Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hello,

I find myself shooting 35mm film more and more and it's getting quite expensive at the same time I usually take my rolls to walmart(closest to me) for processing which is $2.97 + taxes, then factoring in the cost of film. So I'm looking into getting developing film myself. For starters, I would like to learn C41 processing, but would also like to learn b&w processing.

My questions are :
1. Where in Toronto can I get the cheapest developing equipment and chemicals? Henry's is selling a developing kit(trays, tank, thermometer, etc) for $80. Is that a good price?
2. In your experience, is home developing really that cost effective? Considering the cost of chemicals and the time spent for processing. I find myself shooting about 6 rolls a week.

thanks.

B+W might be cost effective and rewarding...i.e. control of the process. C41 processing, I have in the past, but prefer to take it to a lab.

I develop my own b&w. I got my developing gear for free from a photog who ditched analog. Check out Craigslist. Developing equipment can often be found pretty cheap.

If you use a developer like Rodinal it can be very cost effective. A bottle is like $15 and you're sometimes only using like 10ml each go, so it last a very long time (highly diluted).

Buy film from Freestyle and you're at about $2/roll. Bigger cost is in time (to develop and scan).

Agreed, although 10ml is a lot of Rodinal

If you don't pay yourself for your time definitely cheaper, B&W is easy while colour uses higher temperature and for the most part nastier chemicals.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/ishootfilm ... 833433311/

I got the bulk of my B+W processing equipment for less than $50 -- stainless steel too, the starter pack is plastic. You can go really cheap with measuring cups and stuff from the kitchen (so long as you never use them in the kitchen again).

I've only tried two different developers (D76 (powder) and HC110 (concentrate)). There are up and downsides to both. Took a few months of reading to really get the hang of it.

I like 1:25 dilution for some films. And I'm often doing 3 rolls of 35mm or 2 rolls of 120 at once...

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I'll start looking for developing equipment and give home processing a try

hehe.. lately I've been doing 1:100 - hence, like Adam, 10ml is a LOT of Rodinal *LOL*

I'm still on a bottle I bought some 4-5 years ago.. or more..

Cheers,
Dave

P.S. If you go this route - that is, dev your own B&W, please be sure to DISPOSE OF USED DEVELOPER PROPERLY - do NOT just throw it down the drain - it's a hazard to your pipes and the water system. Thanks

it is not a well known fact but the city of Toronto picks up toxic chemicals at no charge from households (ie non-commercial). They refer to the service as the "toxic taxi". I have had them pick up used darkroom/developing chemicals before. I didn't even need to be home. They picked it up from the back porch. You just have to make sure everything is well labeled. If I recall the max they take on one visit is 50 liters.

Good to know. I wonder if they would take my used motor oil when i change my own.

I develop my own C-41 and E-6 at home. I'm considering having a developing at home 101 workshop (for a small fee to cover chemicals). If you're interested, let me know.

@smlg.ca; pm me for details(ie. price, etc.) I might take you up on that offer

@Dave, thanks for the developer disposal tip. That's good to know.

I was quite surprised when I took my Ryerson course that they did not have any containers to store used developer for disposal -- we just dumped it down the drain. They did have disposal for exhausted fix though.

Dave/Adam: I like the 1:25 for films like Neopan 400 and Tri-X. Pronounced grain, very sharp. Old school b&w look. I'll usually use the higher dilution with the finer grained films.

XTOL is pretty safe down the drain but many developers are carcinogenic, Pyro is very dangerous (wear rubber gloves). Except for some corrosive ability the main danger of fixer is the silver the film in solution. Drop steel wool in the fixer for 24 hours where all the silver will deposit on the wool then fish it out. This makes the fixer safer then the usual contents of the toilet.

The toxic taxi also has a minimum as well as a maximum volume for pickup.

Hi folks,

Would someone mind posting details (a contact number perhaps) for the toxic taxi and specifics about volumes?

I've got some Rodinal I'd like to use, but I've been holding off because I wasn't sure how to dispose of it (and sending it down the drain didn't seem like the right thing to do).

Sean, I'd be interested in your seminar on E-6 and C-41 as well.

Thanks!

-J

I'll post some details and maybe make it an ad hoc event or something. Price would be something like $10-15 or so.

Here's the info from the City Of Toronto website regarding Household Hazardous Waste:
http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/hhw.htm

While not everything is "dangerous", I just would rather be safe than sorry both from considering my responsibility in my own home and the environmental impact.

I am lucky though as there's an HHW depot right around the corner from my place so it's easy for me to drop off used chemicals on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (depending on how much I'm using mind you).

Cheers,
Dave

Thanks Dave for posting that info.

Cheers,

-J