Where to get cheaper B&W 35mm Film

[DaveNewbie]

Local stores near me (Van BC Can) tends to sell B&W 35mm film at about 2x the cost of colour film (~$6 vs ~$3 per roll). So I'm wondering if there are cheaper places online, (or local) that sells them a bit cheaper.
Thanks greatly,
Dave

[Georgews]

Not sure where you will manage to buy cheap film, but why don't you try "rolling your own"?
You can buy bulk film, in 50 or 100 ft rolls and with a bulk film loader you can load up cassettes. You can alos get special plastic reloadable "screw top" cassettes for this or if you are careful you can reload ordinary ones. Depends on the number of films you are going to use and if you process them yourself.
I used to buy 100 ft rolls then load and process my own and it worked out quite cheap
Lotsa luck

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George

[Richard Knight_old]

The method George suggests is a viable alternative but I would caution against reusing original cassetes. The reloadable type are relatively inexpensive (less than $1 ea) and will last for 40-50 reloads each. The problem with them is build-up of dirt on the foam rubber light traps which eventually will cause scratches on your film. They can be cleaned to an extent but after time they wear out. There are also snap type caps available from Kodak but after a while the caps become loose and may come off, creating light leaks on the film while loading or unloading in the camera or while transporting. To use bulk film you will need a dust free environment, a bulk loader (about $35), a film changing bag (or darkroom without light leaks), cassettes, and of course the film. Cassettes are also available with DX coding for automatic SLRs or P&Ss. For online stores, Adorama, B&H and Cameraworld of Oregon are very competitively priced, especially if you buy in bricks (20 rolls each).

[Sepia]

I use reloadable all the time but one thing that can become a bug is the fact that very often the end can come off making it impossible to re-load the camera without total darkness. So make sure the end is stuck down correctly. Also in Britain we have a retailer called Jessops, I buy most of my equipment from them because it is so much cheaper.

[Georgews]

I agreee with Richard about reusing cassettes. If you can get hold of proper reuseable ones it is much better. I have reused cassettes but only when I had nothing else available.
If you have problems with the tops coming off put a small piece of tape on it.
Buy yourself a changing bag also. Then you can have instant total darkness wherever you want. I have used one for years and have removed stuck films from cameras at home, in planes, in the bush - just about anywhere.
Buying a block of film is less hassle and only a little dearer than bulk roll.
Whatever you do, have fun

[sammyboy]

try photoglossy.com
uk company

ilford fp4 plus £1.98 per roll if you by 10

99p p+p (though not sure to the us)