Slide Film, A CALL TO ARMS! : SHOOT IT OR IT WILL DIE

[segedi]

After scanning in some slides I shot on 2005, I've recently bought about 50 rolls. Such great quality. I've shot mostly Velvia 50 and Provia 100 but just bought 20 rolls of Sensia from a member in 35mm and look forward to shooting that.

My problem is not shooting as much ... If I go through 20 frames I'm doing great. But it's usually 10 or less per outing. Though 6x7 means I can at least get one roll shot!

35mm is still done locally but 120 is sent to Vancouver. The biggest pro lab here didn't rlace their slide equipment so now it needs to go elsewhere. But at least it's still an option!

[dallard]

Precision still lists E6 developing on their website, I assume it's just until they run out of chemicals. Does anybody know when they are discontinuing for good? This is quite a pain since I use them for all my E6

[dallard]

This thread gets me thinking about picking up a projector. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned NCPS yet.

[TXForester]

I like the idea of small networks to help with processing. I know on ebay you can find used c-41 processors that were used in 1-hour labs. Maybe there are some used e-6 processors for the network. If you had a network, then the it could purchase chemistry in bulk for a lower cost than souping at home. But souping at home will still be part of the overall demand.

Don't discount flckr and look for other sites on the web to get the word out, such as Analogue Photography Users Group (apug.org). Search for blogs to get the word out. A quick google using "i shoot film" found this blog - http://istillshootfilm.org/

[TXForester]

Originally Posted by wilonstott

They are mounted so they can be projected.

And, if you scan at home, some scanners, like my Epson, can handle three mounted slides at a time.

[Brian Puccio]

A roll of week of Provia. And I just picked up a Leica Pradovit projector and $200 worth of Gepe mounts.

[merciless49]

I'm willing to join in on the fray, I've got a few rolls of Velvia burning holes in my camera bag...would be fun, anyway!

[zauhar]

I bought 30 rolls of Velvia over the last two months, and I am processing it myself (no lab does E-6 at reasonable cost here in Philly).

What more could I do, bro? I might be willing to send it to Precision if there is a deal to keep processing.

However, my experience is that once a business makes a decision like this, they really commit to it and there is no turning back.

Randy

[Ronald_H]

That cheap Agfa CT Precisa (made by Fuji) sure looks like a nice 35mm option. As far as 120 goes, I recently shot some rolls in a Hasselblad. Lovely.


Miss S. in the forest, Hasselblad by Ronald_H, on Flickr

[Aristophanes]

E-6 production depends on Fuji and volume.

Volume = labs.

Big or small, it does not matter.

Local or mail order, it does not matter.

Support the labs.

Home hobby processing cannot make up anywhere near the volume compared to full-fledged labs.

It's very hard to gauge what Fuji might need to keep the emulsion lines running because they don't exactly say how much demand is out there anymore, so that's beyond anyone's control except peripherally.

Giving biz to supportive labs is something critical consumers can do.

[TXForester]

I know I should be impressed by the quality of the photography and film, but Miss S. doesn't hurt the photo.

[wilonstott]

Originally Posted by Aristophanes

E-6 production depends on Fuji and volume.

Volume = labs.

Big or small, it does not matter.

Local or mail order, it does not matter.

Support the labs.

Home hobby processing cannot make up anywhere near the volume compared to full-fledged labs.

It's very hard to gauge what Fuji might need to keep the emulsion lines running because they don't exactly say how much demand is out there anymore, so that's beyond anyone's control except peripherally.

Giving biz to supportive labs is something critical consumers can do.

So do you spread the wealth, or concentrate the flow?
What sends the strongest message?
Or rather, what sends an inflated message?
I mean we can't exactly cook the books on this, but we need to concentrate on something that will get noticed.

I know not everyone can afford to go crazy with E-6.
I'm one of them.
That's why I want to know the cheapest option for process.
However, I feel like if we channeled through something like Precision--or a lab like it--hell it doesn't have to be Precision--that we could make a deal. Maybe the deal is just for E-6. Maybe for a limited time. See if it takes. Try to funnel everything from RFF through some small lab in Whocares/Wherever at a real cut rate. Get everyone on chrome.

Get the lomography people on board.

Get them off the Cross-Process jive.

Spin it to Hipsters with old issues of National Geographic.

Sell prepaid mailers at Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie

Whatever it takes.

[wilonstott]

I know that all sounds kind of far out, but I really feel like people are missing out on marketing here.

I feel like Kodak could have repackaged and resold Kodachrome to the cool kids with a handful of clever commercials on Mtv and IFC.

Hot chick on a bicycle in Brooklyn with a M3 shooting Kodachrome.

Print ads in Rolling Stone, Esquire, GQ, Vogue, and Spin.

Vintage Kodachrome T-Shirts at Boutiques.

They wouldn't have been able to keep it on the shelves.

Everybody and his hipster sister would have been clamoring for the unmatched 'authenticity' of Kodachrome's image quality.

That can still happen. I feel like it can.

Not for Kodachrome, but for film.

For slide film.

[Ronald_H]

Originally Posted by wilonstott

I know that all sounds kind of far out, but I really feel like people are missing out on marketing here.

I feel like Kodak could have repackaged and resold Kodachrome to the cool kids with a handful of clever commercials on Mtv and IFC.

Hot chick on a bicycle in Brooklyn with a M3 shooting Kodachrome.

Print ads in Rolling Stone, Esquire, GQ, Vogue, and Spin.

Vintage Kodachrome T-Shirts at Boutiques.

They wouldn't have been able to keep it on the shelves.

Everybody and his hipster sister would have been clamoring for the unmatched 'authenticity' of Kodachrome's image quality.

That can still happen. I feel like it can.

Not for Kodachrome, but for film.

For slide film.

Lomography can do it and they don't have nowhere near the reach Kodak could have had. I think you are right with the marketing angle.

[wilonstott]

Originally Posted by dallard

This thread gets me thinking about picking up a projector. I'm also surprised no one has mentioned NCPS yet.

I hadn't mentioned them because they cost too much.
I know their work is second to none, but I can't do what the charge for processing and scans.
It would be perfect though, no question about that.

[dallard]

Originally Posted by wilonstott

I know that all sounds kind of far out, but I really feel like people are missing out on marketing here.

I feel like Kodak could have repackaged and resold Kodachrome to the cool kids with a handful of clever commercials on Mtv and IFC.

Hot chick on a bicycle in Brooklyn with a M3 shooting Kodachrome.

Print ads in Rolling Stone, Esquire, GQ, Vogue, and Spin.

Vintage Kodachrome T-Shirts at Boutiques.

They wouldn't have been able to keep it on the shelves.

Everybody and his hipster sister would have been clamoring for the unmatched 'authenticity' of Kodachrome's image quality.

That can still happen. I feel like it can.

Not for Kodachrome, but for film.

For slide film.

FINALLY! I'm glad someone made the point that Kodak never made an effort to promote Kodachrome then bemoaned that no one used it anymore. But let's not get off on a Kodak bashing rant here. After all, they don't make E6 anymore and are therefore meaningless to slide shooters.
One thing I would like to suggest to folks here who want to see a surge in interest for E6 is to take one of those spare cameras you don't use too often, load a roll of slide film, and lend it to someone and get them hooked on it. It's not like the film manufacturers put any effort into marketing E6 so it's all up to us.

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Originally Posted by wilonstott

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just talked to the lab tech at Precision Camera about their discontinuation of E-6 processing. She was very nice. Listened to my woes. Consoled me.

She told me that they, on average, processed about 20 rolls a week or E-6 compared to over 250 rolls a week of C-41.

I can't blame them. It was no longer financially viable.

I love slide film, but I don't shoot enough of it.

I've decided that's going to stop. I'm going to shoot more e-6.

Everyone cried when Kodachrome died, but we didn't do enough to save it, and in all honesty, we probably could have.

We knew it would happen eventually, but I don't think we really believed it.

We have a chance now.

And it has to start now---before it's in its emminent death throes.

We need strategy. What are your ideas?

Let's not hear negativity, fear mongering, or dower end-of-e6-scenarios.

That's not what this thread is about.

It's not about eulogizing something that isn't dead yet.

It's about action.

I'm going to start shooting two rolls of e-6 to every one roll of c-41.

Let's get the discussion going.

The lab tech at Precision said that RFF kept e-6 alive at least 2 years longer than it would have otherwise.

We did that without even trying.

We are the well-organized, well-funded special interest group that saves things like this.

Us.

Nobody else cares.

Nobody.

It's up to us.

How do we do it?

Thanks for this.
I do shoot some C-41 as snapshot film in 35mm but prefer E6 any day. Forget about all the arguments in favour of neg like dynamic range, exposure latitude etc. It just doesn't look as good as a processed transparency, and it is not as pure. You expose a roll of E6. It's processed. That's it. You've got your images, exactly as you exposed them. I've read a lot of members here say that it is digital all the way for colour yada, yada, yada. Personally, I think it's been too long since they got their projectors out, because, if they had, they would "get" it...

It has been harder for us Tasmanians since the last E6 line in the state closed last year. There are more than a few rolls of E6 in my fridge waiting to go interstate! But there is a Melbourne enthusiast offering affordable E-6 processing as well as C-41 and B&W, to his credit. Dan is just another film aficionado who has stepped up, by ensuring that photographers who want to use film, and especially E-6, have the ability to get quality processing done affordably. More on that in a moment.

At this point I have to confess feeling rather short tempered with some people who post up the typical "Is film dying/How much longer will they make it for?" type posts. I'm not just thinking of RFF here, you could say the same about Flickr and a lot of web sites. But I think the last time I responded to that sort of post it was along the lines of "How much film have you shot today?" So I support your comments wholeheartedly.

Regards,
Brett

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Originally Posted by Keith

In Australia it's like asking me to eat caviar more regularly. Slide film is horrendously expensive here and processing is much the same!

The last roll of E-6 I had processed at a pro lab cost me over twenty dollars for developing only!

Keith,
have you heard of Daniel Lee yet? He's a Melbourne Silver Miner who started providing E-6 as well as C-41 and B&W processing services last year at great prices. It must be going well for him because he is going full time with it soon. His processing prices are excellent. E-6 in 35mm or 120 is only $6.50 a roll at the moment although it will be going up a little soon. It's still way better than $20, though!

I have to admit at this point I have not used his services myself yet. But he has some great tertiary qualifications in chemistry, so I have no reason to believe his processing quality will not be first-rate. And just as importantly, he has a passion for film. He's a member here, can't recall his user name at the moment though.

The only link I have for him is to his Facebook page, sorry, but here it is. If you'd like to shoot a bit of E-6, get in touch with him. Postage to Melbourne and back will make it a little more than $6.50 delivered but it is still going to be less than half the price of what you paid last time. He even does ECN-2 processing.
Cheers,
Brett

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Sarcophilus Harrisii

Keith,
have you heard of Daniel Lee yet? He's a Melbourne Silver Miner who started providing E-6 as well as C-41 and B&W processing services last year at great prices. It must be going well for him because he is going full time with it soon. His processing prices are excellent. E-6 in 35mm or 120 is only $6.50 a roll at the moment although it will be going up a little soon. It's still way better than $20, though!

I have to admit at this point I have not used his services myself yet. But he has some great tertiary qualifications in chemistry, so I have no reason to believe his processing quality will not be first-rate. And just as importantly, he has a passion for film. He's a member here, can't recall his user name at the moment though.

The only link I have for him is to his Facebook page, sorry, but here it is. If you'd like to shoot a bit of E-6, get in touch with him. Postage to Melbourne and back will make it a little more than $6.50 delivered but it is still going to be less than half the price of what you paid last time. He even does ECN-2 processing.
Cheers,
Brett

Thanks for that ... I do vaguely remember reading something about him recently.

The lab that charged me over twenty dollars in Brisbane was All Chromes in The Valley and they've been around forever apparently! They also charge fourteen dollars for basic black and white!

[wilonstott]

Well Keith, you're out of excuses.

Load up.

[wilonstott]

And that goes for the rest of you Aussie guys.

I don't care how upside down stuff is there.

[Ronald_H]

And a heads up for the Dutch and Belgian people: The Hema department store still offers a full palette of analogue photo services. C-41, E6 and black and white. It's high quality, consistent and above all cheap. Where do you think I have my 120 E6 developed? I brought hundreds of rolls there the past years, they have never screwed up once.

And they even refrain from cutting your 135 negs if you write it on the envelope. Keep on bringing your film there guys, otherwise I'm afraid they stop providing the service soon! Buy their film while you're at it, it seems to be rebranded Fuji. I have a fridge full of the stuff, bought for 1 euro a roll one month before they expired.

[Rob-F]

Count me in. Sue and I are leaving for Colorado Wednesday. I have in my Freezer:

35mm:
15 Velvia 100
09 Provia 100
07 Velvia 50
04 Elite Chrome

120 Roll Film:
20 Velvia 100
05 Provia 100

Well, I may not take all of it! But probably at least 3/4 of it, to shoot in the Hasselblad, Leica, and Nikon. And that's only the color! I really ought to bring some black and white.

We'll be in Gunnison, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Salida, Limon.

So. If that doesn't boost E6 film and processing sales, I don't know what would.

[bwcolor]

I picked up a couple of Jobos.. one for color only and lots of slide film.. mostly Velvia. Then the X100 came out and next the NEX-7. Now, my E-6 chemistry is probably defunct. Thanks for the thread. I've got to get back to shooting and stop the digital for a bit. Will be passing Freestyle Photo on my trip to Southern California next week. I'll have to reload.. so to speak.

[BTMarcais]

Ronald-
about how much do they charge for B/W 35mm and 120? (and E-6 120) I visit my in-laws in Den Haag every couple of years, and it would be nice to have one less round of x-rays to go through w/ my film, and just process some of it before I fly back...

-Brian

Originally Posted by Ronald_H

And a heads up for the Dutch and Belgian people: The Hema department store still offers a full palette of analogue photo services. C-41, E6 and black and white. It's high quality, consistent and above all cheap. Where do you think I have my 120 E6 developed? I brought hundreds of rolls there the past years, they have never screwed up once.

And they even refrain from cutting your 135 negs if you write it on the envelope. Keep on bringing your film there guys, otherwise I'm afraid they stop providing the service soon! Buy their film while you're at it, it seems to be rebranded Fuji. I have a fridge full of the stuff, bought for 1 euro a roll one month before they expired.