π· Simulations? The real stuff. π
6 April 2023 β 4 mins read β 8 images
If you're interested in shooting film, you should know a few things.Β
First, film is getting expensive. That's subjective of course. (sometimes Β₯1500 a roll) Me? I personally don't care about the price because it's part of my craft and I can't create without it, so "no complain, no explain." You can still find a good deal in Tokyo, you just have to do some serious research to find those deals.
Second, there are so many different kinds of film cameras out there, so selection isn't a problem. I've tried about 10 different makes/models with a range of prices. Check out these Ebay searches: Canon 500n β’ Canon AE-1 β’ Nikon N65Β β’ And if you'd like a point-and-shoot rig, there are scores of models to choose from.
If you're successful in your search for something cheap, and you want to go further into the depths of your bank account, sky's the limit. Don't get me started on my Leica journey.
Third, you don't need to go to a lab to have your photos developed. Personally, I go to my local Fujifilm mom & pop shop. The gal there does a good job and I can rely on her to go the extra mile to help me with an outcome.
And last but not least, there's a large film photography community here in Tokyo and Instagram is the place to go to find those folks. You may hate IG, but you'll love all the people that can chat with you about where to go, what to shoot with, what film stocks rock rock your socks off, and where to find the best deals on film in town.
So my suggestion to you is to go to your favorite camera store. Mine is Sanpou Camera *Google map*, an independent shop in Meguro-ku. They have a small collection of film rigs to choose from and will have some film to buy as well. If you want a wider selection and could care less about the mom & pop shop factor, head to Kitamura Camera *Google map* in Shinjuku. There's an insane amount of cameras to choose from. Plus it might just be easier to get there!
If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line here, on Instagram, or via my website Tokyo Grit and Grain. I'm happy to help.
Urban photographer. Subliminal influencer.
These are lovely shots!
In 2016 my daughter left London for Spain, leaving her cameras behind (an old Pentax 135 SLR and a lovely wooden Moon Camera). The Moon Camera is a pinhole camera with a film gate that can be set to 6X6, 6X9 or 6X12. I brought them to Tokyo with me but have not shot anything in Japan with them. No idea where to get the film or process it. I have two very expired rolls of FP4 plus125 120 roll film that have not been stored properly sitting in the same box as the cameras. Because I struggle so much with the Japanese language I don't go out much and just work digitally...
Thanks for chiming in, Brian Buxton - That Moon camera sounds delightful. I'll have to do some searching for more info on that.
I also struggle with heavy conversations in Nihongo, so I often come prepared with my Google Translate app. That helps me quite a bit so I can make certain statements about requirements, etc. Your FP4 film will probably be OK. There's a place in Harajuku that can develop it for you.
*link -- https://goo.gl/maps/QiaDmpabPrdTGFMu7
I'd come prepared with some statements about what you need, etc. Dive in! You might be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
and digital is great, too!
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