EUREKA!!! XPro on the cheap!!

Disaster_Area

Gadget Monger
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Dec 12, 2007
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I was really bummed out last week because the tech that worked at my local drug store one hour lab quit. He was the only one that would run E6 through for me and "forget" it wasnt C41... all the other techs would get this dazed look and mumble something about not being allowed to do that etc etc.

So not being able to get my Xpro fix I figured I'd shoot some of the color C41 my friend rolled off his bulk roll and gave me to try out. I can't remember the film brand... it was one of the cheap Lucky or Arista types rolled into whatever empties he got off his local lab.

So I shot the roll and brought it into Walmart, they do $2 develop only but I rarely use them because they won't Xpro. I brought the roll up to the counter and the woman looked at me funny and said she couldn't develop it, this roll happenned to be in a HP5 cassette. I told her ... no... it was C41 I just roll my own and use my empties to recycle... do you need to know the ISO or does the machine need proper DX coding on the cassette?

"Oh no... nothing like that... it all goes in for the same time"

*hidden evil grin*

So the next time I was in I brought in a couple rolls of Velvia.

"Oh... we can't do them... we need to send those away"

"No worries!! This is just normal color film... I roll my own into empties!"

"Oh... ok then"

One hour later I had $2 cross processed Velvia. I always ask for uncut develop only so I doubt any of them will ever catch on... especially since it doesn't say E6 on the film itself and since they're not cutting it I doubt they look twice at the negs themselves 🙂
 
Xpro only messes with other chemistry if the amout of xpro goes over 15-20% of the total amount of film done on that batch of chemicals. I highly doubt my 2-3 rolls a month constitutes more than a drop in the pond.
 
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I used to get my xpro done at a pro lab at $8 a roll... I asked the guy if they charged so much because they used a seperate set of chemicals. He said, no, they just dunk them in the same batch as all the C41... they just charge more because it's a "specialty service"
 
The good news: That machine at Walmart won't be there much longer.

Or will it? Maybe the Canuckistani machines will be around longer. They are slated for rapid extinction in the USA.
 
I really hope they don't do away with it. It's the only place I can get processing done for under $5. I'm hoping that if they do get rid of the in house machines though, they might start offering send out service.. which they don't do now in my area... and hey.. send out might be even cheaper...seems like it is in the states. But the day I have to pay $10 a roll for developing is the day I stick to B&W pretty much exclusively.
 
USA Walmarts have had send out envelopes for a long time. Easlily for the last 4 years. Send out covered Kodachrome, E-6, real B&W, 120 & 220 sizes. Are you sure the Canadian stores don't offer these services? One thing is certain: the folks on the other end of the send out service won't run E-6 through their C-41 line.
 
USA Walmarts have had send out envelopes for a long time. Easlily for the last 4 years. Send out covered Kodachrome, E-6, real B&W, 120 & 220 sizes. Are you sure the Canadian stores don't offer these services? One thing is certain: the folks on the other end of the send out service won't run E-6 through their C-41 line.

In the flixkr x-pro group someone suggested printing labels with barcdoe and everything and stick them on the film.... they will normally work
 
i always have to scratch off the color and logos from the film canister with a knife so that only the metal is showing and then cover the whole thing with black sharpie. Works every time.
 
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