Torontonians, where do you do your film!

[BLKRCAT]

I'm moving to the city and am looking around for some shared darkroom space or some sort of solution to process film at home.

I've been processing my own BW and Color at my last apartment for the last couple years with great success using a shared laundry room as the "darkroom"

The new condo i will be moving into doesnt have any sort of space to my knowledge. Im all for doing the film in the bathroom but my better half disagrees. I'm likely going to push for the DIY bathroom approach but if there is any other option out there that isnt going to kill my wallet then I may be interested.

Just seeing what others are doing. I see TIW does a pay per hour for darkroom services but Paying $9/h to do a 30 minute process job sounds like a ripoff to me. Considering I could do it at home for free, whenever I want. I'm not looking for free, but just seeing what solutions others have come up with to keep shooting film affordable.

thanks!

 

[Colin Corneau]

I process mine at work, because it has a completely dark, windowless room. Honestly, that and a source of water is all you need.

The main thing about home processing is to keep it neat and organized -- if so, it's not noticeable at all. Perhaps try that angle with your significant other..?

Barring that, using a darkroom facility might be financially feasible if you save up your film and do at least an hour or three's worth of processing.

Honestly, I don't see the point of paying to develop film in a facility when you can do it at home so easily...better to use that money and time for printing.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Thanks Colin. My setup usually is pretty neat. It all fits in a small rubbermaid bin. I even use a darkbag and a lightproof patterson tank so dark isn't even a pre requisite for me. I think the main concern brought up is a preconceived notion that chemistry is going to harm the finishes or plumbing. I honestly think that this is a not issue that I will have to address to her.

 

[sevres_babylone]

ZF1, I'm on the board of Gallery 44, an artist-run centre, which has shared darkroom facilities. The website is http://www.gallery44.org/
Have a look at the information there. If interested, there are information sessions where you can look at the facilities and decide if it's worthwhile for you.

 

[HHPhoto]

Maybe it would be helpful for you to contact David Nardi in Toronto:
http://www.davidnardi.com/

http://www.e6it.ca/

Cheers, Jan

 

[j j]

I think the main concern brought up is a preconceived notion that chemistry is going to harm the finishes or plumbing. I honestly think that this is a not issue that I will have to address to her.

Far from being harmed, the tarnished metal plughole in my bath has developed a lovely silver shine.

Show her a bag of Xtol and point out that it's made from vitamin C?

 

[BLKRCAT]

^ Just so happens that Xtol is my preferred weapon of choice

HHPhoto, i'll check up the links. Thank you

 

[dcsang]

I process mine in my bathroom - I have no windows and live in an older low rise condo. It's a no brainer for me. Proper disposal methods are important imho. I do not dispose of exhausted developer or stop or fixer down the sink (or tub). I use the empty distilled water bottles (4 L) to store it until I can take it to the dump (which is nearby) and drop it off at the Household Hazardous Waste depot.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[BLKRCAT]

I was just wondering also, does anyone do just 1h photo for C-41? I usually do my C41 at a cheap 1h place process only. Price Im used to paying is $3-$5 for processing only. Anyone do this?

 

[dcsang]

I was just wondering also, does anyone do just 1h photo for C-41? I usually do my C41 at a cheap 1h place process only. Price Im used to paying is $3-$5 for processing only. Anyone do this?

Yep.
I usually go to Downtown Camera to do a "process only" on C-41 film (both 120 and 35mm) and their price is in the $5-$6 range.

You can, if you have the chemicals and the know-how, do C-41 at home as well but I think you have to be a lot more precise with the temperatures vs B&W.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[BLKRCAT]

I have C41 for at home but I save it for 120 since I'm used to only doing 1h labs for 35mm.

A little poking around it looks like there might be a shoppers at king and yonge that does processing still. Not sure if its ripped out. I could pay 5-6 with tax per roll but much more than that seems like highway robbery!

 

[edge100]

I was just wondering also, does anyone do just 1h photo for C-41? I usually do my C41 at a cheap 1h place process only. Price Im used to paying is $3-$5 for processing only. Anyone do this?

Aden Camera on Yonge and Elm does 1h C-41 for $3.50. However, the results are TERRIBLE. Scratches galore.

I either do my own C-41 at home (Tetenal kit from B&H) or I take it to Image Works on Spadina.

 

[BLKRCAT]

I'll give them a try. I think I'll try downtown camera first and Aden second with a roll I dont really care about. I'm very proficient with photoshop so scratches can or cannot be a problem. As long as they dont step on the film and grind it into the floor I can get results.

Thanks guys! Just moved to the city and spend my first night here last night. Building caught fire... Looking forward to shooting and having fun

 

[edge100]

I'll give them a try. I think I'll try downtown camera first and Aden second with a roll I dont really care about. I'm very proficient with photoshop so scratches can or cannot be a problem. As long as they dont step on the film and grind it into the floor I can get results.

Thanks guys! Just moved to the city and spend my first night here last night. Building caught fire... Looking forward to shooting and having fun

When I say scratches, I mean SCRATCHES. Like awful, all over the place scratches. I can accept a few scratches her and there, which you sometimes get even from the best lab (Image Works does dip and dunk, and I've even had scratches from them...I think it may be from retrieving the leader, since I've never seen it on 120).

But what Aden did to my last roll was ridiculous. I'd gladly pay twice the price at Downtown or Image Works. Shame, because Aden is super close to me and is generally great for everything else. I just think their mini lab doesn't get serviced or used enough to keep it in tip top shape.

 

[BLKRCAT]

That's too bad. Ive had experiences with labs and poorly maintained machines. Usually contaminated squeegees or a few scratches down the length of the film.

 

[edge100]

That's too bad. Ive had experiences with labs and poorly maintained machines. Usually contaminated squeegees or a few scratches down the length of the film.

I can literally see roller marks on some of the frames.

Check out the scratches on the top of the first image here. This is AFTER I got sick and tired of fixing them in Photoshop.

 

[BLKRCAT]

did you scan with digital Ice? Sometimes it can save some of the scratches. Those dont seem quite so bad by my standards actually. I was envisioning something a lot worse than that.

 

[Broke]

I take mine to Annex photo on Bloor west... Reasonable prices and good results.
Cheers,
JB

 

[edge100]

did you scan with digital Ice? Sometimes it can save some of the scratches. Those dont seem quite so bad by my standards actually. I was envisioning something a lot worse than that.

Like I said, that was AFTER Photoshop, and I didn't post the worst of them. It's strange, I've had decent results with Aden in the past, but the last few times I've gone there have been bad.

Scanner was Plustek 8100, so no ICE.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Interesting. Well thanks for the heads up. Definitely have faith in the community here.