Really naïve film processing question

[smgorsch]

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Okay, here goes what may be a really stupid question. (Remember I'm coming from the digital world).

 

On a recent thread someone recommended I try a film not available locally here (Astia). If I shoot with this can I still drop it off at my local lab for developing -- or does each film/brand require a sufficiently proprietary developing process, that my local lab, which doesn't see this all this all the time, would just make a mess of it?

 

You're not laughing now are you?

 

BTW, I had some good responses on my question regarding scanners. Having sent out a couple of my negatives to be drum scanned, I've decided the quality differences are noticeable & I plan to look for a used Hasselblad Flextight

 

stefan

Edited February 27, 2010 by andybarton

[twittle]

Very few films require unique processing. Kodachrome is the most famous, but it's about to go away. All other chrome films, including Fuji Astia, are E-6 process and you can get them developed just about anywhere.

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[dicko101]

If you're in an area not readily serviced by a decent lab, Fuji offer prepaid mailers for E-6 (slide) processing. Ilford do the same thing for B+W. It can be handy if there's no lab close to you.

[Guest dk_samurai]

Talk to your lab. They might as standard procedure send all E-6 type film out to another in-state lab that handles large amount of E-6 film. Astia is an "standard" E-6 processed slide film.

 

If your lab does process E-6 in-house, let me comfort you with the fact that E-6 processing is more difficult to get wrong than C-41 (color negative processing). So the chance of messing up your film is slim.

 

But... you could also send your film to Fuji themselves and have the first roll processed by them. Then, for future references, you know what the results should look like when you get film back from your local lab.

 

Bit surprised you're going for a flextight already. Don't want to take things one step at a time? First learn to process everything yourself, then learn the art of scanning?

 

Hope you work it out!

 

/David

[Guest dk_samurai]

And just wanted to point out that in the moderen film world, labs only do 3 types of processing: E-6 (slide flim), C-41 (color negatives) or regular black and white negatives (hundreds of different developing methods here).

 

The only now exotic films left are Kodak Kodachome, a color slide film processed in K-14, and Agfa Scala, a black and white slide film that can be pulled to ISO 100 or pushed to 1600.

 

/David

[andybarton]

Kodachrome isn't long for this world...

[Xmas]

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And just wanted to point out that in the moderen film world, labs only do 3 types of processing: E-6 (slide flim), C-41 (color negatives) or regular black and white negatives (hundreds of different developing methods here).

 

The only now exotic films left are Kodak Kodachome, a color slide film processed in K-14, and Agfa Scala, a black and white slide film that can be pulled to ISO 100 or pushed to 1600.

 

/David

Some min ilabs will only do C41, and if you hand in a non C41 you gonna have to make sure they understand it is not C41.

 

E6 use postal service, conventional and C41 in own wash room.

[mob81]

I have a question about developing a film? "I'm new too"

 

the labs "all labs I visited to ask before getting film camera" in my City "I live in Saudi" they develop films using a machine "and they told me to bring any film and they'll process it with the same machine! and ALL FILMS ARE THE SAME!!!!!????"

 

is it ignorant or they are right??

[andybarton]

All E6 films can be processed the same

 

All C41 films can be processed the same

 

but, C41 films are processed differently from E6

[mob81]

but can the same machine do it all "as they say"?

[stunsworth]

but can the same machine do it all "as they say"?

 

I doubt it. I'd expect they have one machine for C41 and another for E6.

 

On the other hand they may say there's only one machine because they only process C41 films and can't handle E6 - E6 is pretty much a specialised interest these days.

 

If the lab doesn't know the difference between C41 and E6 find another lab.

[mob81]

I doubt it. I'd expect they have one machine for C41 and another for E6.

 

On the other hand they may say there's only one machine because they only process C41 films and can't handle E6 - E6 is pretty much a specialised interest these days.

 

If the lab doesn't know the difference between C41 and E6 find another lab.

 

unfortunately, all the labs I visited they told me the same "it's even hard to find films here "only kodak gold and other slow and cheap ones and very few "

[adan]

Just for the record, E6 and C41 require different machines (although a manufacturer - e.g. Noritsu - may be able to fit the different innards into similar-sized housings and use some commonality of parts).

 

The two processes have different numbers of chemical steps (E6 being more complex) and therefore different numbers of chemical tanks. The timing is also different.

 

Some table-top machines like Jobo or WIng-Lynch that have a single processing tank and separate chemical tanks allow interchangeable chemistry, but not the automated cassette-to-dry continuous-transport daylight-loading machines used by most store-front or one-hour labs.

___________

 

To Stefan in Charlottesville (if that's VA) - these folks do E6- slide films (Astia): http://www.stubphoto.com/files/pricelist.PDF

Edited March 1, 2010 by adan

[ai1]

A little late to the party,but: my local camera store, Woodward Camera, in Birmingham Michigan (a suburb of Detroit) still processes C-41, E-6 and traditional B&W (although I have gone back to processing my own B&W at home). This is probably helped by the fact that a local community college apparently still teaches film in their photography courses. By the way, although I have only shot a few roles of it, Astia is a nice film.

[tobey bilek]

C41 or color negative is the common universal process.

 

E6 for all slides except Kodachrome is universal, but not nearly as common. Local people may have to mail it out.

[smgorsch]

Thanks all for the help.

 

Since no one laughed at me, I have some follow up questions. I had planned to get a good scanner and digitize my own negatives but continue to have all the developing done at the local lab. However, many here seem to advocate developing at home as well. How much of an advantage is this?

 

Second question, how does shooting and scanning slide film compare to traditional negatives scanned?

 

thanks again

 

stefan

[tobey bilek]

You have total control over quality at home. You probably will not save money. Conventional black and white film contrast and thus scanability can be controlled by yourself, time in developer. Color chemicals are increasingly hard to find FRESH in homedarkroom quantities.

 

C41 or color neg films are by far the easiest to scan. Slides are contrasty by design so they project properly, but the deep shadows can not be lightened easily in scanning. Therefore they show as overdark areas after digitization. Astia is pretty flat film and would be my choice for scanning slides. Avoid harsh sun light.

 

C41 films are made for printing and have less contrast and thus digitize more easily. A little knowledge of color printing or color balancing is helpful so you know how to get correct color. It is no different than color printing in a darkroom.

 

C41 monochrome films are easiest monochrome films to scan, Ilford and Kodak make one each. Ilford`s print beautifully with an enlarger and scan easily.

 

Some monochrome films scan better than others and I have tried many. KODAK

T max 100 and 400 are best. D76 1:1 for 8.75 min and 10 min respectively are what I use. Fine grain scans the result. They also print on #2 paper with a condenser enlarger.

 

 

Kodak Portra films, 160 and 400 and Fuji 160S are absolute killer color neg films for scanning. They come very close to what comes from my digital camera.

 

All said and done, unless you are wedded to Leica film cameras, you will be happier with a digital camera. I get a cleaner file with my Nikon digi SLR than scanned film. Then there is the issue of a quality scanner to match your Leica lenses. There is nothing new and affordable that works. Imacon flextights at $20,000 are what you need or a drum scanner to keep up leica quality. Unfortunately, the days a medium quality film scanner are gone.

 

You can muck about and try to reinvent the wheel, and you will want to learn yourself so this is the best advice I can offer.

 

Try a dig cam and see what you get and compare to film done at same time, same place.

The digi cam avoids all the scanning and developing issues. Just download the card.

[smgorsch]

 

Try a dig cam and see what you get and compare to film done at same time, same place.

The digi cam avoids all the scanning and developing issues. Just download the card.

 

Thanks for the advice. I have had digital M8 for years and now M9. I think my MP renders differently (in a way I can't emulate with digital) and is in some ways more fun to use.

 

I would like to work with both film/digital but think digital PP and printing is the way to go. Until I find a used flextight, I'll have drum scans done on the files I print to A2+

 

thanks

 

stefan

[Xmas]

Hi

 

An M2 is a nice camera as well, I use M2s or Canon Ps each 50% of time.

 

A modern dig (like a M9) will produce a stunning print, after the PP and dig print, but a silver gelatine toned to serpia, still looks different and is archival.

 

You can get good quality enlargers, and all other bits for free and still get silver gelatine paper or RC.

 

Remember to have fun.

 

Noel

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Hallo,

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[tobey bilek]

Try some Silver Effects Pro from Nik Software

 

Or add a curve with higher midtone contrast and add some grain in photoshop. You will save yourself a lot of trouble and the results are quite good., speciall the Nik.