I shot some film... Now what?

[philipotto]

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I recently got my first film camera, a Leica M6, circa, 1990 + 35mm summicron IV.

 

I have shot nearly two rolls, 1 Kodak colour Portra 400, 1 Kodak B+W T-MAX 400.

 

 

I am now preparing to get them developed?

Is there anything special I should now?

 

Are some labs better than others?

 

 

Just so I am clear in my thinking,

I give the lab my film, they process, and give me a proof sheet and nagatives. I can also get prints of every frame from the getgo if desired.

 

 

 

Forgive me if I sound silly, but having only shot digital, I really know nothing.

 

 

Cheers,

Philip

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[ron110n]

Hi Philip,

 

One lab differ from the other. I can only recomend Samy's Camera. I believe they send it to A&I Color Labs in Pasadena cause that's what it says in my transparencies envelope. "They do a good job".

 

I think your Samy's will be the one by S. Fairfax since you live around the Brentwood / Beverlyhills area. I go to Samy's Pasadena since that is in my area.

 

BTW, my M6 is a 1990 circa too!

You will love your new toy.

 

-Ron

[abrewer]

Hi Phillip!

 

I take my film to one of two local camera stores who do developing (the negatives) and processing (making prints from those negatives).

 

Getting prints is a personal choice but I always do because I like having the printed image in-hand to evaluate. I usually get 4x6 glossy singles--the default size, paper and amount at most good labs.

 

Do yourself a favor the first few times and ask for a "Photo CD". Then you can process the files just like you have in the past with Photoshop or Elements and post some results for us.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

[erl]

Phillip,

 

You are young and have most of 'the path' in front of you (I am envious!). The posters above advice is good to start, but if you consider B&W is 'your thing' eventually, consider a future step to processing your own films. It is soooo easy, and better than any of the labs these days. And they will get fewer and worse, I'm afraid.

 

Remember also, that any faults you find with your pictures may be due not only to you, but the processor of your film and the printer. All good reasons for eliminating them, after you get used to your new toy of course. Learn one thing at a time.

 

Enjoy.

 

Cheers,

Erl

[Michael-IIIf]

Forgive me if I sound silly, but having only shot digital, I really know nothing

 

Oh deary me. How can the world have changed so much in a few years? My next door neighbour, probably a similar age to you Philip, was persuaded to buy a turntable after listening to mine. He took delivery of it and I helped him set it up. We placed the first LP on it, lowered the needle and listened to the music.

 

After a few moments he turned to me and said, oh I see, the cartridge moves across the record as it plays.

 

Congratulations on your introduction to the world of analogue. We'll have you buying vinyl next

[enboe]

Philip,

 

Welcome to the dark side. My time with the M has improved my hit ratio on the digital side from 1 in 50 to 1 in 5.

 

I expect something just short of a thermonuclear blasting, but I often take out the M and shoot 4 or 5 rolls of whatever film is on sale at Ritz and develop it at my local Albertson's. They, in turn, send it to Kodak/Qualex. For color prints on the cheap, it has been acceptable for me, and I don't blink at shooting on impulse knowing that my total cost for film, processing, and tax is less than 25 cents per picture. I can always have the negatives reprinted and enlarged if my 3.5x5" proofs warrant.

 

Enjoy the shooting.

 

Eric