Where do you buy your film?

[DWThomas]

I buy from Freestyle and B&H. It's more often the latter for faster delivery, but mostly depends on what else I'm buying. I don't believe I've *ever* managed to place an order just for film!

 

[rorye]

Dead Link Removed
Volker is great.

 

[2F/2F]

I also live in LA and purchase everything from Freestyle. I was just there today and bought a brick of Pan F+ and FP4 in 120. I guess the prices increases have hit here in the states as well...my 20 rolls came to $81 and that's even with my student discount. However, I save on 135 film by purchasing the Arista Premium line in 100 and 400. The only other time I did this was when Ilford was providing film for Freestyles house brands. Ilford and Kodak are the only names I trust for consistant quality. The other Arista brands just seem too hit and miss from what I've read over the years.

Based on what you paid, it doesn't sound like the price increases have hit (yet). $4 a roll for Ilford "non Delta" film is pretty standard at Freestyle. It is much more at Samy's.

 

[marcmarc]

$4 for Ilford "non Delta" film is pretty standard at Freestyle

Yeah but I seem to recall it was about $3.69 or $3.79 a roll at one point not long ago...then again I could just be dreaming lol! Also sales tax wasn't as high as it is now.

 

[david b]

I always order from Freestyle. I get it in two days and pay the cheapest shipping rate.

 

[MattKing]

I just bought about 55 rolls of film.

One 100' roll of 35mm Plus-X from Lens and Shutter at their main, Vancouver store. Expensive at $67.19 CDN (taxes included), but I think it is worth it;

From Phototrader Inc. - a wholesale supplier who will sell to individuals, and now has three locations across Canada, including one in Burnaby BC:

a) One 100' roll of 35mm TMAX 400 (TMY-2) at about $54.00 CDN (taxes included); and
b) Two 5 roll Pro-Packs of 120 Plus-X at about $21.00 CDN per Pro-Pack (taxes included).

Phototrader had a good selection of 120 Ektachrome 100 VS in 120 in stock.

For those who need C41, RA4 or E6 chemistry, they can also order for you anything they can get from Kodak, Fuji-Hunt, and Champion (but you will probably need to know what you need to order).

They can also order RA4 paper for you.

They also have a small stock of Ilford material, but find it exceptionally difficult to get their orders filled by the Canadian distributor.

If you buy from any of the retail stores in the Vancouver area, there is a decent chance they are getting at least some of their stock from Phototrader.

Touring their warehouse was fun

Matt

P.S. here is a link to their website, but it is important to understand that the product listings are more in the nature of a catalogue of what they can obtain, and the prices listed are the most current prices they have been able to offer - in other words, if they have stock, they will sell it at that price, but if they have to order it, they will check prices and will advise you if they will need to charge a different price before they place their order:

Dead Link Removed

 

[2F/2F]

$4 for Ilford "non Delta" film is pretty standard at Freestyle

Yeah but I seem to recall it was about $3.69 or $3.79 a roll at one point not long ago...then again I could just be dreaming lol! Also sales tax wasn't as high as it is now.

I did forget that we were talking about 120 here.

It simply amazes me that anybody is still buying Plus-X and Tri-X in 35mm, with the existence of Arista Premium. It is the same stuff, plain and simple, and it is half the price. Everybody who sells the stuff says so, in various roundabout ways ("It is made in upstate New York", "It is made by an American manufacturer, of which there is only one", "If I liked Kodak Plus-X and Tri-X, then I would like Arista Premium just as much", "I wouldn't buy the Kodak with the Arista Premium in stock", etc., etc.), and I have personally tested it to find it identical (although with the 400 only).

 

[tjaded]

I only buy from one place: www.justfilmsf.com

He ships all over the world--literally!

 

[MattKing]

Crazy I may be, but I'm prepared to pay extra for the Kodak name on the label of my film.

I very much doubt that Freestyle's Arista Premium will remain available, if Kodak Plus-X or Tri-X is not.

Matt

I did forget that we were talking about 120 here.

It simply amazes me that anybody is still buying Plus-X and Tri-X in 35mm, with the existence of Arista Premium. It is the same stuff, plain and simple, and it is half the price. Everybody who sells the stuff says so, in various roundabout ways ("It is made in upstate New York", "It is made by an American manufacturer, of which there is only one", "If I liked Kodak Plus-X and Tri-X, then I would like Arista Premium just as much", "I wouldn't buy the Kodak with the Arista Premium in stock", etc., etc.), and I have personally tested it to find it identical (although with the 400 only).

 

[kurtdriver]

From Beau Photo, just down the hill from me. But after reading Matt's posts above, I think I will check out Phototrader. Thanks Matt, Kurt

 

[Anscojohn]

Where you guys get your 120 film from?

*********
Freestyle.

 

[aluk]

Colour film in particular is a lot more expensive here than it is in the States, so I try to get it when I'm down there, or ask friends/relatives who are travelling to pick it up for me.

 

[Edwardv]

Service Photo, Baltimore, MD.

 

[oldnick]

Living in europe so i order from net (www.macodirect.de)

 

[Terrence Brennan]

Freestyle for film and just about everything else, except chemistry.

 

[fotch]

Central Camera, B&H, Freestyle, in that order.

 

[wrench]

How many rolls do you buy at once? Is 14 cents savings per roll really worth using two separate retailers? B&H will survive regardless of whether or not people buy film from them. They sell enough of everything else that they could cease carrying film entirely and be just fine. Freestyle, on the other hand, could not. IMO, just give them their 14 cents extra per roll. It is such a small amount. You also only have to pay one shipping charge this way.

Yes, it does make a difference. I usually buy between 20-30 rolls at a time which means that I get about 1-2 "free" rolls from B+H compared to freestyle prices. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I shoot about 150-200/year so it adds up. And it's pretty rare that I buy paper/chemistry/film etc at the same time, so it's not like I'd be saving on shipping by using just one company.

 

[sanking]

Yes, it does make a difference. I usually buy between 20-30 rolls at a time which means that I get about 1-2 "free" rolls from B+H compared to freestyle prices. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I shoot about 150-200/year so it adds up. And it's pretty rare that I buy paper/chemistry/film etc at the same time, so it's not like I'd be saving on shipping by using just one company.

I also usually buy B&W film from B&H. Their prices on most film is about as good as it gets, though you might want to compare specific items with other places. Shipping is also a plus for me with B&H as I live on the east coast and shipment form New York even by least expensive shipping is usually only a couple of days. Film from Freeystyle by ground post takes up to five full days, or longer.

Sandy King

 

[marcmarc]

I very much doubt that Freestyle's Arista Premium will remain available, if Kodak Plus-X or Tri-X is not.

Perhaps true and this is why I usually buy a brick of each whenever I stop by Freestyle which seems to be once a week or so. Interesting point and next time I'm there I'll ask how the sales of each compare just out of curiosity.

After reading a recent thread about Tri-X it seems like this film is nothing like the older coatings. I never used Tri-X before but I knew very well of it's legendary status. I was surprised at how fine grained it was; something that I was hoping to avoid with my re-introduction to 135mm photography to my arsenal. After reading a link on this subject, Kodak was accused of cutting costs and if I'm correct, this was accomplished by adding dyes to the emultion instead of actual silver. This may explain why Kodak went ahead with the decision to re-brand this film for Freestyle. It would be nice though if they would at least make 120 rolls of the re-branded Plus-X.

 

[slumry]

Glazer's in Seattle, incredible selection at prices that compare with B&H...plus you can walk up and get nose to nose with the film in the coolers and select what you want. Something you can’t really do at Freestyle. Also, they have a good LF and ULF selection. Support your local film provider.

 

[marcmarc]

Maybe this has been discussed here before, but one thing that concerns me with the idea of ordering film is fact that it can take several days to a week to arrive and during that time, who knows what conditions it will sit in for any length of time. LA during the summers get pretty hot at times especially in the valley areas where I live. I've had deliveries I had to sign for that felt warm in my hands...obviously from spending the day in a hot truck.

 

[MattKing]

Glazer's in Seattle, incredible selection at prices that compare with B&H...plus you can walk up and get nose to nose with the film in the coolers and select what you want. Something you can’t really do at Freestyle. Also, they have a good LF and ULF selection. Support your local film provider.

I really enjoy visiting Glazer's (I'm surprised there aren't drool marks on the glass doors of their wall of film refrigerators).

I buy some film there (Rollie and Ilford IR in 120, for example) but buy more chemistry and paper and darkroom accessories (like paper safes).

Matt

 

[mwdake]

I usually buy from Freestyle, BH and Adorama.
I would like to buy film from a local store to help support it too but it does not carry what I need; so I usually buy my chemicals from it.

On a side note I was looking on Amazon the other day and found the following...

Acros in 120 for $2.45
FP4+ in 120 for $2.95
HP5+ in 120 for $2.99

All from the same seller, it is one of the Amazon merchants and a quite well know vendor.
These prices are the cheapest I have seen around.

So, I figured I would get me 10 of the Acros and 10 of the FP4+ only to find out the shipping would cost me $100 for about $50 of film.
It turns out the Amazon merchants policy is to price shipping per item and for film it is $4.99 PER ROLL.

I did email the seller and he told me that was part of the reason why the film price was so low and offered to give me a better price if I telephoned in my order; I have yet to do so.

 

[Rolleijoe]

Freestyle mostly. They have a fairly complete selection of Rollei films, and shipping is very reasonable. They also carry the chemicals/papers I need for the darkroom, and have just about the best prices on Tiffen and B+W filters. B&H can be cheaper on a few things, but their shipping is higher. Plus, on my trips to B&H in the past, customer service leaves a bit to be desired. You're rounded up like cattle, and put through their lines/system.

For the European film/chemicals I use, Freestyle is the place to shop.