Availability of 35mm film in the Australian Outback.

During the previous ten years the availability of 35 mm film has become increasingly more difficult outside of the major cities.
Even back in 2005 as we went up the Centre to Darwin, then back to Katherine, across to Kununurra, Wyndham, Derby and Broome, we found in those locations, either no 35mm film on the shelves or only ISO 400.

That shortage of 35mm film straight off the shelf has continued, particularly in general stores and Supermarkets.
A problem has that arisen for us in regard to 35mm film. Previously we kept some films in our “limited space” in the caravan refrigerator, purchasing fresh film when restocking our general supplies. But the 2007 trip in particular even in Darwin we found replacement 35mm film mostly limited to Fuji 400, with sometimes Kodak 400, but no other speeds or quality available at ordinary outlets. At the camera suppliers in the major towns where there are overseas tourists the price of films can be quite high! So we have been keeping greater stocks of film, stored in insulated bags in the van, which is also the way we store the rolls of exposed film, and reserves for immediate use in the four-wheel drive.

With ambient temperatures often around 40c and inside the parked vehicle 50c, I have been concerned in regard to effect on both un-exposed and exposed film, and not prepared to risk purchasing some of the very expensive higher quality films, which I feel would do greater justice to the types of photography available to us, but would of necessity have to be stored for months at a time in the caravan. I have had a higher than previous failure rate on developed images from the 2007 trip, which although probably my fault, film storage temperatures could also be a factor.

ISO 400 is actually what one would tend to use in the type of light conditions I have been taking photos in, but in situations where I have shot the same scene using two or three rolls in similar light with ISO 100, 200, and 400, there are occasions that the ISO 400 has been noticeably grainy even without going to enlarged prints, and the ISO 100 has even had better colour in some instances, but again lack of colour could have been heat effect.

I don’t believe there is any actual shortage of 35mm film, simply that store keepers are not having the demand for it so they are not stocking it, and particularly so outside of the big cities.

So if you want to take high quality film photos in the Australian outback I suggest you plan on taking the majority of film you need with you, and make provision for cool dark storage.

For additional sites our Home page , http://www.caravantravel.blogspot.com Please visit.