We hope you enjoyed the first part of our Film Experts Weigh in on Tough Film Questions blog series. Now, we’re taking it a step further to provide you with even more answers to your burning film, film development and photo lab questions. 

Are you considering whether you should try your hand at film photography? Or, maybe you have just bought your first film camera and are itching to shoot your first roll? There can be many daunting questions you need answers to when taking your first steps with film photography such as: 

• Where do I buy film? 
• How do I choose film? 
• Where and how do I get film developed? 

Today, we will address all these pressing questions so you are confident and ready to load that first roll and snap away. 

Where Can I Buy Film? How Do I Choose the Right Film?

When first starting out with film photography it can be discouraging to try to figure out where to purchase your film and how to even choose what film you want to try out first. That’s why we’re providing you with a few options of where to purchase film, along with some pros and cons of these options.

For many, it may be your first instinct to buy film online which can be a great option for many. But you should be careful where these purchases are made as there are a few things to watch out for when purchasing film online. 

Websites such as Amazon might come up often when first searching for film online, but there are some cons associated with purchasing film from these online sellers. Sometimes, film that is being sold on Amazon or other websites that don’t specializing in photography are at risk of not having been stored properly. For all types of film that exist, it is important to store these films at room temperature or lower to preserve the quality of the film. When film is stored in hot temperatures, heat, and moisture can affect the overall quality and look of the film potentially ruining the film and in turn providing you subpar results when used. When purchasing film online from a store that does not specialize in film, there is no way of knowing how the film was stored which can be a big risk. 

Furthermore, when purchasing film on Amazon for example, it is not uncommon to be sold film that is short-dated or expired. All films have an expiry date to indicate when the film company can no longer promise optimal quality for the film. Film shot after its expiry date can produce unwanted effects such as color shifts, reduction in sensitivity to light, and overall quality. The more expired the film is the more likely it is to produce some of these unwanted effects. 

Lastly purchasing film online from websites such as Amazon or eBay can be quite expensive as they are quite often marked up above market value. If deciding to purchase from an online store it’s always good to check pricing from other retailers to see if the prices being offered are fair. 

For some, purchasing film online is their only option as they do not live close to a photography store that stocks film. If this is the case, there are some great photography shops, such as Annex Photo, that sell a wide variety of film online. Purchasing film online from photo specialty store ensures that your film will be fresh and will yield optimal image results, if used correctly. 

While buying film online is one avenue to acquiring film and one that may be the only option for some, alternatively visiting a photo specialty store is a great way to purchase your film. There are many positives to purchasing from a photo specialty store. Many photo specialty stores will have a large selection of films to choose from ranging in quality and price from consumer films to professional grade films. In many cases, photo specialty stores will carry both colour film and black and white film, and sometimes even slide film, making photo specialty stores a versatile place to shop.

Photo specialty stores are also a great place to pick up film as they are committed to ensuring the proper storage and therefore quality of the films they are selling. These stores will likely only sell film that is within its expiry date and make it clear when film Is close to its expiry date or already expired. 

Lastly and most importantly visiting a photo specialty store allows you to discuss exactly what you want out of your film with a photo expert. Taping into the knowledge and expertise photo of specialty store employees have can be a great way to determine which film will help you to achieve the look you want with your film photography and start your journey with film photography. 

Where Can Develop my Film?

Choosing which film is right for you and shooting that film is only part of the journey with film photography. Developing film is the last step before seeing your photos and an exciting one as you wait in anticipation to see what you have snapped. There are a few options on where to develop your film and some pros and cons of these options. 

Some big box stores and pharmacies will accept film for development which can be a good option as it might be the nearest location that will accept their film for development so convenience is a big factor. However, it is important to know that bringing your film to these big box stores comes some cons that may influence your decision. One reality of big box stores is that many of their labs are don’t process your film in-house but rather send your film away to another location to be processed. Due to the fact that your film is being sent away and brought to a large central location to process lots of film, it is likely that you will be forced to accept long wait times for your film. 

Another reality of big box stores film development is a lack of attention to detail. This can lead to mistakes and poor-quality film processing that cannot be undone once developed. Lastly, most of these big box stores will not be able to provide you with film expertise, meaning there may be few answers for you when things go wrong – you’ll never know if it the issue was the way you shot the photos or the way they developed them that caused the issue. 

Your other option for processing film is to bring it to a photo specialty store/specialty photo lab. Bringing your film to one of these labs eliminates the issues you may encounter by developing your film at a big box or pharmacy film developer. Many of these labs are run by film experts that have been dealing with film for years (or even decades). By developing at a specialty photo lab in Canada, you will experience much quicker turnaround times for processing your film. Being able to process your film in-house means that some labs are even able to offer you same-day film processing service. Again, the film expertise employees will have at these photo labs is crucial to ensure your photography results are what you desire, both now and in the future. When you develop your film, these photography experts will likely be able to advise you on how to get the best results from your camera and film and can also troubleshoot any issues with your film that may be indicative of problems with the camera you are using. This knowledge is invaluable and can help you get on your way to making your best photos. 

Lastly many of these labs will offer developing for all types of film. While big box stores might only offer color (C-41) film developing, many specialty photo labs will be able to also process black and white film, and sometimes even slide film (E-6). Having these developing options available will allow you to explore all types of film that exist out there and allow you to really hone in your photography creativity and desired look from your photos. 

Can I Mail my Film to a Photo Lab for Development? 

Some specialty photo stores, like the team here at Annex Photo, offer a mail-in film development program which is a great option for people who might not live close to a photo specialty store yet want their film to be processed by film experts. At Annex Photo, our mail-in program is amazingly simple. All you need to do is print and fill out our mail-in film development form and post your film to us.

Our mail-in film development program comes automatically with digital files for the rolls of film that you send in, but you can also indicate on the form whether you would like prints produced from your roll or rolls of film. Standard sized prints are 4”x6”, but there is the option to request 5”x7” sized prints for an additional cost. There will also be the option on the form to choose standard or rush shipping for the return of your negatives and prints. 

All in all, the mail-in film development program we offer at Annex Photo is a great and easy way to get your film processed by film experts even if you live thousands of kilometers from our location. We receive film mailed in from all corners of Canada, and we love to help!

What Options Do I Have When Developing My Film?

When dropping off your film to be processed, many photo labs will provide you with different options for what you want produced from your roll of film. One service almost all labs will offer is the option to producing prints. These physical copies are usually offered at a standard size of 4”x6”, but many photo labs, like Annex Photo, do offer 5”x7” sized prints for an additional cost. When physical prints are requested, there is also the option to get more than one set of prints made from your roll. 

There is also usually the option to request digital files from your negatives that can be viewed on your phone or computer. Here at Annex Photo, clients can opt to have their images emailed to them. We also offer the option of placing these digital files on a USB or even burning a CD for our clients. Whether choosing physical prints, digital files or both, there are many ways to enjoy your photos shot on film. 

Another consideration when dropping off your film at a photo lab is how quickly you would like the film to be processed. If you are eager to get your photos sooner, many photo labs offer same day and next day service for most types of film processing. These options do carry an extra charge with them but are worth it when you just can’t wait to see your photos. 

Answers to Those Tough Film Development Questions

For those who are new to film photography it can be challenging to step into the analogue world, but with the right research and help, it can be a very gratifying experience. It’s important to choose the right films and purchasing for a local store or trusted online store can ease the process and provide you with well-kept quality film that’s right for you. A trustworthy photo lab can be a partner in your photography creativity journey to ensure you get the best results from your photos. There are many types of film to explore and many ways to enjoy the photos that you take. The team at Annex Photo are here to help you along every step of your film photography and development journey as you fall in love with film. 

Reach out to our film and photography experts to answer more of your film and developing questions.