Where to buy and process 4x5 in San Francisco Bay Area

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I am new to large format photography, and have just finished completing a 4x5 field kit. Now that I am ready to go, I find that I am having some trouble finding sheet film. I am on a budget, so I want the best value I can get, but have no desire to compromise quality. I currently use Velvia, and am interested in transparency film only, at this time. Does anyone know first; where the best price on film is in the San Francisco bay area? And secondly; where is a good place to take it for prossesing, and what are the prices? I have searched the net and can find little help.

Thanks,

Bill

hanks

-- Bill Lindley (adley@ix.netcom.com), July 04, 1998

Answers

Buy mail order from B&H in New York and get it processed at New Lab in 'the city'.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), July 04, 1998.

While I agree that B&H is a good place to order the film from (or unique photo or...), my concern is having it shipped during the summer. Call me silly, but are UPS trucks (the container department) air conditioned? Won't the film deteriorate in this heat?

I'd probably look for a local source in SF and pick the film up there. Ditto for dropping the transparencies off for processing.

-- anonymous (anonymous@website.com), July 05, 1998.


I am also worried about heat during shipping in summer. I buy most of my film in winter. If I buy film in summer I require air shipping. In the South Bay there are also a few labs which would process LF E6, like Custom Color Lab and Calypso.

-- Quang-Tuan Luong (luong@ai.sri.com), July 07, 1998.

I get my film from Adorama. I buy it year around, and havent had any problems. A 10 pack locally goes for about 25-30 bucks, 15-17 mail order. I live near the SF bay area also, and send mine to Ferarri Color in Sac. for processing, but there are local sources for processing (I know there is one in Berkely, at least). If you process locally, you pay around 3-4 bucks per sheet. If you send them off, you can get it done for as little as 1.75 per sheet.

-- Ron Shaw (shaw9@llnl.gov), July 07, 1998.

As for the film part I go to Keeble & Shuchat, located in Palo Alto (290 California Dr.) They have two stores across the street from each other, one for pro stuff and the other for the rest. As for the processing, I have had great success with Peninsula Photographics, 517 Ninth Ave, in San Mateo. They can do anything you want for the 4 X 5 and at a very reasonible price.

-- Gary Petrick (gpetrick@pacbell.net), July 15, 1998.


As for the film I like Keeble & Shuchat in Palo Alto. It's located @ 290 California Dr. They have two stores across the street from each other, check them both out. As for the processing, I like Peninsula Photographics located in San Mateo. They can do anything you might need and they have very reasonable prices. Their turnaround time for processing is hard to beat and the quality is first rate.

-- Gary Petrick (gpetrick@pacbell.net), July 15, 1998.

You might wanna check out Looking Glass in Berkeley. The stores looks like having good price, but I never tried myself. 2848 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705 510-548-6888

btw, anybody tell me where to buy view camera in the bay area? both new and used?

Thanks.

-- Li Lin (tb_lin@yahoo.com), March 14, 2000.


Keeble Shuchat, 290 Palo alto carries 4X5 film, I buy from there. I have been processing my own b/w. but have heard that Calypso is good. (you may have to box the film properly for processing, otherwise they charge .75 extra for film from holder (again this is what I have heard, no first hand experience)

-- Achal Pashine (achal@stanford.edu), February 08, 2002.

Adolph Gasser downtown SF sells View Camera Magazine. Also, unless you have a 100% light tight space at home to load sheet film you should scout a place with a darkroom to load your holders.

You can buy film at a place in the 400 block of Bryant street (I forget the name) and load at Chromeworks (who will also process).

-- Joe Nagy (joenagy65@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.


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