Nice to see this messaging from a store chain these days

skorpiius · Feb 12, 2017

Stumbled upon the Film Processing page on the London Drugs website, which is a chain of drug stores across western Canada:

While cell phones and digital cameras have largely taken over the photographic industry, FILM PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT DEAD! It's alive and well in the London Drugs Photo Department and particularly attractive to a generation that never had to wait longer than half a second to see the results of their snap! To accommodate these up and coming film photographers and artists (and those who are just too darn stubborn to make the leap to digital) we continue to maintain and update our tools, the know-how and in some cases the creativity to give our customers the quality they expect from a London Drugs photograph.

as well as promoting single use

Since the only part of the single-use that actually needs a battery is the flash, a dead battery doesn't leave you completely camera-less unlike a phone that could leave you high and dry after 52 levels of candy crush. So if you're camping or find yourself with no phone (GASP) or a dead phone battery, a single-use camera could save the day!

Worried you might damage your new Iphone while skiing? Single-use camera. Afraid your DSLR will get lost or stolen at a concert or festival? Single-use camera. Want to allow the guests at your wedding to take some photos from a different perspective? You guessed it – single-use cameras.

These cameras also come in an underwater style which means yes, you can take them underwater!

Toy cameras

The lenses may be slightly warped or something might not fit quite perfectly which lends itself to light leaks, flares and differential focus. I can literally hear your OCD squirming, but seriously, this is like the original Instagram! If you want funky colors and effects that make your images truly one-of-a-kind, this is an AWESOME way to go. And don't forget World Toy Camera Day is October 16th this year!

Pinhole cameras

If you really want to get down to the nitty gritty and McGyver a camera out of a matchbox, a pop can some film and tape... GO FOR IT! I'm not kidding you. It really is this simple to create your own pin-hole camera and you may even have everything you need on-hand right this second.

plus C41 and

E6 processing

Remember the good old days when Grandma & Grandpa came back from a trip to Hawaii and the whole family gathered together in front of the projection screen to see the gorgeous slideshow of the entire journey? No? You are MISSING OUT! Slide film can produce crisp, vibrant photographic-like tiny images on what's called a 'positive.' During the chemical process, slide film undergoes a process called a reversal bath which creates the positive image.

Never expected a chain to present that kind of analog messaging, kudos to them

Now if only they would re-introduce 120 film processing.. sigh.

http://www.londondrugs.com/film-processing/film-processing.html

MattKing · Feb 12, 2017

I've got a London Drugs just a few blocks from me that still processes 35mm C41. I'm glad of the opportunity to have them process some of my film. I do wish though that they hadn't gone to ink jet printers only.

skorpiius · Feb 12, 2017

MattKing said:
I've got a London Drugs just a few blocks from me that still processes 35mm C41. I'm glad of the opportunity to have them process some of my film. I do wish though that they hadn't gone to ink jet printers only.

From chatting with the guys there my impression is most still do C41, and perhaps two, one in Calgary and in the GVR still do slides, but you can have film sent to one of those two from any LD

AgX · Feb 12, 2017

About two years ago one of the two major german drugstore chains decorated their complete store fronts with icons of a few products they sell. Those included type 135 cassettes.
Meanwhile both chains have cancelled their house-brand films...

But still they are the easiest way to obtain b&w, CN, CR films and their processing.

silveror0 · Feb 12, 2017

At 88, I can still get an adrenalin rush by setting up my two Ektagraphic projectors, dissolve unit, and 70x70 inch lenticular screen and put on the slide show from a 1974 10-day backpack/climbing trip with a friend into the Canadian Rockies (Brazeau Icefield/Maligne Lake) traverse. All Leica slides with Kodachrome II, Kodachrome 25. The slides are still pristine - as good as when they were first processed. Although I've sold off all my 35mm and MF stuff, I'm still using large format b/w 4x5, 5x7, 8x10 and loving every minute of it. My friend, a bit older than me, has always been only interested in "colour" work and is now spending his time at a computer, digitizing and photoshoping his old transparencies (35 & 4x5); so we no longer have much in common photographically but enjoy reminiscing and laughing about the good times, while our wives diplomatically try to change the subject.

MattKing · Feb 12, 2017

I should mention that London Drugs has centralized their 35mm E6 processing to one lab - the one in the Vancouver BC store on Victoria Street. They mount the slides, and the in lab service is reasonable in cost, prompt and appears to be high quality. Their store - store transfer time is a bit slow though.

David Lyga · Feb 13, 2017

They are aping, analogically, the 'death' of the 33 rpm LP phonograph record. That, also, refuses to die.

There is something utterly life-enhancing about using technology which has been duly affirmed, technologically completed, and aesthetically whole. - David Lyga

MattKing · Feb 13, 2017

David Lyga said:
They are aping, analogically, the 'death' of the 33 rpm LP phonograph record. That, also, refuses to die.

They actually sell a fair number of LPs. In fact, they have as much shelf space devoted to LPs as to CDs.

David Lyga · Feb 13, 2017

Funny, funny, funny, Matt. I wonder why and if my 5,000 record set of classical music was to no avail. - David Lyga

skorpiius · Feb 13, 2017

MattKing said:
I should mention that London Drugs has centralized their 35mm E6 processing to one lab - the one in the Vancouver BC store on Victoria Street. They mount the slides, and the in lab service is reasonable in cost, prompt and appears to be high quality. Their store - store transfer time is a bit slow though.

Interesting, about a year ago I got slides done in 2 days, perhaps that Calgary machine finally died.

skorpiius · Oct 24, 2017

skorpiius said:
Interesting, about a year ago I got slides done in 2 days, perhaps that Calgary machine finally died.

Was there last week. Indeed the E6 machine at the Mount Royal location in Calgary did finally kick the bucket, so as mentioned it is all sent to a store in the Vancouver area.

GRHazelton · Oct 24, 2017

Ah, you Sweet Canadians are so fortunate! I don't know of any drug store chain in my area - Atlanta - perhaps in the US, which processes film. Eckard used to be adequate, but the last time I tried a nearby store the results were dismal, and sloooooow!

Sirius Glass · Oct 24, 2017

Well that is nice to see London Drugs thoughtfulness and care about film. At the moment they are a bit far to me to just drop in one of their stores.

skorpiius · Oct 25, 2017

GRHazelton said:
Ah, you Sweet Canadians are so fortunate! I don't know of any drug store chain in my area - Atlanta - perhaps in the US, which processes film. Eckard used to be adequate, but the last time I tried a nearby store the results were dismal, and sloooooow!

Yeah London Drugs is a weird one. The chain is only in western Canada, and they still advertise 1 hr processing (although it's more like 2-3 hr processing) for 35mm, and do slides in about a week. They also sell records, recently, so they seem to be taking a bit of chain store analog angle. I'm not complaining. Sadly to get 120 or b&w done I need to drive 90 mins north to a location of a small chain of stores that are in several Alberta cities, but not Calgary. (and they send them to Winnipeg for actual lab services).

Nice to see this messaging from a store chain these days

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