Where I can buy large format films in Chicago?

[carsten]

Hello,
This summer I will spend some days in Chicago (I'm from Italy), and I need to purchase some films (4x5, Kodak portra 160 VC or NC).
Do you have some good address?
I will not have a car, so I would prefer something quite central.
I saw online a supplier named Central Camera Company.

Thank you very much,
Best regards,
Carlo

 

[Terence]

Calumet should have what you need:
http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?ac.ui.pn=compinfo.CompStoreLocDetail&ac.comp.locID=CH

 

[carsten]

Thank you Terence,
you are right.
But I think it is not so central, I will check anyway

 

[Barry S]

Central camera on Wabash will definitely have a selection of large format film. It's great place that's been there forever and is crammed with gear and it's a friendly shop. Calumet is great, but the Goose Island location is not exactly centrally located for a traveler.

 

[RoBBo]

Helix is also easy to get to, the blue line to Racine.
Pretty easy to find.

 

[Toffle]

I'll second the recommendation for Central Camera on Wabash. It is truly a unique establishment, with a broad selection of films and papers, and a very... um... eclectic staff who are willing to help and simply chat about anything photography related. (or unrelated)

cheers,

 

[carsten]

Thank you guys!
I am not sure my english will be good enough to have a chat with the staff at Central Camera, but I will definitely go there...

Ciao,
Carlo

 

[B&Jdude]

Carlo, I don't think you will have any problem chatting with the folks at Central Camera. From your posts on this thread, your English is great. Also, Central might have a couple of Italian speakeing employees.

 

[mjs]

The chief problem with Central Camera is getting out of the store. It's an old store with many nooks, crannies, and deep shelves, all packed head high with... stuff... and the deeper you dig the more interesting the treasure. If I went in there with a credit card, I'd be doomed. Doomed!!!

Mike

 

[Monophoto]

Yup - Central Camera!

 

[Anscojohn]

Central Camera is classic photographic Americana.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I was in Central Camera this past December to pick up some 4x5" Tri-X for my Tech V (I was doing some street shooting between sessions at a conference I was attending), and there were a couple of young students at the film counter, very enthusiastic about large format. It's a short walk from the Art Institute and most of the big hotels around there.

 

[gr82bart]

Like others, I'd recommend Central Camera - website: http://www.centralcamera.com/

Helix Camera is also good for film - website: Dead Link Removed

Calumet is out in the boonies only and they're not so friendly (well to me they're not).

Regards, Art.

 

[RoBBo]

I was in Central Camera this past December to pick up some 4x5" Tri-X for my Tech V (I was doing some street shooting between sessions at a conference I was attending), and there were a couple of young students at the film counter, very enthusiastic about large format. It's a short walk from the Art Institute and most of the big hotels around there.

I wonder if that could have been me.
Wouldn't be all that surprising.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I wonder if that could have been me.
Wouldn't be all that surprising.

Coulda been. They were both working there, one male and one female. It would have been between Christmas and New Year's. I had the camera with me and showed it to them and bought a 25-sheet box of Tri-X.

 

[RoBBo]

Coulda been. They were both working there, one male and one female. It would have been between Christmas and New Year's. I had the camera with me and showed it to them and bought a 25-sheet box of Tri-X.

Ah, don't work there.
Must not have been.
I just happen into there far more than I should, and far more than most other people I know.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Central Camera is my favorite store anywhere, and the staff are very helpful and very friendly.

 

[carsten]

Wow! Central Camera sounds like an old shop sprung out from a Dickens novel!

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Wow! Central Camera sounds like an old shop sprung out from a Dickens novel!

Absolutely, complete with the quirky but friendly characters.

 

[Chazzy]

I like Central Camera too, and it is conveniently located for visitors in the Loop.

 

[Toffle]

Absolutely, complete with the quirky but friendly characters.

That's what I wanted to say, but I was afraid to offend anybody... (some of you might work there )

My next trip to Chicago (hopefully this summer) will have Central top on my list of places to stop. (then I'll swing by "the Bean" and gawk at the gawkers)

Cheers,

 

[carsten]

... (then I'll swing by "the Bean" and gawk at the gawkers)

Cheers,

Dear Toffle,
Would you be so nice to translate in "english for beginners" what I quoted?
Maybe even for me could be nice swinging and gawking, whatever it means...

Thank you
Carlo

 

[mjs]

"The Bean" is a giant, shiny (SHINY!!!) bean-shaped sculpture. Google "Chicago The Bean" and the first few images will show exactly what it is.

 

[Toffle]

Dear Toffle,
Would you be so nice to translate in "english for beginners" what I quoted?
Maybe even for me could be nice swinging and gawking, whatever it means...

Thank you
Carlo

Yes, pretty much what MJS has said. The bean is a top tourist attraction in Chicago, and from my understanding, many locals despise it for that reason. Its highly polished and convoluted shape does create some interesting distortions in the reflected cityscape. It is probably the place in the city where you will hear more languages spoken at one time. I like it for that reason.

Cheers, (Ciao)