I am looking to get started in B&W photography. I am not yet set up to do my own developing, and I want to start experimenting and learning. Most of the labs I have checked charge more than color processing because they're not set up for it. Are there any mail-order or other sources which do lots of B&W and have a decent price? One of my first projects is to copy old family photos, and I need an economical way to process.

Thanks for your help Mark Jones mark_jones@peachnet.campus.mci.net

-- Mark Jones (mark_jones@peachnet.campus.mci.net), November 08, 1998

Answers

Try Overlake Photo. They have very decent rates, and they do mail order.

Two caveats: Don't use them for Kodak TechPan, or Agfa APX 25. They only use Rodinal, and APX 25 is sensitive to their drying process.

-- Brian C. Miller (a-bcmill@exchange.microsoft.com), November 09, 1998.

If you haven't done so already, you ought to run the numbers on the cost of setting up to develop-only at home. You will find that the cost of basic equipment (changing bag, developing tank and reel(s), chemical bottles, thermometer, a graduate or two, etc.) is equal to the cost of commercial processing for XX rolls of film (the exact number depending, of course, on what equipment you get and whether you get it new or used.) It is immensely satisfying to develop your own film, as it gives you complete control over the process (but nobody to blame for scratches, unfortunately), an unlimited choice of film/developer combinations, and the ability to get negatives RIGHT NOW (or at least a lot faster than the mail) if you really need to. So if you're going to shoot those XX rolls of film in fairly short order, it might be worth going ahead and just setting up your own developing outfit from the start.

Be warned, however, that all developing tanks give off a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas which will feed your latent desire for an enlarger and a darkroom to put it in.

-- Kip Babington (cbabing3@swbell.net), November 10, 1998.