Going to be re new to film photography

[Adesw]

Ok after some thinking and seeing some shots I want to get a 35mm camera and some fuji reala film, I just really like the colours people seem to get from it and It would be fun to play around.

so the beginning or end of summer (I want to get a d300 and a 24-70mm lens first) I want to get a film camera and a scanner.

Question time. (No not what camera)

-Where is the best place to get the film developed?

-Whats a good scanner to get and use? (I've heard that negative scanners are better, but could someone point me to one thats good but not going to break the bank)

Thankyou for your help.

[Per]

Great news - another Reala user! The more the merrier. It is a very fine film, low grain when properly exposed, very wide exposure latitude, scans well and gives lovely tonal differentiation IMHO (see recent AP landscape supplement, P13,14 for some of my scans)

The only thing it doesn't do is pump up a drab scene, but it does do intense colour when there is some:



I have found (like many people on this forum) that Peak Imaging are very good at D&P, while not the cheapest. I get them to print the roll to help me chose which frames to scan.

I use a Nikon Coolscan V and have no complaints to make and just two observations:
- it doesn't quite scan the whole width (across the strip) of the exposed frame (dunno why), so a 3:2 crop isn't quite 100%. Anybody help here?
- it automatically removes too much orange cast and I have to reduce blue and green a little in the computer to rebalance the colour (using the print as a guide). I assume that Reala has less base colour than normal.

Have fun!

[Adesw]

Thankyou for the reply

I will read up on the scanner you mentioned as I really want to get into film now (Though I'm still gonna have to wait untill the end of the summer)

Where do you get your film for? I was thinking 7 day shop but am open for suggestions.

[Per]

Personally, I use MailShots but there are plenty of recommendations for other suppliers on the Forum!

link

Have fun.

[CircleOfConfusion]

I'm a bit late on this thread but I absolutely love Reala too! I also use a Nikon coolscan V ED which is a fantastic 35mm scanner (but unfortunately the price reflects this).

as for sourcing film 7DAYSHOP still has the best deal going 20 pack for £7.99! (that's only 40p a film) they are out of date but that's not likely to have much affect on 100ISO negative film. the rolls I've had developed so far have been perfect (and the rest I keep in the fridge/freezer till I need them).

In fact I'm thinking of ordering some more seen as its still in stock and I've made a fair hole in the first box!

edit: thought I'd add a couple of examples too!

[Towershot]

OK guys, got an old F2 I,ve started using and have been told I can get a CD with the prints so I don,t need a scanner do I???????????

[Fen]

OK guys, got an old F2 I,ve started using and have been told I can get a CD with the prints so I don,t need a scanner do I???????????

The CD you get will probably be low resolution. Even if they say it will be a high resolution CD it will probably be about 140dpi

Check what the resolution is at the store. If they are scanning prints you want a minimum of 300dpi, I wouldn't accept anything less than 600dpi myself.

[AlexMonro]

My local camera shop's D&P minilab service offers scan to CD at various resolutions. Their highest is about 2400x3600, giving about 8.6 M pixels. Costs about 6 quid extra. (actually, they have told me that their Minolta machine will do even higher resolution, but it's so slow they'd have to charge a ridiculous price for it). 2400x3600 still shows the grain on print films down to ISO 100.

I believe some branches of Snappy Snaps also offer high resolution CD scans, at extra cost. Most High Street D&P only offer about 1200x1800 - just about adequate of 6x4" prints, or email / web.

[swanseadave]

Hi Ade. FWIW,Photoglossy.com have Reala for £2.65,Free delivery,discounted if you buy 5+.
Cheers Dave

[Towershot]

OK guys, got an old F2 I,ve started using and have been told I can get a CD with the prints so I don,t need a scanner do I???????????

The CD you get will probably be low resolution. Even if they say it will be a high resolution CD it will probably be about 140dpi

Check what the resolution is at the store. If they are scanning prints you want a minimum of 300dpi, I wouldn't accept anything less than 600dpi myself.

Fen and Alex ,thank you for that guys,I will check at weekend for I have another film ready to develop....