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I just wanted to start a thread here to praise Firstcall. Bear in mind I have no connection with them whatsoever I am just a customer!

I had ordered a few of some different films from them last week, some Acros, some Superpan 200 and some of a new one I hadn't seen, their own branded colour 400 CN.

I hAve had a roll of the colour developed today and there were only 17 exposures on the roll! I gave them a call, not to complain, more of a heads up in case there was a problem that could affect other customers. I wasn't after a replacement film as I realise sometimes accidents happen and they have always been super efficient and very helpful.

Anyway, they are not only replacing the film that was faulty, but the two others of the same that I bought with them.

Excellent customer service and I highly recommend them.

Now if only they offered a dev service... :)
 
Good to hear some praise for a company when they get things a little bit wrong and then do their best to put it right.
 
I used them for the first time last week, ordered midday on monday, delivered midday on tuesday. Very impressed.

Andy
 
Yeah I like them too, their postage is expensive but then I expect that help preserve their reputation. Cheap delivery is generally unreliable.
 
Good to hear, was planning on using Firstcall or Silverprint for my future film needs but Firstcall may be my First Call!
 
I don't mind paying the postage as they use DPD and it's pretty much always next day unless I order late at night!
 
I'm looking at making a large order from them simply because they stock a large range of films/chemicals (their own brand slide film is the same as Rollei CR-200 [= same as Agfa RSX 200 on a polyester base] but £1 cheaper per roll!) and from past reviews seem to be very good.

One bit of advice though, that C-41 film is the same as Rollei Digibase CN 200, which is a repackaged mask-less 400 speed film from Agfa. It's quite grainy just rated at 200, so I would avoid exposing it at 400. I'll scan in a couple of examples if you want?

Sam.
 
s162216 said:
One bit of advice though, that C-41 film is the same as Rollei Digibase CN 200, which is a repackaged mask-less 400 speed film from Agfa. It's quite grainy just rated at 200, so I would avoid exposing it at 400. I'll scan in a couple of examples if you want?

Sam.
Click to expand...

Not wanting to steal the thread but I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of scans. I've been looking at this film wondering what it's like.
 
robhooley167 said:
Good to hear, was planning on using Firstcall or Silverprint for my future film needs but Firstcall may be my First Call!
Click to expand...

I see what you did there Rob, very clever....:whistle:
 
angelpaaul said:
Not wanting to steal the thread but I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of scans. I've been looking at this film wondering what it's like.
Click to expand...

I'm just scanning a few of the 17 that were on the roll I'll post them in the mega thread in a bit.
 
angelpaaul said:
Not wanting to steal the thread but I wouldn't mind seeing a couple of scans. I've been looking at this film wondering what it's like.
Click to expand...

Heres one, look at it full size on Flickr as you'll see what I mean about the grain.


Rollei Digibase cn200 example by s162216, on Flickr
Minolta Dynax 505si Super Minolta 35-70mm f3.5. Probably at f8. Scanned with a Reflecta ProScan 7200: only levels, slight contrast induced with curves and sharpening applied.
 
I see what you mean about the grain. Still, in the right situation, I think I could live with it. Thanks for that.
 
Very helpful info here re First Call. I have just found their site 30 mins. ago, and was wondering if their own brand 35mm colour slide film is good. At £2.99p a roll it may be worth a try. Delivery charge is high at £7.99p, but 10 rolls with the charge works out at £3.78 a roll.
Has anyone any comments re their slide film ? I would be grateful for opinions.
 
pityacka said:
Very helpful info here re First Call. I have just found their site 30 mins. ago, and was wondering if their own brand 35mm colour slide film is good. At £2.99p a roll it may be worth a try. Delivery charge is high at £7.99p, but 10 rolls with the charge works out at £3.78 a roll.
Has anyone any comments re their slide film ? I would be grateful for opinions.
Click to expand...

It's the same as Rollei Digibase CR-200 which is repackaged Agfa RSX-200 Professional made by Agfa-Geveant (the separate aerial film division of Agfa which was spun off shortly before Agfa collapsed). I've not used it yet, but apparently RSX-200 was a very good emulsion, a little grainier than Kodak or Fuji films although with a warmer, "natural" colour balance. Results that I've seen look good, and I'm going to be shortly ordering some of the Firstcall branded version as you really cannot argue for the price.
 
So far I've had only good service from FirstCall. I made an order on a Friday before a bank holiday, and they telephoned me back in concern to warn me that they couldn't send it the next day. That is good customer service.
 
Seems like thumbs up all round for FirstCall, both here and on another photo site. The photo above, posted by s162216, is it from a slide or colour neg. ? If it is slide I will have no hesitation buying FirstCall's own brand.
 
pityacka said:
Seems like thumbs up all round for FirstCall, both here and on another photo site. The photo above, posted by s162216, is it from a slide or colour neg. ? If it is slide I will have no hesitation buying FirstCall's own brand.
Click to expand...

The photo above that I posted is a colour negative, from Rollei Digitase CN-200 which is the exact same as the own brand C-41 film sold by Firstcall. It's a "mask-less" film which means it doesn't have an orange mask, and makes the negatives look a bit different than usual (because of this you can also directly print on B&W paper with it).

As I said above, I've not tried the slide yet, but results from the same emulsion that I've seen online looked very good (and Agfa-Geveant who make it are very well known for high quality film). For £2.99 though can you really argue?
 
s162216, Thanks for that info - I will now spend a bit money with FirstCall.
 
theyre great for chems but the postage annoys. Its nice to have it if you have a large order but i ordered a new cog lid for a jobo tank which was £14 and the postage 8! im not really fussed about next day signed for deliveries for something like that so would rather have a cheaper option.
 
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