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Berlin Photo Labs, Stores, and Darkrooms

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cbphoto

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I'm heading to Berlin next month and plan to shoot and develop constantly. Are there any labs that specialize in black and white, and possibly even have the choice to use Rodinal? How about rental darkrooms, which should be much cheaper? I only need to develop - I'll print when I get home. Of the regular labs (non-custom), which ones use the best, non-scratching sleeving, and deliver scratch-free negatives in general?

Also, I'll need to restock my film at some point. Any great deals on Foma 400 anywhere?

Thanks!
 
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cbphoto

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Cool idea for a site, but nothing listed for Berlin. I've found a couple just through Google, but personal recommendations are always good :smile:
 
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cbphoto

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Thanks. I know this is probably the place to buy film, but is their developing good? Specifically, do they scratch negs?
 

David Allen

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There are at least 11 darkrooms in Berlin listing on Ilford's darkroom finder site - a mixture of rental darkrooms, tuition darkrooms and private darkrooms that are willing to offer access to others.

To answer your question as best that I can:

Pretty much your only choice for a wide range of analogue materials is Foto Impex:

http://www.fotoimpex.de

They own the Adox brand and produce a wide range of chemicals, paper, film, etc plus produce Adonol (based on original Rodinal formula) and stock items you might not be familiar with such as the chemicals from Moersch and Spur and, naturally, they also stock all the usual films.

You can also pre-order stuff through their website and have it sent to their shop in Berlin (good idea if you are after something not run of the mill as they do not stock everything in the shop).

They also have a processing service. I have never used them but, judging from the quality of the prints on display, I wouldn’t assume they are that great.

Pixel Grain are a pretty big lab in Berlin - but again I have never used them.

http://pixelgrain.com

Viertel for achy is another lab in Prenzlauer Berg that always seems busy - but again I have never used them.

http://www.vv8.de

Other specialist labs that I have heard of are:

http://www.schwarz-weiss-labor.de

http://www.ulrich-hagel-labor.de

Depending on the actual dates you will be in Berlin, I might be able to help you out with processing yourself in my darkroom. It is no palace and located in an old arts complex but it would suffice for processing your films. Water is terrible (victorian pipes) but as long as you use distilled water (costs 2€ for 5 litres) for mixing developer and final wash there are no problems.

The only rental darkrooms that I have heard of (but not used) is Ida Nowhere:

http://www.ida-nowhere.com

By the way, when you are in Berlin you must check out 25 books. It is a goldmine full of books made by photographers, small independent publishers, etc.

Bests,

David
www.dsallen.de
 
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cbphoto

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David - thank you so much! What an answer! I'm looking into those labs. That's a very generous offer regarding your darkroom, and I'll contact you privately if I don't find a reasonable alternative, but it looks like there are some good options. Really appreciate that.

I just figured out what I was doing wrong on the localdarkroom site. I wasn't clicking the country total and drilling down.
 

Henning Serger

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Well, in addition to David Allens very detailed reply here are some more labs:

Gröger&Gerstenberg:
http://www.diaentwicklung.de/

Jochen Rohner:
Dead Link Removed

GoLab:
http://www.golab.de/

I.N.A.:
http://www.ina-labor.de/

Photofachlabor ba ap:
http://www.ba-ap.com/

Imago Fotokunst:
Dead Link Removed

Fotofachlabor Andreas Fröbe:
Prenzlauer Allee 26, 10405 Berlin, Tel. 030 / 442 16 73, no website.

Analog Fineprint Service:
Dead Link Removed

Mobile Dunkelkammer Sabine Alex:
http://mobile-dunkelkammer.blogspot.de/

And you have the biggest camera in the world, where you go into it for full-body self-portraits:
http://imagocamera.com/

Furthermore there are several photo shops with Mini-Labs as well, like e.g.
http://www.dasbild.berlin/

And camera shops, even two spezialising on classic film cameras.

Furthermore, like in all other German cities as well, you have the drugstore chain shops (mainly Rossmann and dm): They all offer consumer colour negative film, consumer slide film and BW film (either BW 400 CN in Rossmann shops, or AgfaPhoto APX 100 New in dem shops).And they all offer C41, E6 and BW film development.

As a film shooter you can have an excellent life in Berlin!
Enjoy it, and enjoy the city.

I wish you a nice trip,
best regards,
Henning
 
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cbphoto

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Wow! Thanks, Henning! That's a great list. Looks like Berlin is amazing for film photography :smile:.
 

Henning Serger

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Wow! Thanks, Henning!

You're welcome.

That's a great list. Looks like Berlin is amazing for film photography :smile:.

Well, it is indeed.
And as a photographer you will find more than enough being worth to be photographed!

Of course I've forgotten some shops and labs. There is so much in Berlin that it is difficult to remember all.

Here are some further shops / labs:

http://www.phototechnik-berlin.de/

http://www.asa90.com/

http://www.fotopioniere.com/

http://www.calumetphoto.de/INTERSHO...DomainName=Calumet-Stores&CategoryName=berlin

http://www.foto-leistenschneider.de/Filiale-Berlin/

And even more including repair shops:
http://www.bildraum-f.com/fachgeschaefte-kamera-und-objektive

Well, your first visit should be Fotoimpex.

Best regards,
Henning
 
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cbphoto

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Thanks again, Henning! A lot of great information here.
 
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