Saving E6 in New Zealand

Nzoomed · Aug 15, 2013

Im concerned about the closure of E6 labs in NZ and what that may mean for photographers using E6 films here.
Kens has recently ceased processing E6, but Wellington photographics is taking over and bought their machine.
What should we suggest as a way of keeping E6 alive as long as possible here?

I dont know, but something needs to be done, myself have actually just started shooting it in the last 12 months, perhaps
a website could be started that helps promote shooting E6 films?

Would be great to hear any suggestions.

clayne · Aug 15, 2013

You need to encourage people to use it, unfortunately. Too many people take E6 for granted, IMO - or just plain never use it and hence don't actually have that much experience with slides, needing their minds to be opened if you will.

The other problem is that Aotearoa is actually Maori for '25$ a roll'.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 15, 2013

On my last trip to Christchurch in 2009, I found the place in Papanui to have ceased offering E6 processing; as a result, all my work had to be taken through umpteen X-Rays (which I hate doing) for the return trip home. Post-earthquake, I don't think that store exists now. Surely there are other E6 photographers around New Zealand; I can think of semi-regular APUG posters that come to mind? Your best option might be to mail over E6 jobbing to Melbourne or Sydney. It will be an exercise in patience and trust, but if E6 really does end in New Zealand, you've got to think outside the square, taking it wherever and whenever it is still available. Could be quite costly with postage, but you must exhaust all options before throwing in the towel.

clayne · Aug 15, 2013

And even then, you should still be able to process it at home fairly easily.

Nzoomed · Aug 16, 2013

Yes i could end up processing it by hand, although ive never dont it before, and dont have any temperature controlled heaters to keep everything at the right temperature.
Ive also read that its quite common to get colour shifts with the tental kits in particular.
I dont know if X-rays are an issue, but i will obviously have to send to Australia if that ever happens.
The biggest annoyance for me is scanning the film, i dont have a film scanner, i get my strips scanned when processed, and that costs almost as much as the developing, whats a good model of scanner that i should be on the lookout for? I dont want to pay the earth for one since im not doing anything at a professional level yet, but would want good resolution scans.

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 16, 2013

Epson V700 with Betterscan nega/transparency holders. Still not as a pro-lab drum scan for quite large prints. It has a full auto mode and you can choose between a basic or more advanced visual interface e.g. to control contrast, RGB, etc. Needs software to post-op images ex scanner (e.g. if creating print-ready files from scanner). Educate yourself in colourimetrics/profiling and be prepared for early disappointments along the knowledge curve. Take notes!!

Re X-Rays; my family went on a one month tour to Vancouver/BC/Alaska in June. Total count of X-ray machines passed through was 22 (!), including cruise terminals, Air Canada trips etc. I'm really not going to guess what affect that many passes would have on films, but there were also problems with digital images on memory cards becoming corrupt or unopenable; they got around this by requesting copies of the images from the shop in Victoria/BC where the pics were unloaded onto a CD. Interesting; possibility of x-rays affecting SD cards, or something else? Also happened to 6 other people on the same tour. No explanation found.

zk-cessnaguy · Aug 16, 2013

Photo Warehouse still does it at their Great North Road, Auckland shop. I had a couple rolls done about a month ago. I know for myself, the price of getting it processed reduces the number of rolls I shoot compared to b&w.

P C Headland · Aug 16, 2013

Imagelab in Wellington seem to process most of the E6 from this area, though the cleanliness has not always been as good as it could be.

I seem to recall there's a place in Palmerston North that also does E6.

Problem is, the volumes are down, so the prices go up, which causes the volumes to drop....It works out pretty expensive when shooting large format, and shooting 220 doesn't work out any cheaper per frame than 120.

Because of the cost of getting E6 developed, I tend to shoot B&W and develop at home, or shoot colour neg.

clayne · Aug 17, 2013

Would you do it at home if it cost you 5USD a roll in chemicals? Or even better, 1.75USD per roll? Tetenal 5L E6 is around 100USD. Obviously shipping will cost but it won't cost more than 50USD. You need an aquarium heater and a small cooler for a water bath. Chems should be ~38C for FD and CD steps. The rest are less critical. You can hand process this (plenty of people do) and think about all the saved money you could use to buy more slide film.

Chris Nielsen · Aug 17, 2013

I get all my C41 and E6 processed at filmsoup.co.nz

Excellent quality and she can do up to 4x5 I believe.

I highly recommend Film Soup.

Nzoomed · Aug 17, 2013

Chris Nielsen said:
I get all my C41 and E6 processed at filmsoup.co.nz

Excellent quality and she can do up to 4x5 I believe.

I highly recommend Film Soup.

thanks i will check them out, ive been sending my e6 to wellington photographics at present

Butch · Aug 20, 2013

Nzoomed said:
thanks i will check them out, ive been sending my e6 to wellington photographics at present

Another vote for Reatha at Film Soup. Excellent service and quality, I think she started her service in part to address these kinds of concerns, so the more people that support her the better!

rayonline_nz · Aug 24, 2013

What's this Kens place that just shut down?

Does Wellington Photographics now do E6? They used to send them of to Image Lab I was told but I got scratches from them before. I now export to Dwayannes Photo Lab and it's still lesser when you want the slides mounted too. I have noticed that the E6 processing have come back down to $20NZ? I am sure in the past it used to be more like $32NZ. And film is expensive to buy here I import them from Freestyle. At $40NZ a roll it's expensive. I have looked at Film Soup but it's expensive. I think Dwaynnes charge $9US for development mounted plus $2US on average to include P+P (both ways) when one sends them the max of 10 rolls at a time.

clayne · Aug 25, 2013

Guys, you really need to get the Tetenal or Fuji 5L kits and just do it yourself. The amount of money you save will afford you a heck of a lot more rolls of E6. NZ labs are ripping you off badly.

AgX · Aug 25, 2013

rayonline_nz said:
I have noticed that the E6 processing have come back down to $20NZ? I am sure in the past it used to be more like $32NZ. I think Dwaynes charge $9US for development mounted plus $2US on average to include P+P (both ways) when one sends them the max of 10 rolls at a time.

A reputable lab in Germany charges for E-6 processing 14NZ$ / 9NZ$ (type135/type120)

rayonline_nz · Aug 25, 2013

camera club since 2006 not one slide projector session ever, even c41 is rare here at the club. but that 20 figure now or 32 before didn't include mounting cardboard mounts might be 25c per frame, yeah it's free included in USA. so maybe 12 bucks for mounting. I checked out film soup prices they cost a bit more than 20 that the main labs charge maybe 25. I don't have the skill for color processing starting b/w in a week or two. .. and I really only shoot 10 rolls of e6 per year not colorful in Wellington prob better for b/w. and for b/w funny Ilford rapid fixer Wellington photographice was 5 less than photo warehouse and it was 1 litre pw was 500ml. shrugs shoulders and I got a 10% camera club discount but yeah in USA still half price will bring more back when next overseas and the film and inkjet ink and paper.

rayonline_nz · Aug 25, 2013

Funny that, I would get them off Freestyle when I get my film - you can get 25x 35mm flim sleeves sheets (ringbinders) for $5.50US I think. I bought a single sheet in the weekend for $1.50NZ or $1.25US isn't that ... I went to Japan have 2x b/w that I would do soon but I have shot 2x of Velvia that is being stored in the freezer until I get my 10x rolls up and I will ship it to the USA.

Nzoomed · Aug 25, 2013

rayonline_nz said:
What's this Kens place that just shut down?

Does Wellington Photographics now do E6? They used to send them of to Image Lab I was told but I got scratches from them before. I now export to Dwayannes Photo Lab and it's still lesser when you want the slides mounted too. I have noticed that the E6 processing have come back down to $20NZ? I am sure in the past it used to be more like $32NZ. And film is expensive to buy here I import them from Freestyle. At $40NZ a roll it's expensive. I have looked at Film Soup but it's expensive. I think Dwaynnes charge $9US for development mounted plus $2US on average to include P+P (both ways) when one sends them the max of 10 rolls at a time.

Kens cameras in Christchurch were processing E6 up to early this year, they lost alot of business after the earthquakes, and they sold their machine to Wellington Photographics, and they will be starting E6 processing soon, in the meantime they have been sending the films to another lab.

Nzoomed · Sep 9, 2013

Butch said:
Another vote for Reatha at Film Soup. Excellent service and quality, I think she started her service in part to address these kinds of concerns, so the more people that support her the better!

Been in contact with her and in the meantime she needs more people in order to still continue E6 processing.
So lets all give her the support she needs to continue with E6, if enough people can send her their films, then she can restart processing, even if its only a fortnightly or monthly run.

TheToadMen · Nov 14, 2014

This is an old thread, but I thought you might want to read this thread about Film Soup, a small C-41 and E6 lab in Wellington.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Nzoomed · Nov 15, 2014

TheToadMen said:
This is an old thread, but I thought you might want to read this thread about Film Soup, a small C-41 and E6 lab in Wellington.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Yes i use her for my E6 currently, she has restarted processing but on a limited level when she gets enough film to complete a job.
Ive also made a fund to the kickstarter

Poisson Du Jour · Nov 16, 2014

What about in Christchurch. Papanui had a cavernous place that did my E6 in both 2006 and 2009. But nowt has been heard of it since then.

Nzoomed · Nov 16, 2014

Poisson Du Jour said:
What about in Christchurch. Papanui had a cavernous place that did my E6 in both 2006 and 2009. But nowt has been heard of it since then.

I used to use kens cameras in Christchurch, they were good, but they stopped processing E6 last year, i then used wellington photographics and then film soup.

Saving E6 in New Zealand

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