Getting into film

[Indigo November]

The length of time I've had my Minolta (and the Petri) is fast approaching the six month mark, and I haven't touched it yet.
Why? Fear. I don't mind admitting that I am terrified to use it.

The biggest thing for me is developing. I could stick a roll of film in it and shoot right now. What's holding me back is not knowing where I'd get it developed.
I don't want to go to wal-mart, I know that much. And I don't have a darkroom, so developing it myself is out of the question.
There are no local labs here. Not even one. So I don't really know what choices I have left...

So, to those of you that still shoot film, where should I go to get it developed?

Generally, I am just afraid to jump into something new (old! ) as well.
Any tips on this? What is your advice for someone wanting to shoot film after only ever using digital?

My goals are:
1st - To learn how to use the Minolta xg-9.
2nd - To be able to take good photos with it.
3rd - To use it as well as my D90. Be able to use them both in any given situation.
4th - To eventually have a darkroom (I know someone who would team up with me on this) and be able to develop myself.

TIA
Indy

[SwissJon]

Good on you..

When I first got my film camera, I just went into my local photo store and asked.. Turns out they do it.. Just about to give up on Minolta (Desite my camera being pretty good and there being tons of decent Minolta lenses on the market) because I spotted today a Nikon F90x in the local 2nd hand shop.. I'd quite like to keep with the same brand.. If I ever go up to FF then the lenses will be interchangeable (I hope)

Many many many online places, including Snapfish, at the bottom of their home page, under the "Our Services" section there's a link to "Film Development"

[Indigo November]

Yeah, unfortunately, no local camera stores either.
I feel like an island in a sea devoid of camera fanatics.... [/dramatic act]

I was wondering if any online labs do film. It's worth a look around.
Currently I use Mpix, and I'm happy enough to give them more business if they do film.
If they don't, I'll try snapfish. Thanks.

[zona5101]

oooh XG-9, I remember that baby, nice.
Anyway, what's wrong with walmart? Especially just for learning. Just about anywhere you take it, somebody is just going to put the film in a machine and put it on auto and out come prints. Back in the day at some of the better labs an operator would do some exposure and color correction during printing...not any more. Wallyworld can put your images on a CD for you too so you can share the joy with the rest of us

[Indigo November]

Originally Posted by zona5101

oooh XG-9, I remember that baby, nice.
Anyway, what's wrong with walmart? Especially just for learning. Just about anywhere you take it, somebody is just going to put the film in a machine and put it on auto and out come prints. Back in the day at some of the better labs an operator would do some exposure and color correction during printing...not any more. Wallyworld can put your images on a CD for you too so you can share the joy with the rest of us

Probably nothing. I just hate to give them any business.
And maybe it is different with film, but with digital files, Mpix prints a lot better than wal-mart. Worlds of difference.

In the long run, I want to be able to develop film myself. For creative control mostly.

Maybe I'll send a roll to wal-mart and one to another lab like Mpix, and see which turn out best.

[SwissJon]

Just make sure you put the right film in.. I put a roll of 3600 ISO film in my Maxxum 800si and haven't used it since because the evenings have stopped being dark early.. No point taking beautiful landscapes with gritty 3600 film.. Waste of both..

[ravncat]

Don`T suppose there`s a college or community college nearby with a photography department? You could possibly consider auditing a course - a much cheaper option, if you don`T mind not getting a grade - but learning development... anyway, even if that is too much, the people there may know where to go, or you may be able to pay some students or even a teacher a small amount to do the development....

[3bayjunkie]

I have had lots of experience with Wal*mart and film developing, both B&W and Color. Here are some things I can tell you. They usually do a fairly decent job, and you always get your negatives, so if you ever want to get them redeveloped somwhere else you can. It only takes an hour to get your film, however there are a few times I got a little hot at them. One time they corrected the brightness and darkness on a whole roll of film and I had to have them redo the roll. I took some photos of Ice sculptures in Alaska and someone got smart and decided to darken the whole roll of film because of the ice sculptures being blown out. Rule #1 make sure you tell them not to alter your film.

Another time I had walmart send my photos out for larger prints. they came back with horrible color and I refused the photos, they didn't charge me and I dind't take them.

You can request your film to be scanned onto CD but as you can see from the photos ive posted it is not print quality size. Better off scanning your own negs.

For the most part the photos came out ok but not great! the B&W photos were very nice though

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

You can request your film to be scanned onto CD but as you can see from the photos ive posted it is not print quality size. Better off scanning your own negs.

I've had the same experience. I generally use the neg that comes on the cd as a contact sheet.. What scanner do you use? I'm a bit worried about getting a scanner and realising the quality is no better than the quality that came from the lab. I've got TONS of films from when I was a kid that I wouldn't mind scanning.

[ravncat]

Originally Posted by 3bayjunkie

and you always get your negatives, so if you ever want to get them redeveloped

Just a little nitpick here - you can only develop negatives once. I think the word you mean is reprinted