Getting B&W film developed? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

09/20/2006 12:07:46 AM · #1

Are there any online places to send your B&W film (like TMAX, Tri-X, Ilford, etc... not BW400CN) that don't cost like 17 bucks?

That's how much A&I charges for a 36exp roll, either with a mailer from B&H or just in an envelope and CC number.

Kind of ridiculous IMO.. I can get a roll of 36exp slides developed for under 5 bucks at Sams club, same with prints and print film. You'd think since B&W is older, it'd be cheaper to develop, right?

fotomann_forever

09/20/2006 12:12:20 AM · #2

Originally posted by MadMan2k:

You'd think since B&W is older, it'd be cheaper to develop, right?

On the cobtrary, the chemicals and paper are becoming less available. Kodak has quit producing B&W paper, so what's left is Ilford and (I think) Agfa.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

09/20/2006 12:12:27 AM · #3

Doesn't Sam's send B & W out for developing? Most photo places don't do it in house.

When I got a roll of 36 processed localling I think it was around 15 CDN including the hi-res scan on CD (no prints).

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

09/20/2006 12:26:49 AM · #4

They said I can't even send it out unless it's the C-41 type. I'm assuming walmart is the same way..

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

09/20/2006 12:38:48 AM · #5

Only a real photo shop does B & W I guess (either by sending out or in house)

Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D

09/20/2006 01:53:41 AM · #6

Buy a tank/reel, a thermometer, a couple of gallon jugs, some D-76, stop bath and fixer and get busy.

modgethanc

Nikon D90

09/20/2006 03:25:37 AM · #7

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Buy a tank/reel, a thermometer, a couple of gallon jugs, some D-76, stop bath and fixer and get busy.

but then you'll need and enlarger, etc. to make prints! unless you have a really nice negative scanner.

but i dunno. at least in pittsburgh there's an art center called pittsburgh filmmakers, and you can pay a fee to register for darkroom access there. learning to develop and print takes about a couple of hours, and it's a lot more satisfying to have that much control over your own prints. if you have the time to do your own developing, it might be worth it (and if you shoot a lot of film, you'd probably save on developing fees)

or you if you mail me a roll of tri-x and five bucks, plus some to cover return shipping costs, i'll develop your negatives and print you a contact sheet :D

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

09/20/2006 11:22:18 AM · #8

I was thinking about getting the stuff to develop it myself, but I decided a fisheye was going to be more useful since I'm not really crazy about black and white and developing color isn't even worth it..

Although if that stuff minus an enlarger came to about 100 bucks I could do it.

modgethanc: That sounds good, is TMAX the same? I'll do that if you let me know where to send it

MattO

Nikon D4

09/20/2006 11:31:03 AM · #9

Originally posted by MadMan2k:

We still have a local lab that does B&W film and dont have any trouble doing them. However I have found true B&W hard to find and have started using Kodak Professional 400CN and I've been happy with the results. Finding good B&W is nearly impossible. There is also guy down the street from me who processes film in his own darkroom who still does B&W.

MattO

Nelzie

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/20/2006 11:53:30 AM · #10

I say go with your own kit for developing film.

Buy the reels, tank, chemicals and "Dust Free" Drying "closet" and away you go!

Given enough rolls of film, you will eventually be looking at spending less than $17 to develop a roll of B&W Film.

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

09/20/2006 12:00:22 PM · #11

I know you can send your film to Snapfish (scroll down a bit for the price) and get it developed with them. Thier site does not say anything about not developing B&W film so you could give them a try

I know alot of people who have used them for their film developing..

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/20/2006 12:05:27 PM · #12

Rocky Mountain Film Lab specializes in developing old films, but I haven't checked their prices lately.

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/20/2006 12:33:09 PM · #13

I have used Praus Productions for sending in b&w film for development.
The price list website.

Now I use a local company for b&w film development - no shipping costs and faster turnaround.

09/22/2006 11:56:14 AM · #14

Originally posted by modgethanc:

but i dunno. at least in pittsburgh there's an art center called pittsburgh filmmakers, and you can pay a fee to register for darkroom access there. learning to develop and print takes about a couple of hours, and it's a lot more satisfying to have that much control over your own prints. if you have the time to do your own developing, it might be worth it (and if you shoot a lot of film, you'd probably save on developing fees)

That's probably the best idea. I started developing film in high school in their darkroom.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

09/22/2006 11:59:09 AM · #15

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by MadMan2k:
Are there any online places to send your B&W film (like TMAX, Tri-X, Ilford, etc... not BW400CN) that don't cost like 17 bucks?

That's how much A&I charges for a 36exp roll, either with a mailer from B&H or just in an envelope and CC number.

Kind of ridiculous IMO.. I can get a roll of 36exp slides developed for under 5 bucks at Sams club, same with prints and print film. You'd think since B&W is older, it'd be cheaper to develop, right?

We still have a local lab that does B&W film and dont have any trouble doing them. However I have found true B&W hard to find and have started using Kodak Professional 400CN and I've been happy with the results. Finding good B&W is nearly impossible. There is also guy down the street from me who processes film in his own darkroom who still does B&W.

MattO

Like all things photographic, you can order B&W film from B&H. Even if you only shoot it occasionally, you can buy several rolls and store them unopened in your freezer and they'll last forever, well past the expiration date. Just make sure you let them come to room temp before opening.

angelfire

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

09/22/2006 12:13:30 PM · #16

Walgreens prints black and white. However if it's developing a b&w negative make sure it's C41 first. Otherwise they can't do it.

angelfire

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

09/22/2006 12:15:02 PM · #17

I still think hand developed black and white is the most beautiful and relaxing form of photography. When I'm stressed I borrow a friends lab turn the music loud and play in the dark room.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

09/22/2006 02:11:31 PM · #18

Snapfish says on their site that they don't develop slides or B&W.
The rocky mountain place looks like they mostly do 30 year old film, the stuff I have is pretty new so I think I'd be wasting their time (and my money, heh)
The Praus place looks good, I'm a little unclear on their prices though.

I've used the C41 type, but when I did it had a sepia tone instead of regular black and white, and I wasn't too thrilled with it. I have a couple rolls of TMAX that I want to develop, but maybe after that I'll give it another try.

It looks like A&I might be the one I use, it costs a little less if I don't get prints and sams club might be able to make prints from the B&W negatives

tmhalling

Nikon D200

09/22/2006 02:37:21 PM · #19

My wife works here The Photolab. If you'd like I can ask her how much they charge for mail order developing. They do a fairly good job.

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/22/2006 03:25:38 PM · #20

My 2 cents worth. If you are not printing your own b&w prints or have access to a lab that can produce high quality scans of the negatives , it is probably not worth using b&w film.

moniepenny

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/22/2006 04:36:48 PM · #21

I just learned how to process B & W film this week and I can assure you it's just fantastic. In a couple of days I'll be making my own prints from the negatives I made. If you could find access to a good quality negative scanner, you could get digital prints made, that's what I plan on doing with my prints too.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/22/2006 06:15:15 PM · #22

Originally posted by maryba:

My 2 cents worth. If you are not printing your own b&w prints or have access to a lab that can produce high quality scans of the negatives , it is probably not worth using b&w film.

I'll second that notion.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

09/22/2006 06:21:21 PM · #23

i would develope the film myself. you don't need a darkroom for the film. just a light block bag ( or a dark closet/room ),a spool, and the chems.

if you do this - practice rolling the film umpteen times with a scrap roll - otherwise you might find your film is rolled on top of itself. once you get the hang of it - you can feel if it is rolling onto the spool properly with your fingers.

you could probably rent time at a university darkroom for pretty cheap as well.

i've never had much luck getting BW film developed at anywhere but a pro lab.

Message edited by author 2006-09-22 18:25:52.