Where to buy film?

chrismccoy · Mar 3, 2012

New here Basically I've been trying to get into photography as a hobby for a while now, but I was a bit stuck without funds to by a camera haha. Few months ago I found a Pentax MV in my attic which wasn't working, but I took it in to find it was just dead batteries. Now it's up and running and I've already fallen in love with the retro and nostalgic feel of the photos. Anyway I was just wondering where the best place is to buy colour 35mm film? Prefrebly in bulk to save some money because I'm a bit strapped for cash,

Thanks!

Bob-D659 · Mar 3, 2012

What do you consider "bulk"? ten rolls, a brick of 20 rolls or maybe a pallet? And where in the world are you?

Sometimes the lowest cost C41 colour film is the 3 or 4 roll packs at the local drugstore.

Rol_Lei Nut · Mar 3, 2012

First, it might help if you indicated which corner of the planet you are in...

But generally, the best deals and choices are now probably online (if you happen to be in Europe, I can send you a good link).

chrismccoy · Mar 3, 2012

I guess 10 - 20 rolls is what I'd be looking for. Sorry haha I'm from the UK but I kind of meant online anyway Yes please do!

himself · Mar 3, 2012

http://www.macodirect.de/analog-films-c-1_6.html
is good for new film and have a minimum order, so you have to buy bulk...
but to be honest in the uk fleabay is probably your best bet

Rol_Lei Nut · Mar 3, 2012

http://www.fotoimpex.de/anglicus/index.html

Has a nice choice of films and other analogue photography materials.

Shipmemt from Germany could be more expensive than the link above (still need to compare prices).

At least in Germany, some supermarkets are still sometimes offering cheap film (Aldi).

tocalosh · Mar 3, 2012

silverprint.co.uk
ag-photographic.co.uk
7dayshop.com

The first two are the best, great range and customer service! but 7dayshop also has some very good deals

chrismccoy · Mar 3, 2012

Cheers for your help guys

Jeff Kubach · Mar 3, 2012

Look up Freestyle or B&H.

Jeff

himself · Mar 4, 2012

there's also this one http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/
not so cheap, but in the UK at least so postage isn't too bad

freecom2 · Mar 4, 2012

The postage for Firstcall Photographic is heinously expensive. Not to do disservice to your post, just stating my opinion on their P&P. Mathers of Lancashire, Discount Films Direct and Mailshots are also good sources, although I find myself ordering from 7dayshop predominantly. Their prices fluctuate a lot so keep an eye on it to bag the best bargains.

himself · Mar 4, 2012

no problem...

doesn't it depend on how much you order tho'?
anyway, I use 7dayshop too, but find they have quite a restrictive range on offer, so it depends on what you want I suppose

thegman · Mar 4, 2012

AG Photographic is a good UK film dealer, not too pricey. First Call sometimes has deals for very, very cheap colour film, but the shipping is a lot, so you've got to buy a lot to make it worthwhile.

Pat Erson · Mar 4, 2012

Best prices in all Europe : Photostock!

http://www.photostock.fr/index.cfm

And 100% reliable too!

Rol_Lei Nut · Mar 4, 2012

Pat Erson said:
Best prices in all Europe : Photostock!

http://www.photostock.fr/index.cfm

And 100% reliable too!

Of course I had to have a look: at least for the B&W films I compared, Fotoimpex (I posted the link previously) is generally cheaper, sometimes much cheaper. It also has much more to choose from.

perkeleellinen · Mar 4, 2012

The VAT loophole which 7DS exploit is being closed and prices will probably rise. This is happening quite soon.

I suggest using Ag Photographic and Mathers of Lancashire:

http://www.mathersoflancashire.co.uk/products.html?intMenuGroup=19
http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/

pentaxuser · Mar 4, 2012

Just did a quick check for Kodak TMax 400 120 size and in this Ag Photographic beats Photostock easily. The OP can do his own check on those films he is interested but I suspect Ag beats Photostock in other films as well and the postage from a stockist in the U.K. to a customer in the U.K. is probably cheaper as well.

My experience of e-bay is that most sellers are commercial sellers using a Buy It Now price and rely on buyers thinking that as it is e-bay it must be cheaper which it isn't.

pentaxuser

pentaxuser

R.Gould · Mar 4, 2012

there are a few places you can try, one is http://agphotographic.co.uk, and another ishttp://silverprint.co.uk, and a third would be http://mathersoflancashire.co.uk , none of the above have minumun orders, and AG and Mathers offer good shipping prices, I would suggest Mathers offer the best prices
Richard

pstake · Mar 4, 2012

+1 for silverprint.co.uk ... even from the U.S. (ergo Moi) ... I used to buy from them only when they still sold Maco Cube 400, which sadly I cannot find anymore. Also went to their location in London to pick up a few rolls, once, when I was across the pond. Excellent if slightly stoic service. products offered are among if not the absolute best ... but not the cheapest to be had.

Arista products from www.freestylephoto.biz are about the best value, but shipping to UK from Southern California may cancel out any savings.

pentaxuser · Mar 4, 2012

freecom2 said:
The postage for Firstcall Photographic is heinously expensive.

What I will now say may not matter to the OP if he only orders a few films but Firstcall is only heinously expensive if you order small lightweight items as Firstcall operates a standard "one price fits all" policy so large items such as paper and chemicals makes it one of the cheapest suppliers

Just try others' postage costs for say 2 x boxes of 8 x10 paper plus 2x5L of developer and fixer.

It is a case of "the right horses for the right courses" in terms of postage

pentaxuser

freecom2 · Mar 5, 2012

pentaxuser said:
It is a case of "the right horses for the right courses" in terms of postage

Absolutely. Delivery and prices always vary so much that it definitely makes a lot of sense to check as many sources as possible. The websites that I like the most are the ones that tell you actual delivery without having to sign in/make accounts, so much better and more user friendly.

Steve Smith · Mar 5, 2012

Sometimes Jessops can be worth considering (there, I said it!). Their prices are higher than most but you can order on-line then get them to deliver to your nearest store to pick it up - so no postage charges at all.

Steve.

himself · Mar 5, 2012

or you could go to any local place that develops or sells film and ask if they have any expired film.
Most places usually half the price as soon as it expires, but it still should be good to use... and if you're really lucky you can get a nice big box for dead cheap

georg16nik · Mar 5, 2012

For buying cheap color or B&W, there are those guys ZENSA from Hong Kong on alibaba http://zensa.en.alibaba.com/productgrouplist-210118472/Camera_Film.html
Kodak Ektar, Ektachrome, Tmaxes, Fuji etc.. place of origin - Hong Kong

in EU You might check http://www.lumiere-shop.de/ the other 2 already mentioned http://www.fotoimpex.de/ and http://www.macodirect.de/ are great sources as well.

Where to buy film?

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