dallard
Well-known
FINALLY! I'm glad someone made the point that Kodak never made an effort to promote Kodachrome then bemoaned that no one used it anymore. But let's not get off on a Kodak bashing rant here. After all, they don't make E6 anymore and are therefore meaningless to slide shooters.
One thing I would like to suggest to folks here who want to see a surge in interest for E6 is to take one of those spare cameras you don't use too often, load a roll of slide film, and lend it to someone and get them hooked on it. It's not like the film manufacturers put any effort into marketing E6 so it's all up to us.
Thanks for this.
I do shoot some C-41 as snapshot film in 35mm but prefer E6 any day. Forget about all the arguments in favour of neg like dynamic range, exposure latitude etc. It just doesn't look as good as a processed transparency, and it is not as pure. You expose a roll of E6. It's processed. That's it. You've got your images, exactly as you exposed them. I've read a lot of members here say that it is digital all the way for colour yada, yada, yada. Personally, I think it's been too long since they got their projectors out, because, if they had, they would "get" it...
It has been harder for us Tasmanians since the last E6 line in the state closed last year. There are more than a few rolls of E6 in my fridge waiting to go interstate! But there is a Melbourne enthusiast offering affordable E-6 processing as well as C-41 and B&W, to his credit. Dan is just another film aficionado who has stepped up, by ensuring that photographers who want to use film, and especially E-6, have the ability to get quality processing done affordably. More on that in a moment.
At this point I have to confess feeling rather short tempered with some people who post up the typical "Is film dying/How much longer will they make it for?" type posts. I'm not just thinking of RFF here, you could say the same about Flickr and a lot of web sites. But I think the last time I responded to that sort of post it was along the lines of "How much film have you shot today?" So I support your comments wholeheartedly.
Regards,
Brett
Keith,
have you heard of Daniel Lee yet? He's a Melbourne Silver Miner who started providing E-6 as well as C-41 and B&W processing services last year at great prices. It must be going well for him because he is going full time with it soon. His processing prices are excellent. E-6 in 35mm or 120 is only $6.50 a roll at the moment although it will be going up a little soon. It's still way better than $20, though!
I have to admit at this point I have not used his services myself yet. But he has some great tertiary qualifications in chemistry, so I have no reason to believe his processing quality will not be first-rate. And just as importantly, he has a passion for film. He's a member here, can't recall his user name at the moment though.
The only link I have for him is to his Facebook page, sorry, but here it is. If you'd like to shoot a bit of E-6, get in touch with him. Postage to Melbourne and back will make it a little more than $6.50 delivered but it is still going to be less than half the price of what you paid last time. He even does ECN-2 processing.
Cheers,
Brett
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Thanks for that ... I do vaguely remember reading something about him recently.
The lab that charged me over twenty dollars in Brisbane was All Chromes in The Valley and they've been around forever apparently! They also charge fourteen dollars for basic black and white!
wilonstott
Wil O.
Well Keith, you're out of excuses.
Load up.
Load up.
wilonstott
Wil O.
And that goes for the rest of you Aussie guys.
I don't care how upside down stuff is there.
I don't care how upside down stuff is there.
Ronald_H
Don't call me Ron
And a heads up for the Dutch and Belgian people: The Hema department store still offers a full palette of analogue photo services. C-41, E6 and black and white. It's high quality, consistent and above all cheap. Where do you think I have my 120 E6 developed? I brought hundreds of rolls there the past years, they have never screwed up once.
And they even refrain from cutting your 135 negs if you write it on the envelope. Keep on bringing your film there guys, otherwise I'm afraid they stop providing the service soon! Buy their film while you're at it, it seems to be rebranded Fuji. I have a fridge full of the stuff, bought for 1 euro a roll one month before they expired.
And they even refrain from cutting your 135 negs if you write it on the envelope. Keep on bringing your film there guys, otherwise I'm afraid they stop providing the service soon! Buy their film while you're at it, it seems to be rebranded Fuji. I have a fridge full of the stuff, bought for 1 euro a roll one month before they expired.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Count me in. Sue and I are leaving for Colorado Wednesday. I have in my Freezer:
35mm:
15 Velvia 100
09 Provia 100
07 Velvia 50
04 Elite Chrome
120 Roll Film:
20 Velvia 100
05 Provia 100
Well, I may not take all of it! But probably at least 3/4 of it, to shoot in the Hasselblad, Leica, and Nikon. And that's only the color! I really ought to bring some black and white.
We'll be in Gunnison, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Salida, Limon.
So. If that doesn't boost E6 film and processing sales, I don't know what would.
35mm:
15 Velvia 100
09 Provia 100
07 Velvia 50
04 Elite Chrome
120 Roll Film:
20 Velvia 100
05 Provia 100
Well, I may not take all of it! But probably at least 3/4 of it, to shoot in the Hasselblad, Leica, and Nikon. And that's only the color! I really ought to bring some black and white.
We'll be in Gunnison, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Salida, Limon.
So. If that doesn't boost E6 film and processing sales, I don't know what would.
bwcolor
Veteran
I picked up a couple of Jobos.. one for color only and lots of slide film.. mostly Velvia. Then the X100 came out and next the NEX-7. Now, my E-6 chemistry is probably defunct. Thanks for the thread. I've got to get back to shooting and stop the digital for a bit. Will be passing Freestyle Photo on my trip to Southern California next week. I'll have to reload.. so to speak.
BTMarcais
Well-known
Ronald-
about how much do they charge for B/W 35mm and 120? (and E-6 120) I visit my in-laws in Den Haag every couple of years, and it would be nice to have one less round of x-rays to go through w/ my film, and just process some of it before I fly back...
-Brian
about how much do they charge for B/W 35mm and 120? (and E-6 120) I visit my in-laws in Den Haag every couple of years, and it would be nice to have one less round of x-rays to go through w/ my film, and just process some of it before I fly back...
-Brian
hausen
Well-known
Is winter here and recently decided to shoot slide film this winter to brighten up my days. Bought 20 rolls of 35/120 Provia 400 for my M6/Rolleiflex from B&H and loving. So I am onboard as well. Have a company here in Auckland that charges me the same for E6 or C41 so no drama. Can't beat slides.
Jamie123
Veteran
I just recently bought two 20-sheet boxes of Astia 100F in 4x5 simply because it was a lot cheaper than C-41 and the lab I use for E-6 is cheaper than that for C-41. Needless to say it is quite enjoyable looking at 4x5' slides on a light table.
That being said, E-6 is still quite tricky to expose right. Even though I carefully meter the light I'm still not always 100% right with the exposure. And that's what annoys me a bit about slide film. Sure, I could bracket shots but that would defeat the purpose of choosing E-6 in the first place.
Given the choice I would always opt for C-41 over slide film. If E-6 is discontinued it will be very sad and I won't be happy about it at all mostly because of what it means for the future of film. But I still can't bring myself to buy and shoot E-6 for the purpose of keeping it alive. And I think that's the problem here. Everybody likes to look at slides but we've all gotten used to the versatility that neg film provides and since most of us scan our film it ultimately makes little difference if it's shot on slides or negs.
That being said, E-6 is still quite tricky to expose right. Even though I carefully meter the light I'm still not always 100% right with the exposure. And that's what annoys me a bit about slide film. Sure, I could bracket shots but that would defeat the purpose of choosing E-6 in the first place.
Given the choice I would always opt for C-41 over slide film. If E-6 is discontinued it will be very sad and I won't be happy about it at all mostly because of what it means for the future of film. But I still can't bring myself to buy and shoot E-6 for the purpose of keeping it alive. And I think that's the problem here. Everybody likes to look at slides but we've all gotten used to the versatility that neg film provides and since most of us scan our film it ultimately makes little difference if it's shot on slides or negs.
Ronald_H
Don't call me Ron
According to their website it's 2.59 EUR development, per film. That's the same as for color (C-41 and E-6). That's not a rock bottom price, but totally reasonable I think.
B/W I do at home btw, but as long as this service exists doing color in my kitchen sink does not seem worth the hassle. For E-6 and B/W turnaround is about a week, C-41 is two days, sometimes longer. It depends on volume. Let's just say that the people working at the counter in my hometown know me by name
As a matter of fact I have to bring a roll in today, hope I don't get the news that they are going to end the service soon. Would be ironic.
bjornkeizers
Established
Correct. And the funny thing is, Hema charge 2,59 for every form of developing. Doesn't matter if it's 35, 120 or 110, color, B&W or slide, just the negative/positive development will run you 2,59. They even mount 35mm slides for 5,50 including development.
They've done 20 rolls so far for me, and the results are excellent. Highly recommend it for our Dutch visitors. I drop off two rolls a week there. One word of caution though: B&W and slide film takes up to five days to process there. It's not a ready-while-you-wait operation.
Back on topic:
I started shooting slides in february. At this moment, I've totally replaced my color films with slides. Why? It just works and looks better in my opinion. Despite all the warnings about how difficult slides are to shoot... I've never had a major issue. I bought a few rolls of Kodak Elite Chrome 100 Extra Color, and I'm working on building up some stock
Also used the Agfa Precisa slide, and it works great as well. The best thing about slides is that they're like tiny little paintings. Hold a slide up to the light, and you really feel like you're there. Especially if you shoot a nice sunset, it really looks like you could just step in to the frame and get a tan. Quite stunning.
If you've never shot slides: pick up a few rolls today and give it a go. You'll love the end result holding up your first slide to the light.
Ronald_H
Don't call me Ron
A few things: If I can get my hands on 127 color I'm going to bring that to the Hema too
Where did you buy your CT Precisa? I can order it from Germany, but is there a place in NL that sells it cheaply?
As for slide film being difficult... well, my first SLR, a little electronic wonder from Minolta had such good matrix metering, that I didn't realize shooting E-6 with old manual cameras takes some more care.
Still, when I bought my latest negative scanner and dug out some slides from 1999-2001 I was amazed all over again. Boy, did they look great!
kosta_g
Well-known
i plan to shoot 25 rolls of it very soon.
For those in Melbourne - Vanbar has Agfa Precisa for $7/roll (it's Fuji Sensia) for 35mm.
get awn it!
For those in Melbourne - Vanbar has Agfa Precisa for $7/roll (it's Fuji Sensia) for 35mm.
get awn it!
Thomas78
Well-known
I will send my brother with my Voigtländer Perkeo IIIe and 4-5 rolls of Provia 400X and 1-2 of Ektachrome 100 to London tomorrow.
citizen99
Well-known
I recently dug out my old Agfacolor transparencies from 40 years ago, and it occurred to me - why do I always use negatives nowadays when I hardly ever need a print? So the first 120 roll of Provia has gone into a camera, just waiting to finish the last 2 frames when the sun comes back (June is not yet 'flaming' in the UK this year, and I would like to have at least some of the shots in sunlight ).
I get my C41 processing done at http://www.club35.co.uk/ and am very satisfied with them, and they also offer E6 so they'll go there.
).I get my C41 processing done at http://www.club35.co.uk/ and am very satisfied with them, and they also offer E6 so they'll go there.
bjornkeizers
Established
A few things: If I can get my hands on 127 color I'm going to bring that to the Hema too
Worth a try! So far the only thing I couldn't get one was framed 120 slides. Might try if they do X-pro as well, but heard mixed results whether they do or don't.
I got mine from www.hetbeeldgebouw.com . Not as cheap as some of the German places I've seen (Macodirect I'm guessing?) They're currently selling 5 rolls for 21,90. Beeldgebouw has good service though and they sell some other hard'ish to find stuff as well.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Guys, if you want to save slide film, consider these:
1. Stop relying on labs, start relying on each other. Labs have to make money to stay open, individual home developers don't. Which one you think will survive longer?
2. Find people in your town/city who still shoot slides or would like to start. It makes no sense for *every* individual slide film user to develop their own. Develop collectively, it's more fun, and you can pool your resources to combat high prices.
3. Go public. In the US, the public library is an excellent place for showcasing your work or from the collective (see no.2). Raise awareness and the beauty of slide films (some creative marketing techniques will hep here).
The point is: You don't have to be Kodak or Lomography to save something, it takes a lot of work (what else is new), but a band of like-minded individuals can do it, and have fun while doing it.
1. Stop relying on labs, start relying on each other. Labs have to make money to stay open, individual home developers don't. Which one you think will survive longer?
2. Find people in your town/city who still shoot slides or would like to start. It makes no sense for *every* individual slide film user to develop their own. Develop collectively, it's more fun, and you can pool your resources to combat high prices.
3. Go public. In the US, the public library is an excellent place for showcasing your work or from the collective (see no.2). Raise awareness and the beauty of slide films (some creative marketing techniques will hep here).
The point is: You don't have to be Kodak or Lomography to save something, it takes a lot of work (what else is new), but a band of like-minded individuals can do it, and have fun while doing it.