Ray - , Feb 08, 2012; 10:45 p.m.
Hi all - I have been thinking about LF for some yrs. First I live in New Zealand so it cost maybe $11US per sheet of 4x5. I have surfed around the net re: merchants in the USA but they do not sell powder or convenient kits for the home hobbyist to process slides. Color neg kits are available however.
So - Quickload film are available in Japan but they cost 3x as the USA that are not Quickloads.
In terms of processing slides - would you pay $11US/sheet, or send them overseas to the USA for eg. Do you send them in their film holders or do you take them out and put them in something else or just pay for Quickloads?
Many thanks.
Leigh B. 
, Feb 08, 2012; 11:52 p.m.
I shoot Fujichrome (mostly Velvia) in 4x5 and 8x10. They are awesome, particularly the 8x10 shots.
I hope you'll have the opportunity to do the same.
- Leigh
Tim Ludwig , Feb 09, 2012; 02:08 a.m.
I still shoot considerable amounts for architectural projects as well as some landscape work. Nothing compares to holding one up to light and seeing the colors like the effect of a stunning stained glass window in a cathedral
I have no idea what the time delays would be or the mark ups and duties, but I use Denver Digital Imaging in Denver, Colorado at only $2.25 per sheet (US).
Sheng Lo , Feb 09, 2012; 03:17 a.m.
Hi, Ray,
A bunch of 4x5 shooters in Singapore got together to source for E6 chemicals after the local lab closed down sheet film processing. You can read about the episode here:
<http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/traditional-darkroom/961511-anyone-wants-share-some-e6-chemicals.html>
To essence of which is that it turns out Fujihunt manufactures E6 chemicals in Singapore! It's the 6-step version, and comes in minimum quantity of a carton for each chemical in the step. So what we did was to share every carton 4 ways to cut down the cost and storage space each of us needed. To make it even easier, I have also rebottled into 1-litre bottles. If you are interested, drop me a mail or message me. A complete set comes in 10 chemicals:
1. First developer
2. Color Reversal Bath
3. Color Developer Part A
4. Color Developer Part B
5. Conditioner
6. Bleach
7. Fixer
8. Stablizer
9 First developer starter
10. Color developer starter
The details on how to mix and use the chemicals can be found here:
<https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bw9mH9aos71IYTUyNzE4NjAtZWI2MC00NzFiLThlODMtZDY5OGRmZDRhYzBh>
If you are interested, I can ship a set to you. This helps me to reduce the amount of chemicals I need to keep, and keep the churn rate high. I am more than happy to help you process a few sheets here and there - again, just to keep the churn rate up and no chemicals have to go bad. If that's viable, drop me a message or email!
ls
jens g.r. benthien , Feb 09, 2012; 03:13 p.m.
Ray - , Feb 10, 2012; 01:32 a.m.
Thanks. Appreciate it. I think the best way for now and overtime is just to send it to the US. The local supplier wanted 100 Euro's for it (equiv). Well at that price I could get it done at the local labs. 1L does 12 rolls. 3 runs of 4 I think.
The link you posted, is 40 Euro's but then there is intl postal. Going by some of the shops in the USA when I buy film, postal might be around $60-70USD. Yeah the film is not bad at the USA $50USD for 20 sheet 4x5 I think, that's where I get them. The US doesn't sell Quickloads but I think Japan still sell them for Fujifilm but they cost 3x for 20 sheets of Quckloads 4x5 ($150USD).
j b , Feb 20, 2012; 02:48 p.m.
Ray,
I also live in New Zealand. I don't understand why you feel you need to ship your film all the way to the US and back to have it developed. Surely doing this will be far more expensive per sheet than simply using a lab in New Zealand.
Sounds like you have done research on labs but just in case you haven't, I can highly recommend Imagelab for everything. They are fast, super friendly, and they often post my film back to me in the very same week I send it. They know what to do with Quickloads - I used to send them in all the time. Just sent them straight to the lab in the jacket. It also sounds like you are asking what to do with regular sheet film (not Quickloads) -- Unload them from the holder and use a spare film box to ship them in. Stay with LF long enough and these film boxes begin to multiply like rabbits :)
Anyway, Imagelab have labs in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. I use the one in Wellington.
I hope you enjoy doing LF i New Zealand. It is a very photogenic country but as you noted it is very, VERY expensive here.
