Getting 120 developed

[wakarimasen]

Hello Folks,

This evening I went to a local photography club and my presence doubled the numbers using film! I asked the other guy if he knew where I could get medium format film developed locally ...... and received an answer in the negative (no pun intended).

It made me think that I should perhaps investigate this before buying a MF camera. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting 120 developed in the midlands area of the UK? Other than 'do it yourself' that is.....

Best regards,
RoyM

 

[Al Kaplan]

I know of a fairly decent lab near me. No doubt your wife would like a nice South Florida vacation whilst getting your film developed for you.

 

[eia41]

Buy Ilford or Fuji and send it to their UK labs for D & P

 

[ruby.monkey]

Snappy Snaps (certainly the ones I've asked) will handle C41 120 in-house, although they have to send slide elsewhere.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Some mini-labs have the adapter to allow them to process 120 and they don't even know it.
It looks like an oversized 35mm film cartridge in black plastic.
I actually got my local Ritz to find theres and we figured out how to use it...alas, they're closed now.

 

[David William White]

I know of a fairly decent lab near me. No doubt your wife would like a nice South Florida vacation whilst getting your film developed for you.

Somebody fix Al up, and quick!

 

[raid]

In the USA, Dwayne's Photo charges $3.49 for 120 or 220 color film. B&W 120 or 220 developing costs $4.49.

Sorry not to help you in the UK.

 

[mervynyan]

for b&w, you can do it yourself. for e6, I use these guys many times,
http://www.peak-imaging.co.uk/

 

[35mmdelux]

In the USA, Dwayne's Photo charges $3.49 for 120 or 220 color film. B&W 120or 220 developing costs $4.49.

Good info here. I wonder why B&W is more expensive than color film?

TKS.

 

[fbf]

Good info here. I wonder why B&W is more expensive than color film?

TKS.

My local lab does B&W developing manually; color films are all processed by machines. Labor charges I assume.

 

[David William White]

Hello Folks,

This evening I went to a local photography club and my presence doubled the numbers using film!...

For God's sake keep going & back up the other guy. Make a nice high-contrast grainy print of a windswept tree and a moody sky. Gaze into the distance and say that film is your creative medium. Most likely you'll win some converts.

 

[charjohncarter]

He's right the number of places for 120 is diminishing. My lab is still there but I'm afraid barely. Luckily, I only use them for 120 C-41 and occasional 35mm C-41, which is one their problems. If Kodak hadn't come out with their great Portras and Ektar100 in 35mm (which I don't really want to use) I will be dead for color.

 

[Drewus]

If it's B&W just develop it yourself.

 

[Jmiothy]

I'll second the recommendation for Peak Imaging.

I've been using them for years and they're always spot on.

 

[raid]

Ritz Camera was a good place for color MF developing. Now they are closing down within weeks. The employees will be out of job.

 

[antistatic]

Another vote for DIY B&W. It is simple and fun.

 

[joachim]

Hello Folks,

This evening I went to a local photography club and my presence doubled the numbers using film! I asked the other guy if he knew where I could get medium format film developed locally ...... and received an answer in the negative (no pun intended).

It made me think that I should perhaps investigate this before buying a MF camera. Does anyone have any suggestions for getting 120 developed in the midlands area of the UK? Other than 'do it yourself' that is.....

Best regards,
RoyM

Hi Roy,

Another vote for peak imaging here. So far I have used them for E6, C41 and B&W in a mix of 135 and 120. So far no bad experiences. I feel their pricing is middle of the road, which translates to me: good work without paying top £.

I use them mail order. If I sent the film away I typically have it back 3 to 4 working days later. To me this is more convenient than going to a place or doing it myself.

Hope that helps.

 

[wakarimasen]

I think I may try them for my next 35mm film. The prints from the last two that I had developed locally have a real washed-out look in the hi-light areas, and are dark in the shadows. Yet the negatives definitely contain more detail.
One question about DIY developing: where is the best primer for getting started? I may yet give it a go, as someone told me that you 'can't go wrong with XP2.'

 

[Morca007]

XP2 is a C-41 film, so unless you're planning on doing that at home you may want to look at something else. 😉

 

[kully]

Bloody hell, all those places are pretty far from the Midlands.

Hallo Roy - there is a place in Brum which also does mail order - http://www.metrocolourlab.com/

I've used them a number of times in the past.