Any Photographers Out There? Options

[skylark]

I've discovered a couple of 35mm films from an old non-digital camera that I would like to get developed. I haven't got a lot of faith in the longevity of digital prints, having got some that have badly faded already - does anyone know where I can get them printed on to traditional photographic paper, or a reputable chain that uses digital paper with a long life?

[Juniper]

I've discovered a couple of 35mm films from an old non-digital camera that I would like to get developed. I haven't got a lot of faith in the longevity of digital prints, having got some that have badly faded already - does anyone know where I can get them printed on to traditional photographic paper, or a reputable chain that uses digital paper with a long life?

Many places like Boots will also put your prints on CD for a small charge. THis may be a possible solution (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[missypiano]

Many places like Boots will also put your prints on CD for a small charge. THis may be a possible solution (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This is what I was going to suggest. I did this a while back and thought Boots were really good.

[false_harmonic]

I used to use SnappySnaps when I had a film camera, I always found the quality of their prints good and never noticed fading. I assume it was digital printing as they used a big machine and you could get your pictures back in 30 minutes!

If by non digital prints you mean actual proper hand-printing...

Are there any specialist camera shops where you live? I mean the more old-fashioned independent sort(!) which might still do hand-printing!

I seem to remember a friend telling me the big Jessops in Glasgow (which I think is now closed) had a specialist darkroom, so might be worth looking into if there is a big Jessops down your way. Another thing to look into might be online companies, or maybe you could be cheeky and ask at a local camera club?!

It does seem to be surprisingly difficult nowadays! It's a shame.

[skylark]

Thanks for the suggestions - I think we have a Jessops, and the Boots option will be worth looking at too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Mad Tom]

Check out the classifieds in Amateur Photographer and Practical Photographer. People that still do traditional printing often advertise in there.

Black and White printing is relatively easy (and you can make B&W prints from colour negatives and from slides as well as from B&W negatives). Making good colour prints without a big expensive machine is much more difficult.

[elephant]

I've discovered a couple of 35mm films from an old non-digital camera that I would like to get developed. I haven't got a lot of faith in the longevity of digital prints, having got some that have badly faded already - does anyone know where I can get them printed on to traditional photographic paper, or a reputable chain that uses digital paper with a long life?

I'd get them developed first (without the printing). Silver halide films had a "develop by" date so if they're very old and haven't been kept in ideal conditions they may well have "gone off" by now. It'd be a shame to shell out on printing from negs that are gaff...

E

[Mad Tom]

I've discovered a couple of 35mm films from an old non-digital camera that I would like to get developed. I haven't got a lot of faith in the longevity of digital prints, having got some that have badly faded already - does anyone know where I can get them printed on to traditional photographic paper, or a reputable chain that uses digital paper with a long life?

I'd get them developed first (without the printing). Silver halide films had a "develop by" date so if they're very old and haven't been kept in ideal conditions they may well have "gone off" by now. It'd be a shame to shell out on printing from negs that are gaff...

E

That is good advice if you are going for custom hand-printing, which costs a fortune per print, or of the films are slide films, or Black and white but if you have found someone that still has an automatic colour developing minilab machine then it costs very little more to have a set of prints made up at the same time as developing the negs as it does for develop only. Besides which not many people have the skill to tell which pictures are any good, and hence worth printing bigger and better from colour negatives alone.

[skylark]

Well I've been to Boots today and left my films for developing and printing - they said they couldn't just develop them without printing (they send them away) and they'd have to be developed before putting on to a CD anyway. I've no idea what's on them but I get them back late next week. Thanks for all the tips (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)