noalbany Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 hi, i'm just starting out in medium format, live in NYC where the cost of proof sheets is a bit high, and wondering if anyone might know of any mail order developers (or places in NYC/Brooklyn) that might cost less than the $20.00 per roll b&w/proof sheet, $24.00 color, i'm paying here. Or any other ideas toward affordability would be helpful (i shoot alot). Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kparratt Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Michael, are you not processing your own b&w? Setting up to make your own proofs requires no special equipment. Just piece of glass and a low watt globe. If you shoot a lot, surely a refined system and a regular routine will save you heaps! I'm even going to start processing my own colour asap. (No-one else gets to touch my b&w unless it's C41 chromogenic.) Cheers, Kevin. PS. My primary concern is not the process, but the disposal of used chemicals. They will come back to kill us if we don't do it properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark liddell Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Get a cheapo film scanner, I use the epson 4490 which does the job for small proofs and it cost < ?150. Dev you own b&w and send out the colour for process only. If you shoot loads and loads of film this might take a while though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauren_macintosh Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Michael: Look at this what are my cost's to package the film send the film and then pay for the film to be processed and contact sheet's and then returned to me, you may find paying 20.00 per is a lot cheaper! I have a place here in boston that I can drop off my self its cost $12.50 per roll but send it via mail ?? good luck\\Lauren====http://www.lauren-macintosh.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffpolaski Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 I've taken to having the film developed only for a raesonable price (PhiladelphiaPhotographics), reading the negative and scanning in what I want to work with. Reading negatives is a skill worth learning.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan_banks1 Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 I would suggest you get on the web and do some research on how to process and make contact sheets at home. It is a fairly straight forward process and it will save you a bundle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_schwartz6 Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 The JCC in Manhattan has a darkroom that non-members can use for $10 per hour. They have enlargers as well. They provide all the chemistry -- paper is the only extra you pay for. A WHOLE LOT cheaper than paying for someone else to do it. And a lot more entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_schwartz6 Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Of course, color is another matter -- you might try Duggal in Manhattan on 23rd St, I don't think they charge that much for a color develop and contact job...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william_frucht Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Spectra on Park Avenue South between 28th and 29th charges $6 a roll for b/w processing. Turnaround time of about a day. I don't know what a contact sheet costs there, but it's very easy to make one in a darkroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g_t3 Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 I too just develop B&W myself and scan the negative -- it is a lot fun and you should definitely try -- this is the cheapest way I find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_sullivan Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 I agree with some of the above....develop your own B&W film, then scan it using a decent flatbed scanner. Have a decent lab develop your Color film, then scan it at home with same scanner. Then if you want anyone to print any of it for you, you've whittled the choices down to ones you know you like....plus you can give them a digital file of your scan and subsequent edits to use as a guide for how they should print....dodge and burn lets say, for instance.....the print for you (yes, a lot of labs that only print conventional wet prints will use a digital file as a reference....I've asked) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noalbany Posted March 11, 2007 Author Share Posted March 11, 2007 pretty sure i'm going for the epson 4490 scanner, anyone else have that one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g_t3 Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 I use Epson 4990 -- works great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abraxsis Posted March 14, 2007 Share Posted March 14, 2007 I might get flamed for saying this, but my local Walmart photo center ordered in the canisters needed to develop 120 in their in house machines. As far as I know they did this just for me. It also helps that I know the guy behind the counter, and I know he has experience with 120. Even shipping it off for developing via the Walmart Fuji people is usually 2.00/roll of 12 and they take care to protect your negatives. Then I scan in what I want and then store the negatives. There are always methods to get around the high costs of Pro labs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregory_king1 Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 I just visited Walmart and was told they no longer do 120. They even called Fuji to confirm. Anyone else confirm this, or did I run into a whole passel of idiots? Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_herim Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 <p>Gregory,<br> You may have already found out your answer by now (8 months later), but Walmart still does send out service. I know...because I just picked up my developed and printed Fuji Pro 160S (C-41) from them during my lunch break.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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