Where do you buy your film?

Tom Hoskinson · Jun 9, 2007

I like Badger Graphic for the same reasons I like Freestyle - their telephone sales people are friendly, informed, knowledgeable and very responsive. Freestyle has more extensive film and paper stocks and Badger has the advantage of no California Sales Tax. They both offer UPS shipment.

John McCallum · Jun 10, 2007

http://www.badgergraphic.com/ for years. Great service, best prices I've found.

jasonjoo · Jun 11, 2007

Glad to see lots of people support Badger Graphic!

I've purchased from them once before and was pleased with their service as well!

haris · Jun 12, 2007

I buy at Fomei and I use Ilford material. Reason is they have prices affordable for us Eastern Europe former communist, underdeveloped country photographers. Drawback is shipping cost is high, but despite that they are still more affordable then buyng from West Europe or else. Next drawback is they are slow, but on the other side I never had any problems with them, and they are ready to help. They are big supplier which supply smaller stores, and as I buy as individual I accept fact they are bussy and don't mind wait a little to be served. Overall, I like to buy there and they are ready to answer any question and as far as in my case they did they part to keep me happy.

I used to buy EFKE locally, but since only store which used to sell film/paper/chemistry in this country is closed I gived up from EFKE. Saying that, I can, and probably will try Fotoimpex for EFKE or Adox.

dmr · Jun 13, 2007

jasonjoo said:
Where do you guys buy your film?

Guys?

(Yeah, I know what you mean!)

I shoot mostly C41, and I get most of it from retail stores, Target', Walgreens, and (dare I admit it?) Wally World. I usually get a bunch when I see it marked down.

I get Fuji 1600, Velvia 100, and recently some 120 at a local "real" camera shop which appears to be thriving and opened up another branch last year. I would give them more business if they came close to being competitive on the usual C41 film that you can get anywhere.

I get Kodachrome (64) and some odds and ends from B&H or Adorama, depending on the price and what's in stock when I need it.

airgunr · Jun 13, 2007

B&H Photo & Adorama (online)

If I head into Chicago I'll stop in Helix camera or Milwaukee Mike Crivello's

Bluechapel · Jun 15, 2007

You mean some of you still have 'local' stores that carry film! I've lost 2 of my three (within 200 miles of me) in the past two years, and the other one is so full of people needing help with their digitals that you can't get service.

Love Freestyle, had mixed luck with B&H.

zenrhino · Jun 15, 2007

I don't buy anything online that I can get locally -- Minneapolis only has one pro-line retail store left (West Photo) so I support them any way I can.

Everything else, I buy from Freestyle.

Tim Gray · Jun 16, 2007

I've been trying to buy some film at local shops but some of them really do seem to overcharge a lot. Makes me not want to buy from them. I don't mind paying a bit extra, but 150% over Freestyle's prices seems a bit much...

jeroldharter · Jun 16, 2007

Mostly Calumet in Chicago. Excellent service, quick shipping.

Some from Freestyle but it takes longer for shipping to my area.

Occasional B&H or Adorama. The B&H refusal to take orders on their sabbath is annoying.

Anscojohn · Jun 16, 2007

I have used Freestyle since the early 1960s. I make sure to order a plentius supply of film and papers, because I only order in the cold weather. No use having my film and paper trucked across the country to Virginia in an overheated delivery truck.
Anscojohn, Mount Vernon, Virginia USA

poutnik · Jun 16, 2007

Here in the Czech Republic, for BW it's either Foma's online store or local shops (still well supplied).

For color it's either eBay (majority of my films), other local online stores or local shops (but the supply is worse). In the past weeks I have filled almost a fifth of my fridge with film - in the long run it's cheaper to buy in bulks from online stores or Bay...

Fotohuis · Jun 16, 2007

I am buying directly at the factories and in case of some expired materials I am using it up myself. :rolleyes:

In general I think over 50% of all analog materials in the Netherlands is running over the on-line stores. Quick delivery, always fresh materials and easy to get are the main reasons for this decision. Further the price is about 10-40% cheaper via the web. The only disadvantage are the shipping costs for around Eur. 6,00 till 10kg packages. So people have to think in advance to get a reasonable price-transport cost ratio. The only exception are films in an airpack enveloppe for Eur. 2,25. Not at home? No problem because the local Post office is always very close and can be reached by bicycle.

Best regards,

Robert

Rolleijoe · Jun 18, 2007

jasonjoo said:
Sorry, I did a search and could not find any results.

Where do you guys buy your film?

And sorry if this is not the correct forum!

Thanks,

Jason

Freestyle pretty much has everything I want/need. Sometimes B&H or Adorama, but I've had grey market probs with them. Freestyle has the Efke, Foma, Fotokemika, and Agfa products I need/use.

Pretty much 1-stop shopping, and shipping is cheap/fast!

PHOTOTONE · Jun 19, 2007

Anscojohn said:
I have used Freestyle since the early 1960s. I make sure to order a plentius supply of film and papers, because I only order in the cold weather. No use having my film and paper trucked across the country to Virginia in an overheated delivery truck.
Anscojohn, Mount Vernon, Virginia USA

I think you are being over-cautious about film shipping. I own a commercial studio. I order all my film (as I need it) 4x5 color transparency stock mostly, by mailorder from the east coast. I live in Arkansas, with temps in the low 100's and high humidity for most of the summer. I have never (in almost 30 years) had any fresh film arrive heat damaged in any way. B/W film is more rugged than color film.

ChrisC · Jun 20, 2007

So far I've only bought film from Wellington Photographic Supplies. I like to support local business as much as possible, but everytime I go in there they seem to have less and less paper and chemicals. Their film stocks seem alright (though not as comprehensive compared to overseas places), but I'd like to support a retailer that's more dedicated to this form of photography in all areas, so I may start buying from overseas.

Rolleijoe · Jun 25, 2007

jasonjoo said:
Sorry, I did a search and could not find any results.

Where do you guys buy your film?

Thanks,

Jason

FREESTYLE!!!

Efke 25, Efke 100
Foma 100, 200, 400

(Plus Rodinal to wash it all down with, and Fotokemika {Efke} Fiber paper to print it on).

haris · Jun 26, 2007

jeroldharter said:
Mostly Calumet in Chicago. Excellent service, quick shipping.

Some from Freestyle but it takes longer for shipping to my area.

Occasional B&H or Adorama. The B&H refusal to take orders on their sabbath is annoying.

If I had 5 minutes as ruler of the world (yup, still strong child in me ) nobody except must (like emergencies and like, and to them work would be organized to satisfy them) would work at saturday and sunday. People MUST have time for their famillies, friends and for themselves of course...

If you wonder for example when to buy food, clothing and else if shops wouldn't work at weekends, well, work would be organized so people will have free time during working week to buy what they need. I mean, all work can be done in 5 to 8 hours during working days, there is no real need to work 9, 10 or 15 hours per day.

Of course only if we (human kind) choose that we (people) are more important than money (Utopia I know...)

jasonjoo · Jun 26, 2007

Well, I've been ordering from B&H for some time now, but I'll be stopping by Freestyle's store tomorrow.

Their prices are a bit higher than the internet, but then again I won't have to pay for shipping. Oh wait, now I have to pay for sales tax! It will be nice to support a local business as well, though they seem to have many customers already

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

John McCallum · Jun 26, 2007

ChrisC said:
So far I've only bought film from Wellington Photographic Supplies. I like to support local business as much as possible, but everytime I go in there they seem to have less and less paper and chemicals. Their film stocks seem alright (though not as comprehensive compared to overseas places), but I'd like to support a retailer that's more dedicated to this form of photography in all areas, so I may start buying from overseas.

Both Freestyle or http://www.badgergraphic.com/ are excellent.

z-man · Jun 28, 2007

YOU LIVE THERE-ARE YOU CRAZY?

haris said:
If I had 5 minutes as ruler of the world (yup, still strong child in me ) nobody except must (like emergencies and like, and to them work would be organized to satisfy them) would work at saturday and sunday. People MUST have time for their famillies, friends and for themselves of course...

If you wonder for example when to buy food, clothing and else if shops wouldn't work at weekends, well, work would be organized so people will have free time during working week to buy what they need. I mean, all work can be done in 5 to 8 hours during working days, there is no real need to work 9, 10 or 15 hours per day.

Of course only if we (human kind) choose that we (people) are more important than money (Utopia I know...)

MY DEAR BROTHER

try spain where by federal law a 3 hr siesta is practiced every day

as for film:

oh people-why of why do i hear THIEF bay, EVIL bay, SCAM bay in your posts?

the idle rich choose auctions as the favorite form of entertainment

the poor in money and knowledge choose playing lotto

ebay combines all the worst of both auctions and playing the numbers-scaming the money out of the inexperienced

PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART WHO AT THE SAME TIME ARE IN BUSINESS TO SUPPLY OUR NEEDS:

FRUGALPHOTOPRAPHER.COM while you are on his site please read his articles
he stocks good and also cheap film

freestyle started out selling out/short date film and now they are a co of enthusiasts who make our pursuit of the creation of beauty affordable and easy

j&c was driven out of business by the greedy and jealous-our loss was great and grevious-we should not let such a thing happen again

THIEFBAY-SCAMBAY-EVILBAY-CHEATBAY-CRIMINAL ENTERPRIZE BAY

YOU GAVE THEM YOUR MONEY INSTEAD OF J&C AND NOW J&C IS GONE AND CRIMEBAY FLOURISHES

to paraphrase RasulAllah(may the blessings of Allah be with him and his family):

I FEAR FOR YOU THE CONSEQUENCES OF A LIFE IN GRAVE ERROR

please make me a false prophet

vaya con dios

Jim Noel · Jun 28, 2007

The only place I have been able to consistently find LF and ULF film in stock is Freestyle in LA. If I order before 2 pm, I have it the next day.

copake_ham · Jun 28, 2007

jeroldharter said:
....

Occasional B&H or Adorama. The B&H refusal to take orders on their sabbath is annoying.

I don't understand. Why is it annoying? :confused:

Sirius Glass · Jun 28, 2007

jeroldharter said:
Occasional B&H or Adorama. The B&H refusal to take orders on their sabbath is annoying.

Yes, it would be much better if they took orders on jeroldharter's sabbath. Very Ecumenical!

Steve

Marc . · Jun 28, 2007

The B&H website does not take orders on their sabbath.

Marc

Where do you buy your film?

haris

haris

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