Shanghai GP3 100 in 220 now available...

[GP3 Offical Account]

Sorry, I don't buy this explanation, for the following reasons:

1. 220 film exists since 1965, surely many automatic machines for it were designed and made, since it was produced in big scale by many manufacturers. Big manufacturers had automatic machines for every conceivable format: 126, 110, 127, 120, etc. Shanghai has been around since 1958, it's not a new company.

2. 220 is identical to 120 at the start of the roll, identically taped, with the difference that the backing paper doesn't need to go on. And then it is taped to the paper at the end of the emulsion roll. This is the only substantial difference to 120. It's not like it was an entirely different film.

3. Increased cost? On the good days of film, Fuji 220 film was only slightly more expensive than 120, not twice as expensive.

4. Increased cost? In sept 2020 Shanghai 400 in 220 was priced $8.82 usd per roll, not the big amount they want to charge now.

Thanks for making 220 film but at the current cost, which is more than the cost of 3 (three) rolls of fomapan 100, it doesn't seem a good buy.

220 film existed for a long time, but it discontinued for a long time as even for now, for us, unfortunately, it only can be semi-auto.
220 film character make the labor processing need more carefully and hard to do quality control.
for 400 220, as you can see now is unavailable again, they are not a mature product with high faulty %, thats the reason why we did not put them into oversea market before, all you can get is someone resell them from china testing marketing
increased cost, yes, after COVID, human labor and material has increasing, but we did not increasing price a lot. just slightly.
220 is higher than 120 even triple. I think I will put this feedback to hand office, and hopefully I can bring some good news for all 220 user, and adjust SRP be a more "bargain " price to all.

Thanks again for your support for GP3 again.
we will try our best to bring good film to all.

 

[GP3 Offical Account]

If I go back to Huss' original thread about 220 gpx400, it starts off with... "I wrote to SHANGHAI JIANCHENG TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD asking when GPX 400 220 would be available in the US. They responded soon, and I could place a bulk film pre-order which would be shipped directly to me."

Now the "official" GP3 account is supporting this someone else rolled in bathroom and sold it theory? I appreciate the gesture of making an account and actually responding, but not accepting responsibility for the GPX and pretending that it didn't happen? How about an official respond to Huss' thread, which happens to be the first result when I search "Shanghai 220 film" on my Western internet browser?

Hi, Thanks for your reply, and for 400 220, we did want to bring them back before, so we released part of 400 220 as a test in china marketing, but the feedback is not as we expected. which let us stop supply them until now.
quality is the most important things for a company. And now we just start the 220 film with improving Production process and testing in GP3 100. Hope this time will get a good feedback for all. I hope in that time 400 220 will back to market soon.

 

[GP3 Offical Account]

Yes, I miss people like Simon, who helped keep us straight on our theories as to why Ilford/Harman did this or that. I think GP3 Official Account answered my thoughts about Cat-Labs causing the now price of GP3 film to be higher than it was before. They answered the question by not answering the question. I really wish that the Shanghai GP3 company wouldn't have involved a second or third party for distributing their film, but what's done is done. I used to love getting it off the big auction site directly from Chinese sellers at prices that even a pauper like me could afford. JohnW

Could you share more information regarding Cat-Labs with us? as in China we did not hear about this kind of information like we have relationship with them. so I have not reply your message since I have not sure about this story.
We did have many cooperation with different oversea film company and brand.

 

[GP3 Offical Account]

We just need to contact someone in China to buy it at Chinese prices in bulk and then post it up on the auction block.

But like, that's unethical maybe or something. Or it's capitalism. Sometimes the line gets blurred.

we are now start to control this things, even know it is hard, as this is not fair for distributor in local country.
they resell items without tax and any cost. also without any warranty when faulty happen.
Meanwhile, we will keep adjust oversea SRP as well, That's the reason why I am here, hear more from consumer and make a balance from both(we need have profits make us alive and open the marketing, you want us to bring bargain price)

 

[Cholentpot]

we are now start to control this things, even know it is hard, as this is not fair for distributor in local country.
they resell items without tax and any cost. also without any warranty when faulty happen.
Meanwhile, we will keep adjust oversea SRP as well, That's the reason why I am here, hear more from consumer and make a balance from both(we need have profits make us alive and open the marketing, you want us to bring bargain price)

I'm not saying it's right I'm saying it's what ends up happening. No offence but when it comes to striking a bargain or making a buck the Chinese are king.

 

[Agulliver]

This place never ceases to amaze me.

People ask "Why is there no 220 film?"
Ilford and Kodak explain why
Same people say "We demand the return of 220 film"
Company brings back 220 film along with 127 and 620 - which is actually quite an impressive feat.
"NO! Not like that!"

Once the GP3 220 gets into the supply chain I'll be an occasional user, as shooting just two rolls in 127 shows me it's a lot better than nothing. And it will probably be improved.

Thank you @GP3 Offical Account for engaging with us.

 

[Rowreidr]

Hi, Thanks for your reply, and for 400 220, we did want to bring them back before, so we released part of 400 220 as a test in china marketing, but the feedback is not as we expected. which let us stop supply them until now.
quality is the most important things for a company. And now we just start the 220 film with improving Production process and testing in GP3 100. Hope this time will get a good feedback for all. I hope in that time 400 220 will back to market soon.

A good review by @Huss would go a long way in reversing some of the negative/pessimistic sentiment on this site, i.e. send some to him for free if you (Shanghai) are confident in your product. He unknowingly paid money to be a part of the Chinese test marketing, when he was expecting a final product, unless I am mistaken. I would love to shoot fresh 220, but at this point have no reason to buy direct, so I will just wait and see if B&H decides it's good enough to sell.

 

[swchris]

I've ordered 5 rolls of 220 GP3 on their web site.

 

[Rowreidr]

I've ordered 5 rolls of 220 GP3 on their web site.

Here's one for a hopefully uneventful and photographically worthwhile adventure!

 

[Agulliver]

Heads up to UK based folk, Nik and Trick have placed what they describe as a "big order" with the factory. Possibly of interest to EU customers too.

they also have the Shanghai GP3 127 film in stock at £10.25 per roll.

 

[flavio81]

220 film existed for a long time, but it discontinued for a long time as even for now, for us, unfortunately, it only can be semi-auto.
220 film character make the labor processing need more carefully and hard to do quality control.
for 400 220, as you can see now is unavailable again, they are not a mature product with high faulty %, thats the reason why we did not put them into oversea market before, all you can get is someone resell them from china testing marketing
increased cost, yes, after COVID, human labor and material has increasing, but we did not increasing price a lot. just slightly.
220 is higher than 120 even triple. I think I will put this feedback to hand office, and hopefully I can bring some good news for all 220 user, and adjust SRP be a more "bargain " price to all.

Thanks again for your support for GP3 again.
we will try our best to bring good film to all.

Thank you for this reply. Sounds fair. Yes, I understand that COVID has changed the costs of many things.

Hopefully the price could be a bit better.

 

[flavio81]

This place never ceases to amaze me.

People ask "Why is there no 220 film?"
Ilford and Kodak explain why
Same people say "We demand the return of 220 film"
Company brings back 220 film along with 127 and 620 - which is actually quite an impressive feat.
"NO! Not like that!"

I have some Portra 400VC 220 rolls I can sell you. Since you don't care about price, I can sell them to you for 40 USD each, deal?

 

[flavio81]

I've ordered 5 rolls of 220 GP3 on their web site.

Here comes our human guinea pig, sacrificing himself for the greater good of us APUGgers...

 

[flavio81]

Heads up to UK based folk, Nik and Trick have placed what they describe as a "big order" with the factory. Possibly of interest to EU customers too.

Who are Nik and Trick? Is this the name of a store? Do they ship internationally? (Royal Mail ships to my country with flying colours, in fact i frequently buy from the UK just for this reason -- excellent mail service.)

 

[John Wiegerink]

Could you share more information regarding Cat-Labs with us? as in China we did not hear about this kind of information like we have relationship with them. so I have not reply your message since I have not sure about this story.
We did have many cooperation with different oversea film company and brand.

The official name is CatLABS and they market your film as CatLABS X film 80 BW or that's what we here have been lead to believe. I used to buy your film much cheaper on eBay from private sellers, but I guess that they might have been selling "black market" film. So, the increase of price between the eBay sellers and your pricing increase is not small for me. I did like your film, but can't see me buying it when I can buy Ilford FP4+ or HP5+ for less than a dollar more or near the same price when there is a sale. I do wish your company the best of luck and really think you are on the right path by marketing 220, 127 film and 620. Hopefully we will see 116 film and maybe 616 film in the near distant future. You would have a that market pretty much all to yourself. I have my fingers crossed anyway. Best of luck,
JohnW

 

[flavio81]

The official name is CatLABS and they market your film as CatLABS X film 80 BW or that's what we here have been lead to believe.

To complement that information: CatLABS X 80 rolls have a "SHANGHAI" label on the end-of-roll paper. There is a picture here:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/catlabs-x80-and-shanghai-gp3-same-film.174939/#post-2276560

@GP3 Offical Account
Click the link and you'll see.

 

[AgX]

GP3 Offical Account, Welcome at Apug!

I find it great that you joined. And I hope that you stay with us, reply on inquiries and not refrain to just promote a product and not be heard otherwise, as seen by your competitors here.
As this thread has shown the reason so far to buy Shanghai Film was just its low price. At least to my understanding. Here in Germany that film seems to have been rather unknown. And to me it is not clear in how much your current GP3 differs from it.

The price advantage seems gone though. You offer your GP3 in 100' at your shop at $79.99.
Here I can get films from one of the major retailers in 100' from Foma, Agfa, Harman at 43.80$, 53.53$, 56.75$ respectively. You will understand that I am not that much trickled to buy your GP3.
Unless... it gives me something different enough to make me pay that premium. I thus shall wait for what others will report on the GP3.

Concerning a offer where you indeed are different, type 220 conversion, Agulliver made a good statement in post #81.

 

[Cholentpot]

To complement that information: CatLABS X 80 rolls have a "SHANGHAI" label on the end-of-roll paper. There is a picture here:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/catlabs-x80-and-shanghai-gp3-same-film.174939/#post-2276560

@GP3 Offical Account
Click the link and you'll see.

Oh snap!

 

[flavio81]

The price advantage seems gone though. You offer your GP3 in 100' at your shop at $79.99.
Here I can get films from one of the major retailers in 100' from Foma, Agfa, Harman at 43.80$, 53.53$, 56.75$ respectively. You will understand that I am not that much trickled to buy your GP3.

I think these figures will help @GP3 Offical Account to have a clear idea on where to set the pricing for GP3 so it can remain competitive. I would expect them to adjust the price point; as @Cholentpot said, the Chinese are king (and very successful) in doing business negotiations.

 

[AgX]

Yes and no... The very recent years have been marked by a great number of films being just rebranded versions. And quite some of these cost more than the original or primary conversion of same film. And seemingly bought nevertheless... So there is a market for up-price products/versions, if just the packaging, the story told about it or just the true or alleged country of origin, fits a certain group of consumer. These are lesser to be found at our forum, but we are just a part of the market.

 

[Agulliver]

Who are Nik and Trick? Is this the name of a store? Do they ship internationally? (Royal Mail ships to my country with flying colours, in fact i frequently buy from the UK just for this reason -- excellent mail service.)

Nik and Trick Photoworks of Ashford, Kent, England....they are a "brick and mortar" shop as well as offering internet sales. But it looks like they are currently not offering international orders. Might be worth emailing them though? They often have unusual formats such as 127 and 620 in stock, as well as unusual stocks like Kodak XX and various films not usually aimed at consumers. Not my film shop of choice but I've used them a couple of times without any issues. Owned by photographers.

https://ntphotoworks.com/

 

[Disconnekt]

This place never ceases to amaze me.

People ask "Why is there no 220 film?"
Ilford and Kodak explain why
Same people say "We demand the return of 220 film"
Company brings back 220 film along with 127 and 620 - which is actually quite an impressive feat.
"NO! Not like that!"

Once the GP3 220 gets into the supply chain I'll be an occasional user, as shooting just two rolls in 127 shows me it's a lot better than nothing. And it will probably be improved.

Thank you @GP3 Offical Account for engaging with us.

My thought exactly. :/

 

[flavio81]

Nik and Trick Photoworks of Ashford, Kent, England....they are a "brick and mortar" shop as well as offering internet sales. But it looks like they are currently not offering international orders. Might be worth emailing them though? They often have unusual formats such as 127 and 620 in stock, as well as unusual stocks like Kodak XX and various films not usually aimed at consumers. Not my film shop of choice but I've used them a couple of times without any issues. Owned by photographers.

https://ntphotoworks.com/

Thanks for this info. "Owned by photographers" is a good thing.

 

[swchris]

Here comes our human guinea pig, sacrificing himself for the greater good of us APUGgers...

I'm going to report back.

I've got some rolls of GP3 a few years ago with a camera purchase. I liked their look, but there was a problem that the numbers of the backing paper (120) went into the picture. I hope that is resolved (I've also ordered 120 film), and it shouldn't be a problem with 220 film.

 

[Cholentpot]

I feel like I'm in the Matrix.

Anyhoo, I liked the stuff but as I've said before until the price reflects the point of origin I guess I'll sit out.