Good place to mail in and process 120 film from overseas

[satya_rodrigo]

<p>Hi all,<br>

Can anyone recommend a good place where I can mail in 120 film rolls from overseas to US that can process rolls and<br>

a) ship back prints/ negatives and/or<br>

b) upload scans.<br>

I have found a few places online in the US- but they don't ship orders overseas.<br>

I have a paypal account and 3 credit cards that I use for purchases overseas and worse case scenario if the place is good - I can ship prints to my sister in the US. <br>

I have started film photography again and unfortunately where I am at present - they have stopped film processing- everyone is digital! :(<br>

I ask about 120 film particularly as I am purchasing a Hasselblad to start using. I have already ordered a few boxes of 120 film from B & H :)<br>

I am also looking at purchasing a drytank to develop negatives myself and scan them- and looking for a good home kit tank set. I have seen the Jobo 2400 looks perfect- but not found one yet. :(</p>

<p>Thanks<br>

Satya</p>

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[larrydressler]

<p>Where exactly overseas.. broad term. I know a place in Ireland and one in The Netherlands that still do these services so i you're in Europe I can help you. As for sending them to the U.S.A. that is overseas for some. ;-) I can make a few calls. Who have you checked with so far?</p>

[dave_s]

<p>I'm a fan of <a href="http://www.northcoastphoto.com/">North Coast Photo Services</a> in Carlsbad, California. They operate a mail order business and send back your scans on a DVD, but I don't believe they offer an FTP service. They process trad B & W, C41, and E6 in all sizes, and of course they send back your negs along with the DVD. They also make prints, although I've never asked them to make prints. </p>

<p>They offer an 'enhanced scan' service which is good although not the cheapest. From a 6 x 7 negative, this is about a 26 megapixel scan, saved as a jpeg with limited compression (about a quality level of '11' in Photoshop.) You can make excellent 11 x 14 enlargements from these scans, and the sky won't fall if you go a size or two larger for some images.</p>

<p>There are certainly posher services and certainly cheaper ones, but these guys are at least worth investigating.</p>

[sanjay_chaudary]

<p>Hi, which place r u in? If you are in India , I may be able to help</p>

[satya_rodrigo]

<p>Hi, many thanks for the responses. My day job is a diplomat- so I move every few 3-4 years. Was in Austria earlier- hence I brought a lot of film gear :) and now in Sri Lanka- where one can't buy film at all! Sanjay- don't know if there are places in India that ships here. I have found that many online shops in India require credit cards with Indian billing addresses.<br /> Dave, thanks for NCPS. They look good and will check them out.<br /> So far, found the following on the internet in the US. (A few are in the UK - but comparatively more expensive). <br /> The first two may be ideal. (I am also partial to their names!) <br /> <a href="http://www.120processing.com/">120processing</a>: Flat fee for international shipping. I think they are partners with Old School Photo Lab?<br /> <a href="http://oldschoolphotolab.com/">Old School Photo Lab</a> in New Hampshire. Processing, Printing and Scanning /uploading to Web. They also sell film rolls. <br /> <a href="http://fromex.com/">Fromex</a> in California. But not sure if they ship overseas- they only mention orders to Canada.<br /> <a href="http://photoplaceonline.com/">Photoplaceonline</a>: Looks good, but seems they only process colour film and <strong>not black and white</strong>.<br /> Worse case- I can try to develop on own with Caffenol! :) <img src="http://i58.tinypic.com/2lnvhhk.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<img src="http://i57.tinypic.com/2qx7vjb.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

[craig_shearman1]

<p>From Sri Lanka i would think Tokyo or London would be much more practical in terms of mail-order processing than sending it all the way to the U.S.<br /><br />But i think the far more practical thing would simply be to develop it yourself. Do don't need a fancy Jobo procesor, just a stainless steel reel and tank. For B&W, the reel and tank, a thermometer, timer and a few bottles of chemicals are all you need. For color, a water bath and heater to regulate the temperature is helpful. 120 film scanners are expensive but some people are happy with higher end flatbed scanners (although I still prefer a film scanner myself.) Given shipping costs for mailing film back and forth across the world, setting up to do it yourself would easily pay for itself with just a few rolls.</p>

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>I am friends with Old School Photo Lab on Twitter. I've never used his services but he's a great guy who goes out of his way to help so he'd be my top recommendation. Just be careful sending film overseas by air. Many packages are X-Rayed for security so make enquiries with the shipping company before sending valuable rolls.</p>

[satya_rodrigo]

<p>Hi, I found out that one of the large camera retailers here may process 120 film still. :) So hopeful- but may end up developing film myself. The US sites seem to be more adapt to foreign billing and shipping addresses. UK ones not so much. Have to explore the Tokyo options. I have ordered lots of film cameras and bits from Japan and been very happy. They maintain stuff well. I got am Fujifilm X-Pro1 that the seller said its used and not mint- but it was clean and what many would say was mint! :) So getting back into 6x6 and am looking at a TLR camera for street. I guess i should look at other forum part. I guess Yashica and Rolleiflex are ones that would be most recommended? </p>

 

[jamie_robertson2]

<p>Mamiya C330 too :-)</p>

[craig_shearman1]

<p>Rollei is the Cadillac (Rolls Royce?) of TLRs and the classic that defined the format. Yashicamat is more the Ford/Chevy -- much more affordable but still very workable. The Mamiya C series is actually the most rugged and most versatile TLR. Unlike other TLRs, the Mamiyas take interchangeable lenses, along with a range of interchangeable finders. (Not sure if you can get a prism finder for Rollei, definitely cannot for Yaschica). Bigger and heavier than either Rollei or Yashicamat. I have both a Yaschicamat 124G and a Mamiya C-330. You can find either at very good prices these days.<br /><br />There are other brands of TLR but these three really dominate the format.</p>

[satya_rodrigo]

<p>Still looking for a TLR. Yes- the Rollei's are beautiful. :) <br>

But i decided to go back to what I have used in a College Photography class. <br>

I got a Hasselblad 503 cx :). <img src="http://i57.tinypic.com/2lvbkmt.jpg" alt="" /><br>

yeah it's not so much for street... but it makes me grin from ear to ear. Now looking for a good Polaroid back and eventually a Digital back (course I will have to stop buying any gear for years to save up!). I thought with the new digital backs around 50MP now - the old 16MP backs would be cheaper- no way! </p>

<p> </p>

[sanjay_chaudary]

<p>Hi, there are a few labs in India that process medium format. I am not sure if mail is reliable for overseas. Personally, I would not depend on it. I do mail my 120 film for processing - but that is within India. Chennai to Gujarat. sorry for late response.</p>