Shanghai GP3 Popular or gone?

JW PHOTO · Nov 22, 2015

I'm now using my last roll of GP3 120 and thought I'd pick up another 10 rolls only to find out I can't find it anywhere. Now that means one of two things. It's either very, very popular or it's long gone. Which is it???? I can get by without this film, but I really did like its looks when things went right. Anybody have the latest on where GP3 went to? John W

destroya · Nov 22, 2015

the most recent rumor I read on flickr is that they are moving their factory and should have it set up and start producing film again early next year. its a good film so i hope its the truth

Athiril · Nov 22, 2015

They were moving the plant or something like that. It's available on Tao Bao still.

JW PHOTO · Nov 22, 2015

I sure hope it's true and I have my fingers crossed. Of course the price will now probably go through the roof, but I sure hope not. It was a great film in my Zeiss folder with the uncoated Tessar, but also worked very well in other cameras also. It like being dipped in Rodinal, Pyrocat-MC and WD2H+ Pyro. I'm sure other developers suit GP3 also. John W

JW PHOTO · Nov 22, 2015

Athril,
I never got the hang of Tao Bao, but might have to learn how to use it I guess. John W

Athiril · Nov 22, 2015

Taobao is almost always the last place for big stashes of discontinued film as well. There was Astia on there a long time after it was gone everywhere else, its where I got my stash of E100G from in 120, there's still E100VS on there too.

JW PHOTO · Nov 23, 2015

Athiril said:
Taobao is almost always the last place for big stashes of discontinued film as well. There was Astia on there a long time after it was gone everywhere else, its where I got my stash of E100G from in 120, there's still E100VS on there too.

You know, I can mix my own developer, test for my own EI, process my film and wet print/scan my negatives, but I'll be damned if I can get my arms around this TaoBao thing. I pulled up an English Tao Bao site and searched it with no luck finding much of any film. Then there is this thing of a "Tao Bao agent"??? I guess I'll have to take lessons on how to use Tao Bao. Maybe it's just the old problem of "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"! I really hate to wait a year for more GP3 film, but can if I have to I guess. John W

peter k. · Nov 23, 2015

How about this?

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale...SB_20151123084704&SearchText=Shanghai+GP3+120

OptiKen · Nov 23, 2015

Ali Express link worked...thank you Peter
I cannot find film at all on TaoBao. I can't even find a search button or bar. (sigh)

JW PHOTO · Nov 23, 2015

peter k. said:
How about this?

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale...SB_20151123084704&SearchText=Shanghai+GP3+120

Thanks Peter,
Holy cow Batman! I have never paid anywhere near that much per roll. I like GP3, but not enough to pay that price. It seems that maybe, just maybe these sellers are playing on the temporary shortage and jacking the price up. Let's hope that's the reason for the inflated price. I guess I'll stick with Acros and FP4+ medium speed film until the new plant opens. If the price continues after the new plant opens I don't see how they can compete, but who knows. maybe there are a lot of rich or wealthy Chinese who buy that film? John W

JW PHOTO · Nov 23, 2015

OptiKen said:
Ali Express link worked...thank you Peter
I cannot find film at all on TaoBao. I can't even find a search button or bar. (sigh)

I found film on Tao Bao, but no GP3. I found a little search bar up near the upper right corner area. I too, did much head scratching to try to figure out how to work the site. I might have to take an online tutorial to learn how I guess. Might be something to do on a cold winters day, but not right at this moment. John W

Roger Cole · Nov 23, 2015

JW PHOTO said:
Thanks Peter,
Holy cow Batman! I have never paid anywhere near that much per roll. I like GP3, but not enough to pay that price. It seems that maybe, just maybe these sellers are playing on the temporary shortage and jacking the price up. Let's hope that's the reason for the inflated price. I guess I'll stick with Acros and FP4+ medium speed film until the new plant opens. If the price continues after the new plant opens I don't see how they can compete, but who knows. maybe there are a lot of rich or wealthy Chinese who buy that film? John W

It doesn't look that expensive to me, since it says free shipping. If you like using it because it used to be less expensive than Kodak or Ilford, then I can see the complaint as this is about the same price, or close enough. But if one uses it for it's qualities it doesn't seem that bad. The 120 comes to $5.87 per roll with free shipping. TMX is $4.40, Delta 100 $4.47, Acros $5.15 and FP4 $4.40 at B&H but you have to buy over $49 to get free shipping. So yeah, it's a little more but not ridiculously so. If liked it significantly better I'd pay that.

Athiril · Nov 23, 2015

JW PHOTO said:
You know, I can mix my own developer, test for my own EI, process my film and wet print/scan my negatives, but I'll be damned if I can get my arms around this TaoBao thing. I pulled up an English Tao Bao site and searched it with no luck finding much of any film. Then there is this thing of a "Tao Bao agent"??? I guess I'll have to take lessons on how to use Tao Bao. Maybe it's just the old problem of "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"! I really hate to wait a year for more GP3 film, but can if I have to I guess. John W

Dead Link Removed

JW PHOTO · Nov 23, 2015

Athiril said:
Dead Link Removed

That's more like it Athiril and I appreciate the link. Now I just have to figure out how to order some since it's even cheaper than I paid before. John W

Athiril · Nov 23, 2015

You can use an agent which has an English site, but you'll have to pay their percentage fee etc, so it'll cost a little extra. But they deal with the seller for you and speak English.

JW PHOTO · Nov 23, 2015

Athiril said:
You can use an agent which has an English site, but you'll have to pay their percentage fee etc, so it'll cost a little extra. But they deal with the seller for you and speak English.

Ah, that's where the agent comes in. That makes sense now. I'll give it a try and see what happens. Thanks Athiril! John W

Kevin Harding · Nov 30, 2015

Most of the stuff on Taobao, FYI, is expired or rejected film - if it's not coming with a box with a guaranteed expiry date, DO NOT BUY.

There is a batch that is silver wrappers only with a triangle notch cut in the wrapper - this is apparently the "rejected batch" indicator.

senderoaburrido · Apr 21, 2016

Is Shanghai film still produced? I can't get the hang of this Taobao thing either.

JW PHOTO · Apr 21, 2016

senderoaburrido said:
Is Shanghai film still produced? I can't get the hang of this Taobao thing either.

I don't know as I'm still waiting to hear also. I found it an excellent film and liked it much better than any of the Foma films. Not as good as FP4+ or Acros, but not far off.

Eminuss · Apr 23, 2016

I see a few rolls here.
http://www.frugalphotographer.com/cat120.php

gone · Apr 23, 2016

Unfortunately, the film at the frugal photographer appears to be outdated film, and even carries a warning to that effect on their website regarding the issue of backing paper numbers possibly appearing on the negs (shades of Ultrafine films). Too bad, because I loved this film developed in Mic-X. It looks like, for all practical purposes, it's gone.

JW PHOTO · Apr 23, 2016

momus said:
Unfortunately, the film at the frugal photographer appears to be outdated film, and even carries a warning to that effect on their website regarding the issue of backing paper numbers possibly appearing on the negs (shades of Ultrafine films). Too bad, because I loved this film developed in Mic-X. It looks like, for all practical purposes, it's gone.

Yes, the outdated GP3 will probably have a good chance of numbers being transferred into the emulsion. Which was the problem with Ultrafine Plus 120 ISO 100 since it was the same film. Ultrafine Xtreme 100 has no problems and is a very good film, but it's not Chinese. When GP3 is good, it's very, very good! When GP3 is bad, it's very, very, very bad! I'm with you momus and really liked it.

Fixcinater · Apr 23, 2016

Here's another Taobao listing with the info on expired/rejected film.

https://world.taobao.com/item/19991690944.htm#detail

Shanghai GP3 Popular or gone?

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