Conspiracy to eliminate film? (processing costs)

Jayd · May 25, 2009

well likely not: but it is getting harder find places that do film and much more expensive here in the midwest
A certain chain camera store charged me $7.95 to C41 process a 12 exp roll and make 9 prints.
Typically prints from digital are 19 cents, some places as much as 29 cents, and on sale as low as 10 cents in the same 4x6 size. I checked and 120 E6 will be $9.99. not sure what outrageous price meduim format C41 process and print is. And this is not a custom pro lab.

I fear the economics has turned the corner

Jay

Ektagraphic · May 25, 2009

I find many places charge 24exp. price for a 12exp. roll.

nickandre · May 25, 2009

Medium format E6 is expensive, period, unless you do it yourself. Then it's pretty cheap. Actually, E6 is a specialty now so it's all expensive.

TheOtherEast · May 25, 2009

Most non-camera stores want 7-9 dollars for one roll of Kodak Max.

One Roll.

Christopher Walrath · May 25, 2009

And many CEO's of these anti-film processers answer to one being and one being only. And that being is . . .

The almighty armadillo. That's right. It has been well documented over the past few years that the animal conspiracy has been alive and well. Those who cannot walk upright, accesorize or have opposible thumbs have got it in for those of us who can. And this is not just the beginning. It began with carp jumping into boats in the upper midwest, impaling fishermen and attempting to knock them to their murky depths. Some deer charge their corralers even though those guards are armed. Bears show a blatant disregard for personal safety, moving past the comfort and security of the occasional PB&J carelessly tossed into the garbage and now blocking vital arteries of traffic by merely strolling.

Who knew that such, apparently innocent behaviour would result in such mayhem? It was unthought of that the animals would turn against those who named them so lovingly in that garden in the histories of yore. One might think they could show a little bit of gratitude. Humility even. No, they have pushed things too far. And if we do not act soon it may be too late. The squirrels aren't cute in picnic areas, they are planting listening devices in your jars of peanut butter. The penguins aren't being cool and waddly in their self imposed zoo homes, they are guaging your attention span. And it doesn't stop there. Don't get me started on goldfish. It's just too disturbing.

So, the next time you see a bird flying through the air, just remember, there are ten around the corner observing you. Oh, and the dogs are our friends. And the lemurs. Let's face it. Anything with cool tails like that could not possibly be on the outs with us.

Something for us all to consider the next time we get Wally World to develop a roll of film instead of doing it our-daggoned-selves.

DannL · May 25, 2009

You can get "C41 development only" for 24 exposure rolls for about $1.79 - $1.89 at Walmart. That is, if you don't need prints.

I don't do C41 at home, and Walmart can't deal with 48-72 exposures per roll. So, I tell them to "develop only" and they give me a real good price. I cut and scan the negatives myself, and if a shot is worthy of printing I'll either print it at home or upload it to them for printing. "Digimatically"

If you're using standard 35mm frame sizes, you might get a better deal on "development only", evaluate them, and get those negatives that are worthy of printing printed at later date.

For me color fit into my budget when I found out they would develop only. Having them "develop and scan, no prints" might be a cheap alternative. I have never asked.

Jeff Kubach · May 26, 2009

Where I live there is Costco that does C-41 process. It is $3.99 per 24 exp. which I think is reasonable.

Jeff

lns · May 26, 2009

My camera store just increased prices for development/print, too. Ouch. But they are surely running fewer rolls than they used to, while still needing to maintain their machines and pay the very experienced operator. I know their sales of cameras and supplies are down, too; everyone's sales are down. It's a crummy economy. A different longtime local camera store will be closing soon, as a developer is buying their site. Our Target only has send-out service for film. Our Costco is 20 minutes away.

As volume decreases, and competitors vanish, the remaining places are going to raise prices.

I personally don't shoot that much color film. So even with higher prices it still costs less than the alternative. It now will cost me about $15 a roll for the film plus developing and printing a 36-exposure roll. But I probably run only 50 color films over the course of a year. So it's less than $800 per year for me. Not to mention that the lab does all the work to color-balance, etc., instead of me, and pays for the paper and ink, instead of me. Not to mention that I just prefer the results from film.

When I think of it that way, it seems like a great deal.

-Laura

BetterSense · May 26, 2009

Around here Target still does 35mm C41 develop-only for $.99.

B&Wpositive · May 26, 2009

Tell me about it. I just paid approx. $26 US (that was after a discount) to cross a roll of E6 into C-41 at a pro lab (develop only, no prints). They mixed up a small batch of chemicals just for it. I like to give them a little business once in a while, especially in return for the free lectures they hold.

Q.G. · May 26, 2009

It's not a conspiracy aimed at making us stop using film.

It's a conspiracy aimed at having us all start processing our films ourselves.

Jayd · May 26, 2009

Unfotunately the WalMarts I frequent in central Ohio USA have stopped in store film processing and raised the price of the Fuji send out hint the preimum is so much better! they throw your film on the floor with regular service you think I'm joking but I have gotten reg service negs back covered with dirt.
You all have given me some new places to check.
I'm interested what it would take to do your own E6 I had always though the equipment for temp control and chemstry was expensive, I looked at B&H and they won't ship E6 chemistry.
Even buying anything but bottom of the line Kodak or comsumer Fuji film is difficult with my best source being Midwest Photo Exchange in columbus, The last Chain of "camera" stores Cord here has stoped stocking pro films or even higher grade comsumer like Kodak HD in 35mm let alone anything in 120 or 220.
one of My fave 35 films is Kodak HD 400 but don't know where I can find it now.

Wish they had spell check on here!
and does anyone else have trouble with quick reply ? I have to use advanced

Thanks
Jay

Jayd · May 26, 2009

The armadillos thing is that like NAFTA ?
I think the goal of NAFTA is to make all workers into beast of burden.

Jay

Jayd · May 26, 2009

Armidillos ? NAFTA connection ?

The armadillos thing is that like NAFTA ?
I think the goal of NAFTA is to make all workers into beast of burden.

Jay

Lightproof · May 26, 2009

One roll costs me about 4 to 6 Euros. Developing costs me about 5 to 6 Euro per roll, Scanning costs 15 Euro, 13cm x 13cm prints (B&W) are about 3,10 Euro per print.
Troubles like the use of wrong process or scanning in B&W instead of colour included.

That means, I will start buying darkroom gear and a scanner as soon as possible.

Bluechapel · May 26, 2009

What scares me more than the price is this: as the 'local' stores (Costco, WalMart, etc) run fewer rolls, it seems they spend less time on quality and maintenence of equipment. I've had 2 rolls come back with scum on the negs, torn sprockets and general signs of a machine jamb.

I run mine, but the wife (who also still shoots film!) drops hers off for processesing.

brianmquinn · May 26, 2009

If you are looking for cheap developing in the USA check out Snapfish.
I have tried them since the lab I was using closed.
The quality is not as good but the price is great.
They provide postage paid mailers and it only takes a week to get my pictures back. It is $4.98 for single prints and 1000x1500 images can be downloaded from their web site for 5 cents each. Meaning developing, proof prints and digital files for only $7.

BetterSense · May 26, 2009

They don't take 120 film, though. Then again, neither does walmart in-house, but walmart send-out seems to take anything that has an emulsion.

ilford_king · May 27, 2009

Prices have gone up, that's not what bothers me. Quality has gone WAY down in my opinion, some of the stuff these "pro labs" do to my film I would have been fired for when I used to be a lab rat. I got some C-41 back from a "pro lab" charging me $6/roll to process only, and there were chemical stains, scratches, and fingerprints on all my films. They then proceeded to tell me they don't actually do the processing in house anymore and shipped my film to some other lab (without my approval). I never thought I would have a need to do my own C-41 when the price and quality used to be so reliable (hell 10-years ago even Wall-Mart could be trusted to do C-41), but nowadays the JOBO is looking more and more attractive.

Paul Jenkin · May 27, 2009

Conspiracy? I don't think so. It's just basic economics. Like it or not, digital photography has achieved critical mass and most photo processing booths are tooled up primarily for digital.

I definitely don't want film to be either in imminent danger of disappearing or so expensive that I can't afford to use it / have it processed any more as I have invested a healthy amount of my income in 3 SLRs / lenses and a MF kit. However, despite loving film, I have also invested in the digital medium as I find it a very enjoyable experience and I'm not hung up on having to use analogue from start to finish.

I only ever use a local pro photographer's shop for negative / slide processing as I've had poor experiences with larger franchises in the UK. The way I look at it is that I spend good money on the best equipment and film I can afford and I spend money travelling to some beautiful / interesting locations, so why would I entrust my film to anyone I don't know will produce at least good quality results?

As my dad used to say, "Quality pays, not costs".

amuderick · May 27, 2009

If you want something done right, you've gotta do it yourself. It is unfortunate, but true. I develop my own E-6 for $1.50/roll. I needed about $60 in equipment to do it.

viridari · May 27, 2009

amuderick said:
If you want something done right, you've gotta do it yourself. It is unfortunate, but true. I develop my own E-6 for $1.50/roll. I needed about $60 in equipment to do it.

I'd like to hear more detail on your workflow and equipment. I've been processing my own B&W's for the last 6 months and would like to start doing C41 & E6 as well.

dr5chrome · May 28, 2009

..i have to shake my head at most of these posts:confused::confused:

Paul J seems to be the only one who has any scene here.

The rest need a serious reality check on the cost of running a lab and what it actually cost to produce quality work today.

dw

2F/2F · May 28, 2009

Quality lab work is expensive, and you always get what you pay for. I process myself when I have the time. If I am feeling like spoiling myself, or doing E-6, I take the stuff to a decent pro lab in Hollywood: A and I. Their quality is good, though they are expensive and seem to have problems with special instructions. Their turnaround is very good. If you learn their batch times, you can have your film back in an hour. Otherwise, it is only four or five hours. When I do not need as good as I can get, or I don't have the time and gas money to drive across town in traffic twice (and that means something totally different in L.A. than it means most places), I pay $4 a roll at CVS, and know that I will get crappy processing in bad chemicals and that my film will be manhandled by people who are just kids from the neighborhood without the slightest clue about ANYTHING photo related. Nonetheless, their processing does give usable negs (after some cleanup). I have got printable pix all of these ways...but you always get what you pay for, either in labor/time or in money.

FWIW, the folks at the pro lab counter (pretty girls and people with British accents seem to be the stereotype) know just about as much about film as the kids at CVS. You are paying for the machines, and the people in the back who run them, and really do know film.

Solarize · May 28, 2009

My local lab charge £6.50 process only for C-41 - and the results are awfull! The pro lab I'm using charges £7.50 process only, but travel and time add to the cost considerably. Like others have said, I might start doing it myself.

Conspiracy to eliminate film? (processing costs)

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