Focal Point Darkroom & Gallery

31/07/2026

Two days to go!

Today is Lens Day! (I should have done this one two days ago 😉)

Some great bargains.

Pentax SMC-A 35-70 zoom Excellent condition $70

Nikon AFS-DX 18-55 zoom Excellent condition $50

Tamron 70-150 zoom Adaptal 2 mount (Minolta MD) Slight haze in front element (good portrait lens). $40

Sigma 28-200 zoom Pentax K mount. Great travel lens. Excellent condition. $80

Minolta AF 35-70 (X series mount) Excellent condition $50

Nikon 500mm f8 mirror lens with filters and case. Good condition. Case is a very worn. $100

Rodenstock 135mm f 3.5 M42 mount Good condition. $40

Tamron 2x tele converter Minolta MD mount Excellent condition $20

Accura extension tube set of 3 Minolta MD mount, Excellent condition $20

Topcon 135mm f3.5 tele lens with Topcon RE200 body. Very good condition $70

Only at Focal Point Photo Services, Shop 5, 23-31 Gheringhap St, Geelong (enter from Lt Malop St).

YES I will post at buyer's expense.

Shop is open today until 4pm and tomorrow (Saturday) 11 - 2

Then the shop will be closed forever.

30/07/2026

Three days to go!

Today is Colour Day.

Ilford colour chemistry for E6 RRP $125, now only $90 (two in stock)

Ilford colour chemistry for ECN-2 RRP $110, now $75 (two in stock)

Ilford Ilfocolor Retro single-use cameras RRP $29.90, now only $15 (5 left)

Ilford Ilfocolor Rapid Half-frame single-use camera, RRP $29.90, now only $15 (1 left)

Kodak E100 reversal (positive transparency) 5"x4" film, 10 sheets, unopened. Expired 12/2009 (always refrigerated but not frozen) $20 (only one available) I'll throw in the extra three sheets in the other box.

Fuji RDP III Provia 100 Professional reversal 120 film, expired 06/2019 always refrigerated but not frozen. $5

How about a unique framed 30x40cm (approx) print to brighten up your home or office. These prints are on Cibachrome high-gloss paper, which is no longer available, making each of these prints one-of-a-kind that can never be reproduced in this format again. Each is professionally framed with hand-made timber frames. I have three available, already reduced to $450 (the cost of the framing) now reduced a further 20% to only $360.

Only at Focal Point Photo Services, Shop 5, 23-31 Gheringhap St Geelong (enter from Lt Malop St) and only until Saturday.

Open Today to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 11am to 2pm

Then the shop will be closed forever.

29/07/2026

4 DAYS TO GO!

Today is BOOK DAY!

First up is Sam Ohlsen's fabulous A Photographer's Guide to The Great Ocean Road & Otways. Although region specific, it has great info for anyone shooting landscapes. But the attention to detail for the GOR & Otways is incredible. Sam put five years' work into the book, and it shows. RRP is $99, but I have only four left for just $80 each.

Next is John Casamento's wonderfully whimsical Never Work With Animals or Children. John was an award-winning photographer on The Sun for many years and revelled in shooting what many people hate - kids and animals. This book is a lovely, light-hearted look at the world of the innocent. John donated all of his profits from the book to the Murdoch Children's Research Institute at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, for the Fontan Registry, which is devoted to complex heart surgery, saving many children's lives.
RRP $35. I have four left at $20 each.

Next up is Wendy McDougall's fabulous retrospective of her music photography from 1979 to 2019, titled "it's only rock'n'roll but I like it". Wendy not only shot gigs and portraits of performers, but also took the photos for a number of iconic Australian album covers.
RRP $59, but come in this week and grab your copy for only $20. I only have a dozen copies left, some signed by Wendy.

Still on the theme of music photography is Eric Algra's retrospective Rock'N'Roll City, when he shot in Adelaide for Roadrunner magazine, 1978-1983, and featuring a huge range of Australian and international artists.
RRP is $79, but I have one copy only available for just $60.

Another on the music theme is Abbey Beaumont's excellent retrospective, When We Were Very Young, Rock 'n' Roll in the Seventies.
RRP $29.95, now only $20

If you are more interested in local Victorian regions and rural life, I've got the beautiful books from Ten Bag Press on The Mallee, The Wimmera, Working Dogs, Woolsheds Vols 1&2, and Lake Tyrell, all at 20% off RRP.

I've also got just two copies of Bill McAuley's beautifully shot project Last Light On Victoria Dock for $25 - that's $10 off RRP.

Jamie Mercia was a very talented and creative photojournalist who spent nearly a decade as the in-house photographer on The Melbourne Weekly, and was one of the team that produced numerous books for Ten Bag Press. Jamie passed away in 2021, and this retrospective book was produced by his family and friends to keep his work available to the public. RRP is $99, and it is worth every penny, but I have just two copies left for only $79.

Finally, I've still got quite a few excellent pre-loved books on a wide range of subjects, and a few collectibles, at 50% off marked prices - some now for as little as $2 and $5.

So, come in before Saturday and grab a beautiful book bargain. You won't be disappointed.

Only at Focal Point Photo Services, 23-31 Gheringhap St Geelong (enter from Lt Malop St).
Open today to Friday, 10am to 4pm and Saturday 11am to 2pm
Then the shop will be closed forever.

28/07/2026

Last week of my shop!

Today is ENLARGER DAY!
(Cue fanfare)

First up is this Meopta Opemus 6. The schools' choice. Solid, reliable and reasonable quality. Comes with 6x6cm glass neg carrier with Anti-Newton glass and 35mm glassless insert, and Meopta 50mm f4.5 lens. Also comes with Haupt timer, focus finder, 8"x10" enlarging easel, three developing trays and three stainless tongs.
A great entry level package, all for only $150 this week only.

Next is an Omega B600 enlarger, with Rodenstock 50mm f4.5 lens, 6x6cm and 35mm glassless neg carriers, three developing trays, focus finder, under-lens Multigrade filters, three plastic tongs and dial tray thermometer. Another excellent starter pack for darkroom printing, for just $200.

Or, step up to an LPL5700 Colour enlarger, with Minolta Rokkor 50mm f4.5 lens. Comes with power transformer, 6x7cm neg carrier (unused), 35mm neg carrier and an unused 35mm slide carrier. The colour filters are all working as they should, in good condition and not sticking. I've also just put a brand new globe in to check everything is working properly. The colour filters are ideal for Ilford Multigrade printing. A great medium-level enlarger capable of printing negs up to 6x7cm for the bargain price of $250.

Finally, an LPL 7450 MK II colour enlarger. This flagship professional LPL enlarger will allow you to print all size negs up to 4"X5". I've just put a new globe in to make sure everything is working as it should. The filters are all in good condition and not sticking or jamming (a common problem with old colour enlargers). The fan works as it should. A little bit noisy but fairly normal for this unit. Comes with 240v-24v transformer.
The ONLY issue is that there is no neg carrier with the unit. These are easily available online, either new-old-srock from Canada, used or 3D printed at very affordable prices.
This unit is priced accordingly and would suit any serious darkroom printer wanting to up their game or get into 5"x4" film.
This week only for $800.

All pick up from Geelong. Post may be available for the three smaller enlargers (though expensive), but NOT for the LPL 7450 (it weighs about 30kg)

Only from Focal Point Photo Services Shop 5, 23-31 Gheringhap St Geelong, enter from Lt Malop St.

Or text or call 9427537443 (for some reason I can't always get DM messages)

This is my LAST week in the shop. Open Today to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and Saturday 11am to 2pm.

22/07/2026

Less than two weeks to go until my shop closes forever (I will be working from home from 3 August).
So, come in and grab a bargain.

*Darkroom paper suitable for experimentation, lumens (solargrams) or chemigrams, from $2 per pack.

*Bulk film loaders only $10 each

*Enlarger timers from $10 each

*New books, 20% off normal prices

*Pre-loved books from $2 (50% off marked prices)

*Paterson film processing tanks only $10 each

*All other darkroom equipment 50% off

*All used cameras and lenses 50% off

*Framed display photos 20% off

*Unframed photos 50% off

*Frames from $4 each

*Film, paper and chemistry 20% off

*Single use cameras HALF PRICE ($15 each)

*Gift cards (my photos) only $4 each

Only at Focal Point Photo Services Shop 5, 23-31 Gheringhap St Geelong (enter from Lt Malop St).
Only until Saturday 1 August.
Open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, (except tomorrow 23 July, open from 11) and Saturday 11am to 2pm
Oh 0427537443 for more info.

09/07/2026

Back on deck today and business as usual.

Come in and grab a bargain before they're all gone.

08/07/2026

Just letting everyone know that Focal Point will be closed today, as I have man flu (a very bad cold) and feel like I've been hit by a bus. Hopefully, business as usual tomorrow so you can all come and grab a bargain.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Watto.

05/07/2026

Moving.

After a lot of consideration, I have decided to move my business to work from home in Highton, in Geelong's west.

Although the shop is in a great location, it hasn't resulted in a lot of interest from the public. The reality is the majority of my income is derived from film and photo scanning, photo restorations and printing - all of which I can do from home. The vast majority of new customers have found me online, so my physical location plays little or no part in people contacting me. Also, opening on Saturdays has had virtually no effect, with very few people taking advantage of the extended hours, despite a large number of people requesting that I open on weekends.

I am currently building a dedicated workspace at home and will be closing down the shop at the end of July. The last day of trading at the shop will be Saturday 1 August.

Please note that until its closure, the shop's hours will remain unchanged, being Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 11am to 2pm.

Beginning this Tuesday, 7 July, I will be having a Grand Moving Sale. See below for details.

I don't see this as an ending, rather another new beginning. I've certainly been through a few ups and downs over the past three years, but am looking forward to this next phase with renewed vigour.

Please note that the new hours at my home office will be Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, but BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. In other words, you won't be able to just drop in at any time, but will need to make an appointment if you require work to be done, want one-on-one photography training or mentoring, or need to make a purchase. I will still have a very limited range of film, digital and darkroom paper and chemicals available, and will be doing training, printing, photo restorations, scanning and black & white film processing, as well as limited commercial work. I will also be getting back into my own projects, so may not always be available at the office - another reason why you will need to make an appointment.

My thanks to those people who have visited the shop over the past 10 months. Your continued support has been greatly appreciated.

I'll have more details about the new space and contact methods at the end of this month.

24/06/2026

Looking for a great idea for a fun FREE day this Saturday 27 June?
How about a heap of FREE live music in central Geelong!
Always Live Local Vibes is coming to Geelong.
Go to the website and click the link to register.
There are loads of local businesses offering discounts too, including Focal Point, but you must be registered and wearing your wrist band to get the deals.
Look for the posters on shop windows and in stores.

Turning up the volume on live music across Victoria and set to make global noise.

15/06/2026

Remember slide nights? Before video streaming, before DVDs, before everyone had a mobile phone?
Dad would dust off the old slide projector and unfurl the screen, we'd all sit on the couch, the floor, and in the beanbags, and then he would show off his proudest shots from the recent family outing, weekend sporting event or trip to exotic locations. We'd all laugh at some of the goofie shots of mum in hair rollers or playing with the kids, and we'd get an occasional giggle at dad's embarrassment when one of the slides would be upside-down or back-to-front.
And now the slides are packed away in a draw or box in the back of the wardrobe, but the memories, while fading, are still there.
Isn't it time you got the slides out and shared them with the new generation of family members? Maybe those too young to remember what the fuss of slide night was all about. To connect with their parents and grandparents? But who wants the fuss of a slide night these days?
Now is a great time to get your slides scanned so you can share them the modern way - by email, on a computer or even through your mobile phone.

That's where I come in. High-quality scanning at an affordable price. Saved as high-resolution images good enough to print, as well as low-resolution images for sharing electronically at no extra cost.
Prices start from only $2 per slide and get CHEAPER with large quantities.
Don't trust these memories to just anybody. Put them in the hands of a photographer who truly cares that each slide is copied to the best it can be. Most slides fade or change colour over time. Every scan is checked and colour corrected where possible.

Here's a tip: Don't waste money on scanning rubbish shots or meaningless location pics. Go through them (you can use an iPad set to white background to view them) and only choose those that are important to you. The people shots, the holiday photos with great family meaning, the family pets, dad's pride and joy car or boat, or the historical event captured for posterity.

Call, DM or email today for more details.
Craig Watson, Focal Point Photo Services
Shop 5, 23-31 Gheringhap St, Geelong, Vic 3220
0427 537 443
[email protected]