Where to buy decent colour film and get it developed (and buy colour prints)

[editor]

I can't stand looking at my beautiful OM2 cameras sitting in a box so I'm going to join the hipsters and walk around with a film camera and get snapping.

So where can I get cheap but decent colour film (and B&W) and where can I send it off to get it developed and order prints?

 

[neonwilderness]

I’m not sure if they do developing, but I’ve bought film (and developing stuff) from Parallax in Brixton and they’ve been decent.

 

[Nikkormat]

I can't help with places near you, but there are bound to be some in London.

As for film, Kodak Portra 400 is the go to for hipsters, but it's hideously expensive and most of the time indistinguishable from anything else. Fuji 200 is my standard for colour.

Black and white, Ilford HP5 400 or FP4 125. Kodak Tri-X is great but expensive, and I'm boycotting Kodak after their decision to support the Chinese government's genocide in Xinjiang.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

I’m not sure if they do developing, but I’ve bought film (and developing stuff) from Parallax in Brixton and they’ve been decent.

Yeah Parallax is a good shop to buy film and kit - I've bought chemicals from there. I don't think they do actual development but they might know where you can get it done in Brixton.

The shop under the Photographers' Gallery is probably the best physical shop in central London. Lots of rare and experimental films as well as the normal types. I always browse that afterwards if I visit the gallery.

Mostly I buy film online tbh, generally from Analogue Wonderland | Buy Film Online | Develop Your Film | 35mm, 120 who do develop as well (not used that) but I don't think print, they'll just do scans, which you could print from of course.

I usually post my colour film off for development, I use Home - Ag Photographic+Photolab and they definitely do prints. Almost any Snappy Snaps will do colour dev/print/scan in the shop, but the quality can vary... I know the one on Wardour Street is good (they still get media work apparently) and there's one in Covent Garden I've had good results from too. There are some indie places in the East End but I don't really know who is still going any more. I don't know who will do B&W since I dev that myself but it's usually a little pricier as they can't use minilabs.

Colour film is expensive in general these days btw. Kodak put their prices up and there were issues with supply; Fuji have cut their stock drastically and it never seems to be available; nobody else really makes the stuff. I have a load of colour in my drawer that I never shot over lockdown and am gradually working through, but I don't plan to buy any more once that's gone, except in Polaroid... HP5+ does the job for me.

 

[RoyReed]

Not sure if you're still looking, but Process Supplies is still open and has some colour and b&w film stock. It's the place where I used to have an account when I worked professionally. I'm really surprised (and pleased) to see it still going.

 

[gawkrodger]

just seen this but largely covered well be others. B&W I predominatly shoot HP5 (and develop at home). Tend to buy it from my local wex as that's the cheapest I've found it. I shoot tri-x when I can get it for cheap

Colour - normally portra. As already mentioned, I tend to buy online through Analogue Wonderland

We have two labs in brum - i use AG, as mentioned above by FM, but also Palm labs

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

£20 for a roll of Fuji Provia100, Christ almighty