I finally have my 4x5 setup completed and am about to give it a test run tomorrow. I seem to have a bit of a problem though. I'll be shooting B&W as well as a few 4x5 slides, but I will not be able to develop the latter, and so will have to take them to my local shop to get processed. I was wondering what you all put your unprocessed slides in when you drop them off. Surely I don't leave them in the holder and give that to the shop, do I? Thanks for any help you can offer!
An empty three part film box. Clearly marked with film type, number of sheets and push/pull instructions. You can tape it closed or give the E-6 tech a break by using rubber bands.
Yup, that's how it's done. If you don't have a spare box, you can remove your unshot film from the box you have, put it in an opaque bag and in another box or envelope to free up the film box for the lab.
I used to occasionally put film in an opaque bag and an envelope for the lab, if I didn't have a spare box handy, but I've found that this occasionally leads to confusion, so it's safer to give them the film in a film box.
If you don't have any spare film boxes you can take the film to the lab in the holders and ask them to "down load" the holders. Although some labs will charge a dollar or so for the service.
The turn around time at the lab I've been using is very fast so I've just given them the film holders with all the info on the film in a bag with the holders. Mind you I haven't shot much colour in 4x5, and I'm relatively new at this so maybe I'm doing it wrong.