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Where to get 16mm developed in the UK?


Ron Flex

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I want to shoot some tests soon on 16mm, about 100ft of two different stocks. Vision 2 500T and 250D. Is there anywhere in the UK where I can get this small amount developed for a decent price?

 

I have only found places so far with minimum prices and amounts. Or just places that have awful flash websites with no prices or help.

 

Any reccomendations? I am thinking about asking my media production lecturer at University but somehow I cannot see him knowing of anywhere since he has only ever used digital professionally and the University has stopped the using celluloid as part of its modules due to cost. Sucks I know.

Edited by Ron Flex
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Phone Soho-iLab, ask to speak to Len Thornton (if poss), explain that they are camera tests, and that you are a student etc. Be nice and polite, and see what happens!

The options are:

 

Film Lab North (In Leeds) - 01132 228333 - Talk to Howard Dawson

ILab - 0207 287 9520 - Talk to Nigel Horn

Film & Photo - 0208 992 0037 - Talk to Tony Scott

Soho Lab - 0207 437 0831 - Len Thornton

 

Brian

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The options are:

 

Film Lab North (In Leeds) - 01132 228333 - Talk to Howard Dawson

ILab - 0207 287 9520 - Talk to Nigel Horn

Film & Photo - 0208 992 0037 - Talk to Tony Scott

Soho Lab - 0207 437 0831 - Len Thornton

 

Brian

 

In the past I've met various "minimum order values" from Labs.

 

What might be of interest if it's just a film test is that "Soho Film Lab" quoted me something around £0.25/ft for processing and one-light workprint, with a minimum order value of £25... ie. 100ft of film. This is much lower than their minimum order value for processing and telecine.

 

If you need to have the result on video rather than film, then it might be worth looking at "Nowhere Lab". They are offering a one-light telecine to MiniDV at £20 per 100ft (100ft minimum). Including VAT you could potentially have 100ft of film processed, printed and telecined for about £50.

 

I would just say I haven't used either of these services myself yet, but probably will do as I want to do a quick (and cheap) test on my camera after I've had some lens' adjusted.

 

 

Regards,

Ian.

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If you need to have the result on video rather than film, then it might be worth looking at "Nowhere Lab". They are offering a one-light telecine to MiniDV at £20 per 100ft (100ft minimum). Including VAT you could potentially have 100ft of film processed, printed and telecined for about £50.

 

I have never gotten any motion picture film developed before. When a site says development cost. That is purely for the film to be developed into its negative form correct?

 

I assume the film must be printed in order to be telecined? Is the print included in the processing price? I am not quite sure what the whole developing, telecine service involves.

 

DigitalCopyCat quotes this price for its 16mm to MiniDV:

 

16mm = £4.35 per 50ft

Minimum order charge = £25.00

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I have never gotten any motion picture film developed before. When a site says development cost. That is purely for the film to be developed into its negative form correct?

YES

I assume the film must be printed in order to be telecined?

NO! the negative is scanned and in that process the video produced is made into a positive by the electronics.

The alternative is to get a "workprint" which is a contact print of the negative wich in the old days was what the film editor worked with. After the "cut" was approved then the negative was edited to match.

 

Now the Digital/Vedio is edited and sometimes the negative is not touched again.

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As already mentioned, processing just produces a developed negative. A 'professional' telecine will be able to take the negative and produce a correct positive version on video, it will also be able to alter the contrast/colour balance etc. at the same time. Be aware of the differences between a "One Light", and a "Best Light" Tk.

 

I haven't had any dealings with "DigitalCopyCat", but you need to be wary of places that appear to specialise in 'telecine' of home movies to DVD/MiniDV. A lot of these companies will use equipment that varies from a projector and video camera, up to dedicated transfer machines (some of which offering very good results) - but most will be optimised for transferring positive reversal film, and almost all will fail to handle negative film properly, if at all.

 

As a generalisation, most of the labs able to process 16mm negative film will be able to properly telecine it as well. If you're a film student most labs will be able to offer discounted rates. Personally I've only used Todd-AO (now merged into part of "Soho Film Lab"), and "Technicolor Creative Services". Both have been most helpful and happy to tell me their rates and minimum charges. Feel free to check prices with a number of different labs and check what that price includes - the amount varies quite a bit for similar services, and when you're paying from your own pocket on limited funds it pays to double check first! ;)

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Telecine:

 

- If it's cheap, it's crap

- If it's good, it's expensive

 

You have just hit the problem with shooting film - any telecine you can afford will probably be so awful that video would have looked better anyway.

 

P

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I also use ilab...really nice guys there and they've always done a great job.

Nigel is the man!

 

Does ilab do a telecine service also? What do you usually do once you have the negative returned from ilab?

 

Thanks!

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Does ilab do a telecine service also? What do you usually do once you have the negative returned from ilab?

 

Thanks!

 

I don't get negative back. iLab stores it. They only give it back if you request.

Majority of times there is no point (and room) to get the negative back.

 

And yes, they do telecine.

And if you are student - at really good student rates.

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The options are:

 

Film Lab North (In Leeds) - 01132 228333 - Talk to Howard Dawson

ILab - 0207 287 9520 - Talk to Nigel Horn

Film & Photo - 0208 992 0037 - Talk to Tony Scott

Soho Lab - 0207 437 0831 - Len Thornton

 

Brian

 

I was up at Film Lab North the other day and Howard tells me they offer a student discount for both processing and telecine. Incidently they are also the only lab in the UK still offering 16mm colour prints with an applicated sound track, the only way to get a decent quality sound track on 16mm.

Brian.

Edited by Brian Pritchard
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  • 2 months later...

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