Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

My favorite film is Velvia 50. Here's a link for 35mm slide film, including processing.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1454165-REG/fujifilm_fujichrome_velvia_50_professional.html

I scan my own slides. Once scanned, there are many options for printing.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

You CAN get digital files on a DVD... but they won't be all that great when doing "cheap" processing at places like Sams and Costco. Their digitized files are pretty low resolution and not good enough for much more than 4x6" or maybe 5x7" print. Still, that might be all you need for "proofing". Then if you get a few images that you'd like to print larger, you can either have a pro lab do a high resolution scan (if only a few, since it's pricey)... Or you can buy a film scanner and do much higher resolution scans yourself (if you end up doing a lot of them and plan to do more in the future).

You'll have the easiest time getting "C41" color negative and chromogenic B&W film processed. Both can be usually be locally processed and low rez digitized quickly and cheaply by "consumer" grade labs. Note: lab prints from chromogenic B&W film tend to be low contrast and "flat" looking... but it scans and digitizes better than silver-based B&W films, particularly if you ever want high resolution scans of images to work with and print yourself with your computer and inkjet. Last time I looked, there was only one chromogenic B&W film commonly available, an Ilford product (ISO 400, "HP5"?). There is a larger selection of color neg films.

Slide processing can still be done, too, but there are fewer places doing it. Most likely you'll have to send it somewhere for processing. You usually don't get scans with slide processing, so will need a means of viewing them. You can have high rez scans done of select images later by a pro lab, if you wish. Or, if planning to scan a lot of images now or in the future, purchase a film scanner and do them yourself.

The good news is that high resolution dedicated film scanners have gotten faster, a lot easier to use and come way down in price.... There are Plustek and Pacific Image models with 7200 ppi to 10,000 ppi resolution available for under $500. In some cases, they're even bundled with excellent Silverfast AI Studio software... the best-in-the-business scanning s'ware that usually costs $400-$450 when sold separately. (My Nikon 4000 ED film scanner is very good, but only 4000 ppi and cost over $1500 twenty years ago! And that's without Silverfast AI Studio, the version for the 4000 ED costs $450! I've been using Vuescan with it instead, which is pretty good and a lot cheaper, around $80.)

Silver-based B&W film processing is the most difficult to out-source, but by far the easiest to process yourself. You don't even need a darkroom, if you can learn to thread the roll of film onto a spool by touch, inside a film changing bag. Silver-based B&W film is difficult to scan to digital though. For high quality results, it's often best to make a traditional darkroom enlargement first, and then scan that on a high resolution flatbed scanner.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

Thank you very much for the detailed info. I really appreciate the info. Looks like I won't be doing a whole lot of film photography, unless there is some company out there digitalizing my film so that I can pp the results at home. Once again, thank you.....RJM

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

👍👍 Velvia is indeed, beautiful film, especially good for landscapes - the greens and overall color balance are so much better than the Kodak offerings in my opinion. If you decide you like film, E6 is not hard to develop. You can get the chemical set from B&H as well and other than the chemicals, you just need a roll tank, a thermometer, some graduated cylinders, film clips and a thermometer and timer. As Amfoto said, you can load the film in a dark closet or in a changing bag - no darkroom required and no mailing, just develop and scan. Something like an Epson V600 will do fine unless you want to invest in a dedicated slide scanner. See how this “film thing” can get easily out-of-hand?

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

That almost seems “out-of-hand” alright!, But thanks, Ill be pondering these recommendations.

RON CONSTANTINE

EZ Print is an online print company and are not expensive. Color or Black & white

Inglese

I use a lot of film and have no problem sourcing it but I am in the UK and I suspect you are not. NTPhotoworks.com are located in S.E.England in Folkestone in case that is any use to you. They will probably send film to you but carriage and import duty may make that prohibitively expensive. They also have a great range of processing option.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

leftj Loc: Texas

You can buy film many places including , B&H, Adorama & Amazon. For Developing I recommend The Darkroom. They sell film as well.

colt4x5 Loc: Central Connecticut

I buy from B&H, use the darkroom.com for color processing, and a fantastic local lab (Connecticut - www.stillrivereditions.com) for B&W. They all cover from 35 through 4x5, and in some cases 8x10. Film still lives!

As an aside, there is also a great source for film for "obsolete" older cameras - 620, and the like: filmforclassics.com

adm

For you, B and H in New York, although I generally order from Freestyle in LA because of shorter shipping times to New Mexico. Both are good sources.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

I use a lab in Toronto (Northern Artists) to develop and scan. Interested to know why you say you would not have a lab do the scans.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

wetreed

Check out Freestyle in Los Angeles, back in the day they were the best source for film. I know they are still in business but I haven’t bought film in years.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I had longed for a Pentax FF for years, and the K-1 seemed perfect, and with a great initial price as well. But I did not have the cash at the time and now with my ever increasing arthritis, especially in my hands, I can not handle the extra weight of a K-1, My K-5 and K-20D are heavy for me now. The K-3 less so, and the three film cameras not bad at all. But I have had to forget about a K-1 or K-1mkII.