where to get film developed?

[zahc]

Since I inherited a 35mm SLR, I've been looking for a cheap and fast place to get film developed.

Wal*mart develops 35mm for $1.70 but charges $2.50 for scanning which comes to $4.20 a roll. Add $1.50 or so for fuji 200 brings it to almost $6 a roll.

Poor as I am, I can't afford to shoot terribly much at this rate. I thought maybe I could scan my negatives with my flatbed scanner, thus saving $2,50 a roll, but either I can't or I'm not doing it right because it doesn't really give usable results. I've seen Wolf Camera stores around here but have yet to stop it to see what they charge to scan negatives.

I know you can develop black-and-white yourself and I might look into it, but I live in a tiny apartment with low WAF for things like converting bathrooms into darkrooms.

[Manedwolf]

Cheap + fast generally is sucky processing. The min-wage sorts running 1hr photo places don't know how to set things, and can't do B&W correctly.

[mtnbkr]

Wal-Mart's "2 day" service is pretty good.  I do all of my C41 developing there.  I've taken film to photography shops, but they didn't do a significantly better job than WM and they charge a lot more.  I do avoid their 1hr service because I've had too many scratched negatives, but I've never had an issue with the longer service.  Color, contrast, etc were always what I expected.  Don't take B&W to WM though, unless it's C41 B&W film.  They do an ok job, but it's very expensive and takes forever. Pretty much any non-pro developer is going to use a machine these days. FWIW.  You're going to pay a LOT more for hand developing.

Don't try to scan negatives on a flatbed.  You won't like the results.  Prints scan nicely though.  Get the film developed to prints and scan those.  The results, if done properly, will rival any consumer level digital camera.

I still shoot about 90% film (20-30 rolls a year), but I scan it all at about 400dpi.  The negatives go offsite, the prints stored in filing cabinets, and the scans stored on the PC and server.

Chris

[zahc]

Any suggestions then, other than buying a digital camera (out of budget, I'm attached to this camera now)?

I already had walmart scratch one of my negatives.

Don't try to scan negatives on a flatbed.  You won't like the results.  Prints scan nicely though.  Get the film developed to prints and scan those.

That works OK? I mean the cheap prints are pretty small, and have already been scanned and printed once, I kinda figured you would be ahead to scan the actual film. And prints are expensive. If I remember, I haven't looked at the 2-day prices at walmart.

[mtnbkr]

BTW, the chemistry and equipment needed to develop B&W to negatives is pretty inexpensive and can be done in a bathroom (cover door and any windows with opaque sheets).  Then, you can get what is worth printing done later.

Chris

[Manedwolf]

There was one small photo store around here that would develop stuff like Ilford B&W infrared correctly, but they went away. Shame, it was actually good for some artistic sorts of things.

[Manedwolf]

BTW, the chemistry and equipment needed to develop B&W to negatives is pretty inexpensive and can be done in a bathroom (cover door and any windows with opaque sheets).  Then, you can get what is worth printing done later.

Chris

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

...and everything smells like fixer for days... 

[mtnbkr]

Don't try to scan negatives on a flatbed.  You won't like the results.  Prints scan nicely though.  Get the film developed to prints and scan those.

That works OK? I mean the cheap prints are pretty small, and have already been scanned and printed once, I kinda figured you would be ahead to scan the actual film. And prints are expensive. If I remember, I haven't looked at the 2-day prices at walmart.

What do you mean they've been scanned and printed once? 

Here's what I do:
I take exposed film to WM and select their 2day service with 4x6 prints.  Costs me just under $7 per roll of 36 (24 exposure rolls are even cheaper).  When I get the prints back, I scan them at 400dpi.  That's only one scan. 

Chris

[mtnbkr]

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

...and everything smells like fixer for days... 

Not all developers need that much agitation.  I'm using HC110 at dilution G IIRC and it doesn't need all that much agitation.  Maybe one rotation every 30seconds or so.  It's been a while, so I'd have to check my notes.

I love the smell of fixer. 

Chris

[zahc]

But they make the prints you buy from them by scanning the film and using a photo printer, don't they?

I assumed that places like walmart stopped making actual optical prints long ago.

[mtnbkr]

No.  They make prints by scanning the negative and printing onto actual photo paper with colored LEDs.  Pretty much the same as an optical print except the color adjustments are done with a computer rather than by eye.

Chris

[Brad Johnson]

The last roll I had done was a Walgreens.  For generic processing they did an acceptable job.

Brad

[RoadKingLarry]

BTW, the chemistry and equipment needed to develop B&W to negatives is pretty inexpensive and can be done in a bathroom (cover door and any windows with opaque sheets).  Then, you can get what is worth printing done later.

Chris

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

shake shake shake shake shake shake shake shake

...and everything smells like fixer for days... 

I think D-76 and Dektol gets in your blood...

[K Frame]

I used to develop almost all my own film when I was working at the newspaper.

I never agitated the tanks.

[lupinus]

fixer

I love that smell 

I was a photo tech for walgreens for awhile before switching to distribution.  Most of your walgreens stores will do a pretty good job.

[Brad Johnson]

All the Walgreens around here use Fuji equipment and seem to do a decent job of keeping things calibrated.  It that true nationwide?

Brad

[lupinus]

Walgreens use a lot of Fuji, you will also see some older noritsus as well as AGFA's.  Walgreens makes a lot of photo money so they tend to keep their photo stuff in good order.  Like anything if you get a store with a manager who doesn't care about photo that can of course be different, but generally speaking Walgreens do good on photos.

If you find one thats not so good shop around, odds are you will find one thats good.

[seeker_two]

The last roll I had done was a Walgreens.  For generic processing they did an acceptable job.

Brad

Another vote for Walgreens.....haven't seen any bad photos from there yet.....

[HankB]

I think D-76 and Dektol gets in your blood...

With me, it was Microdol-X . . . and an old Omega enlarger my Dad had . . . he was thrilled when I replaced the Wollensak Enlarging Velostigmat he'd been using with a "new" Wollensak Enlarging Raptar . . .  

I think Walgreens had a coupon in the Aug 3 flyer offering FREE processing, including one set of 4x6 prints . . .

[thebaldguy]

Some of the one hour photo places can be pretty bad. I used one years ago and I think the developing chemicals were worn out by the end of the day. I noticed "washout" on the prints.

[Antibubba]

I've worked a fair number of 1 hour labs.  One place that will remain anonymous proudly advertised "Kodak Processing".  This was a problem, because the new lab they set up used a Fuji printer and processor.  Fuji makes their equipment very simple to use by packaging chemicals for the machines.  So the company's solution to this conflict was to run it on the Fuji chemistry for everything except the last dip, which was Kodak.  Every machine I've ever used with Kodak chemistry had metal tanks.  The Fujis do not, but their chemistry is rather mild.

I do not want to describe to you what happens to a Fuji machine with Kodak chemicals in it.  Not pretty, and it made machine calibrations a PITA.

[Hawkmoon]

Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid ... all the same. You have to realize that noBODY develops film these days. They stick your roll of film in a machine, the machine analyzes the negatives and sets itself to make more-or-less acceptable prints, and out come your pics. The "technician" knows less than nothing about film development and wouldn't have a clue what to do in a darkroom. The only things differentiating any of the above is the price they charge and their convenience to you. Personally, I find Wal-Mart to be as good as any of the others. They do a higher volume, so they actually have more experience ... for whatever that's worth.

[mtnbkr]

I know you can develop black-and-white yourself and I might look into it, but I live in a tiny apartment with low WAF for things like converting bathrooms into darkrooms.

What does WAF mean?

As for developing at home, developing film takes a minimum of equipment and doesn't require any permanent mods to the bathroom.  Other than the very mild fixer smell (smells kind of like vinegar), you can't tell I develop in my bathroom.  The only chemicals you need are developer, fixer, and a rinse agent.  I use water for the stop bath  Rather than worry about temps, I check the temp of my chemicals and adjust my developing time to that.  They're usually in the 70-72 range anyway, so little if no adjustment is necessary.  I may have some extra gear.  If you pay shipping, I'll give it to you.

Another option is to see if your local parks and rec dept still has darkrooms.  Fairfax County in Virginia does.  Also, if you're a student, your school may have a darkroom as well.

Chris

[Vodka7]

What does WAF mean?

Woman Acceptance Factor.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_acceptance_factor

[zahc]

You have to realize that noBODY develops film these days. They stick your roll of film in a machine, the machine analyzes the negatives and sets itself to make more-or-less acceptable prints, and out come your pics.

Yeah but they have to actually develop the film first. That's the only step I'm worried about. I don't really care if the prints suck if my negatives turned out competently.