Film from Europe

vanman · Post by **vanman** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:20 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Do any of you import sheet film from Europe and who do you recommend? I ask this as Fotoimpex won't export to The U.K.
Thanks,
Vanman

David Rees · Post by **David Rees** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:13 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Have you tried Retro Photographic? They have a range of European film stocks, including LF. Their website is: http://www.retrophotographic.com

I've bought chemicals from them in the past, without problem.

Regards,

David.

vanman · Post by **vanman** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:52 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I tried Photoimpex 'cos I can't get to speak to a real person at Retro, only a machine. If I was into electronic machines I wouldn't be playing with wooden cameras.
Vanman.

BarryWilkinson · Post by **BarryWilkinson** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:05 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

As I understand it, Retro are 'Photoimpex' in the UK. For that reason Photoimpex Germany will not generally supply UK orders. They refer you to Retro. This is a real pain on two fronts...

1. Retro's stock is only a sub-set of Photoimpex. Mirko at Photoimpex suggests you ask Retro for any non-stocked items, but in my experience Retro are not keen (can't be bothered?) doing this.

2. Ordering from Retro is a very laid back experience. He once told me not to call him the next day (Thursday) with an order because he would be 'on the golf course'!

IMO No way to run a business.

Got that off my chest

What sheet film are you trying to get?

Barry

Brian E · Post by **Brian E** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:01 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Hi

I tried Retro and even allowing for their recent move the order took over 4 weeks to arrive - When it did they sent the wrong size sheet film in a box that had been opened and sealed with selotape. This I returned asking for a refund - now more than a week later I still have not heard from them.

Try http://www.silverprint.co.uk these people I use with no trouble

Brian

vanman · Post by **vanman** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:34 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Thanks for your answers. I've found Retro to be helpful, up to a point, when he can actually be contacted. The fact that he's a golfer explains a lot about his attitude. I'm specifically after 400 asa half plate film. I know that I can cut film down but it's a pain. I've got the stuff from Retro before and it was very good. I also wanted to discuss the lighting that he sells, discuss being the operative word. Silverprint have no half plate in stock so just to tied me over I've got some 100 asa on the way from Mr. Cad.
Best wishes,
Vanman

Matt_Bigwood · Post by **Matt_Bigwood** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:47 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I've never been very satisfied with the service from Retro - on one occasion his attitude was bordering on rudeness. Add to that the variable quality of some of the Eastern European films and I've resolved to stick with Kodak and Ilford from now on.

buze · Post by **buze** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:28 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I must say that I also had a bad experience with Retrophoto, and resorted not to order from them either.

For 'cheap film' I use the Shanghai from China; I must say it works fantastic. Did about 200 sheets over a year and had zero problem. Same reciprocity and times as fp4+, and £10 / 25 sheets.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 1:53 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I can thoroughly recommend Fotoimpex in Berlin, I buy from them every so often and usually place quite large orders. Service is friendly, fast and efficient. Postage is very reasonable to the UK and just as fast.

Link is www.fotoimpex.de

Ian

vanman · Post by **vanman** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:46 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Ian,
How the heck do you get Fotoimpex to send you stuff? I started this post because Fotoimpex told me on Friday that they would not export to the U.K. and I needed to contact Retro. The person who I spoke to was polite, plesant and very tolerant of my lack of German. Have you got a contact name of the person who takes your orders?
Vanman

IanG · Post by **IanG** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:34 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Vanman, I reminded Mirko/Fotoimpex that EU rules mean we can buy from anywhere in the EU, its a totally free market.

As it happened I was already buying from Berlin before Nigel Dear (Retro) became their UK affiliate, and Nigel agreed that I had a right to buy from Fotoimpex Germany. In fact my paper order was too large for Retro anyway

Just tell them you want to buy from them, not Retro. They are obliged to accept orders from UK if they are also selling to other EU countries besides Germany - under EU law. They can't make you buy from Retro.

Ian

vanman · Post by **vanman** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:34 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Ian,
Many thanks for your help. I'll phone them and make this point. I really have no problems dealing with Retro but old fashioned as I am I want to speak to a real person not a machine. The impression that I get from the news media is that the Germans, in particular, take being "European" a lot more seriously than we do but there is always the option of contacting my "Euro M.P." if I can find out who he or she is.
Thanks again,
Vanman

uraniumnitrate · Post by **uraniumnitrate** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:13 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

buze wrote:I must say that I also had a bad experience with Retrophoto, and resorted not to order from them either.

For 'cheap film' I use the Shanghai from China; I must say it works fantastic. Did about 200 sheets over a year and had zero problem. Same reciprocity and times as fp4+, and £10 / 25 sheets.

Customs and shipping is all in that price too or it's just something you didn't mention?
Shanghai is a good silver rich film its probobly have at least 3g silver per square metre.
That's why the high reciprocity factor, the more silver higher the factor is.

robert.fallis · Post by **robert.fallis** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:32 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I too use shanghai the quality is good, but I'm into the look of the fifties, so tend to use an ortho emulsion, from freestyle in the USA. Because of the strength of the pound. it is cheap at the moment, but if your using 5x4 holder make sure you get the 5x4 to fit. other wise you have to trim 2mm off it,
bob

http://www.glossyrc.com/sc_search.php?q ... catsel=all&

buze · Post by **buze** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:35 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

uraniumnitrate wrote:
buze wrote:I must say that I also had a bad experience with Retrophoto, and resorted not to order from them either.

For 'cheap film' I use the Shanghai from China; I must say it works fantastic. Did about 200 sheets over a year and had zero problem. Same reciprocity and times as fp4+, and £10 / 25 sheets.
Customs and shipping is all in that price too or it's just something you didn't mention?
Shanghai is a good silver rich film its probobly have at least 3g silver per square metre.
That's why the high reciprocity factor, the more silver higher the factor is.

£15 buy-it-now, including shipping. Never had to pay VAT/Custom on these, it's probably too small a fish !

On the other hand from China I tried the "Era" and didn't like it at all. It was very, very cheap (I have about 80 sheets left!), but the film base is a lot thinner and the sheet 'curves' a bit doing processing. It's just about good enough for lens tests !