Another one bites the dust ....

[Keith]

I was shocked to walk into the local shopping centre and discover that the smallish photography outlet that has been there for as long as I can remember has closed it's doors. They used to do one hour processing until about three years ago when the owner got rid of his C41 machine due to maintenance costs and lack of turnover but you were still able to drop film off and it would be sent out for lab processing with about a three day turn around.

Not that it affects me but to get film processed now I would be looking at about a 20k drive. For some reason this really makes me want to shoot and develop some film again. 🙂

 

[FrankS]

A few years ago, the owner of a local small photo shop that was giving up photo finishing, offered the old C-41 developing machine for free if I'd take it away. I was still working and not interested on balance, to pursue that opportunity.

 

[bmattock]

I asked yesterday at a local drugstore that used to process C-41. They do the same thing now, they send it out. Also you don't get negatives back, I asked. The clerk actually didn't know what I meant by negatives, she had to ask the store manager.

I certainly picked a great time to get back into film photography. Glad I'm doing B&W at home!

 

[bmattock]

A few years ago, the owner of a local small photo shop that was giving up photo finishing, offered the old C-41 developing machine for free if I'd take it away. I was still working and not interested on balance, to pursue that opportunity.

Many years ago, my local community college offered me their DEC PDP-11 minicomputer (size of a refrigerator). I declined and glad I am that I did so, although at the time I was unsure.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

... about a 20k drive...

😱
Twenty kilos of what?

 

[Bill Clark]

Sorry to hear that but it seems like it's inevitable. I use film for only black and white.

I do have some color film left and maybe will use it, process and scan myself or just circular file the stuff!

 

[bmattock]

Sorry to hear that but it seems like it's inevitable. I use film for only black and white.

I do have some color film left and maybe will use it, process and scan myself or just circular file the stuff!

I found some old color film yesterday that I had shot years ago. I processed it in Diafine. Will be scanning today to see what I got.

 

[Trius]

A few years ago, the owner of a local small photo shop that was giving up photo finishing, offered the old C-41 developing machine for free if I'd take it away. I was still working and not interested on balance, to pursue that opportunity.

You should have taken it. We could have a business together. 🙂

 

[Out to Lunch]

I've seen many general photo shops with a C41 machine disappear...but it's not all doom and gloom. In Bucharest, a small shop that offers high quality black&white development and printing services and large format studio portraits manages to stay in business. http://www.allkimik.ro/ Recently, a friend and RRF member alerted me to a shop in Saigon which is selling black and white film and offers development/scanning and printing services.

 

[hendriphile]

I asked yesterday at a local drugstore that used to process C-41. They do the same thing now, they send it out. Also you don't get negatives back, I asked. The clerk actually didn't know what I meant by negatives, she had to ask the store manager.

I certainly picked a great time to get back into film photography. Glad I'm doing B&W at home!

The last Walgreens that offered in-house developing in my city closed a few months ago. Walgreens and CVS will send film out to be developed but there is no way you can get your negatives back; they are destroyed by the machine that does the developing. So you need to look for service by mail or find a photo store your city that still offers in-house services (fortunately there is still one left where I live). That's just the way it is.
Or, as you are doing, develop it yourself!

 

[Timmyjoe]

Same here, the Walgreens and the OSCO nearby used to do C-41, but now send it out. Was bummed about the Walgreens, as their in house processing wasn't bad. Don't miss the OSCO as they destroyed a few rolls of film for me over the years.

I haven't had them send anything out for me since they've stopped processing in house, but I had not heard that they now destroy the negs. That's horrible.

 

[hepcat]

Fortunately we have enough of resurgence in film that one of our local camera stores (who carries NO film equipment new or used) made the (NOT inconsequential) investment to upgrade their C41 equipment. The send b&w out, but do all their own C41 processing and printing in house. The lab is about 35 miles from me... but I'm there often enough that it's convenient.

http://www.photoproonline.com/prints/film-processing/

 

[p.giannakis]

I do not use c-41 film as I am developing my b&w films by myself but there is a feeling of sadness when I see small photographic businesses closing down. I certainly feel uncomfortable passing outside the old photographic shop in the town I grew up (when I visit it) - I still remember him having a Kiev 88 and a Minolta 7000i that I used to admire as a kid.

 

[Austerby]

If you can home develop B&W film then doing C-41 at home is quite straightforward. I was surprised how easy it is to do in practice, in many ways there are fewer variables than with B&W and therefore arguably simpler. It's cheap too.

 

[bmattock]

If you can home develop B&W film then doing C-41 at home is quite straightforward. I was surprised how easy it is to do in practice, in many ways there are fewer variables than with B&W and therefore arguably simpler. It's cheap too.

I agree but unfortunately, I am color-blind. I could process C41, but not scan it, as I cannot see the correct colors. I have always depended on digital for color since my first dSLR back in 2005. I have scanned color negs, but for me it is very hit-or-miss.

I also tend to use Diafine for my B&W developing. I doubt C41 developing could be easier than using that - nothing is easier. No worries about time or temperature. 5 minutes in Solution A, 5 minutes in solution B (or 3 or 4 or 6 or whatever) and then fix. Simple as that.

 

[bmattock]

I've seen many general photo shops with a C41 machine disappear...but it's not all doom and gloom. In Bucharest, a small shop that offers high quality black&white development and printing services and large format studio portraits manages to stay in business. http://www.allkimik.ro/ Recently, a friend and RRF member alerted me to a shop in Saigon which is selling black and white film and offers development/scanning and printing services.

There are certainly still places that will process and scan and/or print your color negatives, slide film, and B&W in the area where I live. No problem there. The only real problems are time, effort, and expense. Gone are the days when I could take a quick roll of color film by the local drugstore and ask them to process only, no prints, no scans, and get a roll of processed negs back in an hour for $2.75 US.

In order to shoot color film now, I would really have to value my images enough to want to pay the prices asked. I'm not complaining about the higher prices, mind you; quality costs money. But it takes it out of my realm as someone who might just be testing a roll of film with a new vintage camera, for example. I ain't a gonna spend $30 or more to find out if my $5 camera has a shutter problem, you know?

So for me, it's more-or-less B&W only now with regard to film. That I can do myself.

 

[mani]

Naturally these small, casual development shops are closing: film isn't a mass market product anymore. Just make sure you support the niche labs that are still going strong - there are fewer of them, but paradoxically they are getting stronger as these other places die off.

PS: article in the Swedish business paper today about how vinyl record shops just can't keep pace with demand - same places that were doomed just five or six years ago. Now the big chains are wanting in on the action again.

 

[oftheherd]

Dominion Camera in Falls Church, VA still develops film. They do it one day a week.:bang:

 

[Highway 61]

I shot my last C41 film in 1999. My last E6 film was shot in 2010. Since, I sold all the E6 film lots I was storing in my fridge.

Now it's film for B&W (done at home, with regular and problemless results) and digital for color. That is, 99.99% of my work is now B&W. Never got hooked by digital in spite of the purchase of several capable DSLRs (now sold out) and some good abilities to post-process RAW files ; and I don't regret either the high price and/or the bad quality job I got for the last E6 processings...

The only color film I deeply regret is Kodachrome, because nothing can resemble it, even seriously tweaked digital files.. (have been extensively shooting Kodachrome from 1981 up to the early 2000s, when the Swiss lab which was developing them closed its doors for good).

 

[bmattock]

I shot my last C41 film in 1999. My last E6 film was shot in 2010. Since, I sold all the E6 film lots I was storing in my fridge.

Now it's film for B&W and digital for color. That is, 99.99% of my work is now B&W. Never got hooked to digital in spite of the purchase of several capable DSLRs (now sold out), and I don't regret either the high price or the bad quality job I got for the last E6 processings...

The only color film I deeply regret is Kodachrome, because nothing can resemble it, even seriously tweaked digital files.. (have been extensively shooting Kodachrome from 1981 up to the early 2000s, when the Swiss lab which was developing them closed its doors for good).

I can find nothing about your statements with which to disagree. Well said.