Sheet film and shooting in Germany

[david ashley kerr]

hello there,

I am an Australian contemporary artist currently residing in Germany, and have recently made the bold and endearing decision to purchase a Linhof Technika from a friend of the Linhof Factory in München.

My concerns now are that the surge of digital labs has reduced the number of traditional professional photographic suppliers, especially in the state of Niedersachsen in which i reside.

does anyone have any experience shooting 4x5 in Germany, and have some practical advice, such as availability of film, ideal color film for shooting urban/rural landscape ie. Velvia for overcast german winter days..?

maybe Herr Gursky could lend some advice on such a subject..

i look forward to a response

.ak

[snaefell]

My concerns now are that the surge of digital labs has reduced the number of traditional professional photographic suppliers, especially in the state of Niedersachsen in which i reside.


Where exactly do you live, this would make recommendations much easier.
If you don't worry to send your films around, Gröger and Gerstenberg is a very good (E6)Lab in Berlin. I send my films to them. They are fast, reliable and have an ok pricing. See: http://www.diaentwicklung.de
The same applies for ordering supplies, here I can recommend Nordfoto, a company located near Hamburg. They have a lot a large format things in stock (and usually get them, if they are not) and are also quite cheap. See: http://www.nordfoto.de (www.nordfoto.de)
If you speak German, you can also look into the german largeformat forum (http://www.grossformatfotografie.de).

[Vlad Soare]

Germany is a photographic heaven in comparison to Romania. If I can shoot large format in Romania, you'll have no problem in Germany. :)
I buy all my films, papers and chemicals from Germany. Maco, Fotoimpex, Nordfoto are good and reliable suppliers, and I'm sure there are several others just as good.

If you speak German, you could try the Aphog (http://www.aphog.de/forum/index.php) forum. It's dedicated to film and has a large format section as well.

[Matus Kalisky]

I have spend last 5 years in Germany - no film will save the German overcast wet winter day :p

Currently I am buying the film either from already mentioned nordfoto or from www.fotomayr.de

For developing I send my films (in empty film boxes) to: http://kontrastlabor.de/ So far I had no problems.

If you want to get a reasonable scan (Imacon X5 4x5 at 2000dpi) for reasonable price have a look at: http://www.digitalcopy24.de/ - The guy running it is very kind, friendly and helpful.

As I do not have a printer - I send my files to: http://www.digitaloriginal.de/ - again very kind people there. They print with inject Epsons. Just a hint - they also offer different Hahnemuehle papers they do not list on their website, but they will send you pricing and even small example prints (10x15cm) if you ask.

best regards

[david ashley kerr]

thanks everyone,

Nordfoto are great, i have ordered film from them, and the pricing is actually exactly the same as my lab in Melbourne, Australia, including postage to Lueneburg..

I have never had to send my films via post to be developed, but it seems I have no choice, unless i commute to Hamburg.

kind regards to all

david ashley kerr.

[77seriesiii]

another company to try for film/chemicals is http://macodirect.de. I have ordered from them, service is great, shipping is fast and if within Germany, shipping is only 1 euro.

./e

[MoveLachine]

Even though I live in Germany, I do order my film in New York with B&H - it is a lot cheaper even after shipping and taxes. It only takes 3 days and I never had any x-ray problem with the film.