Cheapest place to develop film?

Vsanzbajo · May 3, 2011

I need a decent place to develop film. I just developed 2 24 exp in CVS and it cost me $22. I can afford that twice a week. Any ideas? I live in Berkeley, CA.
Thanks

RalphLambrecht · May 3, 2011

Home!

Nicholas Lindan · May 3, 2011

I take it you are using C41 - then Costco & Wallmart are the cheapest. Just had a 36 exp roll of XP2 developed (no prints) for $1.49 at Costco.

If it's B&W then Ralph's answer is correct: Home.

markbarendt · May 3, 2011

RalphLambrecht said:
Home!

removed account4 · May 3, 2011

is it c-41 or b/w ?

there are lots of send out options ... ( for both ! )
but keep in is the cheapest ..
john

Vsanzbajo · May 3, 2011

Color, and home is not an option. Not enough space.

Jon Shiu · May 3, 2011

If you just need the film developed and no prints, they will develop the film for like $3/roll.

Jon

OldBodyOldSoul · May 3, 2011

Vsanzbajo said:
Color, and home is not an option. Not enough space.

Are you serious? That must have been slide film then? :confused:
CVS in Houston charges $9.99/$12.99 for one/two rolls of c-41 all with prints and index card. I asked them to only develop four test rolls (36exp) and it cost me $2.99/roll. True, the quality of their work is not worth even that much, but for rolls that are not overly important it's acceptable.
What they charged you is not much, if any, cheaper than pro labs.

Vsanzbajo · May 3, 2011

With prints. I thought it was expensive. I need to find somewhere cheaper.

Athiril · May 3, 2011

Vsanzbajo said:
Color, and home is not an option. Not enough space.

Apart from the extra bottles, it doesn't take any more space to do colour.

Vsanzbajo · May 3, 2011

I meant, I am doing color. And that I have not enough space in my house to develop.

Marc B. · May 3, 2011

Try Blue Moon or Citizens, both are here in Portland, OR USA.
Either firm offers standard or custom developing, by hand or machine, snip testing, push-pull processing, traditional or digital darkroom, with custom color correction and printing options. Of course, prices increase proportionally depending on the extent of additional services applied.

http://www.bluemooncamera.com/services.php

Dead Link Removed

Two23 · May 3, 2011

Very, very few Walmarts can develop film at the store any more. They do have send out service to Fuji, and it's much more reasonable.

Kent in SD

removed account4 · May 3, 2011

yep,

walmart ( send out ) must still send to fujji, they are way
less then what you are paying

puptent · May 3, 2011

You might try Lattin Color Lab in Cedar Falls, IA phone 319-277-7600 <service@lattinlab.com> They use Nitrogen burst system and will only do C-41. I believe basic development is under $2.50, and then you pay extra per frame for scan. They used to print from negs, but now I think they put everything on a CD/DVD. These guys seem to do a lot of work for class picture and wedding photographers as they have a big catalog/pricelist with different packages. I've used them, but there is shipping back and forth, too. pup

Josh Harmon · May 4, 2011

If you don't mind making the trip out to Concord (Eastbay), Action Photo does C-41 for about $6 (120 Roll no Prints), professional hanger type development. Excellent quality, they also do E-6 and B/W. Their website is: http://www.actionphotoservice.com/

Josh

agphotography · May 4, 2011

My local Costco no longer handles film unfortunately. They definitely were a decent place to go. I'd check there if you have one in your area. Down here in Orange County I get my C-41 processed at Samy's Camera for $4 a roll. They do full service if I want scans or prints or anything, but I just scan them myself so it's not terribly expensive.

Check your local photo stores, they will probably have some good suggestions. Look for the film nerds

Excalibur2 · May 4, 2011

Anybody in the UK (near London), these people look interesting haven't tried them yet but development of:- c41 35mm and 120 and E6 for £2 is cheap.

http://www.genieimaging.co.uk/index_red.htm
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also large Asda (owned by Costco) will develope 35mm and scan to CD with index (thumbnails of shots) all in a nice presented package and will do it in 1 hour while you shop, not weekends tho'................all for £3

Jeff Kubach · May 4, 2011

Use a phone book and call around.

Jeff

Pumalite · May 4, 2011

Or Santiago, Chile: 1 buck

ME Super · May 4, 2011

If you have a Sam's Club near you that develops film (not all of them do), a roll of 24 exp. with 4x6 prints (process C-41 only) is $3.88 plus tax. For slide film, Wal-Mart send-out service (Fuji) turns the film around in about 10 days (I spoke with Fuji last night about a roll I dropped off on last Tuesday morning and they said it is scheduled to be back at the store this Saturday). They pick up 3 times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings) at my local store.

ME Super

barzune · May 5, 2011

Sorta like asking what's the cheapest place to date a decent girl. Maybe depends on your definition of decent. Maybe depends on the girl.

Pumalite · May 5, 2011

I lived 45 years in the U.S.A getting some Doctorates and in Private Practice. I can tell you quality is better and prices are cheaper in Chile today compared to U.S.A. I wish Forums were as good as APUG.

elgato · May 8, 2011

To the OP, if you need prints the Costco in Albany is the place to go. I haven't been in 6 months or so, but used to drop my film there regularly when I worked in the area. They have a good staff on their photo counter there. Processing plus prints is about $6. Processing plus scans is also about $6. Of course, you have to fork over $50/year or so if you're not already a member, but where else are you going to get Mexican Coke by the case?

If you just want processing and scans, CVS does it for $5.50.

Coffeehound · May 8, 2011

My local Wal-Mart still does C-41 and for around $5 or $6 I get the roll of 35mm developed and burned to CD with an index print. Also here in town the local Walgreen's still does C-41, their prices a dollar or two more. For 6x6 I found the "Darkroom" San Clemente CA does real good work and the one roll that I have sent in, I got 12 5"x5" prints, low res CD scans and the negatives cut 3 frames to a strip for $19. For B&W I am doing that at home with Coffee....

Cheapest place to develop film?

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