[graynotnoyz]

Hi

Just joined the group tonight and wanted to say hello

I've been a long term film user but more of a happy snapper than a serious photographer.

Subjects include just about anything my camera is pointing at, at the moment I press the shutter.

I dabbled in the dark room many years ago but gave up the option to have a dark room when we moved and started having a family. No regrets on either of those choices but I wished I had managed to keep the darkroom operational.

Since then I have mostly used high street processing but they are getting very thin on the ground. I tend use Boots these days as local Jessops and Klick have closed down. I have a 30 mile round trip to the Boots store with a mini-lab which produces the best results.

I have had mixed success when sending off to postal services but I am sure that there must still be some good places out there if I knew where to look.

I imagine most people in this group process and print their own work but can anyone suggest a good place to send films for processing in the UK.

I mostly shoot colour negative but I have tried B&W C41 process which I have been pleased with. I would also like to try slide film and I have been given two rolls of 35mm Fuji Velvia which I will try when I go on holiday later in the year. The person who gave me the film has gone completely digital and the film is dated May 2009 so I'm not sure if it was a good gift or not.

I do have a digital camera and I believe that I have learned a lot experimenting with it and that my film photography has improved because of the experience I have gained from using digital. However there is something about the quality of film which draws me back and makes me think that I want to do perhaps more serious work with film.

Just thought of something else. Do many people process their own films and then scan negatives into a computer instead of printing out in the darkroom?

Sorry for the rambling post. I'll try to do better next time. :D

[Brian Pritchard]

Welcome.
I recently used my local processing service Max Spielman AKA Klicks and was very disappointed. I had a roll of Fuji 800 colour neg processed and a CD. All the pictures were upside down when using the browser on the CD, I didn't think the processing was very good either. When I complained head office said I would have to take the CD back to the store in Leek, about 10 miles away. As I didn't think the scans were particularly great I decided not to bother and I will find somewhere else for next time.

I process my own B/W and then scan on a Canoscan 8800F (reccomended by other members of this site) and I am very pleased with the results. I am just in the first stages of setting up a darkroom to do some printing. At the moment I have a large changing back and some daylight tanks so it is very easy to process my B/W.

I would be interested to hear how you get on with your Fuji Velvia. As long as it has not been badly stored it should still be OK to use although I wouldn't shoot anything that was vital and irreplacable until you have tried one roll.

Cheers
Brian

[graynotnoyz]

Brian

Thanks for the reply.

In my ignorance I did not realize Max Spielmann and Klick were the same company. I must admit I have had variable results in the past. Twice when I thought the quality was poor I took the negatives back to the shop and they reprinted them for me with much improved quality, sharper and better colour.

..... "vital and irreplacable " when I get to that point I will have come a long way. Only joking, but I take your point I will use the film as an opportunity to practice and experiment.


Thanks again

[Ben]

Welcome! I do develop myself then scan but only because I don't have a darkroom at home!