How hard is developing your own film really?

MattKing · May 27, 2024

Twiggy said:
Seems I can buy bulk film from B&H as they offer free shipping to Canada for orders over $99USD.

You will also pay GST + PST or HST (whatever applies in Ontario) plus any duty - it will be calculated and charged as part of the checkout process.
The duty rate will depend on where the film is originally manufactured.

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

MattKing said:
You will also pay GST + PST or HST (whatever applies in Ontario) plus any duty - it will be calculated and charged as part of the checkout process.
The duty rate will depend on where the film is originally manufactured.

Interesting.

I bought my 1L worth of DF96 powder form there, and no taxes or duties were charged, but it said it was CUSMA certified, and googling that it says it is a Can/US/Mexico free trade agreement, so that may explain it.

mshchem · May 27, 2024

When I flee the US for Canada I'm going to need a plan

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

I just put in a 5 pack of Portra 400 and a roll of Porta 800 and both are CUSMA qualified.

So I guess I just gotta make sure I buy things that are CUSMA qualified.

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

Woohoo

Kodak Trix 400 black and white CUSMA qualified!

Also 3 36exp 35mm rolls of kentmere 400 BW is $37 canadian total, only $1 more than the fuji color 200.

Looks like B&H is my savior.

Really a condemnation of Canadian prices, when I am better off buying from America though, lol.

If Fuji also had BW version on Amazon I'd just use that, but they don't.

MattKing · May 27, 2024

Kodak is made in the USA and therefore the duty rate is zero.
I'm not sure what duty rate applies to UK produced Ilford or Kentmere film.
FOMA film may attract a non-zero duty rate.
And no matter what, you should be charged GST + PST/HST on the duty paid value.

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

I always go with the "Fast and easy, pre-pay" so I see the total, including shipping, taxes and any duties.

so when I say 3 35mm kentmere 400 is $37.xx I mean it.

Les Sarile · May 27, 2024

Twiggy said:
I just put in a 5 pack of Portra 400 and a roll of Porta 800 and both are CUSMA qualified.

So I guess I just gotta make sure I buy things that are CUSMA qualified.

Generally speaking - when the scene exposure is challenging, you err on the side of overexposure when shooting most color and b&w films. I tested Portra 400 and never found out how much exactly even though I overexposed by 10 stops . . .

Kodak Portra 400 overexposure by Les DMess, on Flickr

With the mildest of post work, I was still able to get usable results from it.

I didn't go past +5 with the Ektar 100 at that time because it is a contrasty film and I didn't think it could go that far. I have since tested it to have an equal tolerance for overexposure.

If you know your film's exposure latitude, it could come in handy in times when your camera's meter recommends a shutter speed and you needed something different. For instance in this scene, my in camera average meter recommended 1/60 but I needed 2 seconds (7 stops over) to get that smooth water flow. Knowing that Fuji 100 color film can tolerate it, I shot it with confidence and this is what I got with standard processing, straight scan and practically no post work.

Fuji 100-26-26B by Les DMess, on Flickr

Having this much latitude, most times I don't even need the meter . . .

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

That looks really nice, and yes, this will certainly be a learning experience for me.

Les Sarile · May 27, 2024

You might also like to do some very long exposures and one always hears about reciprocity failure. All the fil datasheets I've read list maybe a 1 second exposure or so and then the caveat to try it out to see what results you get. So I've tried a few and everyone has come out with no need for exposure compensation.

Can really smooth out rough seas. This using Fuji 100

Fuji 100 30 seconds and 10 minute exposures by Les DMess, on Flickr

This one about 15 minutes on Kodak Portra 800 . . .

Kodak Portra 800-06_22B by Les DMess, on Flickr

Don_ih · May 27, 2024

@Twiggy - seems you've jumped into the deep end.

A good source for film and developing stuff is Film Experience Camera Store. Shipping is free if the total is over 150 but he only charges actual shipping cost if it's not. Since you can currently buy a roll of Foma 100 for $7.50 and a b&w developing kit for $20 (includes dev, stop, and fix, I think it's worth checking out. Located in Alberta.

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

Don_ih said:
@Twiggy - seems you've jumped into the deep end.

A good source for film and developing stuff is Film Experience Camera Store. Shipping is free if the total is over 150 but he only charges actual shipping cost if it's not. Since you can currently buy a roll of Foma 100 for $7.50 and a b&w developing kit for $20 (includes dev, stop, and fix, I think it's worth checking out. Located in Alberta.

Thank you!

Edit:
Unfortunately, I tried that. Put the $7.50 fomo pan in my cart. It only gave me one option for shipping - $20 flat rate. Making it $31 total after taxes.

Sirius Glass · May 27, 2024

I prefer XTOL or an equivalent because it is very forgiving of pouring and time errors as well as being a fine grain developer and having very smooth tonality.

Don_ih · May 27, 2024

Twiggy said:
Unfortunately, I tried that. Put the $7.50 fomo pan in my cart. It only gave me one option for shipping - $20 flat rate. Making it $31 total after taxes.

Well, perhaps he wised up and decided to simplify the shipping options. Anything that doesn't fit through a mail-slot needs to be shpped as a parcel, so it's not like he'd be able to ship it for anything less than $15 - not including packing material. The added $20 disappears pretty quickly if you buy a dozen rolls, some negative holders, and maybe a pouch of chemicals.

Anyway, I was just trying to let you know for the future. Film photography never stops costing money.

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

Oh yes, I expect that. I'll have to learn how to find a good deal.

yes that $20 shipping would be good if I bought a lot of things, but I already have a tank, reels, and developer on the way.

MFstooges · May 27, 2024

Les Sarile said:
Generally speaking - when the scene exposure is challenging, you err on the side of overexposure when shooting most color and b&w films. I tested Portra 400 and never found out how much exactly even though I overexposed by 10 stops . . .

Negative films, yes?

Les Sarile · May 27, 2024

MFstooges said:
Negative films, yes?

Yes

Luckless · May 27, 2024

Twiggy said:
Oh yes, I expect that. I'll have to learn how to find a good deal.

yes that $20 shipping would be good if I bought a lot of things, but I already have a tank, reels, and developer on the way.

Good deals come down to good planning and possibly a bit of luck, but be wary of the time costs in hunting too much for a 'good deal'.

For your first few rolls it might be worth simply eating the slightly higher cost per roll of dropping in to Henrys or any other semi-local shop, or eating the shipping costs for a smallish film order.

The goals of your early rolls are really to confirm:

- That you actually enjoy the process you're gearing up for
- That you can iron out your initial issues
- That the results you're getting are roughly in the ballpark of what you're looking for as an artist

Shoot a roll or two of the same film, get it developed, review and discuss what you achieved, and then make decisions from there.

The film and developer you start with don't have to be the last film and developer you explore, but you should at least practice with them till you're comfortable and consistent. Once you're comfortable and consistently getting the same sort of results, then you're in a position to make real changes, but avoid making multiple changes at once.

Take slow steps and move with confidence to dial in on what you want. You can save up and do a bigger bulk order of materials you think you want to work with when you have a better idea of all the basics. And as long as you're ordering known brands from reputable sources, then you can likely resell unopened film out of a bulk order if you change your mind on it down the road.

[Or don't. No one can actually stop you from making big jumps and bouncing around between every last product on the market in a chaotic mess, but just be aware that the chaos can be a long and frustrating path, even if it can be kind of fun to explore at first.]

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

So the conensus is that the color film will not give good BW results.

Thankfully since its through amazon, I can easily return it, which I will.

I will then get the 3 rolls of kentmere 200 from B&H since it works out to just $37 Canadian, only a dollar more than the color film.

Don_ih · May 27, 2024

Twiggy said:
3 rolls of kentmere

Probably could have mentioned also that Amplis is the official Ilford distributor for Canada. You could have bought 3 rolls of Kentmere 400 for $38 shipped (includes tax) from there. They're in Markham, I think.

Twiggy · May 27, 2024

I didn't buy the kentmere yet, so I'll try that.

Edit: Yup, just checked, that is indeed the case.

So, once the Fuji is returned and I get the refund, I will buy that.

mshchem · May 27, 2024

So this is duty-free for me here in Iowa ? Mach 0.94!!!

Don_ih · May 28, 2024

mshchem said:
So this is duty-free for me here in Iowa ?

You may need to sell your Hasselblad collection to get it, though.

pentaxuser · May 28, 2024

Twiggy said:
Niagara.

OK, when processing try and stay further away than Marilyn Monroe did. That close and water vapour might be a problem

pentaxuser

MFstooges · May 28, 2024

Next time I go to Victoria I may "accidentally have 2 cooler boxes full of film". That shouldn't be a problem eh?

How hard is developing your own film really?

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