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Around the World with Ilford XP2


srabu

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Dear Forum,

 

I booked an "around the world" trip this year - 8 weeks and 15 flights. I shoot with Ilford XP2 (I know, but it scans so well and the skin tones are beautiful).

 

My current idea is to only take 6 rolls of film on the first leg of the trip, and then buy the film within the countries visited in order to avoid potential X-Ray damage. Also, I am looking forward to find decent photo development shops to develop the film - fingers crossed.

 

My list of shops is looking well, but I am asking you for advise for these cities:

 

• Bangkok

• Sydney

• Melbourne

• Brisbane

• Perth

• Auckland

• Toronto

 

I'm looking for a shop where I can buy Ilford XP2 and also get rolls developed in a well-maintained C41 process.

 

My plan is to have the developed film put back into the can without having it cut - I much prefer to do that myself. Does anybody have any experience to share about this method? Any other suggestions?

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Thank you very much & Best regards,

Stefan.

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Have a wonderful time! It sounds like a lot of fun!

 

I'd be more inclined to pack most of the film in checked luggage (protected from x-ray of course) and also mailers or envelopes to send the film back to my home from each location. When I arrived back home I'd take it to a lab I trusted (if I used a lab) Actually, I'd develop the film myself.

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Have a wonderful time! It sounds like a lot of fun!

 

(...)

 

Actually, I'd develop the film myself.

 

Thank you for your answer.

 

I would like to "SiMPLiFY" my travel equipment and only bring my MP, two lenses and one type of film. For various reasons, I chose Ilford XP2. I do develop traditional B/W films myself since many years, but I'm not capable of developing a C41 process...

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I'd be more inclined to pack most of the film in checked luggage (protected from x-ray of course) and

 

Film in checked bagage is a bad idea. The x-rays used are much stronger. Putting it in a carry-on bag is better. It will withstand many passes through x-ray machines without fogging.

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I'd be more inclined to pack most of the film in checked luggage (protected from x-ray of course)

 

Putting any kind of undeveloped film in checked baggage is a seriously bad idea - the X-Ray equipment used for checked baggage is MUCH more powerful than that used for hand baggage.

 

I always used the Hama film safes (grey X-Ray protective boxes each holding 4 films) to store film in my hand baggage when I travelled with a film rather than a digital camera, and never had any problems even in small airports in the Far East.

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I'd be more inclined to pack most of the film in checked luggage

 

No, no, no. This is _the_ way of ensuring you get fogged film. Put film in carry on baggage. I've made trips that have involved maybe a dozen X-ray scans with no problems what so ever.

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Lead bags = turn up the power. It looks suspicious so will get zapped to the point of glowing in the dark.

Hand search = not in the UK. You have no right to it.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Hi again,

 

Thank you for your feedback. I also had my request for hand-check denied previously (Londons Heathrow, top 3 on my list of horrible airports).

 

I learned in the German forum that putting the developed film back in the can is a bad idea due to tension, so I discarded that one and will bring negative pockets.

 

Does anybody have an idea of where to buy film and to have the C41 process developed in the cities mentioned previously?

 

Thank you & Best regards,

Stefan.

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Stefan,

 

Why not just buy your film in bulk before you go and carry it in your hand luggage? If you're keen to get it developed as you go, I can understand why you might want a C-41 film. It also means that your developed negs and prints could go safely in hold luggage.

 

Personally I wouldn't want the hassle of finding a reliable source of film in cities I don't know. Even 30 rolls of film doesn't take up too much space in your hand luggage. Passing it a few times through security won't fog it.

 

Have a great time

 

Charlie

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I feel I owe you an apology for giving advise I had no business giving. Now let's hope that someone can give you names of labs as you originally requested. I do have a friend in Toronto so will inquire when she gets back into town. I hope you'll accept my apology and this thread can get back in focus on answering your inquiry.

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Stefan,

 

Why not just buy your film in bulk before you go and carry it in your hand luggage? If you're keen to get it developed as you go, I can understand why you might want a C-41 film. It also means that your developed negs and prints could go safely in hold luggage.

 

Personally I wouldn't want the hassle of finding a reliable source of film in cities I don't know. Even 30 rolls of film doesn't take up too much space in your hand luggage. Passing it a few times through security won't fog it.

 

Have a great time

 

Charlie

 

Hi Charlie,

 

Thank you for your advise. Unfortunately, I was considering to buy bulk. I never had problems with fogging using Ilford XP2, but then I never did a trip involving 15 flights...

 

Bulk is not an option, because the 2nd flight leads me from Helsinki to Bangkok and Thailand has an import restriction limiting me to 5 rolls of film...

 

About the development: I only want the films developed, no paper copies, my workflow is scanning the film at home, Photoshop, then print myself.

 

Best regards,

Stefan.

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Here you go: Lab in Toronto who does C-41 Processing. I feel a little better but really need to be more careful in the future. Again, please accept my humble apology.

 

http://www.seiflowlab.com/contact.shtml

 

Hi SiMPLiFY,

 

thank you very much for your help. I even know Queen Street in Toronto, so I will find them :)

No apologies required :))

 

Thank you & Best regards,

Stefan.

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Most 1 hr labs will process the film without printing if you ask them. Here in the UK it costs me £2 - that's about $4.

 

One lab refused to process a roll of XP2 because it was a b&w film. I explained that it was C41 process, but to no avail. In the end I took to another branch of the same chain in the next town and they processed it without a second thought.

 

Remember that you're film will probably pick up more cosmic ray radiation while you're on the plane than it will X-rays while being scanned.

 

Bill, I don't think they can turn up the X-rays on hand luggage scanners.

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Stefan,

 

Well I can't help with XP2 supplies in Bangkok. If all else fails, I suppose any C-41 colour print stock would do. You'll just have to convert to B/W in Lightroom/Aperture/PS.

 

Charlie

 

 

Hi Charlie,

 

Thank you for your advise. Unfortunately, I was considering to buy bulk. I never had problems with fogging using Ilford XP2, but then I never did a trip involving 15 flights...

 

Bulk is not an option, because the 2nd flight leads me from Helsinki to Bangkok and Thailand has an import restriction limiting me to 5 rolls of film...

 

About the development: I only want the films developed, no paper copies, my workflow is scanning the film at home, Photoshop, then print myself.

 

Best regards,

Stefan.

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Elevator in Toronto is on Industrial Street. I have used them before, not for processing, but for B&W lith printing. The owner is Bob Carnie and he is an excellent person to deal with: Elevator

 

I have not used any lab in Bangkok, but one of the more reputable ones that other photographers have mentioned is "IQ":

Image Quality Lab

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