jan normandale
Film is the other way
I'll go the other direction. Saving money when shooting isn't what photography is about. Saving is for your bank account or education or buying your camera.
Once you've got it you want to produce the best quality work you can in that medium. Spend the money on the appropriate film for the job. If you develop make sure you use the appropriate chemicals for the job ie microdol or pyro or Tmax Developer or ... you get the idea. Get a good light meter not the cheapest you can find.
If you want to see what you can do don't focus on saving money where it will affect your results. Professionals don't so why not use their experience to your advantage?
I'm just giving another thought to the entire process of photography. Don't take this to heart. I actively seek my equipement and materials from reputable suppliers and often wait for sales before plunking down my money but I avoid wasting money when it will affect the results.
Once you've got it you want to produce the best quality work you can in that medium. Spend the money on the appropriate film for the job. If you develop make sure you use the appropriate chemicals for the job ie microdol or pyro or Tmax Developer or ... you get the idea. Get a good light meter not the cheapest you can find.
If you want to see what you can do don't focus on saving money where it will affect your results. Professionals don't so why not use their experience to your advantage?
I'm just giving another thought to the entire process of photography. Don't take this to heart. I actively seek my equipement and materials from reputable suppliers and often wait for sales before plunking down my money but I avoid wasting money when it will affect the results.
raid
Dad Photographer
Your point is well taken. I feel the same way, but this has also slowed me down a lot in using less often MF cameras.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Haha, it annoys me that I can't see your work. But nevertheless, I appreciate your thought-out practice and in ways, I want to mirror it. Scanning takes a long time (perhaps as long as developing). And in many cases, I would rather be out shooting rather than looking at my own images, fixing dust problems in Lightroom, and posting to the web on my blog.
So my question is - does not looking at your photos in high detail allow you to accurately critique yourself? I would imagine you can become a great shooter because you shoot constantly and consistently. But if you don't view your own work in detail then do you know what you are really shooting? Do you even view the negs on a lightbox?
Or do you just develop a trust with yourself that the image will be great when you find something in the viewfinder worth shooting? But what about training for that "decisive moment"?
This is making me want to see your work all the more...
Jeremy,
Cristian from the New York Meet-Up who shoots large format once said, "With negatives like these you don't need a 4x5," when I was showing him some of my 6x9 negatives.
I have a light table and from experience it is not too hard to invert a negative to positive to do a "rough cut," and to me a contact sheet is not required, but to do real editing I need to make work prints to do the "fine cut." The few negatives I have gotten wet printed on fiber paper at a custom lab are printed kinda big, but archival printing of gallery sized prints on fiber paper in a NYC custom lab is big money, but the few large prints I have make a compelling statement for my work.
While off topic, I tend to shoot in three round bursts like an assassin: stomach-chest-head. Please understand that these three shots are three different shots of the same subject as an aid to editing. Because I have a background in TV broadcast journalism and did daily news reporting and videography that was broadcast on cable, the first shot is generally a cover shot, followed by a closer shot, and typically a following different FOV like a lower or higher angle. I like to shoot like a film maker, and sometimes there is a series or string of shots that go together.
To me my photographic pursuit is to maximize and never compromise. Currently I'm learning how to fully exploit my new Monochrom and still am building up a digital studio to print big. To me scanning and posting work on a CRT or LCD is not the best presentation of my work. Nothing like real prints either wet or digital.
Cal
Bill Clark
Veteran
I save money by developing my own film and making an analog contact sheet of each roll.
My challenge is to find time to do all of this. I'm trying to get less busy but no luck so far.
My challenge is to find time to do all of this. I'm trying to get less busy but no luck so far.
Gumby
Veteran
I'll support you on that one all the way! For me the only addition to this "secret recipe" is to avoid "gas" and being a "gearhead". (please forgive the use of that term; I know how hated it is around this forum... but I can't think of a succinct alternative.)
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Jan,
I'm pretty much on board with you. I always buy the best gear and live without any regrets, but on the scale of my expenditures I am compelled to not only fully utilize my gear to justify the expense, but I must also economize whenever I can to maximize my results like in a business.
While I have used a fair share of expired film, close to expire film bought at discount, or very old film that was in freezer storage, I have not yet experienced any negative effect that would warrant not utilizing these resources. Saving money has not effected my results.
EXAMPLE: A while back I was mixing 20 liters of ID-11 a month and pouring it down the drain after one shot use. I tried Diafine, which is not only an unpopular developer on this forum, but is rather disliked by many. I found that the recommended film speeds by both users here and even by the manufacturer did not serve me, but I learned how to make Diafine work for me to make great negatives with certain films. As a result I not only learned to make better negatives that were more consistent, had better dynamic contrast range, but also were economical to make. Again no compromises here.
Cal
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I agree with "Make every shot count"...slow down, look for the best composition, meter properly, use a tripod, if possible, wait for the right light...developing yourself is the best way to judge your metering...I have cameras or a film back to allow me to shoot 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7...I rarely shoot two frames of the same scene and if I do it's to bracket exposures...When shooting slide film (35mm Velvia) I would shoot 3 or 4 frames of one shot for duplicate originals with 120 film I don't...but that's just me...
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I use stainless reels and a two liter stainless tank. When I do 4 rolls of 120 or 220 I have room to squeeze in a loaded reel if 135 if the development times are the same for both formats. Basically the 135 roll goes for the ride and gets developed for free.
Just be aware that well seasoned Diafine gets rather foamy, and I do not recommend doing the above except with rather fresh Diafine.
Cal
Just be aware that well seasoned Diafine gets rather foamy, and I do not recommend doing the above except with rather fresh Diafine.
Cal
stompyq
Well-known
I think Cal gave me the best advice for low cost 120 work when he suggested I use Diafine. My developing costs are now only for periodic purchases of fixer. My diafine stock has been going forever now and does not appear to be slowing down the least.
I would hesitate to recommend the "use a digicam a a polaroid" route. I used this technique with great sucsess with 4x5 and large format film but don't think I would enjoy doing that with smaller formats. Plus it means that you will shoot less and therefore learn less.
I would hesitate to recommend the "use a digicam a a polaroid" route. I used this technique with great sucsess with 4x5 and large format film but don't think I would enjoy doing that with smaller formats. Plus it means that you will shoot less and therefore learn less.
Murchu
Well-known
When it comes to shooting film inexpensively, I've found a few things have worked well for me:
Camera kit; buy used, know what to look for, know where the sweet spot between price/ performance lays, and do not be afraid to hunt for a while until you find what you seek. Also, think about the planned life of the camera which will put its cost into its proper context.
Film; identify all potential sources for film, keep an eye on them regularly, and do not be afraid to pounce with bulk buys when the price is right. Beware of false economies though, which for me would be to avoid expired/ unpredictable film, unless its all from a similar batch, and you are not afraid to sacrifice the necessary time and rolls in testing it. Equally, having small quantities of different film, from 'deals', is not worth it, in my opinion. Settle on a few films, and focus your efforts on finding good prices on them, at least then you have consistency.
Chemicals; make a list of developers you would be happy using, do a cost analysis on them, in terms of how expensive each is per roll, then armed with that information, make your choice and settle on one or two. Buy bulk, when it makes sense in terms of cost savings.
Scanning; buy a decent flatbed scanner that will take medium format film negatives, and scan yourself. Its a pain, but a lot cheaper than paying for your film to be scanned usually. A few hundred will get you a flatbed that will give you good quality scans, as you've a lot of negative real estate. For very high quality, plunk down for an Epson V700/750, and for ultimate quality, pay to have individual frames drum scanned or scanned on high end scanners.
As mentioned above, I would avoid false economies where you can. Know where you can save money without any real sacrifices, and know when saving money will just ultimately be a photographic waste/ risk not worth taking.
The best savings to be made when shooting film, are to shoot b&w, and do most of the work yourself, I think. The above assumes that, although you can equally do the same with C41 or slide, but I have not dabbled with that.
Camera kit; buy used, know what to look for, know where the sweet spot between price/ performance lays, and do not be afraid to hunt for a while until you find what you seek. Also, think about the planned life of the camera which will put its cost into its proper context.
Film; identify all potential sources for film, keep an eye on them regularly, and do not be afraid to pounce with bulk buys when the price is right. Beware of false economies though, which for me would be to avoid expired/ unpredictable film, unless its all from a similar batch, and you are not afraid to sacrifice the necessary time and rolls in testing it. Equally, having small quantities of different film, from 'deals', is not worth it, in my opinion. Settle on a few films, and focus your efforts on finding good prices on them, at least then you have consistency.
Chemicals; make a list of developers you would be happy using, do a cost analysis on them, in terms of how expensive each is per roll, then armed with that information, make your choice and settle on one or two. Buy bulk, when it makes sense in terms of cost savings.
Scanning; buy a decent flatbed scanner that will take medium format film negatives, and scan yourself. Its a pain, but a lot cheaper than paying for your film to be scanned usually. A few hundred will get you a flatbed that will give you good quality scans, as you've a lot of negative real estate. For very high quality, plunk down for an Epson V700/750, and for ultimate quality, pay to have individual frames drum scanned or scanned on high end scanners.
As mentioned above, I would avoid false economies where you can. Know where you can save money without any real sacrifices, and know when saving money will just ultimately be a photographic waste/ risk not worth taking.
The best savings to be made when shooting film, are to shoot b&w, and do most of the work yourself, I think. The above assumes that, although you can equally do the same with C41 or slide, but I have not dabbled with that.
kuzano
Veteran
It's relatively simple.....
It's relatively simple.....
1) shoot 645
2) shoot with a good 645
3) the best 645 in my "esteemed" opinion, and I have shot almost all of them, is the Fuji GA645Zi, which is a single cam (not a system) offering:
Good AF (fast and accurate)
Great metering on the money
Zoom 55-90
Reliable
Shoots 120/220
Easy carry
Quiet transport and shutter
Exposure Compensation....
It's just good... I had one with 234,000 shutter clicks
Before that I would have said Bronica ETRSi SLR, but that's a system (GREAT!! lenses)
When I want to really be wasteful on film, I shoot either 120/220 in my "Gigantic" Fujica G690 Bl "Texas Leica". 8 shots on 120, 16 shots on 220. I have lots of 220 in the cooler and don't anticipate not being able to source more with a diligant search and the help of eBay sellers.
Shoot 120 for 16 per roll for 645, and 32 per roll on 220.
Find, buy and refrigerate 220 from sellers on eBay. Make sure it has been refrigerated and the sell has much positive feedback. If someone has been selling expired film unrefrigerated, I expect that to show up in poor feedback if he/she is a volume seller.
Forget home processing, way too expensive. If you have a Walmart, go to walmart and put your film in a SEND OUT ONLY envelope. In my case it takes ten days for professional processing AT a Fujifilm lab. Have received 120 roll, 8 transparency film back for 84 Cents per roll often. That's right Eighty Four Cents per roll... UNDER A DOLLAR. I can't set up my house, or daylight film system and deal with price and other aspect of chemicals, trays, drums... GaaaaH!!! without spending much more than that.
Prints have never run me over $8 a roll, even on 220, and Walmart covers the transportation in their trucks... NO SHIPPING....
So an expired or current date (kept cold stored) roll of 220, processed to transparencies (Walmart/Fuji accepts E6 AND C41) has never cost me $10 for the film, processing and delivery/return. Most often, I get off for under a dollar. RULE ONE... Never try to EXPLAIN what you are attemping to do with a WALMART EMPLOYEE, and never, NEVER askthem a question. They have no answers.
Break the "don't ask, don't tell" rule with a Walmart Employee will only foster disappointment on your part, and a very bad experience. They do not know how this "SEND OUT ONLY" system works. They only know (and this is a lot to know for them) that they put your closed envelope in the bag that goes on the truck, and they get it back sealed in ten days, at which time they call you. If you get no call, just go in after ten weekdays... it will be there.
Warning... Take Note:
You can cause a Walmart employee to start smoking and possibly explode if you try to discuss this system with them.
If you have any questions, grab one of the envelopes from the Fujifilm kiosk with the slot for SEND OUT. There is a toll free number on the envelope for the lab your film is being sent to.
Never a complaint or a lost roll in over a decade of doing this. While the one hour places are going with NO return of the negs for 35mm (135), only CD scans, I still get my negs on my MF 120/220 film.
Shoot my Zi, or a Perkeo 120 Color Skopar, when I want "cheap"...
There have been numerous thread on the MF film/Walmart/Send Out Only on this site. Do a search. It's been discussed ad nauseum, and I have even posted pictures of both the E6 and C41 instructions to fill out on the SO envelopes. I have spoken Fuji often. This is a tested system by me and others here.
I think I recall that RAID also uses Walmart, and can recall some others.
Unfortunately not all Walmarts do this. To make it even more frustrating, ALL of them will vehemently deny such a system. Even the three I have used frequently for the last decade. In one case I had to go back in the store room and rummage round for the Fujifilm Kiosk. It is now placed properly in the same area where they have the 8 kiosk computers for digital. I dropped off a roll, never spoke to anyone, and picked up the prints/negs ten days later, without a word to anyone in photo other than, "I'm here to pick up my prints and negs" The lady really recoiled and proudly swore "We don't give customers the negatives any more. We throw them out". I quietly opened up the "sealed" envelope and pulled out the prints and then the negatives.
Her hair started to smoke, and then, right there in front of me, SHE Exploded. I foresaw this encounter and I was wearing my Kevlar body armor and covered my face.
Do NOT discuss this with a WALMART Employee. They are not stupid... they just don't know, and there is no training, even at the management level on this system.
It's relatively simple.....
1) shoot 645
2) shoot with a good 645
3) the best 645 in my "esteemed" opinion, and I have shot almost all of them, is the Fuji GA645Zi, which is a single cam (not a system) offering:
Good AF (fast and accurate)
Great metering on the money
Zoom 55-90
Reliable
Shoots 120/220
Easy carry
Quiet transport and shutter
Exposure Compensation....
It's just good... I had one with 234,000 shutter clicks
Before that I would have said Bronica ETRSi SLR, but that's a system (GREAT!! lenses)
When I want to really be wasteful on film, I shoot either 120/220 in my "Gigantic" Fujica G690 Bl "Texas Leica". 8 shots on 120, 16 shots on 220. I have lots of 220 in the cooler and don't anticipate not being able to source more with a diligant search and the help of eBay sellers.
Shoot 120 for 16 per roll for 645, and 32 per roll on 220.
Find, buy and refrigerate 220 from sellers on eBay. Make sure it has been refrigerated and the sell has much positive feedback. If someone has been selling expired film unrefrigerated, I expect that to show up in poor feedback if he/she is a volume seller.
Forget home processing, way too expensive. If you have a Walmart, go to walmart and put your film in a SEND OUT ONLY envelope. In my case it takes ten days for professional processing AT a Fujifilm lab. Have received 120 roll, 8 transparency film back for 84 Cents per roll often. That's right Eighty Four Cents per roll... UNDER A DOLLAR. I can't set up my house, or daylight film system and deal with price and other aspect of chemicals, trays, drums... GaaaaH!!! without spending much more than that.
Prints have never run me over $8 a roll, even on 220, and Walmart covers the transportation in their trucks... NO SHIPPING....
So an expired or current date (kept cold stored) roll of 220, processed to transparencies (Walmart/Fuji accepts E6 AND C41) has never cost me $10 for the film, processing and delivery/return. Most often, I get off for under a dollar. RULE ONE... Never try to EXPLAIN what you are attemping to do with a WALMART EMPLOYEE, and never, NEVER askthem a question. They have no answers.
Break the "don't ask, don't tell" rule with a Walmart Employee will only foster disappointment on your part, and a very bad experience. They do not know how this "SEND OUT ONLY" system works. They only know (and this is a lot to know for them) that they put your closed envelope in the bag that goes on the truck, and they get it back sealed in ten days, at which time they call you. If you get no call, just go in after ten weekdays... it will be there.
Warning... Take Note:
You can cause a Walmart employee to start smoking and possibly explode if you try to discuss this system with them.
If you have any questions, grab one of the envelopes from the Fujifilm kiosk with the slot for SEND OUT. There is a toll free number on the envelope for the lab your film is being sent to.
Never a complaint or a lost roll in over a decade of doing this. While the one hour places are going with NO return of the negs for 35mm (135), only CD scans, I still get my negs on my MF 120/220 film.
Shoot my Zi, or a Perkeo 120 Color Skopar, when I want "cheap"...
There have been numerous thread on the MF film/Walmart/Send Out Only on this site. Do a search. It's been discussed ad nauseum, and I have even posted pictures of both the E6 and C41 instructions to fill out on the SO envelopes. I have spoken Fuji often. This is a tested system by me and others here.
I think I recall that RAID also uses Walmart, and can recall some others.
Unfortunately not all Walmarts do this. To make it even more frustrating, ALL of them will vehemently deny such a system. Even the three I have used frequently for the last decade. In one case I had to go back in the store room and rummage round for the Fujifilm Kiosk. It is now placed properly in the same area where they have the 8 kiosk computers for digital. I dropped off a roll, never spoke to anyone, and picked up the prints/negs ten days later, without a word to anyone in photo other than, "I'm here to pick up my prints and negs" The lady really recoiled and proudly swore "We don't give customers the negatives any more. We throw them out". I quietly opened up the "sealed" envelope and pulled out the prints and then the negatives.
Her hair started to smoke, and then, right there in front of me, SHE Exploded. I foresaw this encounter and I was wearing my Kevlar body armor and covered my face.
Do NOT discuss this with a WALMART Employee. They are not stupid... they just don't know, and there is no training, even at the management level on this system.
Alpsman
Well-known
That is really quite cheap!
Spanik
Well-known
Kuzano, that post really made my day! There is material for an hour of comedy sketches inthere.
aizan
Veteran
handy tip for those who shoot color neg: buy a tamron fotovix or fuji fv-7. i always thought proof sheets were too expensive, despite their importance.
kuzano
Veteran
Glad you enjoyed....
Glad you enjoyed....
Glad you enjoyed that post. If I think back on my many visits (more like explorations) each time I fully exposed a roll of MF, I believe I could come up with a season (13 half hour episodes) that might compete with "The Big Bang Theory", but only if in a different time slot.
As my friend says each time he leaves from visiting...."Hey, it's been Real, it's been Fun, .... But it hasn't been Real Fun!".
Glad you enjoyed....
Glad you enjoyed that post. If I think back on my many visits (more like explorations) each time I fully exposed a roll of MF, I believe I could come up with a season (13 half hour episodes) that might compete with "The Big Bang Theory", but only if in a different time slot.
As my friend says each time he leaves from visiting...."Hey, it's been Real, it's been Fun, .... But it hasn't been Real Fun!".
TXForester
Well-known
So, we never break the rule regarding talking to a Walmart employee. However, I can't recall seeing Fuji kiosks in any of the Walmarts near me. Near meaning 10 to 35 miles. How would we go about getting the film to the Fuji lab? If I could get 84¢, I'd order a MF camera and lens today (o.k. not today but probably by the end of the month
)kuzano
Veteran
Hmmmm...
Hmmmm...
Well, as i mentioned and taking your questions in order....
OK, you may have to relent and (cringe) ask an employee in the digital camera department if they have Fujifilm envelopes that they bag up and SEND OUT (key words). Try to find an actual manager in that section (near the digital cameras and film wall)
The Fuji Kiosks are very subtle in appearance and usually tucked away behind other obstructions (Believe me when I say the store employees are a HUGE hurdle to this program. They do not appear capable of actual sabotage or throwing away of your envelopes however)
Once you make a goal... film in the Fuji envelope, name and instructions filled out on the envelope, and the envelope successfully dropped in the slot... that's a goal. I am generally known to throw whatever else is on my hands sharply to the floor and do a bit of a "goal" dance. GOTCHA employee.
If there is absolutely no kiosk and you can't find the Fujifilm envelopes, the program may not exist in your locale. However, I would bet the kiosk is in the storage or inventory back room. Don't give up.
EVERY Walmart employee I have ever asked, expresses no knowledge of Medium Format SEND OUT (they only call it send out), or vehemently denied the existence of such a program. I persisted in all cases.
However, there was one attractive, young lady who was the manager of the photo department, in the Walmart I am now closest to. I asked her if she knew or could tell me where the kiosk is for the Fuji Send Out. She smiled and said "follow me". It was a very nice trip. As she was walking me over to it (in a darkened corner behind the digital computers), I mentioned I had a roll of Medium Format film to send in. I don't know why I mentioned it, but she said... "Oh, I know what that is..120 roll film". Hearing the noise behind her, she found me laying on the floor... I had fainted, much like Sheldon often does on the Big Bang Theory!!!
Anyway, I have dropped film off for Send Out a couple of dozen times since then. I have never seen her again.
I think she violated three rules of Walmart Human Resources:
1) Being imminently presentable, as in cuter than a bug.
2) Actually being of assistance to a customer
3) Rendering a very nice, huge smile while in the store.
My thinking is that she was let go, or perhaps banished to stocking shelves in the Grocery section from midnight to 7 AM.
Her, I would talk to. In fact I considered asking her for a date, had I ever seen her again.
In any event, all those subsequent rolls of film came back in ten working days and were well processed and quite usable. They do not offer a scan service, but the pricing reflects that.
Regarding the 84 cent prices, that seems to be the only real consistent pricing as a bottom end. Whenever I have asked and actually received back ONLY the negs or transparencies (no prints) the price has been 84 cents. Beyond that prices cover a range, but never over 8.77 in my cases. That's usually prints. You can ask for "process only", film uncut and rolled, but that's a bit of a fantasy. You may mark that on the envelope and end up getting negs AND prints, accordingly and inconsistently priced. AGAIN no postage or shipping. Apparently the Walmart trucks know where the labs are.
In my case, all the labs are Fujifilm. I do know that back in the Midwest, Walmart used to truck to Duanes. I don't think they do now.
I will drop by the store. I drive past it daily. I will go in and snap a pictures of what I am referring to here as a Fujifilm Kiosk. It's very unassuming. I will post that picture here.
Also, as I said, I know there are posts here on RFF about the Walmart/Fuji connection and send out only. Just do a search on Walmart. It is often discussed here with regard to Medium Format processing.
Now, I suspect this is a program that is dying away as we speak, but I am making the most of it while it exists. Why.. .Because it's good, and it's cheap (me personified) and beside the hassle and low respect for the employees, it's worth it to me.
As I said, I don't consider the employees stupid, and I don't talk down to them. I just DON'T TALK TO THEM AT ALL, other than being sociable with a smile (rarely returned) and a hi/goodbye acknowledgement. They foremost seem to require much of me in terms of a social interaction. Work, get paid, get home to family. Simple life.
Hmmmm...
Well, as i mentioned and taking your questions in order....
OK, you may have to relent and (cringe) ask an employee in the digital camera department if they have Fujifilm envelopes that they bag up and SEND OUT (key words). Try to find an actual manager in that section (near the digital cameras and film wall)
The Fuji Kiosks are very subtle in appearance and usually tucked away behind other obstructions (Believe me when I say the store employees are a HUGE hurdle to this program. They do not appear capable of actual sabotage or throwing away of your envelopes however)
Once you make a goal... film in the Fuji envelope, name and instructions filled out on the envelope, and the envelope successfully dropped in the slot... that's a goal. I am generally known to throw whatever else is on my hands sharply to the floor and do a bit of a "goal" dance. GOTCHA employee.
If there is absolutely no kiosk and you can't find the Fujifilm envelopes, the program may not exist in your locale. However, I would bet the kiosk is in the storage or inventory back room. Don't give up.
EVERY Walmart employee I have ever asked, expresses no knowledge of Medium Format SEND OUT (they only call it send out), or vehemently denied the existence of such a program. I persisted in all cases.
However, there was one attractive, young lady who was the manager of the photo department, in the Walmart I am now closest to. I asked her if she knew or could tell me where the kiosk is for the Fuji Send Out. She smiled and said "follow me". It was a very nice trip. As she was walking me over to it (in a darkened corner behind the digital computers), I mentioned I had a roll of Medium Format film to send in. I don't know why I mentioned it, but she said... "Oh, I know what that is..120 roll film". Hearing the noise behind her, she found me laying on the floor... I had fainted, much like Sheldon often does on the Big Bang Theory!!!
Anyway, I have dropped film off for Send Out a couple of dozen times since then. I have never seen her again.
I think she violated three rules of Walmart Human Resources:
1) Being imminently presentable, as in cuter than a bug.
2) Actually being of assistance to a customer
3) Rendering a very nice, huge smile while in the store.
My thinking is that she was let go, or perhaps banished to stocking shelves in the Grocery section from midnight to 7 AM.
Her, I would talk to. In fact I considered asking her for a date, had I ever seen her again.
In any event, all those subsequent rolls of film came back in ten working days and were well processed and quite usable. They do not offer a scan service, but the pricing reflects that.
Regarding the 84 cent prices, that seems to be the only real consistent pricing as a bottom end. Whenever I have asked and actually received back ONLY the negs or transparencies (no prints) the price has been 84 cents. Beyond that prices cover a range, but never over 8.77 in my cases. That's usually prints. You can ask for "process only", film uncut and rolled, but that's a bit of a fantasy. You may mark that on the envelope and end up getting negs AND prints, accordingly and inconsistently priced. AGAIN no postage or shipping. Apparently the Walmart trucks know where the labs are.
In my case, all the labs are Fujifilm. I do know that back in the Midwest, Walmart used to truck to Duanes. I don't think they do now.
I will drop by the store. I drive past it daily. I will go in and snap a pictures of what I am referring to here as a Fujifilm Kiosk. It's very unassuming. I will post that picture here.
Also, as I said, I know there are posts here on RFF about the Walmart/Fuji connection and send out only. Just do a search on Walmart. It is often discussed here with regard to Medium Format processing.
Now, I suspect this is a program that is dying away as we speak, but I am making the most of it while it exists. Why.. .Because it's good, and it's cheap (me personified) and beside the hassle and low respect for the employees, it's worth it to me.
As I said, I don't consider the employees stupid, and I don't talk down to them. I just DON'T TALK TO THEM AT ALL, other than being sociable with a smile (rarely returned) and a hi/goodbye acknowledgement. They foremost seem to require much of me in terms of a social interaction. Work, get paid, get home to family. Simple life.
TXForester
Well-known
Thank you and hope you see her again. Cute and knows something about medium format. She has keeper potential.
Eugen Mezei
Well-known
You can't really save on chemicals, they are cheap already. You can't save on film either, they are also cheap, even with climbing prices.
Used film gear is also cheap these days.
So what you can do is sell your digital and save money in the long run with an used camera and film.
Don't believe me? I can present you the math I've done.
Used film gear is also cheap these days.
So what you can do is sell your digital and save money in the long run with an used camera and film.
Don't believe me? I can present you the math I've done.