Time to stock up on Portra

[Paul Mitchell]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/0 ... 84101.html

Just a heads up to all those Portra fans

Paul

[Sean Lewis]

Ouch! Not a good start to the new year Paul. I don't use Kodak very often but I was hoping to rely on them when (IF!) Fuji stop production of velvia.

[dave_whatever]

I read somewhere that kodak's film manufacturing division is actually one of their fairly profitable arms (relative to their crap-digital-cameras-and-consumer-printers division) so aught to be a fairly safe bet to continue trading in one form or another even if EK goes tits up.

[Glenn Haworth]

I read a similar article this morning and thought ouch! It will be a shame if their film division goes the way of the dodo.

[lostlandsuk]

And TMAX 100 and Tri-X . . and their chemicals (D76! HC 110! Selenium!!)
All really great products. I hope the traditional arm can survive though I'd read that there have been rumblings of getting rid of it for a while - it would be a very very sad day.
Phil

[Charles Twist]

You're an investor interested in Kodak's patents. Do you (a) buy them now at full whack or (b) wait till the company goes bust and then buy the whole company on the cheap? I am afraid this is the end game.

There is a growing community of Portra users. I myself would be interested in buying some before it disappears for a while or altogether - sounds like the Velvia rush all over again. Would some folk here like to gang together to make a bulk purchase in the States? Do any folk have experience of this and how to get the best deal relative to the postage, customs, etc?

Best regards,
Charles

PS I wonder what all those folk with a Kodak printer will do for ink...

[Paul Dunning]

Sad news, looks like I picked a great time to get into film

In brighter news, Robert White have sold out of Velvia 50 and they don't know when they'll get more stock, I hope that's just a stock control problem and not a sign of anything

Paul.

[craigmagee]

Fujilab look to have Velvia in Paul.

Totally gutted that this is happening Looks like all my birthday prezzies are gonna be boxes of portra!

[Glenn Haworth]

Paul, have a look at http://www.fujilab.co.uk/catalog/revers ... 32_66.html for Velvia 50 as they are the cheapest at the moment in the UK at £49.43.

[Paul Dunning]

Craig, Glenn, many thanks, for some reason I never considered that the the Fujilab shop would be the cheapest.

Paul.

[Glenn Haworth]

It wasn't not so long ago. I just happen to be price checking yesterday, AG Photographic were the most expensive at £71.88, with Robert White at £57.60 and then Fuji at £49.43.

[Rod]

Hi Charles,

I've imported film a couple of times from the USA (Badger Graphic), with no problems apart from having to pay the shipping costs, import duty and VAT . I always assume that the latter two items will be charged at 5% and 20% and then decide if it's worthwhile costwise (I've only ever once not been charged these fees ).

Currently, Portra 160 is selling at ~$29 for a box of ten sheets so, with a current worst-case pound/dollar exchange rate of ~1.5, this translates to approximately £24 per box. In the UK, the price seems to be £35/£37 per box so there's a big difference. Shipping from the USA (Badger Graphic) via USPS for 40 boxes is ~$85. Thus, for 40 boxes the total, including shipping and all taxes, would be approximately £1040. Best UK price would be £1400 + carriage.

I'm willing to share a shipment if anyone else is interested - easy with you Charles as I'm only in Northallerton.

Food for thought.............

Regards,

Rod.

[Glenn Haworth]

I'm also happy to share a shipment from badger graphic. I used them last for about 4 boxes of 5x4 and saved about £50 after delivery and import duty.

I'm after a couple of boxes of Portra 160 and a couple of boxes of Ilford Delta 100.

[Charles Twist]

Hello,
Just to be awkward, I was looking at BHPhoto as they have Portra in 5x7 (as well 5x4, 8x10 and 11x14). Prices are about the same as Badger Graphic on the 5x4 ($1 more per 10 sheets).
Isn't Ilford cheaper in the UK or Europe? But for worthy exceptions, I think we should stay focussed on Kodak products. Open to suggestions though.
I've had a PM from another interested party, who is at the other end of the country. Is there anybody near the M62 corridor who could volunteer to receive the parcel?
I am happy to coordinate orders through the forum - this thread and pm - so let me know what you're after.
Best regards,
Charles

[Glenn Haworth]

Isn't Ilford cheaper in the UK or Europe?

If only, you're looking at approx. £35 a box of 25 in the UK, haven't checked Europe yet, where as at Badger it's £18.38.

I think we should stay focussed on Kodak products.

No problem, I'm not in a rush so I'll pass this time