buying 120 or 220 film in Hong Kong or Auckland

[heimata_taero]

<p>Hello,<br>

I'll be travelling soon from France to New Zealand, with a stop in HK.<br>

I wanted to ask if anyone could recommend a good place to buy 120 or 220 Provia 100F and Velvia 100 in those places. I checked some NZ shop websites, but everything was very expensive. I couldn't find anything for HK.<br>

The other possibility would be to buy films in France, but I'll have to get quite a lot, and I'm not very excited about travelling a lot with films (x-rays), since I'll travel to some South Pacific islands after NZ, where I'd be very surprised to find those films.<br>

Thank you for helping me!<br>

HT</p>

[chrisnielsen]

One excellent place in NZ to get film at a good price is photo.co.nz. They are not in Auckland but do overnight courier to

there. Bear in mind though even though it is cheap by NZ standards it might still seem expensive compared to overseas

[marc_batters]

<p>Gather all the [extra] film you think you will need, and ship it ahead to NZ...so it's there, waiting, when you arrive.</p>

[tak_l_jasper_poon]

<p>i bought nearly all my films here:<br>

Photo Scientific Co.<br>

Ground floor, 6 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong<br>

Tel: +852 25250550<br>

<a href="mailto:photopoon@netvigator.com">photopoon@netvigator.com</a><br>

Honest people, reliable supply (not outdated products). they have E100G, provia 100F (120 and 4x5) and some others. However, choices are limited, and shrinking, as you may expect everywhere in the world.<br>

if you come to HK, take the underground railway to Central station, exit at exit #G, and the shop is 3 minutes walk away.<br>

enquire before you arrive.<br>

hope this helps.<br>

Tak</p>

[phil_hanson]

<p>Do what Tak says; buying 120-220 in Auckland is way too expensive, but in an emergency go to PCL-Labtec on Karaka Street. All their stock is refrigerated. </p>

 

[ian_gordon_bilson]

<p>Most of the clued-up NZ film shooters import directly - the retail outlets are horribly expensive.<br>

I have had good service from a Thailand -based seller on the big,ugly auction site .."Films-Carnival".</p>

[heimata_taero]

<p>Thank you all for your kind participation and advice.<br>

I think I'll get my films in HK, it seems like the cheapest solution (by the way how are the prices?). I'll try Photo Scientific Co., and I also heard about Wing Shing.<br>

Ian, when you talk about importing directly, do you mean buying abroad and getting the films sent to NZ? Is there no problem with X-ray scanning?<br>

Thank you again to all!</p>

[marc_batters]

<p>Passengers and/or their carry-on baggage are X-Rayed far more often in any journey then checked luggage or shipped package items are. </p>

<p>In many cases, luggage and packages are possibly X-Rayed only once upon entry into the system, whereas passengers and/or their carry-on baggage are subject to being X-Rayed at every terminal en-route.</p>

<p>Unless you're shooting super fast film, 800 ASA or faster, don't worry about it.<br>

If you can find all of the film you want at home...then do so. Ship the film straight to a NZ address.<br>

Address the package to yourself...from yourself. <br>

On the customs declaration (in French), list as vacation film/photos, Do-Not-Bend.</p>

<p> </p>

[ian_gordon_bilson]

<p>Heimata,<br>

Yes,that was a concern for me,too.<br>

Having extracted random films ,and processing it myself,I have no cause for concern.<br>

Caveat : nothing I import is "Carry-On", and I concentrate on B&W only.<br>

For E6/C41,certainty would trump price..hardly worth it if you value the images.<br>

I agree with Marc, basically.</p>

[tak_l_jasper_poon]

<p>Manshing and Wingshing are sister companies and are also very reputable. but they are far from my office so i had not bought films from them.<br>

however, the company that i recommend does not have 220 films. they only have 120. that would be a problem if you do not want to change films so frequently.<br>

but i doubt whether you could find 220 films anywhere in Hong Kong.<br>

Tak</p>

<p> </p>

[guy_e]

<p>RE: X-ray... do not ever put film in checked luggage. The X-ray machines used on checked luggage are far more potent than the ones at security screening, and will fog film. The general impression I've got while reading up on this topic is that you should be ok with 4 or so trips through the security checkpoint X-ray machines. More than that and you may start to see artifacts on high speed (ISO 800+) film, but even then, it will be minimal.</p>

<p>As for 220 film in HK, that's good to know. The only place I've read about recently having any sort of 220 slide film is in Tokyo (can't remember the name of the shop offhand, but it's a large electronics store). You can also mail-order from japanexposures, but it is expensive.</p>

[ian_gordon_bilson]

<p>You will likely find 220 elusive because it was discontinued some years ago.<br>

This,for color emulsions,could be a deal-breaker if you don't want to deal with expired film.</p>

[ndnbrunei]

<p>Hi Heimata,<br>

There are a number of shops in Stanley Street that sell 120 film so you should not have any problems getting what you want if you choose to buy film in Hong Kong.<br>

Regarding x-ray and film, I often travel and a single trip might include six flights (and more sometimes). Be aware that the effects of x-rays are cumlative. Once or twice through the x-ray maching with your carry on luggage may be okay but multiple doses may not. personally, I never allow my film to be x-rayed. I always ask for hand inspection of films and the security staff always oblige. I carry my 120 film in a clear plastic box (like a lunch box) so it is easy to see what is inside.<br>

Have a great trip!</p>

<p>Andrew.</p>

[marc_batters]

<blockquote>

<p>"You will likely find 220 elusive because it was discontinued some years ago."</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Untrue statement for color...B&W only.<br>

Many emulsions still remain available in 220 color, slide and neg.<br /> Here are 13 different emulsions listed below, (to save on shipping), mostly 5-roll, Pro Packs.</p>

<p>The final run of Kodak Ektachrome should be hitting suppliers/retailers by June. <br /> Don't know if any of that last run will be available in 220.</p>

<p>As always, check with retailers regarding shipping charges, short dated or expired film,<br /> and their cold storage handling procedures.</p>

<p>Fuji 'Pro 160C' - $35.50<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=6330&catid=130&hid=125<br /> Fuji 'Pro 160S' - $37.45<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=6335&catid=130&hid=125<br /> Fuji 'Pro 400H' - $54.95<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=6339&catid=130&hid=125<br /> Fuji 'Pro 800Z' - $46.25<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=6343&catid=130&hid=125<br /> Portra '160 NC' - $44.70<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=7967&catid=130&hid=125<br /> Portra '400 VC' - $9.20 ea<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=1934&catid=130&hid=125<br /> Portra '400 NC' - $54.95<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=7971&catid=130&hid=125<br /> New 'Portra 160' - $58.95<br /> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759448-USA/Kodak_8273773_220_Professional_Portra_NC.html<br /> New 'Portra 400' - $61.95<br /> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/742304-USA/Kodak_8374290_220_Professional_Portra_400.html<br /> Fuji 'Astia 100' - $43.95<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=5043&catid=131&hid=126<br /> Fuji 'Provia 100' - $37.95<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=5050&catid=131&hid=126<br /> Fuji 'Velvia 50' - $8.59 ea<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=2760&catid=131&hid=126<br /> Fuji 'Velvia 100' - $39.25<br /> http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/itempage.asp?itemid=5033&catid=131&hid=126</p>

<p>Marc</p>

<p> </p>

[ingemar_lampa1]

<p>Tip: If you call the Fuji office directly you can get a special discount if you buy, say, 40 rolls or more. They can't sell directly but will tell you which shop you can go to to pick up your order. It is really worth-while, because pricing becomes very competitive. for example, I paid HK$16 per roll for Fuji Acros 100 in 120 format. That is about US$2.10/roll...</p>

<p>Word of advise: when I did this the first time and went to the store to pick up my order, the store keeper said "cash only" or he would add 4% to the price if paying by card. He obviously took me for a tourist (I lived in HKG for 15 years until last year). That practice became illegal in 2008 - which I told him. He became very upset and refused to sell me my stuff. I called Fuji from outside his shop and explained the situation. He no longer sells Fuji films. I picked up my films at another store indicated by Fuji the next day.</p>

<p>You can do similar deals with the Kodak distributor/main warehouse. And, if ordering for more than HK$1.000 they will deliver even to your hotel, if you are just visiting. Otherwise, it's just a short taxi ride to go to their warehouse Kowloon side and pick up your pre-order yourself.</p>

[xxloverxx]

<blockquote>

<p>There are a number of shops in Stanley Street that sell 120 film so you should not have any problems getting what you want if you choose to buy film in Hong Kong.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>+1 on that. Chung Pui's where I go for all my film. I don't let them develop it anymore though — all their scans have at least one (very noticeable) dust spot.</p>