Film for Cirkut Cameras
Film for Cirkut Cameras is easy to buy today. Twenty years ago Kodak required a special order of 100 rolls to get 10"x6' color film spooled for #10 Cirkut Camera. Today you can walk into nearly any Kodak dealer in the US and order even a single roll of Portra 160 (if you know the Cat#). I'd be surprised if this situation will continue for much longer. If you want the convenience of factory spooled film (or just want to build up a stock of spools and leaders) you should order now. Don't put this off. While 10"x6' Portra is a stock item and does not require a minimum order, it also does not appear in catalogs. The people I've spoken to at Kodak all say that because of this fact it is very unlikely that there will be any announcement or warning before this film is discontinued.
While factory spooled film will probably be gone very soon, bulk film should be available for a long, long time. I plan to be shooting with my 80-plus year old Cirkut Camera long after today's high end digital cameras are obsolete. I've started this page as a place for Cirkut photographers to share information about film sources. Please email crabtree@cirkut.org with any film (and paper) sources you know of. I'm also happy to help put people in touch with each other so that they can meet minimum order requirements.
Kodak Film
Here are the Kodak catalog ("Cat") numbers I know of for Cirkut film. If you know of others that are current, email them to crabtree@cirkut.org
- Kodak 10"x6' Portra 160 NC-Cat #847 0940. No minimum.
- 400 speed10"x6' Cat# 157 5109 I don't recall which 400 speed emulsion this is. Minimum order is 100 rolls. Cecil Simpson (listed below) usually coordinates an order of 400 film at least once a year.
- Kodak also accepts special orders for 10" bulk rolls of Portra 160 NC. Cat# 1152867 Can't remember the length. Minimum of 10 rolls. I have been told that the problem with supplying spooled film is both the labor and the supplies (boxes, spools, leaders, foil sleeves), s hopefully the bulk film will be available even after the factory spooled film is gone.
- Kodak's toll free information number in the US is 800-242-2424. Ext 19 will get you to Professional Imaging where you can find out about current availability of these items.
Cecil Simpson orders 10"x6' Portra 160 NC with no minimum and generally has the absolute lowest price.
He also puts together orders for 400 speed 10"x6'. While the retail price of the 400 is only a bit more than the 160, actual selling price is considerably higher because of a different discount structure.
Box 774
High Rolls NM, 88325
505-682-2055
Fairborn Camera
They order both 160 and 400 for several full time Cirkut shooters and often have a small quantity in stock. A regular photo store with prices only very slightly higher than Cecil's.
Fairborn Ohio
937-878-4392
Other Film Sources
- Ed Antolich (Mr. Photo)
Sells surplus film and paper.
1-877-345-6489 (I believe that is current) The email address I have for him is: mrphoto@usa.net
He sells on eBay as mrfoto1 - Gem America/Photo Warehouse
Bob O'Neil
800-922-5484
They recut bulk film and offer some listed for Cirkut , but the spec they give seems way too thick to me. Several Cirkut shooters have emailed to say that this film absolutely won't work in a Cirkut Camera. Their film seems to be from Ilford, but they aren't allowed to say. Their 100 speed (presumeably FP4) is a nice economical 8x10 film and is also probably available in just about any cut film size you could want, so they might still be a good film source for Banquet and other large format photographers. - Ilford
- HP5 Plus aerial film 240mmx76m (about 9.5"x250'). Cat:16405563 Was a good value at about $1.25/foot selling price, but that was a couple years ago. Now special order. Minimum 3 rolls last I checked.
- FP4 Plus aerial film 240mmx76m is Cat:189 6318.
- Ilford was making special order 10" FP4 Plus for several people, and had quoted on doing HP5 Plus. I don't have any details.
- Efke and Forte have expressed a willingness to custom cut film. I know Forte has made 5" film for a couple people in recent years. Two different Cirkut shooters are working on these sources. I'll post more information when we get something definite.
Papers Sources
- I have gotten 12" rolls of Forte Polygrade FB, and other sizes are available. The order requirements are a bit odd, but the paper is great.
- Mitsubishi makes a wonderful and cheap black and white RC paper (VC) in gloss or matte. You may need to go through a dealer, but their direct number is 800-233-7113 Roll sizes from 3.5"-11"
Contact: crabtree@cirkut.org
©2004 cirkut.org
This page last updated 2/6/04.