ShivaYash Posted January 1, 2016 Share #1 Posted January 1, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm currently in Melbourne and already LOVE Hillvale, an independent film processing outfit that develop and scan films at a very reasonable cost and the DropBox the images. No messing with CDs and drop off locations across the city are plentiful. Does there exist a similar system in the U.K? I like the fact I never had to actually visit their location, it is very convenient and I love the prices. They are clearly photographers themselves and take great pride in their work. Although developing is via a Fuji machine and not the professional dip and dunk system, the results are good. Now enough publicity for Hillvale. I soon return to London and would like to find a suitable place to process and perhaps scan my films. I am considering an Epson scanner hence I say 'perhaps' plus I have a box full of old films I'd like to scan so it could make sense to invest in a scanner sooner rather than later. With thanks, Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 1, 2016 Posted January 1, 2016 Hi ShivaYash, Take a look here U.K. based 35mm film developing (and scanning). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
chrism Posted January 1, 2016 Share #2 Posted January 1, 2016 My last experience in the UK with commercial film development was with a company called 'Paragon' in Brighton. I think they are long gone. So while I can't answer your question directly, I shall answer it in a fashion that will serve better in the long run. It is really easy to develop your own films. C-41 is actually easier than B&W in the sense that there is one set of chemicals, times and temperature, but B&W isn't necessarily complicated. Almost all B&W films can be developed adequately in HC-110 1+49 for 8 minutes at 20ºC. There's the Massive Development Chart for anything more refined. Yes, get the Epson if you might need a flatbed scanner for other purposes. There are surprisingly good, cheap film scanners if you don't need reflective scans of papers (I have had a couple of Pacific Image scanners that won't win prizes, nor are they convenient to use, but they are probably the best bang for the buck in film scanning if you only want to scan 35mm film). So you can start to develop your own with a just a tank, and scan them cheaply. The first results might not be as good as commercial results, but you will quickly get better and the satisfaction obtained is enormous! Chris PS: my scanning station has the X1, Nikon 9000, KM5400 II, Epson V850, and still keeps the Pacific Image 3650u connected to the MBP Scanning station by chrism229, on Flickr 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted January 1, 2016 Can I send you my films please? ;-) Sadly I don't have the space for such a great set up. One day perhaps but not at the moment. Has anyone used filmdev.co.uk? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock Posted January 2, 2016 Share #4 Posted January 2, 2016 Can I send you my films please? ;-) Sadly I don't have the space for such a great set up. One day perhaps but not at the moment. Has anyone used filmdev.co.uk? I haven't but I have used ag-photolab.co.uk with some success. Dev. only and I then scan the negs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotoklaus Posted January 2, 2016 Share #5 Posted January 2, 2016 OK, not in the U.K., but worth a try: http://www.meinfilmlab.de/en/ They know how to develop films and scan them, even BW with high quality. You can get a user account and your negs will be stored there and sent to you back once in a year to save costs, If you want to. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted January 2, 2016 Share #6 Posted January 2, 2016 Ilford offer a processing and scanning service. On your other point, an Epson scanner is a fine medium format scanner, but will not be a very good choice for 35mm if you want any sort of reasonable quality. They are useful for making quick 35mm contact sheets/thumbnails however. Steve 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbealnz Posted January 2, 2016 Share #7 Posted January 2, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm back to thinking "why not process them yourself"? Is it lack of knowledge, or lack of space, or lack of funds to acquire the necessary gear?None of these are insurmountable. Ditto with the scanner. The setup Chris has is enviable, but soaks up some space, it doesn't have to be like that, a Plusteck or similar takes very little space. Same with a Paterson tank, and a couple of bottles of chemical. DIY completes the process too, from conception to realization. Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted January 2, 2016 Thanks to all. I use to run a darkroom, albeit a student one during my time at university. I was the president of the PhotoSoc at UCL and it was tremendous fun. There is something magically about seeing the image on the negative, especially when it's still wet. We had an auto print machine which was great along with several enlargers. I became a good black and white developer and printer. It sucked most of my third year in all honesty. Now with children and a very small flat, I don't have the time for developing but am interested to hear more about my poor choice of scanner. Also with c41 dev only being around £5, I'm happy to sub this element out until a change in circumstances. I'd like a machine that scans negs to around the 10 megapixel quality and one that does it quickly. Comments very welcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted January 2, 2016 I'm on a train from Warrnambool to Melbourne with time to kill, so I don't kill my children! Just googled Fuji's SP3000 scanner. Would there be scope for a group purchase if price is around £3500? 10 people would do it. And the option to recoup its outlay from offering scanning services to forum members? Or am I reminiscing the Uni days. We purchased a Nikon film scanner and there were many arguments about its usage, and the computer tech wasn't really able to operate the files it generated. A shame really but a great idea. Just thinking out loud. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotoklaus Posted January 2, 2016 Share #10 Posted January 2, 2016 I'm on a train from Warrnambool to Melbourne with time to kill, so I don't kill my children! Just googled Fuji's SP3000 scanner. Would there be scope for a group purchase if price is around £3500? 10 people would do it. And the option to recoup its outlay from offering scanning services to forum members? Or am I reminiscing the Uni days. We purchased a Nikon film scanner and there were many arguments about its usage, and the computer tech wasn't really able to operate the files it generated. A shame really but a great idea. Just thinking out loud. At meinfilmlab you will pay 17 Euro for developing and a professional scan made by professionals. How will you handle a SP3000, payed by 10 people? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted January 2, 2016 Share #11 Posted January 2, 2016 OK, not in the U.K., but worth a try: http://www.meinfilmlab.de/en/ They know how to develop films and scan them, even BW with high quality. You can get a user account and your negs will be stored there and sent to you back once in a year to save costs, If you want to. UK Film Lab offer a similar service. I have used them 35mm & 6x6cm C41 and E6 (I do my own b&w dev/scan). 35mm scans @ 5263 x 3528px are similar to the German lab's XL size and cost £15. Quality-wise the scanned files (.jpgs) are excellent and completely dust-free, something I could not say of those I have had developed at AG Film Lab and Peak Imaging. Mods - might not this thread be better placed in the Film Forum section? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted January 3, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted January 3, 2016 UK Film Lab offer a similar service. I have used them 35mm & 6x6cm C41 and E6 (I do my own b&w dev/scan). 35mm scans @ 5263 x 3528px are similar to the German lab's XL size and cost £15. Quality-wise the scanned files (.jpgs) are excellent and completely dust-free, something I could not say of those I have had developed at AG Film Lab and Peak Imaging. Mods - might not this thread be better placed in the Film Forum section? Thanks, I'll be sure to send them a roll to try. Local to me in London is West End Cameras. They offer good deals so its just a case of getting back some lost know-how on what does what. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted January 3, 2016 Share #13 Posted January 3, 2016 For a UCL man we have to go a little further! I was at the Godless Institution of Gower Street from 76-81. I managed to update the firmware on my PacificImage/PrimeFilm/Reflecta 3650u so it works with El Capitan and scanned one of yesterday's negatives for you: And that's just a $200CAN scanner. At that rate, no one should be paying for someone else to scan their negatives. Chris 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgary Posted January 4, 2016 Share #14 Posted January 4, 2016 (edited) Another vote for UK lab and lucky for me they are walking distance for me, but best B+W develope and scan is gsgary film developements he also does wet printing Edited January 4, 2016 by gsgary 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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