Where to develop film?

Alex Manuel · Feb 19, 2017

Hey guys, I'm new here! I just bought a Mamiya 645 1000s. 120mm. I love film and have been trying to get back into it. I use to live in STL and had a good place to go for developing there.. But now I live in OKC and unfortunately have no where close to go develop my film. The closest place to me charges close to 18 dollars for development and a CD...and I just feel like that's pretty steep. I was wondering if any of you would have any recommendations for legitimate trustworthy darkroom type companies I can mail my film to be developed..? I have found a few on my own researching but I wanted to see if any of you have tried and have experience with sending your film out. Thanks in advance!!

BAC1967 · Feb 19, 2017

I use The Darkroom in California, they do an excellent job at both developing and scanning but they are more expensive. If you want cheaper try Dwayne's in Kansas City. Both do mail order.

keenmaster486 · Feb 19, 2017

Somebody needs to merge these threads...

Sirius Glass · Feb 19, 2017

Developing film: I started by buying steel tanks and Hewes steel reels [that is important], a changing bag [http://www.freestylephoto.biz/25001-Photoflex-Changing-Room or something smaller and cheaper], plastic bottles, the chemicals, some nylon line and clothes pins. I loading the film in the changing bag on to reels and then put the reels in the developing tank. Then I opened the bag and started development. Hang the film to dry in the shower after rinsing with Kodak PhotoFlo [follow the directions, do not just guess].

Printing the negative: You can then contact print the negatives using a contact printer-proofer [https://www.samys.com/p/Archival-CD/DVD,-Film--Print-Sleeves/PRCP1/CP-1-Contact-Proofer/92478.html] and trays in a bathroom with towels blocking the door and a red safe light.

Larry the sailor · Feb 19, 2017

You don't have to have a DARKROOM to develop your own film, all you really need is a dark room, or changing bag. That goes for B&W and color.
It wouldn't take too many times of paying someone else to develop your film to pay for the basic equipment for DIY.
Do a little searching on here for a look at just how simple a home/improvised darkroom can be.

RattyMouse · Feb 21, 2017

Alex Manuel said:
Hey guys, I'm new here! I just bought a Mamiya 645 1000s. 120mm. I love film and have been trying to get back into it. I use to live in STL and had a good place to go for developing there.. But now I live in OKC and unfortunately have no where close to go develop my film. The closest place to me charges close to 18 dollars for development and a CD...and I just feel like that's pretty steep. I was wondering if any of you would have any recommendations for legitimate trustworthy darkroom type companies I can mail my film to be developed..? I have found a few on my own researching but I wanted to see if any of you have tried and have experience with sending your film out. Thanks in advance!!

Your own bathroom, for less than $1/roll for black and white film.

mweintraub · Feb 21, 2017

For 120, sign up for Miller's lab and it's $2 for process only and about $8-9 for process, proof scans, and proof prints. Friken amazing.

Trask · Feb 21, 2017

Sorry -- Miller's Lab?

phass · Feb 21, 2017

You don't have to have a changing bag. Take a big jacket with zipper, stick your arms in sleeves (from outside in) and roll open ends of jacket.
Cheers

RichardJack · Feb 22, 2017

Hi,
As already mentioned, develop it yourself and buy a film scanner. You don't need a darkroom, wait till dark and load your film into a SS tank in a closet. Darkroom supplies are cheap on Ebay, I recommend stainless reels and tanks. Chemistry can be purchased online from major camera stores. Start with B&W. Do it in your kitchen or bathroom.
But you should be able to find a lab in the nearest major city that will at least develop your color negatives for about $5. 99% of color negative film uses C-41 process, in the case of B&W, there are many developers for many types of B&W film and labs are notorious for developing everything in the same chemistry which might or might not give you good results. For B&W you are better off at home. For information about developing see the film and chemistry forums here.
A Epson V800/V850 will do a very nice job scanning 120 film, once you have a digital file, make your corrections in Photoshop or Lightroom and send your files anywhere you like for printing.
Rick

TenSpeed · Feb 22, 2017

i take mine to my bathroom for all my developing

mweintraub · Feb 22, 2017

Trask said:
Sorry -- Miller's Lab?

http://www.millerslab.com/filmservices

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 22, 2017

mweintraub said:
http://www.millerslab.com/filmservices

Their web site says it's only for professionals with photography businesses, so it's a slightly limited option. I tried signing up, but wasn't thinking telling white lies would be a good idea.

stlkcdc1 · Feb 22, 2017

Dead Link Removed

KC metro on the Kansas side.

ac12 · Feb 22, 2017

If you are shooting B&W, I second the recommendation to develop your own. It really isn't that hard, and you have full control over the development. And you don't have to worry about the film getting lost in the mail.

One recommendation about the changing bag, get a BIG one. The problem with the small ones is small volume of air. After a bit your hands start to sweat, and the small bags make your hands sticky faster.

removed account4 · Feb 22, 2017

Thomas Bertilsson said:
Their web site says it's only for professionals with photography businesses, so it's a slightly limited option. I tried signing up, but wasn't thinking telling white lies would be a good idea.

its unfortunate one has to fib to get their service/s but from all reports their processing &c is great .

i am sure they don't really care if it is the truthtruth, the faketruth or alternatetruth, as long as they have your CC# ...

mitrajoon · Feb 22, 2017

I don't buy the "it's OK to lie" bit, but regardless, they don't process true B&W, only C41 color/B&W.

Huss · Feb 27, 2017

mweintraub said:
http://www.millerslab.com/filmservices

I went through the sign up process for my gallery, then found out via email that they only scan at about 3000 by 2000, which is considered budget sizes by any other place.
So I will not be using them for that. Maybe for printing depending on what the samples they are sending me will look like.

mweintraub · Feb 27, 2017

Thomas Bertilsson said:
Their web site says it's only for professionals with photography businesses, so it's a slightly limited option. I tried signing up, but wasn't thinking telling white lies would be a good idea.

I use them and love them. Yeah, their signing up to see the prices sucks, but I'm glad I went with another member's suggestions of them as their prices actually allows me to shoot a lot of MF film.

Huss said:
I went through the sign up process for my gallery, then found out via email that they only scan at about 3000 by 2000, which is considered budget sizes by any other place.
So I will not be using them for that. Maybe for printing depending on what the samples they are sending me will look like.

Is that their "proof" scan sizes?

mweintraub · Feb 27, 2017

jnanian said:
its unfortunate one has to fib to get their service/s but from all reports their processing &c is great .

i am sure they don't really care if it is the truthtruth, the faketruth or alternatetruth, as long as they have your CC# ...

I'm working on starting a business and used that name, but so far they've said nothing of me sending all my films of my family and dog. =/

Huss · Feb 27, 2017

mweintraub said:
I use them and love them. Yeah, their signing up to see the prices sucks, but I'm glad I went with another member's suggestions of them as their prices actually allows me to shoot a lot of MF film.

Is that their "proof" scan sizes?

Yes, they mentioned 'proofing scans' but I asked them what their scan sizes are, that was their response. Also they said if I sent 6x9 120 images, they will scan them as 6x7 otherwise they are treated as cut negatives and scanned on a flat bed for $5 each. Same for my Xpan film.
I also find the fact that they only process c-41 film limiting.

I wrote back asking what their larger/largest sizes are etc
I would very much like to use them as a more affordable option if things work out.

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 27, 2017

I have heard really good things about Fast Foto in Edina, Minnesota. It's in my home town, and I had no idea they existed until prompted by a local photographer in a Facebook group.
http://www.fastfotoanddigital.com/

I hope that helps.

Ces1um · Feb 27, 2017

Alex: If you're looking for cheap you can send it to lomography but I wouldn't exactly endorse them. They do an okay job but they've lost several rolls of my film and sometimes there are random chemical splotches on my negatives. Their prices are cheap though and you get development, scans and prints for much less than what you quoted above. Now If you want a job very well done then it's going to cost you. Atlantic photo supply here in Nova Scotia does a great job but I doubt you want to send it all the way up here!

mweintraub · Feb 27, 2017

Huss said:
Yes, they mentioned 'proofing scans' but I asked them what their scan sizes are, that was their response. Also they said if I sent 6x9 120 images, they will scan them as 6x7 otherwise they are treated as cut negatives and scanned on a flat bed for $5 each. Same for my Xpan film.
I also find the fact that they only process c-41 film limiting.

I wrote back asking what their larger/largest sizes are etc
I would very much like to use them as a more affordable option if things work out.

I guess their main focus is just processing and printing (from hq scans) as a pro-lab. I can see where your frustration is.

Huss · Feb 28, 2017

mweintraub said:
I guess their main focus is just processing and printing (from hq scans) as a pro-lab. I can see where your frustration is.

They wrote back and said larger sizes are twice the cost. But not what that larger size is.. So already I am at least at the cost of pro labs (that anyone can use) that I am already using for my gallery, who most probably are giving me higher rez images, and they process E6 as well as B&W. Not just c41.
Plus having to jump through the hoops of signing up etc etc, sending two emails after that and still not knowing what size the large scans are , and what the actual cost is.
I find this business model all a little strange.

Where to develop film?

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