it. I'll ask too, but there's no way to convince a marchant of anything like shaking money at him

Thanks, Tom. I'm actually pretty well supplied with Grafmatics, but for a while I was considering Quickchange, and it's good to see the system out there.

bjorke said:

My buddy Dirk in Japan has decided to set up a little web shop for folks seeking film from Japan

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Would it not just be easier to buy Ilford film.

After all they manufacture the B&W for Fuji

Errr, hi everybody... I am the guy with the Web Shop that Kevin kindly referred to (check's in the post mate ;-).

Thanks for your interest everyone. I have just started up this month and while I have some good response and orders already, I am working all the kinks out. Credit card payments is one of them. Others are more products, currently looking into some Konica films which are cheap and good quality, and also some more odd formats like 5x7 which I had some requests for.

Not sure about the QuickLoads. They are usually widely available in the rest of the world, and I cannot compete with those prices. And in a way I would like to support single sheet film availability for the people using holders. Unless QuickChange is yet another format, but I have never come across it. But then I am new to LF, so I appreciate all information.

QuickChange is different from QuickLoad. QuickLoad is film in envelopes. QuickChange is film in a cartridge with 8 film septums where you can shuffle through them at about 1 fps once you get the hang of it (at least that's true of Grafmatics--as I say, I haven't used QuickChange myself, but I think it's great that it exists as a modern Grafmatic-style filmholder). Here's the article on f:32.net--

http://f32.net/Services/Equipment/Accessories/quickchange.html

Ian Grant said:

Would it not just be easier to buy Ilford film.

After all they manufacture the B&W for Fuji

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Are you sure about this? There seems to be evidence that they manufacture the emulsion of the newish C41 B&W film for Fuji, or at least co-operated in it's development, but as to Neopan 400 and the rest I thought they were made by Fuji in Japan (as the boxes say). I've only used Neopan 400 in the past but it never struck me as being anything like HP5 in processing or results.

Any chance of getting Velvia 100 in 120 or 220 sizes? Also, does the Acros 4x5 contain the same hole in the corner as the QuickLoad version?

Dirk - San

will you be offering any black and white fibre papers in the future that may be different from the offerings based out of Europe. I would be very interested to sample different brands.

Greetings,

It sure would be nice if there was another source for the Fuji QuickChange system - are you listening Dirk - San.

I'm the guy that that wrote the article on f32 that David posted a link for. I have a number of QuickChange cartridges and reload them often. I also have some older Grafmatics, but the QuickChange system is lighter and much more flexible. The only sources I'm aware of (and some of these may no longer carry it) are Badger, Photo Habitat & Robert White, having another source, especially in the country of manufacture, would certainly be welcome.

Regards, Pete

Hello again,

sorry for not replying earlier. I had to do some research on the things you mentioned, do a job interview, and sleep a little.

David A. Goldfarb said:

QuickChange is different from QuickLoad.

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Thanks David, I had actually never heard of QuickChange, but I realised I had seen it in the shops before never realising what it was.

PJC said:

Greetings, It sure would be nice if there was another source for the Fuji QuickChange system - are you listening Dirk - San.

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Yes, I have been into town yesterday and had a closer look. I have been told that QC is only available for positive films. Can you confirm that? The ones I spotted readily available were good ol' Velvia 50 RVP and Provia 100F (RDP III). But they don't come cheap (see store site). Plus the bulky package may add a little more to the postage. I have to see if I can find a better price for those. What price would you expect, reasonably?

Bob Carnie said:

Dirk - San
will you be offering any black and white fibre papers in the future that may be different from the offerings based out of Europe. I would be very interested to sample different brands.

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Absolutely! I am also very interested in the papers. I have just finished getting myself through the assortment of films. The other day I stumbled into the paper section, a bewildering array of unknown Fuji, Oriental and something called Gekko. I have to see what is what and will concentrate on the fibre stuff first.

L Gebhardt said:

Any chance of getting Velvia 100 in 120 or 220 sizes?

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I have added what you asked to the selection, please have a look.

L Gebhardt said:

Also, does the Acros 4x5 contain the same hole in the corner as the QuickLoad version?

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Yes, the hole in the Acros seems a common thing. It is definitely on the boxes showing the code and I even made it part of the ambitious logo of my store ;-)

One more thing: I pass on postage charges strictly at cost. Been "eBayed" a few times too many on that and hated it. The postage charge printed on the package should really match the amount that the shop quotes to you when switched to Yen. I have yet to figure out all the exact weights of things, so I have to estimate a little at this point (so far to the customer's advantage). If there is an unacceptable discrepancy, say more than $1-2, let me know (although chances are I have already noticed it anyway) and I will compensate for it on your next order or similar. So over the next few weeks this should get a lot more precise.

One more request: does Fuji make their 400 or 1600 speed black and white film in sheet sizes?

L Gebhardt said:

One more request: does Fuji make their 400 or 1600 speed black and white film in sheet sizes?

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Not to my knowledge. I wish they would, because then I would be using it. Stuck with Tri-X and TMax (and maybe HP5; either way, ironic in the land of Fuji) for the moment as readily available faster sheet films.

Of course one could consider Acros and a developer combination that makes it faster (Diafine?), but I have no experience in that.

OK, any chance of the 1600 speed film in 120 or 220 sizes?

L Gebhardt said:

OK, any chance of the 1600 speed film in 120 or 220 sizes?

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Only in 100 and 400. Is that available to you? The 400 should be quite pushable, have you tried?

I generally haven't had much luck pushing film. I just don't care for the higher contrast and the lack of shadow detail I tend to get. I find I generally have my best luck with most film at half the rated speed. A 1600 (800) speed film in my Mamiya 7 would be a killer handheld combination. This film in 4x5 would also be good for stopping the effects of wind. Someday maybe - I hope.

I think many of us feel the same, Larry.

It is a real shame that higher speed films are unavailable in larger formats, because there in particular grain would not be an issue. But here we are, having to contend with what's left out there

This probably doesn't belong on this thread, really, so I apologize. For info, I regularly shoot 35mm Acros at EI 100 developed in Acufine and like the results. I tried at EI 200, but lost too much shadow detail. Since I think Acros should really at about EI 32 - 50, the Acufine combination is giving me about a one real f stop speed increase with a great tonal range.
Take care,
Tom

I came within a mouse click of buying 5 rolls of fortia. Unfortunately, I don't shoot much 35mm making the price an issue.

I love the idea of having access to materials not readily available here in the west and will visit occasionally to see what is up.

I would think it would be a great idea if Dirk - san would post as products became available (as Jand C does).

I see that the QuickChange film cartridges are on the site now. Will the quick change holder follow -- as I recall the holder is sold seperatly or am I wrong?

Dirk,

"Gekko" papers are manufactured by the Mitsubishi conglomerate. For a short time there was a german distributor - but thats a thing of the past.

Yes, Quickchange has a holder that's separate from the cartridge. Glad to see it's listed. It's a great idea that deserves more exposure.

Dirk-San, yes as far as I know the only films I've ever seen in the QuickChange system are Velvia and Provia. The beauty of the QC system is that the cartridges can be reloaded with any type, or combination of 4x5 film. Glad to hear you will be carring it.

Regards, Pete

rjr said:

Dirk,

"Gekko" papers are manufactured by the Mitsubishi conglomerate. For a short time there was a german distributor - but thats a thing of the past.

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Hey - but I'm a German distributor

Thanks for the info, I had a hunch it said Mitsubishi on the boxes...

mrcallow said:

I came within a mouse click of buying 5 rolls of fortia. Unfortunately, I don't shoot much 35mm making the price an issue.

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I am looking for a cheaper source for that right now. It's a funny thing with doing a limited edition film. You get used to it, then it's gone... so what's the use? ... Anyway, there is a relatively famous Japanese photographer who makes deeply saturated photos: Mika Ninagawa (http://www.ninamika.com/home/home.html) I think Fuji may have been inspired by her a bit... who knows.

mrcallow said:

I would think it would be a great idea if Dirk - san would post as products became available (as Jand C does).

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Oh, you mean here on the boards? Is it not spam?

mrcallow said:

I see that the QuickChange film cartridges are on the site now. Will the quick change holder follow -- as I recall the holder is sold seperatly or am I wrong?

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I will check about the holder.

Are you folks interested in colour negative film? There is a new Fujifilm out called Pro NS 160, for studio portraits. Comes in many formats.