For Londoners: Buy/Process Film in Hoxton/Shoreditch?

[wgerrard]

For Londoners:

I'll be playing tourist in London for a week in mid-October, staying in Hoxton/Shoreditch. I'm looking for recommendations for color negative film to use. I've lived there and visited often, so I know the weather will likely be variable. I'm planning on cloudy, with much shade from the buildings. I like vibrant, saturated colors and will shoot almost everything outdoors.

Also, just for the sake of x-ray paranoia, is there a good place to buy film in that area? I'll be on Great Eastern, near the Old Street tube station and not too far from the Liverpool Street station.

I'm considering using Metro to process some rolls on the day before I fly out. Can I count on them to turn them around in time?

 

[urban_alchemist]

For Londoners:

I'll be playing tourist in London for a week in mid-October, staying in Hoxton/Shoreditch. I'm looking for recommendations for color negative film to use. I've lived there and visited often, so I know the weather will likely be variable. I'm planning on cloudy, with much shade from the buildings. I like vibrant, saturated colors and will shoot almost everything outdoors.

Also, just for the sake of x-ray paranoia, is there a good place to buy film in that area? I'll be on Great Eastern, near the Old Street tube station and not too far from the Liverpool Street station.

I'm considering using Metro to process some rolls on the day before I fly out. Can I count on them to turn them around in time?

Frome experience, Metro usually take a few days...

 

[Windscale]

I don't think that's a good area for buying films. Also,depending on where you are from, films in London are normally quite costly. Better to bring your own. Also from experience, not many one day D&P places are good. You need not worry about X-Ray. I have had films (up to ASA400) going through those machines for years and never had any problem.

As to films, ASA200 for general use would be OK. But do keep a few rolls of 50 and 400 just in case.

The City of London presents some real opportunities for picture taking. Make sure you have plenty of film.

 

[Austerby]

There's nowhere particularly that springs to mind in that area: the only one I know that stocks film is the Jacobs branch on Cannon Street by the junction with London Bridge (ie a 10 min walk from Liverpool St) but it's limited compared to their New Oxford Street branch.

A quick search on www.yell.com reveals that there is a Snappy Snaps in Hackney and some other local choices but I can't vouch for any of them personally.

October can have a lovely quality to the light and on bright, clear high-pressure days you'll be fine with a standard speed film but you'll need plenty of faster film for gloomier days and evenings - no recommendations for particular brands though, people use pretty much everything an anything in London.

 

[lawrence]

Earlier this year I used Bayeux and they did a great job but they are not cheap. If you want cheap go to Snappy Snaps but the results can be disappointing.

A friend of mine recommends ISIS and they aren't far from you but I haven't used them personally.

It might be possible to have the film posted to you as it's easier and cheaper, in which case I recommend Mailshots and although some people like 7DayShop I personally think they are a bunch of rogues as they list film as being in stock when it isn't and don't reply to emails. They are very cheap, however.

 

[wgerrard]

Thanks, guys. It really is just paranoia about the film. And a desire to whittle packing down to a minimum. I've been in and out several times with film in my carryon with no visible impact.

Film prices I've seen at a few online UK shops are pretty much in line with my standard formula for figuring prices in London: Replace the dollar sign with the pound symbol and multiply by the exchange rate.

 

[historicist]

Getting film mailed ahead from internet shops is a good idea. I have used 7dayshop a lot and never had any problems at all, never tried Mailshots.

Btw I have been able to pay for film with my card registered to my address in Germany and have it sent to a friend in London with 7dayshop, even though they say they only ship to the billing address, so you might be able to try to get some sent ahead to your hotel.

Their delivery is pretty slow, you need to assume at least a week, maybe a bit longer if you're unlucky.

Film is expensive in shops. Superia 400 is $1.99 at b and h, £5.50 at Jessops (high street camera retailer, I doubt you will be able to get a much better price in a London shop).

As other people have said, there's nowhere obvious to buy film or get it processed done in that area - it's either expensive pro labs or regular drugstore places.

 

[wgerrard]

Earlier this year I used Bayeux and they did a great job but they are not cheap.

Emailed Bayeux and they report they can turn film around in a few hours. The prices they quote online are comparable to what I'm paying now. I'll give them a try.

 

[caperunner]

I was in london last month. I bought film at 2 places. Jessops, Boots.
Prices seem to vary so bringing in or pre purchasing wouldn't be a bad idea.
Dearest processing was at Snappy Snaps (wimbledon) 14+ pounds = NZD2.5x = say $NZ36. very expensive. I brought the rest home with me for processing hoping the airport security x-ray systems wouldn't affect it.
It didn't I am pleased to report.

The cheapest film I bought was at Dover at a pre-embarkation cafe place.
1.95 pounds/film. I couldn't believe it. It was Fuji colour negative stuff ASA 200. I bought their entire stock which was sadly only 3 rolls!
The variation of prices in London is something to wonder at. Boots possibly the better place at 5 + pounds/roll 36 asa 200. You may need to shop carefully for processing. 1 hour photo is just a crowd puller sign. It always seemed to be 1 or 2 days.