Film Suppliers and Processors?

[midlight21]

Okay....so where does everyone get their film? My 4 year old son is killing me on film and processing. He takes pics of everything and everyone and I don't really mind all that but it gets expensive supplying us both with film. I prefer black and white and he likes color so I need some place inexpensive to get them both (one order/one shipping charge). He also has an Advantix camera for which I've found some really cheap film for here but I'm wondering if anyone has ordered from them before...and how good their service is.

For processing....all we really need is color film developing and a contact sheet so my son can pick out the prints he wants. I plan on learning how to develop my own black and white (will save that for another post). I think I read somewhere around this section of the forum that Sam's Club does very cheap developing??? I won't even take my son's film to CVS or Walgreen's b/c my experience with their developing has been less than good.

[Daniel W.]

Freestyle Photo for BW supplies and film, Sam's is around $3+ per roll of 35mm C-41 (color negative). Advantix / APS is a lousy format for film... a cheap zoom P&S 35mm camera is literally, $5-20 on craigslist.

[midlight21]

My son has a cheap fully manual camera but for some reason he absolutely loves this little Advantix camera he has. I'll have to conveniently "lose" it sometime in the future. Maybe when all his Advantix film is gone....

The $3 per roll....is that just processing or prints too?

Also....I know that the Advantix format is pretty much dead but can anyone direct me to info on the format? I.E. How to open the casing and get the negatives out so that I can scan them? Or who still scans Advantix negatives?

[chris00nj]

Adorama and B&H Photo are also two other suppliers. Consumer color print film, you can get a roll of 36 for $2. From Freestyle, many people rave about Arista Premium 400, saying its rebadged Kodak Tri-X. $2.19 for 36.

I second switching your son to 35mm. APS develop is more expensive. I would just go to eBay. Seriously, if you pay more than $10, you are paying too much or getting too much camera.

Some Sam's have closed up their developing so you might want to check. Has CVS/Walgreens developing been bad, or just their printing? I'd have to be desperate to go there, but i usually get prints. I usually go to Ritz camera. They're not the cheapest, but their people do a better with prints.

I just published a blog post about the economics of home B&W developing.

Do you have a scanner?

I finally ordered a photo printer, so I can print some favorites and some of the scanned, home developed B&W. This seemed like a good deal, considering the reviews.

[midlight21]

Originally Posted by chris00nj

Has CVS/Walgreens developing been bad, or just their printing? I'd have to be desperate to go there, but i usually get prints.

Both....I can't stand their developing or their printing.

[chris00nj]

Originally Posted by midlight21

My son has a cheap fully manual camera but for some reason he absolutely loves this little Advantix camera he has. I'll have to conveniently "lose" it sometime in the future. Maybe when all his Advantix film is gone....

Also....I know that the Advantix format is pretty much dead but can anyone direct me to info on the format? I.E. How to open the casing and get the negatives out so that I can scan them? Or who still scans Advantix negatives?

This post may help, but the guy had his own scanner.

[venchka]

Try different Walgreens & CVS. Or have you done that already? I can only assume that any 1 hour lab can scan Advantix. Before buying my own film scanner, I had my 35mm film developed & scanned at Walgreens, Sams, Walmart, CVS or Wolf. I moved around based on who was operating the hardware and always went to Wolf with critical stuff.

It's fabulous that you have a 4 y.o. who enjoys a camera and film. Did you know that there is a very active film community at North Texas University?

[midlight21]

I'm just glad my son and I have something to enjoy together. I've been looking at Holga's and of course now I really want one. I'll have to pick up one from him too though! LOL.

No I didn't know there was an active film community at UNT. Nice to know though!

[Daniel W.]

For my sam's it was just negatives. Prints ran close to $6. Wal-Mart may or may not be cheaper.

[tropicpine]

Consider developing your own B&W film. Developing your own B&W film will cost you about $0.95/roll for consumables and can be done in a bathroom sink. Your outlay for new tools will be about $35.

Tools:
$22 2 roll developing tank
$13 small light proof changing bag
digital kitchen timer (must count in seconds)
1 gal. bottles to store/ mix chemistry in
measuring cup (do not reuse for food)

Consumables
$6 Kodak D76- will develop 12 rolls
$6 16 oz Kodak indicator stop bath - will provide stop for LOTS of rolls
$6 Kodak fixer - will fix about 24-36 rolls
$6 4oz kodak photo flo - will wash LOTS of rolls of film



Bulk film loading will cut the cost of B&W film in about half. However if you are buying film for a 4yr old you can probably get away with cheap film instead.

$25-$50 100' roll of film that will yeild 16 36exp rolls

Tools needed:
$50 bulk film loader
$13 same light proof changing bag as above
~$25 20 reusable fim cassets
single hole punch
small siccors

Assuming you buy all tools needed new; You will break even with the cost of your equipment somewhere in the middle of your 4th 100' roll of film for Ilford film (usually one of the more expensive films). Using the cheapest film you can find you will break even in about your 10th 100' roll of film.

As for prints you can't beat a film scanner.

[chris00nj]

Originally Posted by tropicpine

Consider developing your own B&W film. Developing your own B&W film will cost you about $0.95/roll for consumables and can be done in a bathroom sink. Your outlay for new tools will be about $35.

Tools:
$22 2 roll developing tank
$13 small light proof changing bag
digital kitchen timer (must count in seconds)
1 gal. bottles to store/ mix chemistry in
measuring cup (do not reuse for food)

Consumables
$6 Kodak D76- will develop 12 rolls
$6 16 oz Kodak indicator stop bath - will provide stop for LOTS of rolls
$6 Kodak fixer - will fix about 24-36 rolls
$6 4oz kodak photo flo - will wash LOTS of rolls of film

...

As for prints you can't beat a film scanner.

Dillute D76 to 1:1 and you can stretch developing to about 25 rolls. I also recommend a larger changing bag, especially if you have long arms. Arlington Camera should have everything you need.

[midlight21]

Yes....I do plan on developing my own black and white film once I get all the items I need. I've even looked at bulk loaders to load black and white film for myself. I've been looking at a few auctions up on ebay. Can you tell me what you think of these given I don't know much about buying darkroom supplies?

Paterson Kindermann Kent Developing Tanks & Film Winder - eBay (item 220561127932 end time Feb-25-10 12:58:16 PST)

35mm Film Developing Set: Tank, 2 Reels, Thermometer - eBay (item 180472856608 end time Feb-25-10 12:29:18 PST)

Vintage Roll Film Developing Tanks and Changing Bag - eBay (item 290405503256 end time Feb-28-10 08:46:29 PST)

Nikor Stainless Steel Film Developing Tank & 4 Reels - eBay (item 150416783252 end time Feb-28-10 17:20:47 PST)

Paterson Super System 4 - Film Developing Tank, 2 reels - eBay (item 130369220294 end time Feb-28-10 18:16:55 PST)

These are the ones I'm currently watching.

[wclavey]

You are watching 2 different types of reels & tanks, and which one is best is a function of which ones you like to use. I have both and use both - - I will be of no help at all in that regard.

When my son was on photography class in school, he learned on the Paterson tanks and like them better than the stainless. I prefer the stainless for 120, but mostly use Paterson reels in a Jobo tank (...don't ask...) and I am indifferent for 35mm. YMMV. I can load either one in the dark with my eyes closed... LOL!

If you have not loaded any film before, then you might find the Paterson reels easier... but no matter which one I recommend, there will be a whole herd of people willing to tell me I'm wrong.

If you decide to get the Paterson reels, I would run them through the dishwasher, plus tank & lid, but not the gasket, on the top rack with a hot water wash, no detergent, and no heated dry - - just to make sure they are clean and that the little bearings in the reels are not gummed up. I do this to all my plastic reels once a year or so...

[midlight21]

Well.....the only time I ever developed my own black and white film was in a black and white photography class years ago. We used metal reels and tanks. That's really the only experience I've had so....I don't have much to go on. As for running the Paterson tanks through the dishwasher....might be a little hard to do that as I'm waiting for my husband to fix our dishwasher. Thanks for the tip though!

[wclavey]

Hot water in the dishpan works well, too! LOL! Just let then soak for 15 minutes or so in case there are any chemicals in the crevices... If you have particularly hard water, you can then rinse them in distilled water, but I don't do that...

[chris00nj]

Originally Posted by midlight21

Well.....the only time I ever developed my own black and white film was in a black and white photography class years ago. We used metal reels and tanks. That's really the only experience I've had so....I don't have much to go on. As for running the Paterson tanks through the dishwasher....might be a little hard to do that as I'm waiting for my husband to fix our dishwasher. Thanks for the tip though!

Until a couple weeks ago, I hadn't developed any since a high school class, but there are several guides on the internet. Now, through 3 rolls, I've gained confidence. I aim to complete a blog post combining all the tips I picked up on various sites.

I'd probably just go for the Patterson tank system. The tank is reliable and does the job. My only lesson learned from developing is the need to get the plastic reels bone dry before loading film. Otherwise it gets very difficult.

[wclavey]

Originally Posted by chris00nj

My only lesson learned from developing is the need to get the plastic reels bone dry before loading film. Otherwise it gets very difficult.

Excellent advice!