Film processing in (or from) Australia

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MJWC1

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Hello all

Any Australians on this bit of the forum?

I have just become the proud owner of a 'small' number of film cameras (it is hard to resist the lure both of cheap, wonderful vintage cameras that are older than me as well as being able to experiment with newer ones - being able to buy for $20 what would have cost me closer to $1,000 just a decade ago).

I live in Canberra and am very keen on knowing whether anyone can give me some tips on places that can process and scan my films at a reasonable price (developing my own is not really an option at the moment)?? I am happy to mail the films off anywhere in Australia that is cheap.

The other thing is, I wonder if there is a cheap overseas option. My brother-in-law is a professional photographer in Japan and does a lot of HDR for architectural and interior design work. He uploads his files to a site based in India where they do the grunt processing work (and he fine tunes the results). He finds this a better and cheaper use of his time than doing the processing himself. I know it is a different thing, but does anyone know of somewhere (probably in India or elsewhere in Asia) that does cheap film processing (I am happy to mail off and wait for however long and none of it will be critical work I could not afford to lose)?

Thank you!
 
Hey Matthew, I don't think posting overseas is going to be worth it, would cost a lot more than sending a digital file, not to mention the waste of shipping and packaging.

I use a couple of the pro labs in Melbourne when I shoot film from time to time, Prism in North Melbourne are good. I used to use CPL in St Kilda, they've since relocated to Port Melbourne, and no longer process E6 which is a shame.

Can't help with Canberra, but if you're looking for 'cheap' over 'good' I'm sure there are still a few highstreet places that will do basic processing.

There's a list here: http://www.lofico.com.au/cms/articles/film/where-to-develop-film-in/

Not sure how up-to-date it is. Doesn't seem to be anything listed for the ACT, maybe posting to Sydney would be easiest for you.
 
What sort of prices do you pay (if you don't mind me asking)? It helps to have a basis for comparison.
 
$9-$10 for a roll of 135 C-41. A bit more, around $14 for black and white.

Scans can be expensive, you usually get a discounted rate if you ask for them at the time of processing, probably come to about 20 bucks a roll all up, and that's just for index scans. (Crappy quality, OK for Facebook maybe).

If you want to do anything with them digitally, it might be better to just get the negs back and then pick out individual frames to have good scans made. Assuming you don't have access to a decent scanner yourself.
 
Thanks again James. Pensinula Photographics (mentioned on the list you linked to) will do it by mail order for $12 a roll (including scan), plus $5 for postage - seems pretty reasonable. Plus they say they are the second best camera store in the world...
 
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