william_y

<p>Don't expect to go to the corner drug store and buy film cheap, or even buy it at all, because they won't have it nowadays. But there are still PLENTY of options for getting film at a really good price.</p>

<p>My local WalMart sells 4 rolls of Fuji 100ISO for $6.84. That figures out to $1.71 a roll. Those are 24exp rolls. I think I can afford that. </p>

<p>If you don't like WalMart, go to Ebay. I have no problem at all finding any number of great deals on film from Ebay. I never pay more than $2 for a 24exp roll (incl shipping) for film that isn't even out of date. Lucky brand film from China is cheap and good, and takes only about 10 days or less to get to me all the way from China, for example. But there are plenty of domestic sources of good, inexpensive 35mm film. Just look for it.</p>

<p>Regarding cost in general of using film vs digital..... I was amused by the comment about taking 500 pictures on a DSLR for a weekend trip. What the hell are you going to take 500 pictures of during one weekend? I'm not impressed by that line at all. This "GOTTA HAVE IT RIGHT NOW"/"MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER" mentality suggests the obvious: work for quality, not quantity. 500 pictures that are crap are worth nothing. 50 pictures that are good are well worth the $20 film and processing cost.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>All Wal Mart stores do not operate their SEND OUT service the same. Apparently it depends on a number of factors and who knows what they are.</p>

<p>I appreciate the person who went to their local Wal Mart and posted a picture of what the SEND OUT envelopes in that store look like. But when I go to my WalMart to get a SEND OUT envelope, they look almost identical to those posted but they have printed on them in large bold letters: "NEGATIVES WILL NOT BE RETURNED".</p>

<p>So, it depends on your store. Look at the envelope. If it says "NEGATIVES WILL NOT BE RETURNED", then I would not count on getting my negatives back.</p>

<p>My local WalMart in Iowa has only drop off envelopes that clearly state negatives will not be returned.<br>

<br />Regarding CVS, they are building their first store in my city. It will be interesting to see if they offer film processing. Currently the Walgreens locations in my city DO offer film processing on site in one hour.</p>

<p>To Jeff:<br>

Take it easy, Mitt. I never said there was no place for digital. If that's what you want, go for it. </p>

<p>But if I'm going to buy a new camera (and I'm NOT) what point would there be in buying one without at least as many features as my Nikon film SLR? You ain't gonna find any DSLR at WalMart for $500 that fits that description. </p>

<p>So yes, I agree, let's stop the myths.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>This whole campaign to eliminate film and film processing is a big capitalist scam. It's planned obsolescence. It's just like any other manufacturer selling you something and then discontinuing parts so that you have to buy new before you want or need to. I'm telling you we should not put up with this. This is bullshit. Why the hell would I want to pay $1000 for a digital camera when I have a film cameras that produce higher quality photos? And from what I've heard, digital cameras have a pretty limited lifespan anyway; when they quit working you basically just have to throw them away and spend another $1000 for another one. It's bullshit.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Discovered today that my local Target no longer processes film. I had not used Target before, but someone suggested they did ok. So I stopped by, asked the kid in the photo/electronics department where the dropoff box for film was. He told me it was up at Customer Service desk in the front of the store. I went up there, but didn't see any drop off box. Asked the guy at the Customer Service desk, and he told me they no longer process film.<br>

So locally, that leaves me 2 options. One is WalMart, which takes several days and no longer returns negatives. The other is Walgreens which does a great job, does it in one hour, but is kind of pricey.<br>

I have to wonder - how much money are these places actually saving by hatcheting the film processing? For the big stores it's usually just a box that someone collects once a week and sends off the orders off to process. How much can that cost? </p>

<p>The Lomography Society seems to me like they do a good job of promoting film. I'm always interested in looking at their website to see what's up, plus it's nice to see a website that's optimistic about film. The Lomography Society though promotes a certain kind of film photography, rather than film photography in general, and that's fine - more power to them. The other downside of the society is that the products and services they sell in general seem very overpriced to me. </p>

<p>First, many of the cameras they sell are basically plastic toys yet they sell for at least $30. If that's what you want, that's fine. But to promote film to new users, they should know that these days you can find a very nice 35mm SLR and lens at KEH with a warranty for less than that, and it will deliver quality photos.</p>

<p>Second, the film the society sells is very expensive compared to what you can buy for general purposes most anywhere else. WalMart still sells 4 rolls of Fuji in a box for $6.94 at my local WalMart. Why pay $30 for something of similar or less quality from the Lomography Society, unless you just want to, and if so that's fine. But people should know they don't have to pay that much for film.</p>

<p>Finally, on their website the Lomography Society promotes their own film processing service. It's great they are offering the service, but in my opinion the cost is high. People should know there are other options for film processing that cost less.</p>

<p>So I guess what I'm saying is maybe we need a commercial organization somewhat like the Lomography Society but that promotes film to a broader market. Blogs and user groups are fine, but we need an organization that can DRIVE film and chemical production rather than just be a consumer of those goods and services.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Daniel, I follow your reasoning but I don't agree. There will be always be SOME market for film, and Fuji is the only major manufacturer left. It would make no sense for Fuji to force everyone who processes their film out of business when they have the film market cornered.</p>

<p>No, I think it has only to do with the fact that at least the big retailers don't want to screw with film anymore. My guess is down the road the only places left to get film processed will be mom and pop shops, and they will be able to charge a fortune for the service. Unless...... some major retail player gets smart and figures out there is still a film processing market to make money from. I have no plans at all to go digital. The more I see and hear about it the less interested I am.</p>

<p>So based on what Brian says, it seems foolish for a big drug store (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) to drop their film processing even if it's not a high profit margin item. He's right - it does get me in the door and I do buy other things. I always order prints with my film processing as well as a CD. And then while I'm there I pick up some milk and Excedrin and the other little things I need. And I think we all know that Walgreens and CVS are not exactly cheap on most items compared to Wallyworld or Target, so they make a lot of money off of me taking my film in there to process. I go in to drop off my film, and walk out with $50 worth of stuff (retail value) that cost the store $10 wholesale.</p>

<p>Here's what I don't understand about digital. It's supposed to be so convenient - that's the whole selling point, right? I can load my pics from my camera onto my PC, and then order prints from there if I want to. So why the hell would I want to order prints and then drive to the store to pick them up? That's not convenient. If I'm going to drive to the store, I'll shoot film and take it in.</p>

<p>It's like somebody else said - these big chain stores have a bunch of pubescent pimply-assed MBA punks working for them in Chicago and Manhattan trying to figure out how to pinch a few more cents of profit. In the process of doing that, they just shoot themselves in the foot. I really enjoy figuring out ways to screw up their customer behavior probability models. I was taking pictures before they were a twinkle in their daddies' eyes, and I sure as hell don't need them telling me how to take pictures and get them processed now.</p>

<p>Wal Mart is not returning negs because they want to eliminate film from the face of the earth. Makes life easier and more profitable for them if they don't have to actually provide SERVICE.</p>

<p>For really good reliable mail order film processing and printing/scanning, try San Francisco Photoworks. These people are professional and they CARE about their film processing customers. Here is their website. <br>

http://www.photoworkssf.com/services-and-rates/film-processing<br>

They are not cheap like a Costco, but they do a professional job and they treat you like a human being. Also, check out their Photoworks magazine.</p>

<p>I used to use York or Clark, which are the same company using 2 marketing names. They are pretty cheap. They were one of the highest volume processors in the country with labs spread geographically all over the country. They seem to be down to one location now in Maryland. Instead of promoting their film processing service, they are now emphasizing sale of coffee mugs and t-shirts and other worthless shit. They will still process film, but they have removed all references of film processing from their new website unveiled recently. Here is a link to info about their processing service. Print this, fill it out, and send your film in postage paid:<br>

http://www.yorkphoto.com/Content.aspx?Page=Order+Form+%26+Mailing+Label#.T-eTCkh1X_Y<br>

<br />They will do a decent job of film developing and print processing. They have always done fine with my film and prints. However, lately they have NOT scanned my negatives and posted them on their website even though I paid for the service. So if you want your negatives scanned, don't count on York (Clark) to do it.<br>

Try your local Walgreens. Mine still does everything in 1 hour at the store.</p>

<p>Regarding Target no longer processing film...............<br /> <br />Try your local Walgreens. Mine still develops film, makes prints, and burns cd's at my local store with 1 hour service. You can get a coupon for $2 off of film developing here:<br>

<br /> http://photo2.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=SEM3?ext=gooPhoto_NB_Roll_Film_Developing_Broad_film_developing_coupons&sst=6e1e904a-da16-1048-d3cd-0000709bd143</p>

<p>Regarding WalMart not returning your negatives................<br>

<br />Try your local Walgreens. Mine still develops film, makes prints, and burns cd's at my local store with 1 hour service. You can get a coupon for $2 off of film developing here: <br>

http://photo2.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=SEM3?ext=gooPhoto_NB_Roll_Film_Developing_Broad_film_developing_coupons&sst=6e1e904a-da16-1048-d3cd-0000709bd143</p>