Film shops and developing lab SF & LA

Alan_Silvester · Jun 16, 2018

I'll be travelling around the the west coast in August, flying from the uk. I'm planning on bring a camera with me but a bit worried about unexposed film on the plane going through security.

Can anyone give me an tips as to; a, places to buy kodak portra in LA / SF and b, where I could get my film developed before I fly back?

Thanks in advance.

BrianShaw · Jun 16, 2018

In LA, Hollywood to be more exact, is Freestyle. But there is also Samy’s (Two locations I believe) and another in Hollywood that I can’t recall it’s name.

EDIT: Mel Pierce is the other. I’ve only mailordered from them so forgot their name. All have been in business for a long time.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&ei=Ni0lW4P0BcX4tAWT5qmgDA&q=camera+store+los+angeles&oq=camera+store+hollywood+ca&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.1.1.0i71l5.0.0..17322...0....0.0.......0.5zm/QpI8uyk=

But unless exploring camera stores is a vacation goal, I wouldn’t worry about transporting film in carry-on bags.

EarlJam · Jun 16, 2018

If you're going to spend any time in Orange County (Disneyland, Laguna and Newport Beaches, etc.):

Pro Photo Connection, Irvine (not too far from John Wayne/Santa Ana airport and Newport Beach) - one of the last full-service shops in the area, with camera and film sales, rentals, and lab; color film processing generally turns around in 24 hours, B+W about 3 days, E-6 about a week. They always have a good supply of color and B+W film on hand, 35mm, 120, and 4x5

Fullerton Camera, Fullerton (about 7 miles from Disneyland) - camera and film sales, rentals; sends out film to The Darkroom, so turnaround is about a week.

karl · Jun 16, 2018

SF: Oscar's Photo Lab is good for C-41
SF: Glass Key for Portra sales

jgoody · Jun 16, 2018

+1 on Samys Camera in Los Angeles. Not sure if they process in house, but never had a problem. Plenty of film (and cameras!) as well.

Sirius Glass · Jun 16, 2018

jgoody said:
+1 on Samys Camera in Los Angeles. Not sure if they process in house, but never had a problem. Plenty of film (and cameras!) as well.

I use Samys too.
Here is a list of their locations: https://www.samys.com/stores

BAC1967 · Jun 16, 2018

There's The Darkroom in San Clemente, CA, they do a great job in both developing and scanning. I wouldn't bother going to the lab, just drop it in the mail before you fly home. I live near Seattle and use them for all my color developing, C41 and E6. You can print one of their pre-paid labels or have them send you the mailer, just drop it in a mail box before you leave. You will be able to download the scans and they will mail the negatives and a CD back to you, also prints if you order them. That's how I do it when I travel so I don't have to risk running my film through an X-ray. They are pretty fast, I usually can download my scans in less than a week from dropping it in the mail. They will ship international, if you go to the web site you can download the order form and mailing label. On the order form you can choose international shipping for $10.

https://thedarkroom.com/

rorye · Jun 17, 2018

In San Francisco Glass Key is a must see. Matt and Gordon have lots of film and they're just good guys running the kind of small store that used to be in every town.
Dead Link Removed
As Karl said, Oscar's is a great lab for C41.
http://oscarsphotolab.com/

Feel free to PM me if you need anything in SF.

Bill Burk · Jun 17, 2018

Up in SF area you do have a few stores... Here's a couple more.

I was happy to find film at San Jose Camera and Video one day as I was driving around.

But my favorite shop is Kaufmann's Camera in San Bruno.

Alan_Silvester · Jun 29, 2018

Thanks everyone!!

Film shops and developing lab SF & LA

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