A very disturbing conversation...

Ces1um · Jan 4, 2016

My local lab is one of the last in my province that still develops film. Their C-41 developing system went down a few weeks ago and they had a great deal of trouble getting parts for it (I understand it was some kind of heating element). Today I was talking to one of the employees and was told they were looking into buying a few second hand machines for parts as it's getting extremely difficult for them to purchase new replacement parts. Apparently lab grade film processing equipment is now difficult to get? I knew there were precious few companies making new film cameras, and we've lost a few major players that made film- I just never thought that the professional labs would experience issues in obtaining either new processors or parts this early on. Makes sense I guess. Maybe it's time I learned how to develop at home- while they're still making chemicals that is.

AgX · Jan 4, 2016

Many manufacturers of professional lab equipment stopped that range or even went out of business completely.

A major european industrial photofinisher for instance is equipped with Agfa machines. (Machines most of you likely never heard of). I assume Agfa stopped manufacturing those even quite some time before their consumer branch went under.

AgX · Jan 4, 2016

Without going through my files, the one and only manufacturer still offering who comes to my mind immediately is Tecnolab in Italy.

tony lockerbie · Jan 4, 2016

Yes, I can't imagine anyone making much in the way of new machines anymore. Fuji and Copal are still maybe in the game? I worked with Agfa machines back in the Eighties, the scanning/optical side was made by Agfa, the wet side by Copal. Their Agfa branded C41 machines were a complete Copal machine.

Sirius Glass · Jan 4, 2016

It is a shame that machines that are being scrapped are being scrapped rather than harvested for parts.

Luis-F-S · Jan 4, 2016

My local lab kept their film machines running as long as they could, but when it become an ordeal, they scraped them. I got a Durst L138 form them that way years ago, and they have 5 DeVeres still taking up space. I'm just waiting till they get tired of looking at them.........They do have their print processors going since that is where most of their business comes from. L

AgX · Jan 4, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
It is a shame that machines that are being scrapped are being scrapped rather than harvested for parts.

I asssume medium labs as well as industrial finishers gaining parts supply from workless machines from other labs or even their own redundant machines. Remains the issue of knowledgable technicians.

The finisher I referred to even had several of their plants closed, thus could have gained reserve machines from there, but also in their remaining plants got machines in parallel from better times now workless.

I assume the larger problem being for for small, one-person labs, that lack the time and money to care for reserves and repairs.

removed account4 · Jan 4, 2016

my lab / printer told me when her machine goes that is it ...

AgX · Jan 4, 2016

But likely not for lack of machines or parts, but rather for the repair getting uneconomic due to little work I assume . But that issue would exist even with manufacturers still offering new machines.
Though then, funding provided, a repair or substítute was only a phone call away.

skorpiius · Jan 4, 2016

Ces1um said:
My local lab is one of the last in my province that still develops film. Their C-41 developing system went down a few weeks ago and they had a great deal of trouble getting parts for it (I understand it was some kind of heating element). Today I was talking to one of the employees and was told they were looking into buying a few second hand machines for parts as it's getting extremely difficult for them to purchase new replacement parts. Apparently lab grade film processing equipment is now difficult to get? I knew there were precious few companies making new film cameras, and we've lost a few major players that made film- I just never thought that the professional labs would experience issues in obtaining either new processors or parts this early on. Makes sense I guess. Maybe it's time I learned how to develop at home- while they're still making chemicals that is.

What province?

wildbill · Jan 4, 2016

"this early on"
That's funny. pixels took over a decade ago

skorpiius · Jan 4, 2016

In western Canada the drug store chain London Drugs may just end up being the last resort. Many of the stores not opened in the past decade or so still have their 1 hr photo service, and a couple of stores also have an E6 machine. That said one of the two E6 machines, the one in my city, was down for a few months due to it needing repair. I'm happy it came back up.
This is of course excluding 'pro' labs, but those too are getting scarcer, I'm not sure if there even is still a pro lab in the province of Alberta. Pretty much left with a few in Vancouver, a couple in Winnipeg, a few in Toronto, Montreal and maybe 1 in Halifax.

It's irritating to me that I have to send away 120 rolls for processing, with $10+ postage each way.

Ok now I'm just whining haha.

BradleyK · Jan 4, 2016

You may be correct, skorpiius, re "pro-labs" in Alberta. When I worked in Deadmonton five years ago, E6 processing, deposited with McBain's, had about a two-and-a-half week turnaround. At that time, it was it was my understanding that McBain's, as well as Don's and Vistek's E6 work was being done by a lab in Saskatchewan. Fortunately, now back home, I have a three-hour turnaround for my E6 processing with The Lab, a short hop into downtown Vancouver.

skorpiius · Jan 4, 2016

I suspect the E6 was being sent to Don's main lab in Winnipeg, or the pro lab it owns next door, The Lab Works.

Just a guess though.

Ko.Fe. · Jan 5, 2016

My local camera store guys told me once their C-41 machine stops working they will stop C-41. But I didn't find it as disturbing. I'm DIY.

summicron1 · Jan 5, 2016

Ko.Fe. said:
My local camera store guys told me once their C-41 machine stops working they will stop C-41. But I didn't find it as disturbing. I'm DIY.

this is where we're at, folks. Fortunately c-41 isn't all that hard to do yourself.

Roger Cole · Jan 5, 2016

summicron1 said:
this is where we're at, folks. Fortunately c-41 isn't all that hard to do yourself.

No it isn't - as long as the chemicals are available.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk and 100% recycled electrons - because I care.

Ces1um · Jan 5, 2016

skorpiius said:
What province?

Nov Scotia. To my knowledge all we have left is Atlantic photo supply (great spot), shoppers drug mart on lacewood in Halifax, and one spot somewhere in Bridgewater.

Ces1um · Jan 5, 2016

Roger Cole said:
No it isn't - as long as the chemicals are available.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk and 100% recycled electrons - because I care.

That would be my concern too.

AgX · Jan 5, 2016

Ko.Fe. said:
My local camera store guys told me once their C-41 machine stops working they will stop C-41. But I didn't find it as disturbing. I'm DIY.

Minilabs or local processing is scarce here. I do not know one minilab that takes film, only one that prinsts out digital files. For the rest there are plants of industrial finishers.

Xmas · Jan 5, 2016

I bought a few cassettes of HP5+ in local pharmacy and the counter assistant explained that they would need to send it away for processing,... I explained it was easy, leg of frog ... She just smiled.

removed account4 · Jan 5, 2016

AgX said:
But likely not for lack of machines or parts, but rather for the repair getting uneconomic due to little work I assume . But that issue would exist even with manufacturers still offering new machines.
Though then, funding provided, a repair or substítute was only a phone call away.

yeah its becasue of lack of things to be developed and the expense of having it ready to run and nothing to run through it.
she is the last mini lab that i know in the area, there are a few pro labs but they are IDK a 40 min round trip ( maybe more than that )
mail away is always an option, and there is the last "prosumer" store in the area .. i stopped by last week and they still have send out
( although from what i hear from colleagues who have used them as send out, it is not a very good idea to give them the film )
i havent given up on color i'll just get it by other means .. and as far as i know my mini lab will still be able to print things just not process them...

Jessestr · Jan 5, 2016

Most small labs won't be processing too much as big players like MeinFilmLab (Germany), Indie Film Lab, Richard Photo Lab and numerous other labs take the market. They stand for quality and professionality. I would never trust a local lab (these days) to send my work to. I love the relationship I have with my lab and they are currently even moving to a bigger location due to the high demand of rolls.

I think if you want a good lab you need to reach customers internationally and have excellent online marketing. AFAIK are the machines pretty easy to get from all over the world, they are expensive but if you have enough clients it's worth getting them... but for local labs, I guess they are pretty much dead. I shoot 90% B/W and develop myself but when I shoot C41 I always send it to my lab. They do my developing, scanning and printing. They know what I like and it's a professional market.

CropDusterMan · Jan 5, 2016

I have completely abandoned color neg and E6., sad to admit. I rarely shoot color any more digitally either.
As long as they still make HP5 and PYRO, I'm fine in my home lab. I used to hand process E6
and C41 with the old Agfa kits back in the 90's .

Roger Cole · Jan 5, 2016

For now I just send C41 and E6 to Dwayne's. When I get a decent scanner I will probably start doing my own E6 and, when/if I get back into RA4 printing, my own C41. I've done both before with no issues with a tub of water for temperature control but now that I have a Jobo they are as easy as black and white. For right now though I like getting back scans (even though Dwayne's scans are poor) and prints, neither of which I can equal myself right now, even the relatively poor scans. I shoot E6 mainly for projection but want/need the scans for sharing easily for other purposes.

A very disturbing conversation...

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