Developing 6x9? - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Nikon

04/15/2008 02:55:21 PM · #1

No, it's not a "digital" question but I know there are lots of film users here.
Can a regular photo finishing place develop 120 which gives 6x9 prints? I take it this is medium format and still used?

I phoned London Drugs and she THINKS they can....:\

The reason I'm asking is that I inherited a Rodenstock Clarovid (c.1932) and it still has film in it with 5 exposures used. I'm dying of curiosity! I realise there's a good chance it's wrecked by now, but I'd still love to give it a try as long as it's not going to cost me a fortune.

I imagine my parents used it when they were into photography and developing, but even then it wouldn't have been used since the early 60's at the latest, since they got rid of the developing stuff before we moved in '64. I can't remember ever seeing the camera used...

amathiasphoto

Nikon D300

04/15/2008 03:01:40 PM · #2

alot of times they cannot- and you may not want them to anyway with something that may have good value. I would find a pro lab... and with old film, have it pushed a couple stops, it should help.

04/15/2008 03:03:37 PM · #3

After more phoning I found my answer :)

Called one of Black's locations, she said "medium format....???" After she asked someone else she told me the other location does. Called them and it's only $6something and 49c/print and if there's nothing usable it's free. THAT I can afford!

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

04/15/2008 03:05:08 PM · #4

Ohhh, it would just *kill* me not to know what's on those 5 exposures. I'd agree, look for a pro lab. Tell them you suspect the film may be very old, they should know what to do to try to recover the best image possible (if any is possible).

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

04/15/2008 03:10:09 PM · #5

As far as I can tell Black's, Lens & Shutter and Kerrisdale Cameras are the 3 that could possibly do it. I've had no experience with processing at any of them :(

In a way I hate to take it out of the camera... I mean, how often do you find these old treasures WITH film? But I just have to know.... ARGHHHHH!

tpbremer

Nikon D80

04/15/2008 03:23:11 PM · #6

yeah, don't take it out of the camera--let the pros do it. Some of the local places will have the chemicals to process your film... hopefully they'll be able to tell which film it is.

I don't know much about processing really old film, but I know processing 120 isn't that difficult provided somebody has the right chemicals.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

04/15/2008 03:29:52 PM · #7

If you recover the exposures, be sure to share! :-)

cryan

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/15/2008 03:32:02 PM · #8

take it to a pro lab, they will take the utmost care in handling the film. The processing of the film is easy but you need to make sure the lab can and will handle it. As I said go to a pro lab as most pro's who still shoot film shoot in medium format.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

04/15/2008 03:33:07 PM · #9

Originally posted by kirbic:

If you recover the exposures, be sure to share! :-)

Would you believe I don't even have a scanner hooked up at the moment? But I'll manage something! :)

Called Lens&Shutter, she said they can only do it if it's C41 which, of course, I can't tell until I take it out of the camera. But apparently London Drugs will send anything wherever they have to, be it New York, to get it done. Hmmm... I can't imagine New York processing would be cheap...

vxpra

Pentax K100D

04/15/2008 03:47:20 PM · #10

If the film is really old it could be a C22 process (assuming it is color print). I believe C22 film was still being made into the 70's (1976 I think is about when C41 took hold). There are a surprising number of places that will still process this film. But I would definetly take it to a pro lab. If C22 film is run through C41 chemistry it will more than likely destroy it. Back six or seven years ago I dealt with a lab in Utah that specialized in old film- I'll try to track down the name and information. They were amazing- they would pull the film out of the camera, snip a small portion of the film (1/4- 1/2 inch was all), run it through the developer and then determine roughly when the film was manufactured and adjust the processing accordingly. They ran about 20 rolls of old film (1950's) for a customer and then did contact sheets, it was amazing how good they came out.

The point of this rambling- let the pros handle it.

This is the website. //www.filmrescue.com/

And I was wrong- not Utah, but North Dakota. Must be getting old

Message edited by author 2008-04-15 15:52:10.

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

04/15/2008 04:00:27 PM · #11

Originally posted by vxpra:

This is the website. //www.filmrescue.com/

And I was wrong- not Utah, but North Dakota. Must be getting old

Hmmm.... so even with shipping it would only cost me $31. I might go that route.
Decisions, decisions!

Thanks bunches for the info :)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

04/15/2008 04:26:19 PM · #12

I don't have the link here (at work), but Rocky Mountain Film Lab claims to specialize in developing old/outdated/specialty films.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/15/2008 04:28:11 PM · #13

I did tell Black's how old it was and he said he could do it, so maybe I'll take the whole camera down there first and discuss it with them. But I'll definitely mark this thread, in case :)

jeger

Canon EOS-5D

04/15/2008 04:30:59 PM · #14

Make sure you know if the film is C41 (negative) or E6 (reversal film) because they require different processing.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

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

04/15/2008 04:36:18 PM · #15

Originally posted by BeeCee:

I'd stay away from Blacks though I've only dealt with the cornerstore variety of Blacks. Didn't know they had anything else. Kerrisdale and Lens & Shutter are more geared towards pros.

geoffb

04/15/2008 04:38:57 PM · #16

Originally posted by BeeCee:

The reason I'm asking is that I inherited a Rodenstock Clarovid (c.1932) and it still has film in it with 5 exposures used. I'm dying of curiosity! I realise there's a good chance it's wrecked by now, but I'd still love to give it a try as long as it's not going to cost me a fortune.

I imagine my parents used it when they were into photography and developing, but even then it wouldn't have been used since the early 60's at the latest, since they got rid of the developing stuff before we moved in '64. I can't remember ever seeing the camera used...

Hmm... hasn't been used since the early 60s, and it has 5 exposures on it.

Maybe we'll finally know who shot JFK!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/15/2008 04:42:26 PM · #17

Originally posted by geoffb:

Hmm... hasn't been used since the early 60s, and it has 5 exposures on it.

Maybe we'll finally know who shot JFK!

Lol, sorry, we're Canucks.
I really don't know how old, could be wartime even!

I've found a Calgary lab, Bluefire, so maybe I'll contact them and see if I can bring it in in person in July when I'm there for the grand gathering of illustrious DPCers :)

Citadel

Nikon D7500

04/15/2008 04:45:41 PM · #18

Technicare here in Calgary is a pro lab and might be able to help.

oops...missed the part about WHEN you are in Calgary...

Message edited by author 2008-04-15 16:46:16.

cryan

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/15/2008 04:54:14 PM · #19

The funny thing I've notived about this thread and i' am guilty of it as well, everybody is assuming its color film. The truth of it is, if the camera is as old as you claim, there is a very good possibility that the film is B&W.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/15/2008 05:33:53 PM · #20

Actually, it probably IS B&W, if it's from when my parents were doing their own developing. Tbe honest I, too, am just assuming, partly because it's in a tooled leather case and my parents also did leatherwork. I really don't know where it came from, for sure! That's another reason I'd like to see what's on it :)

So, is B&W processing all the same, no matter what type film? Would it be more a matter of a place having the right sized carriers for medium format, rather than the process and chemicals?

klstover

Panasonic DMC-FZ8

04/15/2008 06:16:01 PM · #21

I used to work in a CVS photo lab... I think going to a pro lab would be a great idea but if you wanted to go with the drugstore type thing:

What we couldn't do in the store, we ususally could send-out to the lab - takes longer but definitely had more options as to what they could do.

strew

Canon EOS-7D

04/15/2008 06:34:05 PM · #22

the only places that i know of that still process that kind and size is going to be a pro lab. It kind of depends what kind of high end labs are around you. the processing of the negs should not be a problem, but printing may be another issue

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

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

04/15/2008 07:00:19 PM · #23

Rocky Mountain Film Laboratory

swordandsigil

Nikon D5100

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

04/15/2008 07:04:55 PM · #24

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Your basic "Wally World" or Target can't but you might try a Kits or Ritz Cameras, also try Wolf Camera if they're still around. Some of them still do medium format. There are also a few "mom and Pop" type mini labs that still do it, I happen to work at one that does. From the sound of things your probably no where near Port Ludlow, Washington USA so I guess I couldn't help. If you don't mind sending to Sacramento California, there's always Ferrari Color. I don't have the address in front of me but I'm sure I could find it.