3 rolls of 35 mm film have cost me $168.00 including processing!

[Gene J. Paull]

Good morning everyone,

I just sent 3 rolls of Portra 400 off for development and scanning. The total cost for everything from purchase, development, scanning to tiff and overnight UPS shipping will be $168.00!

Here's the breadown:

3 rolls of Portra 400 - $45.00
Development and scan to tiff at Precision Photo Austin - $83.00
Overnight by air shipping to Precision Photo - $40.00

I could have shipped UPS ground, but because of the South Texas heat dome chose air.

There is no local film development where I live (Walmart and Walgreens don't return the negatives) so I that's not an option. With these prices I don't think I can stay in film much longer.

FWIW the composition through the viewfinder with my Nikon dSLRS can not even begin to compare the the large bright viewfinder of the FM3a.

Gene in Deep South Texas

Galleries by Gene Paull

www.pbase.com

 

[flektogon]

There is a cheaper way to enjoy photography. It is called the digital photography

 

[Asla]

Good morning everyone,

I just sent 3 rolls of Portra 400 off for development and scanning. The total cost for everything from purchase, development, scanning to tiff and overnight UPS shipping will be $168.00!

Here's the breadown:

3 rolls of Portra 400 - $45.00
Development and scan to tiff at Precision Photo Austin - $83.00
Overnight by air shipping to Precision Photo - $40.00

I could have shipped UPS ground, but because of the South Texas heat dome chose air.

There is no local film development where I live (Walmart and Walgreens don't return the negatives) so I that's not an option. With these prices I don't think I can stay in film much longer.

FWIW the composition through the viewfinder with my Nikon dSLRS can not even begin to compare the the large bright viewfinder of the FM3a.

Gene in Deep South Texas
http://www.pbase.com/lahuasteca/

Hi!

Ouch! That's bad to hear even when delivery costs are around 25% of total costs...

How much are scanning cost of that $83,-?

A s l a

 

[Gene J. Paull]

The .tiff scans were 18.88/roll but added in to the total is tax and shippiong for the return of the negatives. I do have my own Coolscan V, but I wanted to save time with development and scan. At these prices I probably will have to go with the chain stores (even Walgreens is $15.99/24 exposure roll and low level scans. I don't think they return the negatives.

 

[Gene J. Paull]

The most economical would be just mail the cartridges in to the processor, but I don't trust USPS (high dose x-rays and lots of time in hot warehouses and trucks).

 

[Chris DC]

I shoot B&W and develop the film at home. I then scan using my digital camera and a macro lens.

If I want "color" images, I have had good results converting B&W to color using the newest photoshop with an AI filter.

The results can be even better (to my eyes) than color film and it is a lot less costly.

CDC

 

[Gene J. Paull]

I shoot B&W and develop the film at home. I then scan using my digital camera and a macro lens.

If I want "color" images, I have had good results converting B&W to color using the newest photoshop with an AI filter.

The results can be even better (to my eyes) than color film and it is a lot less costly.

CDC

I'll give it a try (the B&W). I just sent my D700 off for cleaning, overhaul, and updating. B&W much less expensive than color. I have the latest version of Photoshop but haven't tried the AI.

 

[tr4driver]

Good morning everyone,

I just sent 3 rolls of Portra 400 off for development and scanning. The total cost for everything from purchase, development, scanning to tiff and overnight UPS shipping will be $168.00!

Here's the breadown:

3 rolls of Portra 400 - $45.00
Development and scan to tiff at Precision Photo Austin - $83.00
Overnight by air shipping to Precision Photo - $40.00

I could have shipped UPS ground, but because of the South Texas heat dome chose air.

There is no local film development where I live (Walmart and Walgreens don't return the negatives) so I that's not an option. With these prices I don't think I can stay in film much longer.

FWIW the composition through the viewfinder with my Nikon dSLRS can not even begin to compare the the large bright viewfinder of the FM3a.

Gene in Deep South Texas
http://www.pbase.com/lahuasteca/

That's why when I got back into film, I decided to do my own developing. The initial cost for equipment (not including chemicals) was around $120. The chemicals are around $30 and good for up to 24 rolls. I already had an Epson V600 scanner, so initially I used that for scanning. I've since switched to using my Nikon D850 with a macro lens and film scanner adapter/attachment. I already had the camera and lens, and the adapter/attachment was around $70. So, without too big of an initial investment (depending on what equipment you already have), you can develop at home for around $1 per roll plus the cost of your film.

Kurt

 

[mollyc]

yes, i think you should do your own dev, especially since you already have a scanner.

you can do caffenol development for bw for next to nothing, and even the cost outlay for color isn't huge if you just stick with a regular hot water bath and no circulator. or get a $50 sous vide on amazon. i did color dev for the first time last week and it is super easy.

 

[Gesture]

I was hoping film photography renewed popularity film costs may come down. But doesn't look like they will. Even a 120 roll of Ilford B&W film is quite expensive to me.

If I do 35mm B&W I would buy a 100 foot roll from Freestyle Sales and bulk roll.

 

[fpapp]

As others have said, develop and scan yourself, save a lot of money, and you have more control over the process!

 

[Overrank]

Good morning everyone,

I just sent 3 rolls of Portra 400 off for development and scanning. The total cost for everything from purchase, development, scanning to tiff and overnight UPS shipping will be $168.00!

Thats very expensive

Here's the breadown:

3 rolls of Portra 400 - $45.00
Development and scan to tiff at Precision Photo Austin - $83.00
Overnight by air shipping to Precision Photo - $40.00

UK comparison ( I don’t normally use Portra, I use a lot of ColorPlus which is £8/roll)

Three rolls of Portra (£48) - based on three rolls from a pack of five

Developing and postage £6x3 + £3 (free shipping one way) so £21

Scanning (with my own CoolScan V) - free

So £69 or 89USD.

Using Gold rather than Portra this would be £43.50, or 56USD

I could have shipped UPS ground, but because of the South Texas heat dome chose air.

There is no local film development where I live (Walmart and Walgreens don't return the negatives) so I that's not an option. With these prices I don't think I can stay in film much longer.

FWIW the composition through the viewfinder with my Nikon dSLRS can not even begin to compare the the large bright viewfinder of the FM3a.

Gene in Deep South Texas
http://www.pbase.com/lahuasteca/

 

[Michael Firstlight]

This is why I own a Phototherm Super Sidekick - relative pennies to process B&W and color rolls automatically and perfect every time. Yes, the machine cost me a chunk of change, but in the long run, if one does a lot of film processing it pays for itself and is built to last. I bought mine and had it fully refurbished to new condition all for under $2000, but now resellers are jacking up the prices on eBay.

Mike

 

[Jaime100]

Good morning everyone,

I just sent 3 rolls of Portra 400 off for development and scanning. The total cost for everything from purchase, development, scanning to tiff and overnight UPS shipping will be $168.00!

Here's the breadown:

3 rolls of Portra 400 - $45.00
Development and scan to tiff at Precision Photo Austin - $83.00
Overnight by air shipping to Precision Photo - $40.00

I could have shipped UPS ground, but because of the South Texas heat dome chose air.

There is no local film development where I live (Walmart and Walgreens don't return the negatives) so I that's not an option. With these prices I don't think I can stay in film much longer.

FWIW the composition through the viewfinder with my Nikon dSLRS can not even begin to compare the the large bright viewfinder of the FM3a.

Gene in Deep South Texas
http://www.pbase.com/lahuasteca/

That definitely seems cost prohibitive.

$45 for film seems what the going rate is so anyway you turn you have that. If you can't develop your own film, nor scan....you have to go the route you did.

Can you find a cheaper place to develop? Call around...

Why have it send overnight? That too would cut back on costs.

Either way, any way....it will cost you with the type of film you are using and the need to send out. Sorry about that and best of luck....

--

jim lehmann https://jimlehmann.squarespace.com

 

[TLGG]

There is a cheaper way to enjoy photography. It is called the digital photography

Pixelography is the term.

Film is the real one..., not "analogue".

 

[grsnovi]

Why have it sent overnight?

I believe the OP was concerned about ground delays during the intense heat bubble in the area of his chosen lab.

 

[grsnovi]

This is why I own a Phototherm Super Sidekick

I looked up PhotoTherm. New, they're not cheap - you'd have to be doing an awful lot of film to justify one.

 

[Michael Firstlight]

This is why I own a Phototherm Super Sidekick

I looked up PhotoTherm. New, they're not cheap - you'd have to be doing an awful lot of film to justify one.

They've gotten more expensive. The two now up on eBay are from a seller notorious for jacking up the listing prices of automated processors double what most sell for (looking for suckers). I got mine for $1500 and paid the original tech that still services them (I think) to overhaul it to new condition. At the cost of what folks are charging to farm out processing, it pays for itself for those who more than dabble with film - and their value will only increase. But yes, if you only do low volume it wouldn't make sense.

Mike

 

[Macro guy]

There is a cheaper way to enjoy photography. It is called the digital photography

Indeed. There is a good reason why Kodak has classified film photography as alternative process .

 

[Heritage Cameras]

This is why I own a Phototherm Super Sidekick

I looked up PhotoTherm. New, they're not cheap - you'd have to be doing an awful lot of film to justify one.

They've gotten more expensive. The two now up on eBay are from a seller notorious for jacking up the listing prices of automated processors double what most sell for (looking for suckers). I got mine for $1500 and paid the original tech that still services them (I think) to overhaul it to new condition. At the cost of what folks are charging to farm out processing, it pays for itself for those who more than dabble with film - and their value will only increase. But yes, if you only do low volume it wouldn't make sense.

You do see them for more reasonable prices from time to time:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315349552908

This one, apparently working, sold recently here in the UK for £870 (~US$1100).