Camera stores in London & York UK

[Kirk Gittings]

I need a list of camera stores in London and York, UK, that are likely to stock 4x5 Fuji Acros Readyloads. My intention, rather than risking the airport xray machines, is to pick up film in the UK and FedEx it back home before i leave the UK.

[Pete Watkins]

Kirk, if I were you I would change my plans. As far as I can find out Teamwork, based off Tottenham Court Road in Central London, are the only supplier of Arcos in the U.K. They only open from Monday to Friday. Now sit down. They charge £45-00 for a 20 sheet pack and this probably dosn't include 17 1/2% Value Added Tax. Welcome to "Rip Off Britian". We also lost the World Cup.

[Ted Harris]

Kirk, Teamwork on Foley Street in Central London comes most readily to mind. I ill think about others as well. There are a bunch of labs clustered in SoHo and I beileve some of them stock film too bu tit has been too long for me to remember.

[Oren Grad]

Kirk, if I were you I would change my plans. As far as I can find out Teamwork, based off Tottenham Court Road in Central London, are the only supplier of Arcos in the U.K.

Robert White sells Acros as well, but they're not in London, and they're asking even more - £53.00, exclusive of VAT, for the 20-sheet pack.

[robc]

Fuji do not sell Acros in 4x5 in the UK. Any dealer who supplies it, imports the stuff themselves. That makes it very difficult to come by in the UK.

If you read the Robert Whites website carefully, you will see that they have Acros Quickloads on a special where you get 3 for the price of two, making it cheaper than teamwork.

Maybe you could order over the phone and get it shipped to your relatives.

RW is in Poole, Dorset, which is way out of your way.

4x5 Fuji colour films are available, BUT, so few dealers stock it now. Best to order/reserve in advance to be sure of getting some.

There is not much hope of finding anyone in York who stocks or even sells 4x5 film. Again you would need to order in advance but any good Fuji dealer/Lab should be able to get colour Fuji for you. But again, most only re-order when they have enough to cover Fuji's minimum order value. Smaller stores may have several weeks between orders so to be safe I would buy all film in London from a dealer who has stock.

Any pro lab in london should be able to get you what you want except for Acros Quickloads!

[Ted Harris]

Actually, shipping your film will in the end cost you less and be more conveniet. I just did a quick check and sending 3 boxes of Quickloads via second day DHL would cost me $35 including insurance. Worth thinking about.

[Don Hutton]

Kirk

When I shoot in the UK, I simply order film from Robert White and have it shipped to where ever I am going in the UK - the mail system is great and it really saves a bunch of hassle. Also, RW are in my experience great folks to deal with.

[Bobf]

Process Supplies: http://www.process-supplies.co.uk/process-supplies-products/view_products.aspx?sid=1417020367&prod_id=%201314

Bob.

[robc]

Looks like I may have been wrong about Fuji selling Acros Quickloads in the UK.

http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/professional/films/specialist_qlfh.html

its listed at their UK site. The last time I enquired I was told they don't. Things must have changed.

[robc]

I checked. Fuji do NOT sell Acros 5x4 Quickloads in the UK.

[Paul H]

Are you worried simply because of it being LF film?

I've travelled a lot in Europe and Australasia with smaller formats (120 and 35mm) and have never seen any evidence of hand-baggage X-ray damage. I used to always carry a camera loaded with ISO400 film on weekly business trips, & that would have had more than 20 passes at times - never had any problems. I've had exposed TriX 120 shot at EI1000 go through a number of hand-baggage scanners too, and no problems there either.

I think I'd be more worried about losing things in the post!

[Kirk Gittings]

I just bought three boxes of Acros from Robert White at $245 including secnd day shipping to York. Expensive insurance against X-rays. I will also, for curiosities sake, bring some with me, run it through the xray machine and do a side by side test.

[Diane Maher]

Kirk,
I believe that you can get back the VAT charges since you are not a UK citizen. I don't recall what this entails off the top of my head, but I bought some Fuji Quickchange holders (not quickload) from Robert White prior to leaving for the UK and had them shipped to where I was staying, and using some kind of paperwork and having the receipt with me, I was able to get the VAT money back. You might want to check here:

http://www.britainusa.com/sections/index_nt1.asp?i=41126&L1=41118&L2=41126&L3=41011&d=4

Diane

[robc]

You can get the VAT back on anything for delivery/export from the UK. Not on anything for consumption/use/delivery in the UK. i.e. if film is to be used in UK then theoretically you shouldn't get VAT back. But then again, you may be lucky and at 17.5% its worth getting back if you can. Just make sure you don't run the risk of being detained at Her Majesty's pleasure for Tax fraud! Enjoy your stay, you have just missed the hottest day on record in the UK. Who said it always rains here?

[Arthur Nichols]

Kirk,
For the last two years I have traveled to and from Switzerland with about 8-9 packages of Fuji Acros in my carry on. I never asked for a hand inspection and I always just let it go through the the X-Ray machines. I cannot see any fog or any other detrimental effects from the X-Ray machines. The only hassle for me is that I don't like to pack my 4x5 stuff in checked luggage so I also pack that in the carry on. I end with a very heavy carry on. But the film seems very tolerant of the machines.

[Kirk Gittings]

Arthur, Thanks but I simply cannot take the risk. I need two specific images for my current book project and this trip will cost me 8K (vacation too for the family).