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Colour Negative/ Slide Processing (C-41/ E-6)
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Hi,
What’s the landscape like, with regard to having colour negative or slide film processed. What services do you use yourself, and do you have the results scanned.
I’ve only shoot black and white to date in film, but may soon need to provide colour digital files for a project I may be undertaking. I’m not really set up in terms of digital kit to shoot this digitally without a decent-sized investment in new kit, thus my interest in assessing the feasibility/ options of shooting with colour film.
I’ve seen colour negs come back from development scratched, as well as some pretty expensive processing rates. What is it reasonable to expect, and if you shoot colour negatives or slides yourself, what is your preferred output and do you scan ?
Thanks
Yeah, it can be messy. Colour slides are €8.50 when processed by Fuji on Abbey Street in Dublin, the only people left who do it here I believe, but not 100% sure about that. They are also slow, processing now only 2 days a week. Thats also process only, another €8.50 or more for prints. I dont bother and scan at home myself instead. I have had some horror epsiodes with slide processing, the worst being when they mounted all my slides despite requesting them not to and they cut through all the frames instead of between them. They destoyed a weeks work.
Colour negatives are cheaper to have processed, especially when developed only. Conns in Dublin do great rates for develop only. Again, I scan at home. It seems to me that digital has finally surpassed colour film (not B&W) so if you are working on something very important I would recommend renting a high end digital SLR. Thats what I do, don’t entirely trust the slide for the really good stuff. But this is mainly because outside black & white film usage, I am technically a poor photographer, and the exposure latitudes on slide often trip me up.steveb wrote:
Yeah, it can be messy. Colour slides are €8.50 when processed by Fuji on Abbey Street in Dublin, the only people left who do it here I believe, but not 100% sure about that. They are also slow, processing now only 2 days a week. Thats also process only, another €8.50 or more for prints. I dont bother and scan at home myself instead. I have had some horror epsiodes with slide processing, the worst being when they mounted all my slides despite requesting them not to and they cut through all the frames instead of between them. They destoyed a weeks work.
Colour negatives are cheaper to have processed, especially when developed only. Conns in Dublin do great rates for develop only. Again, I scan at home. It seems to me that digital has finally surpassed colour film (not B&W) so if you are working on something very important I would recommend renting a high end digital SLR. Thats what I do, don’t entirely trust the slide for the really good stuff. But this is mainly because outside black & white film usage, I am technically a poor photographer, and the exposure latitudes on slide often trip me up.Cheers Steve, thanks for the heads-up. I know what you mean re: slides, I would be doubtful of the accuracy of my exposure to use slides for any critical work, until I felt more confident.
I think digital is the way to go, if the budget allowed, but even that’s not there for rental. Perhaps a good thing, as I can’t seem to shoot with slr’s now that I’ve been shooting with rangefinders for the past 18 months.
Checked the Conns site and they seem to have some great prices on C-41 processing. Hadn’t realised it could be that inexpensive. Slides aren’t bad either.
Thinking more on this, I think colour negative may be the way to go, for me.
Conns would seem to be very inexpensive for C-41 processing-only for 120, but can’t seem to find any processing-only price for 35mm, just processing + prints.
I wonder does anyone know of a good deal for C-41 processing-only for 35 ?
Have you considered developing them yourself Damien? Would be most cost effective and Gunns have the kits.
I considered it in the past, and would definitely look at developing it myself if it was for myself. Images are for commercial use for a friend though, and I would prefer to avoid any teething problems/ mis-developed rolls that might necessitate re-shooting, thus my preference for a commercial service.
Not that commercial services are invulnerable, as the last roll of C-41 holiday snaps I got developed years ago was quite scratched, and wasn’t very impressed. They were developed while on holiday, so hoping to find a reliable, reasonably priced service in Dublin.
The ideal would be a develop and scan package, although scanning seems to be pricey and would fancy my chances buying a negative scanner and doing the scanning myself. In fact, I’m thats the option I’m leaning towards, as I would get some good use from a dedicated scanner with my own 35mm b&w negatives also.
I use Gunns for any C-41 I shoot (mostly 120) and never had any problems. I usually get development only as I print them in the darkroom. Can’t remember price though.
I’m back shooting 35mm trannys, in an Xpan and I’m having to send them to the UK. Peak Imaging does my developing. About a week and a half from the time I post the film to when it comes in my door. About 17 euros per roll including postage. No problems with developing/scratches etc. These guys know what they’re doing.
Just found a place that will drum scan the Xpan film, works out around 12 sterling per shot. BPD Photech. I’ve only tried them once with free scan, but the result was very close to the original. Will be using them again.
UK has options for film – but I do buy my film in this country!Drop into Conns with a roll of exposed negatives and ask how much they will do same day develop only. They are very compitative for negative same day develop only (and can be done as little as 20 mins). Good luck
stevebSteve – yes must ask when I drop into Conns next. Haven’t exposed anything to be developed yet, just doing my homework first.
Peter – Conns is ridiculously cheap for 120 C-41 processing-only at 3.50 a roll. I think I might find it hard to soup my own C-41 with such competitive rates. Is it hard to develop your own C-41? The temperature control put me off in the past
Not difficult from what I’ve been told by people who do it but I have never tried it myself so can’t advise. There are a few members here who do it so maybe they can help.
Just picked up a few rolls of Ektar in Gunns earlier, and can confirm they offer a very competitive C-41 processing-only rate (€3.80 for 35mm, €4.50 for 120). Am sure I will be sending some rolls their way, after I get down to some shooting this weekend.
Good decision, Gunns are the best.
If you ever decide do it yourself, you won’t pay more than a euro for one 135 or 120 roll even 4×5 or larger. I have never worked with Tetenal or Fuji Hunt, so I can’t really compare with Rollei Digibase which is what I’m using since last summer and I like it very much. Gunss have these plenty in stock..Thanks for all the replies guys, the feedback is much appreciated. After weighing up all the factors (and the pressing deadlines), I have decided to shoot the project I mentioned digitally.
I shall definitely consider the option of processing my own C-41 for rolls I shoot for myself though, and must say it is very reassuring to know that it’s possible to still get colour film developed relatively inexpensively.
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