Scanning 120 Negative.

[stephen townsend]

I just wanted to know if there is anybody out there who has had, or still has, expertise in this regard. I'm living in Sydney and it costs around $49 to get film developed - I think this is way too much for 12 shots. Any ideas whether there's a better option?
Cheers.
Steve Townsend...

[jet_kit]

Hi Steve,
The advent of digital photography has rendered the film processing lab all but redundant. Here in UK Boots (a huge pharmacy chain) is closing all their labs, if they haven't already done so.
The consequence is that remaining labs will have to charge high prices just to stay in business.
The alternative is to do it yourself. For very little cost you can pick up a dark bag, processing tank and some chemicals.
However, if you want to print from those negatives it's a different ball-game. Now you will need an enlarger, easel, developing trays, safe-light, timer etc. and somewhere with electricity and running water that you can black-out as a darkroom.
Having said that there's a lot of this gear on eBay and probably other such sites, for silly money.

[GeoffWessex]

Strewth, mate! $49!!! I'd been thinking of picking up a used medium format camera and having somebody do the developing........ so I've just looked around online for it in the UK. There seem to be quite a few but they're a bit shy about giving actual prices and many want you to sign up to them before you can find prices.

However, I found Fuji Digital Imaging Service that develops 120 film for 4.50(UKP) plus postage. (Develop only, no prints, no CD - but they can scan and print too, if you want - for different prices) So that's Aus$7.22+post. That's an awful long way to send film, though!

Check out their site. Lots of different combinations available.

[stephen townsend]

I think I will save those Pennys and maybe purchase a negative scanner although they can be a little costly...

[jet_kit]

Originally Posted by stephen townsend

I think I will save those Pennys and maybe purchase a negative scanner although they can be a little costly...

Sure, scanning is a viable option, but you still have to develop the film first. Might be best to attack this laterally - place the 120 camera carefully in a suitable waste receptacle (Dustbin). Unless it's something classic like a Hasselblad or a Rollei in which case glue it to a piece of polished wood and use it as an ornament. It's hard to say goodbye to the old stalwarts, I know, but when they've had their day .... etc.

[GeoffWessex]

Originally Posted by jet_kit

Sure, scanning is a viable option, but you still have to develop the film first. Might be best to attack this laterally - place the 120 camera carefully in a suitable waste receptacle (Dustbin). Unless it's something classic like a Hasselblad or a Rollei in which case glue it to a piece of polished wood and use it as an ornament. It's hard to say goodbye to the old stalwarts, I know, but when they've had their day .... etc.

Sacrilege!

Actually, it opens up the old question of whether digital or film gives the better "quality". I believe a FullFrame digital image beats a medium Format film image..... but that an APS-C image, whatever camera andhowever many Megapixels, doesn't get to that point..... but is at least on a par with 35mm film.

So I'm still interested in acquiring a good Hasselblad, Bronica, Rollei etc - even though it requires the cost of development, quality scanning and more processing. And, of course, once you've developed your film you can't 'recover' stuff that hasn't been recorded, in the way that a Raw 'developer' can make multiple versions to bring out details. Unless, of course, you go for bracketing your shots.

It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

[jet_kit]

Originally Posted by GeoffWessex

Sacrilege!

Actually, it opens up the old question of whether digital or film gives the better "quality". I believe a FullFrame digital image beats a medium Format film image..... but that an APS-C image, whatever camera andhowever many Megapixels, doesn't get to that point..... but is at least on a par with 35mm film.

So I'm still interested in acquiring a good Hasselblad, Bronica, Rollei etc - even though it requires the cost of development, quality scanning and more processing. And, of course, once you've developed your film you can't 'recover' stuff that hasn't been recorded, in the way that a Raw 'developer' can make multiple versions to bring out details. Unless, of course, you go for bracketing your shots.

It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

Now why would you want a film Hasselblad when there's a H3DII body with 31MP back on ebay with 14 hours to run and sitting at GBP124.00?

Why so cheap? I have no idea, but ebay is littered with 500C's, 500CM's and even a few 501C's that can be picked up for a few hundred, always assuming you can afford the glass of course. There's also heaps of Rolleis, but I wouldn't touch a Bronica with a barge-pole (not unless you've got a 3-Tonne tripod). If you really want to step back in time the choice is endless. Is this something to do with our advancing years Geoff?

Seriously, I can't agree that a quality DX (APS-C) won't stand up to a medium format film. The number of pixels crammed in is largely irrelevant because anything over 6MP is probably wasted and doesn't necessarily improve the image. In fact vast quantities of pixels can be detrimental to the image quality.

[GeoffWessex]

I must say I've never compared in any scientific way, but if an APS-C sensor camera is roughly on a par with Medium Format film then yes, you do have a point. A few more MegaPixels won't harm though - because if you get a good large image (lots of pixels) then shrinking the physical dimensions and automatically boosting the PPI surely gives you an even better image?

I can't see that H3DII actually selling at GBP124, can you? Isn't there some kind of 'reserve' price on e-Bay and similar sites? (I've never used it).

Advancing years? No, not really - I just though that a Medium Format Velvia still had the beating of any APS-C image. I was lucky in that I used to shoot with a Hasselblad 500CM..... I didn't have a choice in the matter, as it was for taking "intelligence" pictures of passing Soviet ships!

[jet_kit]

Hi Geoff,
You're right. The H3 appears to have been a malicious listing and has now been withdrawn. However, 500C etc. are still available for very little money.
As for intelligence gathering, I also had no choice and used a 9" x 9" Wild, but I wouldn't want to carry that around!
I read a very interesting article recently which suggests that any more that 6MP on a APS-C sensor and they start getting in the way of each other, there is a degree of interaction between the photo-sites and the image starts to degrade. I'm no expert, but the science makes sense.