Cost of shipping film and cameras: With the new USPS's rates the cost of shipping film and cameras has gone up. Now for someone like me on a fix income is has become a problem. I am a...

Bill 45

With the new USPS's rates the cost of shipping film and cameras has gone up. Now for someone like me on a fix income is has become a problem. I am a big fan of using film cameras. Cost of shipping film out and getting it back gone up, I am to have to cut back using my film cameras. One would say I should set up a dark room, out of the question too danger to have in the house. I have effect toxic items in the house as is, I not going to add more. Yes, I do have digital camera, It look like it will become my main line camera to use. Sad day.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Chemicals for B&W processing are pretty innocuous. For a good many years I would load a developing tank in the closet and develop in the kitchen or bathroom. Enlargers can often be had for free. There are simple, relatively inexpensive devices that fit digital cameras to "scan" negatives digitally. The Postmaster at our post office has advised that postal rates will continue to rise several times each year. Never give up!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I think your view of setting up a darkroom is somewhat extreme. Why is it too dangerous to have in the house? I've been processing film in my home darkroom since May of 1966. I have other non-photography chemicals at home that are far more dangerous than film processing chemicals.

On another note, for the life of me, I can't understand the Post Office's approach in slowing the mail to something akin to what we had in 1970. What's the reasoning behind that?
--Bob

Bill 45 wrote:

With the new USPS's rates the cost of shipping fil... (show quote)

BebuLamar

Bill 45 wrote:

With the new USPS's rates the cost of shipping fil... (show quote)

If you want to do B&W by all mean have a darkroom or even without a darkroom do the developing yourself. You can develop film with some film tank and a changing bag to load film. After loading the film the entire process can be done in the light room. If you do color then it would be difficult these days as chemicals are difficult to get.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

quixdraw wrote:

Chemicals for B&W processing are pretty innocuous. For a good many years I would load a developing tank in the closet and develop in the kitchen or bathroom. Enlargers can often be had for free. There are simple, relatively inexpensive devices that fit digital cameras to "scan" negatives digitally. The Postmaster at our post office has advised that postal rates will continue to rise several times each year. Never give up!

👍👍 Completely agree. B&W film development is trivial to process. A roll tank, 3 innocuous chemicals plus Photoflo, a thermometer, some form of timer, and some film clips is all you need. Then you can scan or print - no need to mail and lowers the cost/roll dramatically. You can load the tank in a dark room or closet or changing bag, and the rest can de done in normal room light in your bathroom or kitchen.

Bill 45

BebuLamar wrote:

If you want to do B&W by all mean have a darkroom or even without a darkroom do the developing yourself. You can develop film with some film tank and a changing bag to load film. After loading the film the entire process can be done in the light room. If you do color then it would be difficult these days as chemicals are difficult to get.

You remind one thing I had forgot about: What do you do with the chemicals after using them? I live in rural area. Also bring I live in a rural area, the UPS & Fedaex office is fifteen miles one way from my house. So I use the USPS to mail everything; USPS office is with in walking distance from my house.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Monochrome chemicals in the volume you are likely to use, will not harm a septic system. If you are worried about it, you can set up a passive evaporator, and check with your local dump about getting rid of the residue. There is no problem getting monochrome processing chemicals by mail, UPS or FedEx.

limeybiker

Totally agree, I am trying to sell my camera collection on EBay, by the time I pay the fees, shipping and handling and gas to the Post Office, all I make is peanuts, but they are good for packing.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

rmalarz wrote:

I think your view of setting up a darkroom is somewhat extreme. Why is it too dangerous to have in the house? I've been processing film in my home darkroom since May of 1966. I have other non-photography chemicals at home that are far more dangerous than film processing chemicals.

On another note, for the life of me, I can't understand the Post Office's approach in slowing the mail to something akin to what we had in 1970. What's the reasoning behind that?
--Bob

It's political. And we are not supposed to talk about anything that might be construed to be political. But, some people want government and big government to fail. This means that government services must fail, too - the post office, the SSA, Covid-19 vaccines, and on, and on.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

rmalarz wrote:

I think your view of setting up a darkroom is somewhat extreme. Why is it too dangerous to have in the house? I've been processing film in my home darkroom since May of 1966. I have other non-photography chemicals at home that are far more dangerous than film processing chemicals.

On another note, for the life of me, I can't understand the Post Office's approach in slowing the mail to something akin to what we had in 1970. What's the reasoning behind that?
--Bob

Remember they're government workers. Reasoning rarely occurs in the same sentence.

mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area

Bill 45 wrote:

With the new USPS's rates the cost of shipping fil... (show quote)

I use a local pro photographer who processes his own film. He does his film in batches so it may take a week or so, but he does a nice job. I live with my son so I do not have the space to set- up my darkroom. Check your local photo shops or pro photographers.
Mundy

Bill 45

mundy-F2 wrote:

I use a local pro photographer who processes his own film. He does his film in batches so it may take a week or so, but he does a nice job. I live with my son so I do not have the space to set- up my darkroom. Check your local photo shops or pro photographers.
Mundy

What photo shops and pro photographers? I live in Northern New York, not Syracuse, I am 3 hours North of Syracuse by car.

no12mo

Bill 45 wrote:

What photo shops and pro photographers? I live in Northern New York, not Syracuse, I am 3 hours North of Syracuse by car.

Go check out the Darkroom. Are you really going to develop your color pics?

User ID

Bill 45 wrote:

With the new USPS's rates the cost of shipping fil... (show quote)

Food has also gone up. Just eat less and ship more film. The more food goes up, the more $$ tou save by not eating as much. If thaz not obvious to you, maybe you’re not cut out to be an anachronist. Eating every day is for soulless digital camera operators. Never surrender.

ScottWardwell Loc: Maine

Bill, it appears you just want to throw up a road block to actually doing film photography. Cost of postage, toxic chemicals and now distance to travel. Where is your passion in this equation?