B&H No longer shipping darkroom chemistry

brofkand · 11-22-2016, 11:06 AM - **1 Like**

This is a cross-post from APUG, just to bring awareness to this new issue.

B&H not shipping chemicals anymore? | APUG.ORG

It seems that B&H is no longer shipping chemistry due to ORM-D regulations. Adorama, Freestyle, and other photo houses still ship chemistry, so be forewarned that you'll have to go elsewhere for chemistry (at least until B&H reverses this policy).

**lithedreamer** · 11-22-2016, 11:16 AM

That's unfortunate. Thanks for the heads-up.

**bobbotron** · 11-22-2016, 11:19 AM

Argh, not good news!

**Alex645** · 11-22-2016, 12:29 PM

That's definitely a growing trend, but I'd rather be safer flying with these sorts of regulations than getting my chemical fix(er).

I'm lucky to have a local supplier for any PF members on Oahu (Hawaii):

Treehouse - A creative arts shop in Honolulu, Hawaii

But if they can't get it, my go to LA supplier is Freestyle Photo:

Home | Freestyle Photographic Supplies

henryp · 11-22-2016, 12:57 PM - **2 Likes**

In the wake of the ValuJet Flight 592 crash on May 11, 1996, the federal government began cracking down on safety regulations for many different chemicals in airplane cargo holds. We don't ship ground so every order has to conform. We elected to observe the safety restrictions scrupulously and the result is a range of chemicals and similar items we cannot ship. Compressed air products like Beseler Duster fall under the same restrictions. More recently there have been similar issues with lithium batteries.

I am sorry this is new information for some of you and regret the inconvenience it causes.

brofkand · 11-22-2016, 01:03 PM

Thank you for the reply both here and on APUG, Henry. I hope that B&H is able to re-visit the "no ground shipping" policy in the near future, as your company is an important resource in the dwindling suppliers of darkroom chemistry these days. Should Adorama also choose to mirror your position on these regulations, many would be left with only Freestyle - on the other side of the continent - for their chemistry needs.

jcdoss · 11-22-2016, 02:50 PM

I get mine here: Film Photography Project Store | Film Photography Project

It helps support their show. (What show?)

brofkand · 11-22-2016, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by jcdoss

I get mine here: Film Photography Project Store | Film Photography Project

It helps support their show. (What show?)

I love the podcast but haven't bought anything from their store yet. I have sent in some old forgotten gear though.

officiousbystander · 11-22-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

It helps support their show. (What show?)

They have a regular podcast:
Film Photography Podcast 154 | Film Photography Project
in the latest episode you'll hear the K1000 is as popular as ever, but the Pentax 647 is falling out of fashion. The speculation is maybe the romance of medium format is outweighed by having to lug a giant camera around.

**Alex645** · 11-22-2016, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by officiousbystander

They have a regular podcast:
Film Photography Podcast 154 | Film Photography Project
in the latest episode you'll hear the K1000 is as popular as ever, but the Pentax 647 is falling out of fashion. The speculation is maybe the romance of medium format is outweighed by having to lug a giant camera around.

Fads and fashion comes and goes. The 647? Did you mean 645 or 67? I've been married to my Pentax 645 for 30 years and do not find it too giant to lug....whereas the 67 is a bit too much for me.

officiousbystander · 11-22-2016, 05:03 PM

Yes. I meant the 67. The one with the wood grip. At least I think that's the one being referred to in the podcast.

**lithedreamer** · 11-22-2016, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by officiousbystander

They have a regular podcast:
Film Photography Podcast 154 | Film Photography Project
in the latest episode you'll hear the K1000 is as popular as ever, but the Pentax 647 is falling out of fashion. The speculation is maybe the romance of medium format is outweighed by having to lug a giant camera around.

It's between a rock and a hard place. I'll always lug around more weight for better image quality, I love the chemicals, the process and even the waiting, but digital is super convenient for sharing with other people online at high quality. I have my Pakon scanner, but it just can't match my K-1.

brofkand · 11-22-2016, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by lithedreamer

It's between a rock and a hard place. I'll always lug around more weight for better image quality, I love the chemicals, the process and even the waiting, but digital is super convenient for sharing with other people online at high quality. I have my Pakon scanner, but it just can't match my K-1.

If you ever want to sell that Pakon scanner, let me know.

Personally, if I'm going to deal with a medium format camera I'd just as soon shoot my 4x5. It's equally as heavy, and equally as difficult to process/scan/print for me, but gives you so much more control and image quality. The only medium format camera I have these days is a Holga, but I have a few 4x5 cameras and of course a couple 35mm too, besides my K-3.

**lithedreamer** · 11-22-2016, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by brofkand

If you ever want to sell that Pakon scanner, let me know.

Personally, if I'm going to deal with a medium format camera I'd just as soon shoot my 4x5. It's equally as heavy, and equally as difficult to process/scan/print for me, but gives you so much more control and image quality. The only medium format camera I have these days is a Holga, but I have a few 4x5 cameras and of course a couple 35mm too, besides my K-3.

Will do. I was planning to have my PZ-1P be my backup kit when the K-1 was too heavy, but it's really rather light with either the FA 43 or the D FA 28-105. The scanner was rather pricy at $800 refurbished. I think I would have rather poured the money into 4x5, myself.

brofkand · 11-22-2016, 07:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by lithedreamer

Will do. I was planning to have my PZ-1P be my backup kit when the K-1 was too heavy, but it's really rather light with either the FA 43 or the D FA 28-105. The scanner was rather pricy at $800 refurbished. I think I would have rather poured the money into 4x5, myself.

Scanning 4x5 pretty much means using a flatbed for normal people without the budget for a Hasselblad/Imacon scanner, but the quality of the negative is unmatched by anything else out there. Large format will probably be unmatched by digital for another 5 years at least.

I've got wet 20x24 prints from my 4x5 film that are grainless, tack sharp, and truly immersive. Nothing digital can match that, yet.

11-22-2016, 11:06 AM - 1 Like	#1
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836	B&H No longer shipping darkroom chemistry This is a cross-post from APUG, just to bring awareness to this new issue. B&H not shipping chemicals anymore? \| APUG.ORG It seems that B&H is no longer shipping chemistry due to ORM-D regulations. Adorama, Freestyle, and other photo houses still ship chemistry, so be forewarned that you'll have to go elsewhere for chemistry (at least until B&H reverses this policy).

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11-22-2016, 11:16 AM	#2
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	That's unfortunate. Thanks for the heads-up.

11-22-2016, 11:19 AM	#3
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	Argh, not good news!

11-22-2016, 12:29 PM	#4
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,526	That's definitely a growing trend, but I'd rather be safer flying with these sorts of regulations than getting my chemical fix(er). I'm lucky to have a local supplier for any PF members on Oahu (Hawaii): Treehouse - A creative arts shop in Honolulu, Hawaii But if they can't get it, my go to LA supplier is Freestyle Photo: Home \| Freestyle Photographic Supplies

11-22-2016, 12:57 PM - 2 Likes	#5
henryp B&H Photo Representative Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 491	In the wake of the ValuJet Flight 592 crash on May 11, 1996, the federal government began cracking down on safety regulations for many different chemicals in airplane cargo holds. We don't ship ground so every order has to conform. We elected to observe the safety restrictions scrupulously and the result is a range of chemicals and similar items we cannot ship. Compressed air products like Beseler Duster fall under the same restrictions. More recently there have been similar issues with lithium batteries. I am sorry this is new information for some of you and regret the inconvenience it causes.

11-22-2016, 01:03 PM	#6
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836 Original Poster	Thank you for the reply both here and on APUG, Henry. I hope that B&H is able to re-visit the "no ground shipping" policy in the near future, as your company is an important resource in the dwindling suppliers of darkroom chemistry these days. Should Adorama also choose to mirror your position on these regulations, many would be left with only Freestyle - on the other side of the continent - for their chemistry needs.

11-22-2016, 02:50 PM	#7
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,768	I get mine here: Film Photography Project Store \| Film Photography Project It helps support their show. (What show?)

11-22-2016, 04:13 PM	#8
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836 Original Poster	Originally posted by jcdoss I get mine here: Film Photography Project Store \| Film Photography Project It helps support their show. (What show?) I love the podcast but haven't bought anything from their store yet. I have sent in some old forgotten gear though.

11-22-2016, 04:17 PM	#9
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 912	Quote: It helps support their show. (What show?) They have a regular podcast: Film Photography Podcast 154 \| Film Photography Project in the latest episode you'll hear the K1000 is as popular as ever, but the Pentax 647 is falling out of fashion. The speculation is maybe the romance of medium format is outweighed by having to lug a giant camera around.

11-22-2016, 04:44 PM	#10
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,526	Originally posted by officiousbystander They have a regular podcast: Film Photography Podcast 154 \| Film Photography Project in the latest episode you'll hear the K1000 is as popular as ever, but the Pentax 647 is falling out of fashion. The speculation is maybe the romance of medium format is outweighed by having to lug a giant camera around. Fads and fashion comes and goes. The 647? Did you mean 645 or 67? I've been married to my Pentax 645 for 30 years and do not find it too giant to lug....whereas the 67 is a bit too much for me.

11-22-2016, 05:03 PM	#11
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 912	Yes. I meant the 67. The one with the wood grip. At least I think that's the one being referred to in the podcast.

11-22-2016, 05:18 PM	#12
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by officiousbystander They have a regular podcast: Film Photography Podcast 154 \| Film Photography Project in the latest episode you'll hear the K1000 is as popular as ever, but the Pentax 647 is falling out of fashion. The speculation is maybe the romance of medium format is outweighed by having to lug a giant camera around. It's between a rock and a hard place. I'll always lug around more weight for better image quality, I love the chemicals, the process and even the waiting, but digital is super convenient for sharing with other people online at high quality. I have my Pakon scanner, but it just can't match my K-1.

11-22-2016, 05:55 PM	#13
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836 Original Poster	Originally posted by lithedreamer It's between a rock and a hard place. I'll always lug around more weight for better image quality, I love the chemicals, the process and even the waiting, but digital is super convenient for sharing with other people online at high quality. I have my Pakon scanner, but it just can't match my K-1. If you ever want to sell that Pakon scanner, let me know. Personally, if I'm going to deal with a medium format camera I'd just as soon shoot my 4x5. It's equally as heavy, and equally as difficult to process/scan/print for me, but gives you so much more control and image quality. The only medium format camera I have these days is a Holga, but I have a few 4x5 cameras and of course a couple 35mm too, besides my K-3.

11-22-2016, 06:20 PM	#14
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Originally posted by brofkand If you ever want to sell that Pakon scanner, let me know. Personally, if I'm going to deal with a medium format camera I'd just as soon shoot my 4x5. It's equally as heavy, and equally as difficult to process/scan/print for me, but gives you so much more control and image quality. The only medium format camera I have these days is a Holga, but I have a few 4x5 cameras and of course a couple 35mm too, besides my K-3. Will do. I was planning to have my PZ-1P be my backup kit when the K-1 was too heavy, but it's really rather light with either the FA 43 or the D FA 28-105. The scanner was rather pricy at $800 refurbished. I think I would have rather poured the money into 4x5, myself.

11-22-2016, 07:28 PM - 1 Like	#15
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836 Original Poster	Originally posted by lithedreamer Will do. I was planning to have my PZ-1P be my backup kit when the K-1 was too heavy, but it's really rather light with either the FA 43 or the D FA 28-105. The scanner was rather pricy at $800 refurbished. I think I would have rather poured the money into 4x5, myself. Scanning 4x5 pretty much means using a flatbed for normal people without the budget for a Hasselblad/Imacon scanner, but the quality of the negative is unmatched by anything else out there. Large format will probably be unmatched by digital for another 5 years at least. I've got wet 20x24 prints from my 4x5 film that are grainless, tack sharp, and truly immersive. Nothing digital can match that, yet.