35mm question

[swoosta]

Probably not the right place to ask about 35mm film photography but I was thinking about re-purchasing a secondhand 35mm film slr to take b/w and develop them at home. Never done this before always used to send off prints. I don't have a darkroom but I think you can develop them in one of those units and a dark bag. So I have the developed film can I scan it into a pc using a normal scanner rather than print onto paper?

[GeoffWessex]

Originally Posted by swoosta

Probably not the right place to ask about 35mm film photography but I was thinking about re-purchasing a secondhand 35mm film slr to take b/w and develop them at home. Never done this before always used to send off prints. I don't have a darkroom but I think you can develop them in one of those units and a dark bag. So I have the developed film can I scan it into a pc using a normal scanner rather than print onto paper?

Nearly right, but you need a scanner that's designed to scan negatives as well as the normal prints/documents. They're a tad more expensive but a search online or in a PC World or similar will give you the chance to decide.

Alternatively, you may like to take the BW film to a photographic shop that deals with them - and then you can get all the images on a DVD (plus get your developed negatives back).

Another alternative, stick with digital and check out NIK Silver Efex Pro, for example, to see what that can do for you. I'd been considering getting a film camera too but now I'm using NIK Silver Efex I can't be bothered with the film! Getting an old Medium Format film camera - something like a Bronica, Hasselblad or Mamiya, for example - now that's a different matter - I'd go for that.

[hssutton]

I also do a little B&W albeit with a bronica 2 1/4 square. There are a number of companies that will develop and scan to disk. I shut my darkroom down a few years ago and find this method the best way to go.

Loading 35mm film into a tank using a suitable bag is far easier that loading 120 film, but even so I can't be bother with the hassle just to develop a film.

Harry

I found this company excellent for purchasing chemicals

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/

[chris-p]

I shoot B&W film on a 70s Yashica rangefinder. Unless you really want the dark room bit of the process, I'd get the film processed elsewhere and scan the negs. It's far easier and you can still perform all the adjustments you want, just digitally rather than in the dark room.