Job Discussion Forums

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

Hello,

I'm an avid photographer and I lived in Japan from 1999-2001. While I lived in Sapporo, I was using a Nikon 35mm and didn't have a medium format camera at the time. At that time, it was pretty easy to get 35mm film processed. Now, I'm planning on returning to Japan (Tokyo this time) and am planning on bringing a couple of my favorite film cameras with me. In the U.S., one-hour photo processing labs are disappearing since everyone is using digital cameras these days and I can only assume the same is true for Japan. Now nine years along, is it still fairly easy to get film processed? How about 120 rolls? How much does it cost to develop just the negatives without any prints? Anyone shoot black and white? Does anyone get their film processed, and then have scans made of the negatives? How much does this run for good scans with decent sized files?

I'm planning on bringing my Voigtlander Vitessa with me and I'd like to bring my Rolleiflex with me as well if it sounds like it's not TOO much trouble to get 120 film processed.

Thanks!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Film is still sold, so there are still shops that develop it. Rather than scanning negatives or pictures, get your negatives on disk when the film is developed.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

I was still using a 35mm, as well as my digital camera, as late as 2006, and I didn't have any problems. I doubt that much has changed since then.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I can imagine that it might cost a fortune...

B0RGNINE · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

Yeah, film is expensive, but I can't let go of it. Scanned negatives on CD can be good depending upon how it's done. But they can be really low resolution as well at times.

I guess not many people bother with film over there anymore, eh? *sigh*

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan