(Would you / Do you) send your films out for processing?

Richard Man · Feb 27, 2015

I'm sure I am not the first one that ever thought of this - but here goes: how many people process their own, and how many use some kind of local lab (which in general is disappearing except for Costco and Walgreen etc.) and how many people send their stuff out?

If the latter two is a large percentage, would there be a market for a "boutique film processor" (e.g. myself ) that would process 35mm/120/220/4x5 in B&W/C41/E-6?

I suspect some people have tried? (and failed?)

Just kicking tires. Not even sure where to put this post?!

MartinCrabtree · Feb 27, 2015

There are many online companies who develop film. I've used North Coast in CA. Good work decent price. I am about to start doing my own B&W at home just need to actually finish a roll.

Been considering purchasing a used 1 hour photo machine for home use. Maybe do a little on the side for locals.

bsdunek · Feb 27, 2015

I do all my B&W, from loading the cartridges (for 35m), through to printing, toning, mounting & framing. I don't do color. There are several good labs I use, none local. Dale and The Darkroom are the ones I use the most. I understand Dwayne's is very good, but I haven't used them.

sagai · Feb 27, 2015

I do all my B&W and c41 by myself.
My recollection was for a long time that I would never ever do c41, however seeing labs results I have changed my mind and I do it myself.
From cost and quality perspective seems it was a good choice.

Pioneer · Feb 27, 2015

In the past I have used North Coast Photographic, Dwaynes, Blue Moon, and Adorama. All did a very nice job for me.

At this point I continue to send my E6 to North Coast Photographic and the rest are my own fault as I develop my own black and white and C41.

Sirius Glass · Feb 27, 2015

I do my own processing, but if I only have one or two rolls of color negative film I will send it to Samys or Costco for processing and printing rather than mix up a batch of chemicals.

removedacct1 · Feb 27, 2015

I do my own film processing and wouldn't think about giving it to someone else to do. It's mostly just my desire to have the film without waiting for 10-14 days to get it back.

gone · Feb 27, 2015

I think on this forum you're not going to get much action on that scheme. Excellent idea, wrong market. Most people here tend to do it themselves, as it's an intrinsic part of their photography. Otherwise, we couldn't have all these endlessly entertaining discussions over "the best" developers!

Trail Images · Feb 27, 2015

I shoot mostly all E-6 and ship it to Data Chrome here in So Cal. Experience with them has been flawless with results and turnaround time too.

removed account4 · Feb 27, 2015

c41 and chromes i have sent out from the beginning
i don't want to deal with disposal of color chemistry
and i am amazed that people do this sort of thing
at home in their basement or kitchen sink
and just dump it down their drain like
it was dish soap, or grey water from their wash/shower
and then justify it by suggesting other things in their home
like hair dye or drain cleaner are more harmful blah blah blah

b/w i have done myself for most of 40 years
and sent out once in a while
when i couldn't get it done myself..

it all gones to custom labs, pro-labs or dwaynes/fuji labs

i custom process and print other people's film
there is a market for it, but it is extremely small....

often times i bring files or film to a pro lab down the street
to have them printed if they don't need to be archival.

Alan Klein · Feb 27, 2015

I don't want to pour all those harmful chemicals down the drain here where I live in NJ. So I ship the film to NYC for processing so they can pour them down their drains.

ME Super · Feb 27, 2015

Yes, I send mine out for processing. Just dropped off a roll of E-6 today.

Trail Images · Feb 27, 2015

I don't want to pour all those harmful chemicals down the drain here where I live in NJ. So I ship the film to NYC for processing so they can pour them down their drains.

Alan, I looked on a map and noticed NJ is below NYC, so, won't the chemicals flow down hill right back at you?..:munch:

Sirius Glass · Feb 27, 2015

Alan Klein said:
I don't want to pour all those harmful chemicals down the drain here where I live in NJ. So I ship the film to NYC for processing so they can pour them down their drains.

MattKing · Feb 28, 2015

I develop all my own black and white.

I have a local near 1 hour lab which I use for some 35mm C41.

I use one of two local pro labs for the rest of my colour film.

qpoiz · Feb 28, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
Not being from the northeast, it was always my understanding that the refuse from New York goes to New Jersey already. Perhaps that could always have been just a running joke with no actual truth to it. Not being from there, I'm not privy to any such possible joke, if it is one.

Nah. They don't like sharing; they keep it all.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

qpoiz · Feb 28, 2015

Alan Klein said:
I don't want to pour all those harmful chemicals down the drain here where I live in NJ. So I ship the film to NYC for processing so they can pour them down their drains.

Where in NYC do you send your film to? I use a local lab here in NJ and The Darkroom.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

winger · Feb 28, 2015

I usually do my own B&W and send out just the color. I've used Dwayne's, Blue Moon, and A and I, but I might try Prauss. I'm likely to send out my current pile including B&W because we're about to move back to PA and I just don't think I'll get it done before then with everything else I need to do. And I've been having issues with uneven developing and really just need these done right.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 28, 2015

didjiman said:
I'm sure I am not the first one that ever thought of this - but here goes: how many people process their own, and how many use some kind of local lab (which in general is disappearing except for Costco and Walgreen etc.) and how many people send their stuff out?

If the latter two is a large percentage, would there be a market for a "boutique film processor" (e.g. myself ) that would process 35mm/120/220/4x5 in B&W/C41/E-6?

I suspect some people have tried? (and failed?)

Just kicking tires. Not even sure where to put this post?!

nobody can process my film or prints better than I can

Chan Tran · Feb 28, 2015

RalphLambrecht said:
nobody can process my film or prints better than I can

that is true of B&W processing and Printing color or B&W not for processing C41 or E6. Actually not a human that can out do you but rather a souless machine. If it has a soul it doesn't get better than you.

bvy · Feb 28, 2015

I'm the only knucklehead I trust with my film. If something goes wrong, there's no one to blame but myself. My last send-out had tragic results -- two went out, one came back.

bsdunek · Feb 28, 2015

Just a note. I don't do color because of the printing. I don't see any problem with C41 film developing, but maybe I'm afraid of color printing. My Dad tried it in the 90's, and had a heck of a time getting the right color balance. How do you others get along with color printing?

As for E-6, should be easy enough, I just haven't done transparencies for quite a few years. If I do some, I probably will try it myself. As for disposing of the chemicals, yes, some of the color chemicals are kind of bad. Our local refuse collector will take chemicals, so I probably would have him take them. Hopefully, he disposes of them correctly, an I have no doubts on this. We have a septic tank and field, and are over a major aquifer, so probably a bad idea to put them down my drain.

Truzi · Feb 28, 2015

Black-and-white I do myself. Color I take to local drugstores. Unfortunately, the drugstores are not as good as they used to be, despite them using soulless machines. I am quite the procrastinator, but will eventually do my own color. I don't like the idea of putting my film in the mail - haven't done that since I was a child, and it was my aunt who actually did it on my behalf (luckily it all came back).

There were two pro shops I used. The best one closed. The other still exists, but lost my patronage due to incompetence in other areas - however, they do a very good job processing and printing.

RalphLambrecht said:
nobody can process my film or prints better than I can

No one can screw up my film any better than I

Jeff Bradford · Feb 28, 2015

If I had an option locally, I would use it. I prefer a non-digital solution for prints.

For C-41 and E-6, I send out to The Darkroom. If I mail it out on Monday, I usually have it back by Saturday.

Walgreens sends out C-41, but won't take 120/220 or any E-6. When I asked about b&w, she said "black and white what?"

Wal-Mart sends everything out and you download your digitals - no negatives returned. I don't know about 120/220, E-6 or b&w from them because I stopped asking questions at that point.

RPC · Feb 28, 2015

I develop and optically print my own color and b&w and wouldn't do anything else as I like having full control over all my results.

The enjoyment of it all is to learn everything I can about darkroom work to produce the highest quality prints I can, the reaping the rewards.

I do mostly color and optically printing is the best way to bring out the characteristics of the film as opposed to scanning. I find color balancing of the prints fairly easy. I process in trays making it very quick and easy.

(Would you / Do you) send your films out for processing?

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