Re: [Rollei] Film prices

[Kolby Kirk <kolby >]

Thanks for your replies, Aaron and Richard.  I do indeed develop my own 
B&W... but I brought a roll or two in for processing recently to see how 
well I am doing in comparison.  The three rolls I have developed were 
the FIRST three I have ever done, so I needed to compare them to a place 
that does it professionally.  Strangely enough, my developed negatives 
have less dust on them than the one's processed by my local pro lab.

I appreciate the tips with keeping dust at a minimum, Richard.  I'll 
keep them in mind next time I prepare to develop.  As far as prints, I 
have all the equipment here at home to do that if need be, but most of 
my work becomes digital in the end.

~Kolby

Aaron Reece wrote:

> Kolby -
>
>     Well, the standard mail-order outfits sell the B&W stuff for 
> between $2 and $4 for the "standard" type films, more for the 
> esoteric/IR/Technical Pan types.  Strangely, Kodak film is usually the 
> most expensive here in the USA, unless you can get the grey market 
> stuff which is getting scarce recently. So if you are paying $3.50 a 
> roll at a retail outlet, that's not too bad.
>     Regarding processing, as Richard pointed out, B&W film processing 
> is dead simple, vastly cheaper than a custom lab, and you will almost 
> certainly get superior results. You really owe it to yourself to at 
> least try it. If you can light-tight a small corner of a room, you can 
> make contact prints of your negatives on 8x10 paper using nothing but 
> a bare light-bulb, a heavy sheet of glass, and three plastic trays. 
> Then you could have the custom lab make enlargements of your 
> favorites, although this can get pricey and you need to choose your 
> lab carefully. Good luck!
> Regards,
> -Aaron
>
> On Friday, July 16, 2004, at 04:19  AM, Kolby Kirk wrote:
>
>> Aaron Reece wrote:
>>
>>>  But my guess is based on observing the number of currently existing 
>>> boutique film manufacturers who are making a reasonable profit 
>>> selling rolls of 120 film for $3 USD apiece.
>>
>>
>> And how much is a good price for 120?  I pay about $3.50 a roll here 
>> in Los Angeles... ($6 for just developing B&W; $5 for color).  Anyone 
>> know of a better deal in Los Angeles area?
>>
>> ~Kolby
>
>
>

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