Cheap processing in the UK?

Robert Kennedy · Jul 8, 2005

Hello all - Long time, no see. Been very busy. I will upload the results tonight so you can see what I have been up to...

Anyway, a friend of mine just moved to the UK and is finding it very pricey to get her film developed. She lives in Bury St. Edmunds and her husband is in the Air Force so money is tight.

I am thinking that maybe there is either a cheap supply of film developer she can tap into or maybe even some good recipes requiring cheap chemicals and some simple mixing.

Any help?

mikeg · Jul 8, 2005

Hello,

I'm assuming that your friend wants to develop her own film rather than get it processed elsewhere which will be expensive. Probably about the cheapest is to go for some Agfa Rodinal. Her local Jessops may have some, or they can order it for her. It'll cost about 9 pounds and by buying it locally she'll save on postage. Then she can use the 1+50 dilution for economy. She can use water instead of a stop bath.

Another alternative would be to use ID-11 at a dilution of 1+3. That gives nice tonality, however the Rodinal will be cheaper and the concentrate lasts forever.

Hope that helps

Mike

Ben Taylor · Jul 8, 2005

mikeg said:
Her local Jessops may have some, or they can order it for her.

It is worth looking to see if her local Jessops have a 'bargain bin', the one in Norwich occasionally has one - I've picked up 'out of date' Rodinal for £1 there before.

127 · Jul 8, 2005

mikeg said:
Hello,
Probably about the cheapest is to go for some Agfa Rodinal. Her local Jessops may have some, or they can order it for her. It'll cost about 9 pounds and by buying it locally she'll save on postage.

Retrophotographic do Calbe R09/Foma F09 rodinal for £2.95 for 250ml (or 11.95 a litre if you need that much!). Dilute 40+1.

Not sure I'd use it for 35mm, but it doesn't get much cheaper. The bottle is tiny, so postage is low. Their Ecostop/Ecofix is FAR cheaper than you'll pick up locally (and I'd much rather give my cash to retro than jessops!).

Ian

gareth harper · Jul 8, 2005

Have a look at www.7dayshop.com for good film prices. Their sister site does a good quality affordable E6 service.

As for chemicals, the powder stuff like ID11 is dirt cheap. Or if you want a liquid developer rodinal is good (lovely with tri-x) if a little grainy. At about 8 quid for 500ml, at 1+50 dillution it will dev a lot of film! And it keeps for years once opened.

roteague · Jul 8, 2005

Robert Kennedy said:
Hello all - Long time, no see. Been very busy. I will upload the results tonight so you can see what I have been up to...

Anyway, a friend of mine just moved to the UK and is finding it very pricey to get her film developed. She lives in Bury St. Edmunds and her husband is in the Air Force so money is tight.

I am thinking that maybe there is either a cheap supply of film developer she can tap into or maybe even some good recipes requiring cheap chemicals and some simple mixing.

Any help?

Almost every military base has a hobby shop for military and their familes. Many have darkroom facilities. Have her check there.

Cheap processing in the UK?

Robert Kennedy

mikeg

Ben Taylor

127

gareth harper

roteague

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