If you are too lazy to bulk load load your own rolls, or not interested in "setting up" a small lab, my tips is: be discipline. Always intentional, take your time to compose, check your lightmeter, etc. Using this approach, I can finish a 35mm roll typically after 6 months or longer. 120 films are usually quicker, especially if I'm travelling or have something specific in mind. I realise I don't need to buy film rolls that often :D
solid line up! You can also dip your toes in with #2 by paying for dev, but then scanning at home. If you don't like doing it return the scanner, no money lost on half used dev materials you don't wanna use!
for scanning your own film a true unsung hero is canon flatbed scanners. theyre not terribly fast at all taking 30-50 minutes to scan six 35mm exposures. but they're crazy cheap getting tested working models like the 5600f for as cheap as $30. and the canon software for these scanners is still supported on their website and is very beginner friendly with the ability to use more powerful features later. pay close attention to which model you buy as some, like the aforementioned 5600f, can only scan 35mm slides or strips. as long as you don't plan on moving up to medium format, its a non issue but if you think even for a second you might move up then youll be looking at a different model.
@@metalfingersfilmthe 5600f is about 1000dpi short of the Epson v600 but for my eyes and my shots it's not really noticeable. Once you get past 4000dpi you basically can't tell between the different flat beds. You have to step up to a $1000 plus unit to see any quality differences
Great tips! I have been shooting mainly film for about 2 years now and I still have not shot Portra 400 in 35mm just because I'm perfectly happy with the results I get from ColorPlus 200 and Ultramax 400 lol. Also, I highly recommend everyone give home developing and scanning a try. The money you will save is well worth it and the process is tons of fun! :)
Just to expand on #5, calibrate you metering(phone app or dedicted) to your negative results, if you need it. Viewfinder apps are great. Lets you visualize the frame based on camera and lens combo standing where you are. Cut out masks, i.e. blank 35 mm slide holder, held up to your eye is much quicker and "trains" your eye faster. Just hold it x mm from your eye, where x is the focal length of your lens, to get an approximate framing. Also, based on the entire history commercially available film, price of film goes up. Its buy now to save later. This unfortunately favors those with, rather than those without, especially during this time of no supply, but thats a whole discussion of its own. Great video!
1. Bulk load available film types are only black and white. And if you buy 100m of bulk film and end up shooting only 80m, your savings instantly go away. It will also go away when you make a mistake when loading. For most people, not volume they shoot isn't worth the effort. 2. Developing would be true for black and white, as 1 or 2 bath options are available at room temp. C41, E6 while technically possible isn't worth the effort. Preheating etc, processing, agitating together takes at least an hour or so. And in addition, waste disposal is also an issue. If you need to go on a 5-10 minute drive to disposal the chemicals, might as well not do it entirely. If not doing large quantities it's not worth the time saving 6-8 usd or so a roll. 100 dollar or so home developing kit needs manual agitation and would most often require twice the amount of fluid than rotating machines. With some e6 C41 being single wash (cinestill e6 kit 1st developer ie). Chances are that you won't get the number of rolls maximum labeled on the box. You ll likely get only half of it. Ignore what I said if you are using 3k usd jobo automated kit with auto agitation and temp keeping. Those are nice if you have large enough quantity. 3. Scanners in my opinion is the main savings. You ll save 10-20usd per roll when you are getting entry level scanner and 10-20 usd per image if you are getting more advanced one.
The Xa2 is zone focus so its not really fair to blame the camera for blurry shots. Otherwise good vid. I don't think u mentioned it but they only sell black and white for bulk loading afaik and labs don't usually take self loaded rolls. Been thinking about getting a half frame camera recently as the designs for them tend to be interesting and I wanna experiment more. Its tough here rn even finding colour in stock and the cheapest I've found is $12.50 for Superia 400. What scanner do you use out of interest?
Luke, actually its pretty fair to blame the Xa2 camera, because that camera is a piece of trash. literally. it was not even a good camera when it was brand new. it was released as a low to medium budget camera. the quality was never there with it. plus, you are incorrect about bulk rolls only being sold as black and white. You can get multiple different color films in 100 foot rolls. plus there are a ton of color slide films sold in bulk as well, and we all know that if you are going to seriously shoot color, then you are going to be shooting slide film anyways. And slide film is super easy to develop at home with a E-6 kit. Any lab will take you self rolled film, but you have to specifically tell them what the ISO is and exposures and you tell them you want your cassette back.
In our modern day and age, there is just no reason at all to not bulk load and process your own film. want to save money? dont shoot name brand film, and always bulk load and process your own film. boom. thousands of dollar saved right there! plus the need for a darkroom is pretty much gone now with the various options we have now for scanning our negatives and editing software out there.
If you are too lazy to bulk load load your own rolls, or not interested in "setting up" a small lab, my tips is: be discipline. Always intentional, take your time to compose, check your lightmeter, etc. Using this approach, I can finish a 35mm roll typically after 6 months or longer. 120 films are usually quicker, especially if I'm travelling or have something specific in mind. I realise I don't need to buy film rolls that often :D
be disciplined.
that's a great rule of thumb to keep in mind when shooting
solid line up! You can also dip your toes in with #2 by paying for dev, but then scanning at home.
If you don't like doing it return the scanner, no money lost on half used dev materials you don't wanna use!
Ultramax is now 40 for a 3 pack
for scanning your own film a true unsung hero is canon flatbed scanners. theyre not terribly fast at all taking 30-50 minutes to scan six 35mm exposures. but they're crazy cheap getting tested working models like the 5600f for as cheap as $30. and the canon software for these scanners is still supported on their website and is very beginner friendly with the ability to use more powerful features later. pay close attention to which model you buy as some, like the aforementioned 5600f, can only scan 35mm slides or strips. as long as you don't plan on moving up to medium format, its a non issue but if you think even for a second you might move up then youll be looking at a different model.
oh wow; how do you think it stacks up against epson scanners?
@@metalfingersfilmthe 5600f is about 1000dpi short of the Epson v600 but for my eyes and my shots it's not really noticeable. Once you get past 4000dpi you basically can't tell between the different flat beds. You have to step up to a $1000 plus unit to see any quality differences
Great tips! I have been shooting mainly film for about 2 years now and I still have not shot Portra 400 in 35mm just because I'm perfectly happy with the results I get from ColorPlus 200 and Ultramax 400 lol. Also, I highly recommend everyone give home developing and scanning a try. The money you will save is well worth it and the process is tons of fun! :)
Hell yeah thanks for sharing the knowledge boss!
I adore my half-frame :) it makes shooting a lot more fun
What are you shooting on?
@@metalfingersfilm a Petri 7! Super odd camera but takes surprisingly fantastic shots when you know how to use it well
Just to expand on #5, calibrate you metering(phone app or dedicted) to your negative results, if you need it. Viewfinder apps are great. Lets you visualize the frame based on camera and lens combo standing where you are. Cut out masks, i.e. blank 35 mm slide holder, held up to your eye is much quicker and "trains" your eye faster. Just hold it x mm from your eye, where x is the focal length of your lens, to get an approximate framing. Also, based on the entire history commercially available film, price of film goes up. Its buy now to save later. This unfortunately favors those with, rather than those without, especially during this time of no supply, but thats a whole discussion of its own. Great video!
Great notes, thanks for checking it out!
1. Bulk load available film types are only black and white. And if you buy 100m of bulk film and end up shooting only 80m, your savings instantly go away. It will also go away when you make a mistake when loading. For most people, not volume they shoot isn't worth the effort.
2. Developing would be true for black and white, as 1 or 2 bath options are available at room temp. C41, E6 while technically possible isn't worth the effort. Preheating etc, processing, agitating together takes at least an hour or so. And in addition, waste disposal is also an issue. If you need to go on a 5-10 minute drive to disposal the chemicals, might as well not do it entirely. If not doing large quantities it's not worth the time saving 6-8 usd or so a roll. 100 dollar or so home developing kit needs manual agitation and would most often require twice the amount of fluid than rotating machines. With some e6 C41 being single wash (cinestill e6 kit 1st developer ie). Chances are that you won't get the number of rolls maximum labeled on the box. You ll likely get only half of it. Ignore what I said if you are using 3k usd jobo automated kit with auto agitation and temp keeping. Those are nice if you have large enough quantity.
3. Scanners in my opinion is the main savings. You ll save 10-20usd per roll when you are getting entry level scanner and 10-20 usd per image if you are getting more advanced one.
Yes, definitely relies on you have the infrastructure to be able to develop at home safely and quickly.
Problem is that all the kodak gold always out of stock😪
definitely feel that :/
Kodak is extremely over rated and over priced though. do yourself a favor and shoot something else. its better and cheaper.
trying to shoot film in the UK at the moment is just a nightmare, thank god HP5 is such a good film cause its that or nothing
Really? That's sad to hear :/
The Xa2 is zone focus so its not really fair to blame the camera for blurry shots. Otherwise good vid.
I don't think u mentioned it but they only sell black and white for bulk loading afaik and labs don't usually take self loaded rolls.
Been thinking about getting a half frame camera recently as the designs for them tend to be interesting and I wanna experiment more.
Its tough here rn even finding colour in stock and the cheapest I've found is $12.50 for Superia 400.
What scanner do you use out of interest?
I use an Epson V600, but have been getting most of my medium format scanned on a Noritsu
Luke, actually its pretty fair to blame the Xa2 camera, because that camera is a piece of trash. literally. it was not even a good camera when it was brand new. it was released as a low to medium budget camera. the quality was never there with it. plus, you are incorrect about bulk rolls only being sold as black and white. You can get multiple different color films in 100 foot rolls. plus there are a ton of color slide films sold in bulk as well, and we all know that if you are going to seriously shoot color, then you are going to be shooting slide film anyways. And slide film is super easy to develop at home with a E-6 kit. Any lab will take you self rolled film, but you have to specifically tell them what the ISO is and exposures and you tell them you want your cassette back.
In our modern day and age, there is just no reason at all to not bulk load and process your own film. want to save money? dont shoot name brand film, and always bulk load and process your own film. boom. thousands of dollar saved right there! plus the need for a darkroom is pretty much gone now with the various options we have now for scanning our negatives and editing software out there.
What's the song at the end of the video
20 dollars for a 3 pack!?! i need to find your film provider
Sadly, from when I scripted to actually released the video, the prices rose at most of the cheaper providers as well, sadly.