Getting film processed and printed in the UK - Cat Face strikes again

[Cat Face]

Hello everyone, its me again - film's biggest fool.

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For those who hate reading horrible long posts: Could you tell me where you get your B&W film processed as I have heard horror stories about Ilford and Jessops

Thanks

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I've been looking around for about two days, spending hours looking for the best way to get my 35mm true B&W film processed after you guys gave me links on where to buy it (thanks very much) but I just don't know who or what to trust.

I'm interested in using the Rollei retro film just for a treat, whilst getting lots of XP2 processed at my local Jessops. For the past few months i've been learning more and more about film and the whole true black and white world confuses me quite a bit.

What am I really looking for? I know I want some negatives and 6x4 prints with the option to print larger if I desire, but what if they don't use the right chemicals for Rollei? Is it common practice to ask them to use a different set of chemicals?

Thanks very much for any tips guys, I feel like after all this searching i'm wasting your time but I really hope you can help me out as processing my own B&W just isn't an option currently!

I promise to only bother you to show you pictures as from now.

 

[Nigel Meaby]

Where in the UK are you Catface? How much film do you imagine you will be shooting each week? If it's not an enormous amount I might consider processing it for you. I live near Robert White and they stock the Rollei film and chemicals. I could recommend a local printer who is very good also.

 

[Cat Face]

I'm in Birmingham.

Firstly, thanks for the offer its something I would really like to consider, at least with one roll of film. Very interesting idea you have there! Depending on what you charge (I need to eat, you see) I usually shoot one roll a week, max 3 rolls and sometimes it takes me a month to finish a roll.

At the moment i'll probably be on one roll a week as my computer isn't stable enough for me to shoot a combination of film and digital.

Forgive me for sounding like a complete dunce - so you would process the film then I could send off/take in to a commercial vendor who could then print from my film? If so, that sounds like something I would be very interested in.

Edit: Just a quick correction, i'll probably be shooting a lot but feeding it to you pretty slowly, maybe once twice a week due to a lack of funds (saving for a lens!)

 

[topoxforddoc]

Catface,

Why can't you process your own film? Setting aside time, you can do it in your kitchen with a daylight changing bag. You need about an hour to do it and a shower rail to hang the film up on. Even my seven year old son helps me with mine!

You would need the following - changing bag, film tank and reels (better to buy a 3 film tank), thermometer, scissors, can opener, bulldog clips, measuring cylinders, a watch and a pen/pencil. Chemicals on top. The cost of your kit - even new, you could probably get it all for 50 quid. Second hand - I'd be surprised if it cost you more than say 30 quid.

The great thing about DIY is then you can push/pull film ratings as much as you like. You can then scan the film if you wish, or get the frames you really want enlarged. I'm in Cheltenham, down the M5. It is so easy, you'll wonder why you haven't done it before.

Charlie

 

[Cat Face]

Oh - you devil, now, listen here - don't tempt me!

In all seriousness, a quick question, I process in my shower room (oh come on kitchen? My mother would murder me!), then I can just scan in my negatives using one of those specialist scanners?

All seems a bit too easy to me..

 

[topoxforddoc]

Essentially you can. If you're shooting 35mm only, then pick a film scanner and you're away. Older ones can be had relatively cheaply and you can use vuescan software, even if the manufacturers haven't upgraded their own driver software.

I won't get into a specific diatribe about which scanner to buy. That's a different question, which others may be better qualified than me to answer. It's just that some scanners are happier than others scanning B/W silver emulsions.

But basically DIY processing is so easy, it's a no brainer.

Charlie

 

[Cat Face]

Thanks for the reply

I'll have to think about it, after a quick look i've noticed that a good film scanner would set me back a lot. In the long run it would save me money though, i'd really need to think about it.

 

[Leighgion]

Cat Face, if I can process my own B&W, so can you.

The hardest part once you've done the shopping is just saying to yourself, 'OK, I'm going to do this,' and actually doing it. I just started a couple weeks ago and I've churned out four rolls of 35mm and one roll of 120. Which I really need to get around to scanning.

 

[topoxforddoc]

So Cat face,

are you going to take the plunge?

Charlie

 

[Cat Face]

Miiiight do - the thing is the scanner, i'm not buying a rubbish scanner, i've talked to my father and he says he'll sweet talk the mother, but this all depends on the scanner. I may beg my neighbour to see if I can borrow his scanner (Hes a big film guy)

Its going to need some serious thought, i've got a dead weight Bessa R laying about which I need to sell because I just bought a different condition one for a better price. Maybe with my winnings, maybe..

 

[Keith]

Cat Face ... I can only second what has been said regarding processing your own film. I debated with myself endlessly over doing it and had all sorts of excuses not to ... my water supply (tank) wasn't clean enough ... chemicals were hard to get (wrong) ... the moon was in the wrong position etc etc! 😛

Then the local 1hr ruined one of my C41 films and it was history ... I love souping my own now and can't remember what all my hesitation was about. The absolute pleasure I get from taking a roll out of the tank and hanging it to dry hasn't diminished a bit and really, your only hurdle is a decent scanner which I would definitely recommend outlaying money for before a lens.

🙂🙂

 

[Cat Face]

Thing about that Keith is my water supply isn't clean enough, I don't even know if I can get chemicals in this remote, second largest city in the UK.

Oh, and don't get me started on the moon, I think its in the wrong position.

 

[wintoid]

When I started out, I got this http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/ap-darkroom-film-kit/522/ and a darkroom changing bag. Great starter kit in my opinion. Has your tank, reel, thermometer, measuring thingies, film clips, mixing paddle, loupe, film canister opener etc etc.

 

[semrich]

Cat Face, Just do it! From another recent graduate to film and DIY processing, as a result I enjoy photography more, shoot more film than digital including MF and can't understand why it took me so long to start doing it.

 

[hans voralberg]

I'm in Birmingham too, and for Retro, well, process it yourself, I think you will need to buy chemicals online, Jessops sucks. And unless you have space for an enlarger, which I dont, then scanning is your only option afaik

 

[Cat Face]

Thanks for all the replies,

wintoid, I just may invest in that, who knows
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Right, heres the plan, buy about 6 different kinds of film from 7dayshop, a lot of it being C41 stuff, see how I like it for a month, send a few rolls of real black and white to Nigel, shoot a bit of B&W C41 and your standard colour, slide doesn't interest me at the moment.

Get used to the Bessa and rangefinder world, really get ti grips with it, decide what kind of stuff I really want to be shooting, I may completely go off B&W finding it was just a fad but this doesn't seem likely!

When I can load film in total darkness, I think thats when i'll decide to process my own, at the moment i'm still trying to ram film into cameras, upsidedown..

Give it time!