Film

N01Chris

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Christian
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Yes
I've had a Minolta X-300 35mm film camera with a 50 f1.7 for a while sitting on my shelf but since i've recently found some batteries for it - it takes the uncommon cell batteries - and have been messing with it.

My question for you is; Can you still buy film? Do you have to process it yourself or do any shops process it for you?

Im just interested to try film out as i have never tried it before and it makes such a nice shutter sound.
 
Yes.
No.
Boots, many supermarkets and loads of photography stores still deal with film.
BTW, LR44 batteries are by no means rare and aren't that expensive. Oddly enough, Hawkin's Bazaar (the toyshop) have them in packs of 10 at a good price (they power the electronic fish like what I bought to wind up a friend in Crete!)
Have a look in this forum's Film & Conventional section for hints on all things film.
 
ah, glad this has been moved tp F&C,rest assured, the regulars will get you hooked up (and probably addicted to buying lots of old cameras... don't ask how I know this... just don't...)
 
Buy film from the pound shop, get it developed in Asda/Tesco/Max Whatshisface/Boots etc :) The most important part here is to use that X-300! I adore mine. That lens is beautiful, I like it so much I bought an X-500 just to get another 50mm :D
 
Yes.
Oddly enough, Hawkin's Bazaar (the toyshop) have them in packs of 10 .

Are any of them still open? I'd heard the whole chain went into administration, and certainly the Barnstaple store closed down in a hurry :(
 
You can get batteries for pennies on eBay. 7dayshop or http://www.discountfilmsdirect.co.uk/ for film, there are still a few places on the high street (Snappy snaps?) that sell film. Developing can be done in supermarkets, and the aforementioned snappy snaps too :)
 
thanks for the help, I'll try and get down to the pound shop tomorrow, what would the process be for getting the images, do I have to buy prints or can I somehow get a digital file on my computer?
 
Are any of them still open? I'd heard the whole chain went into administration, and certainly the Barnstaple store closed down in a hurry :(

Exeter's open again - at least it was yesterday!
 
Chris, most places that do D&P (developing and printing) will also transfer to a CD for you but usually at a fairly low resolution (often a 300 DPI scan from the print size). Home scanning of negs is possible (but time consuming, especially if you want high res scans and do a load of PP on the files!) with dedicated film scanners or some flatbeds.
 
Hmm I'm a it hesitant then, I usually upload my images online and share them, I guess film is more searching for the best photo and getting it printed off and treasuring it as there isnt the ability to re-do them again and again.
 
Dont get me wrong, I'm still interested, I like the simplicity of the x-300 and when I start sixth form in September, they apparently have a dark room which I'll be able to use which should be good :)
 
Hmm I'm a it hesitant then, I usually upload my images online and share them, I guess film is more searching for the best photo and getting it printed off and treasuring it as there isnt the ability to re-do them again and again.

Some Asda and Tesco superstores will dev and scan to a CD (jpg) for £3, you also get an index print for what's on the film...Asda during the week will usually do it all while you shop...I took three films to Asda last week and she did them in 40 mins, but depending on the superstore operator you can get a few spots\hairs (from not cleaning the neg before scanning) etc..... showing on the scanned CD.
 
Hmm I'm a it hesitant then, I usually upload my images online and share them, I guess film is more searching for the best photo and getting it printed off and treasuring it as there isnt the ability to re-do them again and again.

Just get you negatives scanned to CD.

And re do them again and again? You can print as many photos as you like from a single negative. Just because the negative has been scanned or developed in a dark room it doesn't make it redundant afterwards.
 
Last time I had D&P done, Boots did it for me and scanned to disk for me. On the disk were 2 folders, Hi and Lo res, with the Hi Res being basically a 300 dpi scan of the 6x4s and the Lo Res being suitable for posting in the gallery here with no effort in PP from me! (It was for the disposable challenge last Autumn so no PP was allowed anyway!) Ant that I felt were worth the extra effort would have been scanned here at higher res.
 
oh awesome, im in the middle of no-where at my friends farm so no shops atm (i had forgot that we were going) and no film, the closest town is newcastleton, im gunna ride there tomorrow on my bike to see if there is any shops that sell it but If they do i have a feeling it may be expensive :(
 
Let us know how you get on. Be warned though, film really can be addictive! I started in photography seriously on digital and began casually shooting a bit of 35mm film shortly after just for fun, now I've delved into the wonderful world of medium format film I can honestly genuinely say I'm absolutely in love with analogue. Taking photos on film is like playing a vinyl record; you're not just listening to music, you're experiencing it. You're touching it, you're feeling it, you're connected to it in a way that you could never be if you just hit play in iTunes. I love my 7D and 5Dmk2; they're great cameras but when I've been out shooting film they just feel kinda boring to use, I know that sounds horrible as they truly are great cameras but it's just how I've come to feel about shooting digital!

Looking forward to hearing how you get on. :)
 
Let us know how you get on. Be warned though, film really can be addictive! I started in photography seriously on digital and began casually shooting a bit of 35mm film shortly after just for fun, now I've delved into the wonderful world of medium format film I can honestly genuinely say I'm absolutely in love with analogue. Taking photos on film is like playing a vinyl record; you're not just listening to music, you're experiencing it. You're touching it, you're feeling it, you're connected to it in a way that you could never be if you just hit play in iTunes. I love my 7D and 5Dmk2; they're great cameras but when I've been out shooting film they just feel kinda boring to use, I know that sounds horrible as they truly are great cameras but it's just how I've come to feel about shooting digital!

Looking forward to hearing how you get on. :)

My experience too! :thumbs:
 
I've had no internet for the past few days and newcastleton had no film :( on my way home though and hopefully I'll get some this weekend :D
 
Oh yes, he has a lot to answer for......
 
I've had a Minolta X-300 35mm film camera with a 50 f1.7 for a while sitting on my shelf but since i've recently found some batteries for it - it takes the uncommon cell batteries - and have been messing with it.

My question for you is; Can you still buy film? Do you have to process it yourself or do any shops process it for you?

Im just interested to try film out as i have never tried it before and it makes such a nice shutter sound.

Hahahaha! You're hooked chap.:clap::clap::wave::bonk:

You've already had answers to the questions you asked: the bottom line (literally) is what interests me.
 
it makes such a nice shutter sound.

Wait until you get your first Nikon. :), then you will find out what shutter sound is all about.:D
 
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