Just got an Elan II and need film recommendations

Just ordered 2 rolls of Velvia from B&H that should arrive on the same day as the camera. The lab can even process Tri-X so I ordered a roll too. Can't wait!

You will soon find 3 rolls wont be enough lol.

Buying expired film off ebay is the best deal going, that and watching stores in your area who are selling off all there old stock.

Personally, I've been a huge fan of Kodak Portra Vivid Color and Natural Color. Fujicolor NPS and NPL are also my fave too. I still have some in the fridge, but alas, no 35mm film camera!

randerson07 wrote in post #5963675
You will soon find 3 rolls wont be enough lol.

Buying expired film off ebay is the best deal going, that and watching stores in your area who are selling off all there old stock.

I have no doubt about it . I saw some Kodak Portra being sold at the lab. I just might pick up one to try. I have a feeling I'll be buying a lot more rolls of film after the Elan II gets here.

bsaber wrote in post #5961213
Wow this is awesome. I just found out there's a photo lab across the street from school that can do same day E6 processing! $9.99 for 24 exp. and $11.99 for 36 exp. Thanks for all the help everyone.

Man, electrons are a lot cheaper...

I like film. First SLR was a Canon AE-1 and I shot sports for my high school yearbook.

Well went back to the lab today after class and got myself a roll of Portra. Now if only the camera would arrive sooner...

bsaber wrote in post #5951966
So I just ordered an Elan II because I wanted to finish using up the film that I have and because I just feel like it . Anyways, my local lab (Costco) say they can only process film that uses the C-41 process. What film would you recommend? I want to keep costs a low as possible too so keep that in mind when recommending. I do have a roll of Kodachrome 64 and an Etachrome too. If you know any place that can process those let me know!

So exciting...:p

Film for what?

If you're going to shoot film, invest 30 bucks in chemicals and a used developing tank and you'll be able to process BW yourself.

If you want color, then costco has fuji superia - 6 rolls by 24 exposures for 12 bucks. There's also people selling their old film which works fine.

Never learned how to develop my own film...

bsaber wrote in post #5971656
Never learned how to develop my own film...

Might be a good time to do that. I learned when I was 10 years old - Blankets hung in the garage served as my first darkroom. Then when we moved into a house with a Laundry Room, an old door laid across the washer and drier became the "tabletop" for a "real" darkroom with running water!

On an unrelated note, how to you like that viewfinder in the Elan? Big enough for a family of four to move in and furnish? Huh?

THAT is why I had to get the 5D as soon as it came out. My 10D was like looking through a tunnel! (And subsequent Rebels are worse.)

Rad

bsaber wrote in post #5953918
I haven't checked all the labs in my area but they're all 1 hour places. Thanks for all the suggestions!

There have got to be a lot of E6 labs around LA. In Boston, which is a fraction of the size, there were 2 or 3. There are 2 near me here in North Carolina.

As for E6 films, I get nearly all I need out of Velvia (for scenery) and Astia (for portraits). The thing you need to be aware of, though, with 35mm slides, is you need a very good scanner to actually do anything with them. Fortunately there are a lot of good 35mm scanners out there for a few hundred, though that won't help you if some day you get into medium format or large format.

Kodachrome...
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away.

...with apologies to Paul Simon...

My AE-1's viewfinder puts the 40D's to shame. I probably should learn how to process my own film. As for labs in LA I'm sure there's a lot but none within 15 miles of my house. Found a lab right access the street from UCI that does E6 processing and even B&W so I'm set. Didn't really plan to scan the negatives or anything. I'll be satisfied with just the prints (for now...). And if not, I can have the lab scan them for me and put it on a CD. I think they even offer scanning to DNG. Unless I'm reading their brochure wrong.

By the way, where can I get the chemicals?

bsaber wrote in post #5972998
By the way, where can I get the chemicals?

Well, the apple vinegar (stopbath) is in the supermarket.

The developer (I'd recommend HC110 to start) and kodak fixer is at BHphoto.

It works real simple: You time how long the film is in the developer (5-10 minutes). After stopbath (vinegar) you can look at the film in daylight. Then you keep it in fixer for a couple of minutes until the film becomes clear.

The only step that should be timed critically is the development time. Also the temperature should be kept constant.

I love developing film and printing. I feel like I've invented the whole thing and it makes make me feel awesome.

Chemicals and a whole lot more....
http://www.freestyleph​oto.biz/c_retail.php

Freestyle photo they are in CA somewhere, great prices, awesome selection, and a staff that really enjoys analog photography.

Edit: If your really serious about developing your own, do some research possibly hit up Apug.org and read around.

In its basic form developing black and white is simple

1. in complete darkness put the film on a reel and into a light tight tank
2. add developer, time as needed and agitate as directed by your specific film and developer combo(google the massive dev chart for info)
3. Pour out developer, and add stop bath, or substitue vinegar as said above, or some people just use water
4. pour out Stop and add fixer agitate and time as directed again by specific film and fixer
5. pour out fixer and rinse with water, alot of people(including me) add a wetting agent to assist and clean water spot free drying
6. hang negatives to dry

From there it can get as crazy as you want, but you can read all about that on the interweb

bsaber wrote in post #5972998
Found a lab right access the street from UCI that does E6 processing and even B&W so I'm set.

Are you IN Irvine?

If so, the Irvine Fine Arts Center (in Heritage Park) has darkrooms for rent: (From thier website)

Also found this information on thier site as well (if you are worried about the "quiz"):

Has it been a long time since you have worked in a darkroom? Do you want to reacquaint yourself with film processing and printing so that you can use the Fine Arts Center’s darkroom? Our Darkroom Refresher Class is your ticket to getting back into the darkroom. This one-evening class covers processing black-and-white film, making contact sheets and enlargements, dry-mounting, and more. After you complete this class, you can also qualify to use the IFAC darkroom during Open Studio times. This class is for ages 18 and older. Register for this class at www.IrvineQuickReg.org or by clicking on any IrvineQuickReg link. The darkroom is open Monday-Thursday and Saturdays. Closed Fridays, Sundays, and holidays.