Where are you buying ra-4 chems (Canada)?

[1kgcoffee]

I don't know if it's because of covid, or because the digital ra-4 industry is dying (?) but there seems to be fewer ra-4 chemicals available these days.

Where are you buying from?
Also, anyone else from Canada able to source from places that will actually ship here?

 

[DREW WILEY]

There are multiple sources of RA4 chem here in the US, both retail and pro volume. The "RA4 industry" is quite alive and well. I can't speak for the shipping issues.

 

[koraks]

Also, anyone else from Canada able to source from places that will actually ship here?

I've added "Canada" to the thread title because location is pertinent to your question.

I don't know if it's because of covid, or because the digital ra-4 industry is dying (?) but there seems to be fewer ra-4 chemicals available these days.

Especially on the American content, RA4 has been on its way out for quite some time. It wouldn't surprise me if that has started to affect sources for the likes of you and me. But having said that, RA4 chemistry is still manufactured by the bucketloads (and we're talking industrially sized buckets here), so I'm sure you'll be able to find some - even in Canada.

 

[MattKing]

Most of the retail sources for photo-chemistry in the USA have lots of restrictions on what they will and will not ship to Canada.
And I don't know of any Canadian photo lab that is using RA4 paper for volume printing, so I doubt that there is much in the way of a robust RA4 chemistry wholesale supplier market.
Some of the pro labs do custom enlargements on RA4. I'm not sure where they are getting their chemicals.
You might reach out to Beau Photo in Vancouver, but I don't see anything on their website, even though they do list cut sheet Fuji paper.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Much of the misconception that RA4 is somewhow on a downward slide in America is due to the fact that none of the large users of it buy it retail, but either from high volume distributors or perhaps directly from Fuji-Hunt. Any single one of the numerous big labs running wide roll laser printing setups probably consumes more paper and chem than all we home darkroom workers put together. But that being said, there are still multiple retail sources for several brands or RA4 chemistry in more bite-sized packaging.

I don't know if there are any restrictions or duties if one were to drive across the border and pick up their chem somewhere nearby here.

 

[MattKing]

I don't know if there are any restrictions or duties if one were to drive across the border and pick up their chem somewhere nearby here.

OP is in Calgary, which is about 200 miles from the Sweetgrass-Coutts border crossing. Sweet Grass Montana, population 65
And the OP would need appropriate travel documentation - e.g. a passport - to cross the line.
That would only be practical if that nearest border crossing had a shipping and receiving service that the sources will ship to - they sometimes put restrictions on that as well.

 

[DREW WILEY]

One of the things I sure miss now that I'm retired is that I no longer have a full Receiving Dept and industrial loading dock at my fingertips.
That made a significant difference in the cost and ease of hazmat shipments. Sometimes we handled entire cargo containers of such things for West Coast military branches and defense contractors. But even the expense of twice daily contracted UPS and Fedex services was a fraction of what it is for an individual occasionally shipping something. A significant amount of what I myself pay for RA4 chemicals here is due to HazMat label ad-on fees. The actual packaging is really anything different at all; all the bottles are in virtually unbreakable polyethylene anyway.

 

[koraks]

the misconception that RA4 is somewhow on a downward slide in America

It's not a misconception. RA4 really is on a downward slide, and not just in the US. Why do you think the US plant that made paper was shut down? It wasn't because of strong growth, I can tell you that. Total paper manufacturing volumes show a steady decline.

 

[Don_ih]

Argentix.ca sells ra4 chemicals.

 

[Carnie Bob]

flic films I believe in Alberta supply us with C41 and RA4 chems if we need.

 

[MattKing]

One of the things I sure miss now that I'm retired is that I no longer have a full Receiving Dept and industrial loading dock at my fingertips.
That made a significant difference in the cost and ease of hazmat shipments. Sometimes we handled entire cargo containers of such things for West Coast military branches and defense contractors. But even the expense of twice daily contracted UPS and Fedex services was a fraction of what it is for an individual occasionally shipping something. A significant amount of what I myself pay for RA4 chemicals here is due to HazMat label ad-on fees. The actual packaging is really anything different at all; all the bottles are in virtually unbreakable polyethylene anyway.

Which, to quote (mostly) a crime drama I watched recently, doesn't in any way answer the OP's question!

 

[MattKing]

Argentix.ca sells ra4 chemicals.

flic films I believe in Alberta supply us with C41 and RA4 chems if we need.

Thanks to Don and Bob for answering the Op's question!
Although it is my understanding that flic film is shutting down their retail operation - wholesale only.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Matt - If my reply didn't directly match the OP's question, it should at least furnish a valuable clue. There must be some kind of cross-border trucker in his area he could arrange to receive and transport materials if necessary. Of course, when someone is just starting out and experimenting with very small volumes, ordinary retailers and parcel shippers are hard to get around. But at a certain point, some kind of networking option might be the only way to keep costs down. Trading favors, so to speak.

 

[MattKing]

Matt - If my reply didn't directly match the OP's question, it should at least furnish a valuable clue. There must be some kind of cross-border trucker in his area he could arrange to receive and transport materials if necessary. Of course, when someone is just starting out and experimenting with very small volumes, ordinary retailers and parcel shippers are hard to get around. But at a certain point, some kind of networking option might be the only way to keep costs down. Trading favors, so to speak.

Not likely to happen, unless one has access to business-to-business distribution channels, or if individuals are willing to get arrested and deported for breaching the rules about commercial importations to Canada.

 

[Don_ih]

flic film is shutting down their retail operation

The online store at Film Experience has shut down. Of course the chemicals are available elsewhere.

 

[MattKing]

The online store at Film Experience has shut down. Of course the chemicals are available elsewhere.

True - but where?
Beau Photo, for one, has a bunch of Flic Film chemicals on their website, but no RA4 chemicals of any brand.
The same applies to Kerrisdale Cameras, the only other local (to BC) retailer known to me that sells a few different photographic chemicals.
A look at The Camera Store (Calgary) website shows some photo chemicals, but nothing for RA4.
The same applies to Don's Photo in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I understand the predicament, Matt. My own ancestors had to break out of jail and stow away aboard a ship around 1650 due to some silly commodity boundary technicality, like merely poaching sheep on Crown land. If they were due to be hanged for that, I can't imagine what kind of penalty would be imposed for smuggling RA4 chemistry.

 

[MattKing]

I understand the predicament, Matt. My own ancestors had to break out of jail and stow away aboard a ship around 1650 due to some silly commodity boundary technicality, like merely poaching sheep on Crown land. If they were due to be hanged for that, I can't imagine what kind of penalty would be imposed for smuggling RA4 chemistry.

Not smuggling.
Just refusing to go through the right "hoops".
(Commercial importation rules are considerably more complex than the rules for individuals).

 

[Don_ih]

True - but where?

Good question. I really only checked Downtown Photo's website. I expected to find the chemicals but found none. It could likely be special ordered, though, from any of the places you mentioned.

 

[Carnie Bob]

I have purchased Colour Chemistry from Downtown Camera as well.

 

[Sharktooth]

As Don_ih already noted, Argentix in Quebec carries RA4 chemistry in Canada. Argentix
Unfortunately, they don't seem to have stock at the moment, so you'd have to contact them to find out availability.

Flic Film does not show any RA4 chemistry on their product page. It looks like they only supply C41 and ECN2 chemistry. They might supply it as a special order through one of their retail affiliates, but you'd have to ask them.

 

[nb1457]

I used to buy Tetenal 5L kits from Downtown Camera but they no longer stock them. There's a company called Lite Imaging in Toronto and I've bought Champion chems from them, although I think it only comes in 60L for dev and 40L for blix. Argentix has had the Bellini kits in and out of stock, Beau sometimes carries the Arista kits. Could be missing someone but AFAIK those are the only ra4 retailers in Canada.

Unique Photo in NJ has told me they can ship Fuji chemicals to Canada, wasn't sure if that was possible because of chemical restrictions but I'll take them at their word, may try that in the future.

 

[GregY]

True - but where?
Beau Photo, for one, has a bunch of Flic Film chemicals on their website, but no RA4 chemicals of any brand.
The same applies to Kerrisdale Cameras, the only other local (to BC) retailer known to me that sells a few different photographic chemicals.
A look at The Camera Store (Calgary) website shows some photo chemicals, but nothing for RA4.
The same applies to Don's Photo in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Unfortunately the great front end camera store at Flic Films/The Film Experience has shut down, but their website shows the following retailers handle their chemical products/kits

Where To Buy | Flic Film

flicfilm.ca

 

[51g1l0]

I used to buy Tetenal 5L kits from Downtown Camera but they no longer stock them. There's a company called Lite Imaging in Toronto and I've bought Champion chems from them, although I think it only comes in 60L for dev and 40L for blix. Argentix has had the Bellini kits in and out of stock, Beau sometimes carries the Arista kits. Could be missing someone but AFAIK those are the only ra4 retailers in Canada.

Unique Photo in NJ has told me they can ship Fuji chemicals to Canada, wasn't sure if that was possible because of chemical restrictions but I'll take them at their word, may try that in the future.

Has anyone printed with Champion chemitry yet? I buy the starter from them but not sure about their other chemistry results.

 

[Ericc]

I've been having a hard time finding the RA4 developer/replenisher even in the US. Does anyone know of a reputable online US reseller with it in stock. Hopefully in a form where I don't need to buy a 55 gallon drum of it. I haven't had much issue finding C-41 chemicals but the RA4 developer seems elusive for some reason.

-Eric