This is the reason why I rather buy film online.

Down Under · Nov 3, 2021

foc said:
"So I should feel feel "guilty" about this?? Hah!! Anyone saying yes is full of what makes gardens grow greener..."

I don't think I mentioned guilt or the garden stuff, but I still stand by my original comment as it sounds to me like begrudgery.
I live in a country where, until 20 years ago, begrudgery was a national pastime.

Agree. An olive branch is hereby offered...

Fine, you have your opinion, and I respect that. It's just the reason behind it I question.

But then as Johnny Cash once said
" I think I understand a little bit how you feel about some things
It's none of my business how you feel about some other things
And I don't give a damn about how you feel about some of the things"

Agree with some of what you posted. An olive branch is hereby extended...

I like my photo retailer, and I don't envy him his wealth. He once told me he often bought gear on Ebay, cleaned it up, priced it high, and "some donkey" (his own words) always came along and bought it. Also that he marked up everything in his shop by 100% of supplies and 200% for cameras, on the basis that, well, he had the stocks, and if buyers wanted it, they would pay his prices.

Then online sales came along, and almost everyone I know deserted the shops to buy films from overseas. As all my friends to.. This upset a few dealers - is that "begrudgment"? - when their gravy taps got turned down, in some cases shut off entirely. Several went in the past year. We miss them - but not their high prices.

Like opinions, photo dealers are welcome to do what they please, and make their money, but not at my expense. I prefer to keep my dosh in my pockets or in the bank, not put it in someone's luxury cars. Many others feel this way.

Interesting, your comment about Ireland. I grew up in French Canada, in a deadly culture of sameness where everyone had to be like everybody else (the parish priest and others in authority often saw to this) and also lived in Italy, where much of life was the same. I'm now in Australia, land of the Fair Go, where so many respect USA ex-President Trump because as they say, he knows how to make money. From one extreme to another... but in most other ways I like it here.

So go my opinions. I also miss Johnny Cash.

foc · Nov 4, 2021

ozmoose said:
Agree with some of what you posted. An olive branch is hereby extended...

I like my photo retailer, and I don't envy him his wealth. He once told me he often bought gear on Ebay, cleaned it up, priced it high, and "some donkey" (his own words) always came along and bought it. Also that he marked up everything in his shop by 100% of supplies and 200% for cameras, on the basis that, well, he had the stocks, and if buyers wanted it, they would pay his prices.

Then online sales came along, and almost everyone I know deserted the shops to buy films from overseas. As all my friends to.. This upset a few dealers - is that "begrudgment"? - when their gravy taps got turned down, in some cases shut off entirely. Several went in the past year. We miss them - but not their high prices.

Like opinions, photo dealers are welcome to do what they please, and make their money, but not at my expense. I prefer to keep my dosh in my pockets or in the bank, not put it in someone's luxury cars. Many others feel this way.

Interesting, your comment about Ireland. I grew up in French Canada, in a deadly culture of sameness where everyone had to be like everybody else (the parish priest and others in authority often saw to this) and also lived in Italy, where much of life was the same. I'm now in Australia, land of the Fair Go, where so many respect USA ex-President Trump because as they say, he knows how to make money. From one extreme to another... but in most other ways I like it here.

So go my opinions. I also miss Johnny Cash.

Olive branch accepted and reciprocated.

Donald Qualls · Nov 4, 2021

I have no problem with charging what the traffic will bear -- as long as the dealer in question is aware that traffic changes and they may find that next week, next month, or next year no one is willing to pay their markup. I can get almost any film I want (that's still in production) in 2-3 days and free shipping if I buy $50 worth -- and a slightly wider selection with slower shipping at my expense. If there were a local shop that had anything but Gold 200 and Superia Xtra, I'd surely at least check their selection and prices, but the last one I'm aware of closed nearly ten years ago. I can buy consumer 35mm and Instax locally at Walgreen's or Target (or Walmart, but I won't go into that store), but 120 or "professional" 35 mm (never mind sheet film) is strictly online in my area -- and I'm not willing to drive two hours to Raleigh or Charlotte, even if I knew for certain I could buy anything I want at online prices.

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 4, 2021

film_man said:
Similarly to Sirius I shoot film on holidays, well I shoot film holiday or not, period. In the last 5 years I averaged just over £2000/year on buying film and getting it processed+scanned. Expensive? Yes. But if anyone is shooting film for a good cost/benefit ratio per image shot is a fool.

I no longer make photo albums with prints for my vacations. I make video slide shows digitally that I play on my 75" 4K TV, with music, narration, credits and titles, etc. DIgital is just handier on vacation for that process plus it's easy to carry a 1" sensor camera on vacation.

I could scan film from vacation, I suppose. It's just so heavy schleping a 35mm SLR kit at my age. Having a small digital camera in my pocket is so convenient and safe from theft when travelling. Since a 4K TV requires only 8MB, shooting a 20MB digital provides plenty of room to crop. Plus I can add short video clips to the picture slide show, something you can't do with 35mm still film.

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 4, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
I do, when I and my partner can spare the change. I've had more vacations in the past six years than in the thirty years before. I hope the trend continues; I'm getting too old to work myself into burnout.

Didn't mean to upset the apple cart talking about digital on vacation. I didn't realize we're in the film section. Regarding getting old. That was one of the reasons I gave up film on vacation. Too heavy to carry around.

Donald Qualls · Nov 4, 2021

Unless I'm hauling my RB67 kit, weight isn't that big a problem. I can carry my Speed Graphic and three Grafmatics (18 frames total) and still weigh less than the RB67, two film backs, and two lenses. Or I can carry my Weltini and a whole brick of 35mm and weigh less than just the 90 mm lens for my RB67.

Sergey Ko · Nov 4, 2021

Usually I buy film on Fotoimpex, 10 or more & to my company name with VAT number not to pay tax.
But when I need something "today" I pay at my friend photo lab&store 1,5-2 times more expensive.
I call it: small business support

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 4, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Unless I'm hauling my RB67 kit, weight isn't that big a problem. I can carry my Speed Graphic and three Grafmatics (18 frames total) and still weigh less than the RB67, two film backs, and two lenses. Or I can carry my Weltini and a whole brick of 35mm and weigh less than just the 90 mm lens for my RB67.

My 4x5 Chamonix 45H-2 kit with four lenses weighs less than my RB67 kit with four lenses. Either is a lot to carry on vacation today. Especially what they charge for extra baggage. A cruise would be easier especially leaving from NYC close to where I live. Then you only need to drive to the ship and you can take a whole lot of extra stuff and not worry about weight or Xrays.

Donald Qualls · Nov 4, 2021

I haven't flown commercially since 1993 or so, but I understand the concerns with baggage. In my case, it's a matter of compressing dogs, luggage, cooler, beach stuff, and whatever else into a Kia Soul in a way that it all survives six hours each way. Most likely my next vacation will see me carry my Kiev 4 (hopefully with frame spacing at least mostly fixed by then -- both bodies if I can get them both up to snuff) with 35, 50, and 135 mm lenses, viewfinder, bracket and flash. Whole kit with both bodies is just over ten pounds (including a brick of film) and the bag is smaller than my folded Speed Graphic. Ten rolls, 360 frames, is more than I shot the last time I had a Nikon DSLR on vacation, so ought to be plenty -- and I process my own film, B&W and C-41, so only the cost of film and my time is an issue.

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 4, 2021

When you vacation by car you have a lot more flexibility and weight.

Sirius Glass · Nov 4, 2021

When you vacation by car, you go where you want, stay as long as you want, leave when you had enough of a place, and change your itinerary whenever you want.

Donald Qualls · Nov 5, 2021

Alan Edward Klein said:
When you vacation by car you have a lot more flexibility and weight.

Sirius Glass said:
When you vacation by car, you go where you want, stay as long as you want, leave when you had enough of a place, and change your itinerary whenever you want.

All true -- not to mention not one will X-ray my film, want to get into my pants without even buying me a martini, or pack me into a seat that's narrower than even a fit-n-trim adult behind. If I want to go flying as part of my vacation, I'll pay for another hang gliding lesson and spend a couple hours running down a bunny slope with 75 pounds of glider on my shoulders (not going to happen any time soon, not until my back eases up).

George Mann · Nov 15, 2021

Kodachromeguy said:
And you don't have to sit next to some cretin who refuses to wear his mask because he listened to right-wing television.

Most people are not wearing masks these days, so good luck with that.

warden · Nov 15, 2021

George Mann said:
Most people are not wearing masks these days, so good luck with that.

Maybe where you live. Where I live about 95% of people shopping or in public places wear masks. This weekend I drove into a rural area maybe an hour outside of the city, and about 5% of the people were wearing masks. So it’s highly dependent on your location.

film_man · Nov 16, 2021

Well that's all very nice but as much as I'd love to drive to Japan and Africa and south-east Asia it is a bit impractical though. At least from the UK...

Craig75 · Nov 16, 2021

If you factor in the time to take 36 shots, (I'm slow shooter) then all the hours in darkroom making contacts, printing the best shots (it can take me many hours to make one print - many hours of crap but hours nonetheless), arsing around with alt processes, reprinting things again differently later down the line etc then the amount of quality time spent vs price of the film is negligible be it from a shop or online.

canonshotz · Nov 16, 2021

Lucky are those who can easily walk in or drive to store and there is the assurance that you did get it there, unlike me that have to order online and still pay to ship it

Donald Qualls · Nov 16, 2021

film_man said:
as much as I'd love to drive to Japan and Africa and south-east Asia it is a bit impractical though.

Well, for those of us who couldn't afford such a trip even once in a lifetime, vacation by car (assuming we have a reliable car) is a better option.

Alan Edward Klein · Nov 16, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Well, for those of us who couldn't afford such a trip even once in a lifetime, vacation by car (assuming we have a reliable car) is a better option.

I love driving so going on vacation by car is great. Plus you take all your equipment ready to shoot as you see great shots along the way. Renting a car even if you have to fly to the main destination is great to provide a lot of flexibility.

gone · Nov 16, 2021

Unfortunately, many brick & mortar photography stores are like used car dealers. Buyer beware is what's called for, although the high prices on everything pretty much eliminate doing any impulse buying. We have Monument Camera here in Tucson, and they're high on the prices, but they're not crazy high.

They're also way on the other side of town, so the convenience factor is cancelled out by having to fight lots of traffic and driving on Tucson's streets, which are the worst in the U.S. The best streets are like washboards, the rest have potholes in the potholes. I am not kidding either.

If I could go a mile or two and pick up film and stuff, I would. But as it is, w/ the convenience factor missing, I just get things online. Besides, I'm a big fan of Freestyle. All of the photography stores I've found on the left coast have been excellent in both in service and prices, while all of the big stores on the right coast have just been awful. If it comes from N.Y., I ain't buying it. Dealing w/ those them is like dealing w/ people in some foreign country, a country w/ very questionable service and NO courtesy.

Sirius Glass · Nov 16, 2021

George Mann said:
Most people are not wearing masks these days, so good luck with that.

Most people in my area wear mask, even without being told. All restaurants are required to check for vaccinations or recent tests before seating for dining. Most people here are smart enough to voluntarily comply so there are very very few problems. One just needs to live in an area with intelligent well informed people.

Donald Qualls · Nov 16, 2021

Yeah, vs. here in North Carolina where only about 50% are compliant even with a county-wide mandate (and the county is now lifting the mandate, even though vaccination is hovering around a mere 50% as well). "This Covid thing is all about control." -- quote from a man I work with (who isn't vaccinated and doesn't wear and mask, and is pursuing a religious exemption from the Federal contractor vaccination mandate).

I wouldn't mind so much if the vaccine were 98-99% effective, but I have (in theory) about a 10% chance to potentially catch my death despite full immunization and a booster. And this guy chooses to put me (and everyone else he interacts with) at risk because he doesn't believe in science (he's a climate denier, too, no surprise there). He's also a smoker who believes he should be allowed to smoke in restaurants, bars, and the workplace. See a pattern?

Sirius Glass · Nov 16, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Yeah, vs. here in North Carolina where only about 50% are compliant even with a county-wide mandate (and the county is now lifting the mandate, even though vaccination is hovering around a mere 50% as well). "This Covid thing is all about control." -- quote from a man I work with (who isn't vaccinated and doesn't wear and mask, and is pursuing a religious exemption from the Federal contractor vaccination mandate).

I wouldn't mind so much if the vaccine were 98-99% effective, but I have (in theory) about a 10% chance to potentially catch my death despite full immunization and a booster. And this guy chooses to put me (and everyone else he interacts with) at risk because he doesn't believe in science (he's a climate denier, too, no surprise there). He's also a smoker who believes he should be allowed to smoke in restaurants, bars, and the workplace. See a pattern?

One can led a horse to water, but one cannot make it drink. It is a shame that you are put a risk because of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and pure stupidity.

Donald Qualls · Nov 16, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
One can led a horse to water, but one cannot make it drink

Yes, but one doesn't spend decades in jail if you shoot a horse that's a danger to humans or other horses...

Andrew O'Neill · Nov 16, 2021

I like to support my local photo shop, but when they charge $5 dollars more per roll of 120 than online shop like Argentix, the online shop wins. And Jacques is a great guy to deal with!

This is the reason why I rather buy film online.

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