Leica should offer film processing..

[Crazy Fedya]

Cameta Camera on Long Island has bought a new c-41 processing machine within the last year. They process a LOT of disposable cameras and some c-41 film, including crossprocessing. Only $4/roll to process only. All my c41 films go there.

 

[Kent]

I think that would be a great idea! Honestly.

Leica constantly states that it's all about photography and they provide a pretty complete offer: photo books, workshops, all kind of lenses and many different kinds of cameras.

A film developing service would perfectly fit to that.

But I see the following problem: in order to keep their high standard, they cannot use a discounter lab but would need to partner up with a pro lab (such as Studio 13 in Germany) and thus would have to ask for rather high prices.
The likely reaction in internet forums would be a price comparison between "Leica Development Service" and the discounter lab, resulting in the usual tagging as "way too expensive". And if they used some cheap lab with perhaps low-quality results? I can already hear the uproar in the net.
Some kind of dilemma there, I guess.

 

[Out to Lunch]

The Leica Store in Geneva, Switzerland has a film processing and printing service: http://www.leica-store-geneve.ch/2016/11/11/20-de-rabais-vos-travaux-photo-venez-profiter/

 

[Ronald M]

There's no way I would pay $150.00 to have a roll of film processed! 😀

Reread $1.50.

This was a big profit center.

My Leica dealer obtained a printer and made color prints middle 1980.
He did a superb job. Colonial Camera, La Grange , Illinois

 

[iphoenix]

Red dot processing for most of a city with an interest would work for volume giving quality and expertise and economy. Sydney no longer has Van Bar. Presumably some are sending to Melbourne. I'll volunteer Melbourne.....

Depends what you want: Melbourne for full service, but there's also Frankston and Mornington for C41; Frankston may also do reversal.
Mornington works for me.
David

 

[HHPhoto]

Speaking of processing film. Are processing machines still being made? Is there service support for machines a few years old? Just wondering. I don't know for sure but didn't these automated C41 processing machines price out at over $200K?

Yes, new processing machines are still / again being made. E.g. from manufacturers like Fujifilm, Noritsu, Hostert, Technolab, Jobo.

There are also companies who have specialised in refurbishing processing and printing machines, like Saal. There you can get "like-new" machines.

There are also some companies which have their focus on producing spare parts for all machines of the major manufacturers.

So there are no big problems in this market. All you need to keep your lab running or to establish a new lab are there.

Cheers, Jan

P.S.: I also think a development service offered by Leica stores could be a success, if Leica make partnerships with the best labs in the Leica store countries (like Photo Studio 13 in Germany).

 

[benlees]

We have established some European Leica stores have a printing service. Do they do it in house? Chances are they farm it out.

It's hardly convenient: how many Leica stores are there?

The stores would have to sell film; preferably of their own branding. Otherwise what's the point? Works for Lomo, why not Leica?

Personally, if the prints came back in a velvet envelope I'd be tempted.🙂

 

[Skiff]

In it's Leica Shops. Even if they just collect it and ship it out to a contracted vendor. It will give people more reason to shoot film, Leica has three current production film cameras, it will draw more people into their stores, Leica users or not.

Digital is dieing in the non pro market thanks to smart phones. Film, while a niche market, is showing resurgence. Leica is a niche player no matter what. This will connect them directly to being all about photography. It will link their past to their, and photographers, future.

It has to be a quality service, not the junk that was offered in drug stores in the past. It can be offered for a reasonable price, considering that places like northcoastphoto etc can do it for a reasonable price with high quality.

Could it be successful, if Leica would be offering film processing and silver-halide prints in their Leica stores?
Yes, probably, if they are doing it right:
1. Make partnerships in the specific countries where the Leica stores are located with the best labs.
2. Best labs means high-quality labs with reasonable costs. There are quit a lot of it.
For example in the US: AgX Imaging, Dwaynes, The darkroom, North Coast Photographic services.
In Spain Interphoto.
In Germany Photo Studio 13.
In Austria Fayer.
In Italy Agenzia Luce.
In Singapore Analog Film Lab.
And so on.
3. Leica should avoid the overpriced labs like Indie Film lab, FIND lab, Carmencita etc. Despite their much too high prices they also have only a very limited programme of lab services (they are more scanning services than real full service labs).
4. Leica is already offering their own branded Instax film for the Leica Sofort. They should also add high quality films from Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak, Adox selling in the Leica stores. So they can offer more service to their customers.
5. By offering films, processing, prints Leica could intensify the relationship to their customers: Their customers will come much more often to the Leica stores! The more often their customers come to their stores, the higher the possibility to sell more Leica equipment to them.
6. The additional services around film can strengthen the cash-flow of the shops.

The strong decline of the digital camera market will also affect Leica in the coming years.
To profit from the film revival and be an active part of it (or even a driving force) could be one part of the global strategy to handle the problems in the digital camera market.