Why not to stock up too much photopaper

firecracker · Oct 31, 2005

srs5694 said:
Most people say they're grainier than products of similar speed from Kodak or Ilford, but my own subjective experience is that they're about the same.

I see. Thanks for the analysis. It might be good for some purposes.

I have to explore more in the Eastern European market. I've found out the marketing of Foma in Japan is the same as Forte, which has been known as one of the top-ends, meaning pretty expensive! But there's got to be a way to get those photo supplies more cost-effectively and time-efficiently, I hope.

Meanwhile because of all this, I'm leaning towards Fuji Rembrandt graded paper for its availability in the market that is consistent.

srs5694 · Oct 31, 2005

firecracker said:
I have to explore more in the Eastern European market. I've found out the marketing of Foma in Japan is the same as Forte, which has been known as one of the top-ends, meaning pretty expensive!

The US mail-order retailer Freestyle sells Foma, both as such as under one of its many house brands, "Arista.EDU Ultra" (the "Ultra" part is important; "Arista.EDU" is Forte -- or was, before Freestyle switched suppliers). Their house-brand prices are pretty low, at least by US standards. I don't know what shipping to Japan would cost or how exchange rates and relative product prices would affect things, but you might look into the possibility of ordering the house brand from Freestyle. If you prefer the OEM brand, I believe that J&C (again in the US) is less expensive. J&C also sells some other Eastern European brands, such as Efke. It might be cheaper to order from a European supplier, but I don't have URLs handy.

firecracker · Oct 31, 2005

srs5694 said:
The US mail-order retailer Freestyle sells Foma, both as such as under one of its many house brands, "Arista.EDU Ultra" (the "Ultra" part is important; "Arista.EDU" is Forte -- or was, before Freestyle switched suppliers). Their house-brand prices are pretty low, at least by US standards. I don't know what shipping to Japan would cost or how exchange rates and relative product prices would affect things, but you might look into the possibility of ordering the house brand from Freestyle. If you prefer the OEM brand, I believe that J&C (again in the US) is less expensive. J&C also sells some other Eastern European brands, such as Efke. It might be cheaper to order from a European supplier, but I don't have URLs handy.

Thank you very much for the info. Very helpful. It's just this thing that the concept of free market hardly seems to exist in Japan when it comes down to the price-setting of B&W photo supplies, which sometimes bothers me.

firecracker · Oct 31, 2005

I just checked the prices on Foma at Free Style. They are about the same as the ones on Japan but with more variety. Gee, where's the concept of free market today?

Anyway enough of whining about the prices. I'm off to go find an alternative for the alternative for the AGFA paper now.

Why not to stock up too much photopaper

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