[Leica] Film Processing

[nathan at nathanfoto.com (Nathan Wajsman)]

Absolutely. Earlier this year, the lab I had been using since moving to 
the Netherlands in 2003, s-Color in Amsterdam, announced that they were 
getting out of film processing altogether. Then, when I came to 
Alicante, I looked up several labs in the phone book--some of them still 
did film but only 35mm, so for medium format I have to use a lab in 
Barcelona, 550 km away.

Of course I realize that I could just buy some developing tanks and 
chemistry and do it myself again, but I am not prepared to do that anymore.

Nathan

Mike Stoesz wrote:
> "Its not buying film that is difficult, its trying to get it processed."
> Cheers
> Jayanand
>
> How true.
>
> I own a photo lab, retail store, digital imaging center, 
> portrait/commercial studio.
> Two years ago we were processing 30-80 rolls of C-41 per day with peaks of 
> 100+ some days in the summer.  We also processed 10-20 rolls of E-6 per 
> day.
>
> Now I am processing about 10 rolls of C-41/WEEK (three this week), and I 
> parted out the E-6 machine in March since I could not keep the chemistry 
> in balance on fewer than 10 rolls each WEEK--the chemistry needed at least 
> 5-10 rolls per day.
>
> It is a decreasing spiral of demand and available services.  If the 
> services are not utilized then they are not efficient to provide.  When it 
> costs the producer (the one providing the service) more in labor costs 
> (time)than the return then the producer searches for other ways to achieve 
> a better return on the time investment.  It takes me about 1-3 hours to 
> set up and process 1-10 rolls of C-41 film.  This includes setting up the 
> processor, the printer, calibration, time preparing the films, mixing 
> chemistry if needed, cleaning racks, processing and printing the orders, 
> packaging the orders.  At an average return of $10.00 per roll and 
> competing with W**-M*** at less than $5.00/roll do you think I can justify 
> this service.  I am currently processing only about one or two days per 
> week.  Some clients are not satisfied with this but I have little choice.  
> I even had someone in last week that wanted one-hour service on a day I 
> did not have the equipment even turned on.  They w!
>  ere a bit upset and disappointed until I explained the problem and then 
> they were understanding at least.
>
> What this gets down to is the fact that the services cannot be provided 
> unless there is an economic benefit to the provider to offer the service.  
> I am in a position to offer this on a limited basis for a long time but I 
> will not be processing every day.  I can receive a much better return on 
> my labor (I am the sole employee)(at one time we had 3 full-time and 3 
> part-time employees) by doing copy and restoration, large format prints, 
> slide scanning to CD, and portrait/commercial photography.
>
> I am applying for my Social Security benefits as a hedge against the 
> further decline as I am rebuilding/remaking the business.  I will be 
> changing my marketing stratagies, providing new products and services, 
> reinventing the business for the demise of film and domination of digital. 
>  
>
> End of rant.
>
> Best wishes to all in the holiday season
> Mike Stoesz
> Laramie Digital Photo Center  (formerly Rainbow Photography, Inc)
> Laramie, Wyoming, USA
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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>
>
>   

-- 
Nathan Wajsman
Almere, The Netherlands

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