Film photography has a unique charm that digital cameras just can't quite capture - no matter how much clever editing you can do, film photos just have that X factor.
It’s no wonder why film cameras are having a resurgence (this is a MAJOR surprise to my older relatives, btw)! They’re often shocked that you can still buy film in NZ.
They might be more shocked to see how much more expensive it is than it used to be to get them developed at a NZ film lab, too.
If you’re new to film and want a better understanding of how all of this works - including how film is developed, what costs you might encounter, and what to expect from the experience - this blog post is for you. Plus, I’ll share 9 great places across NZ where you can get your film developed.
The Film Development Process
Film development is a fascinating process that takes your moments from an invisible chemical reaction to pictures you’ll love. When you take a picture on a film camera, the camera exposes light to the film in just the right way to preserve your image on the film roll.
If you’re tempted to open your camera and check the image - DON’T DO THIS! You’ll ruin your photo AND you won’t see anything at all other than a blank camera roll.
The negative won’t reveal itself until it’s properly developed. That is, it needs to be bathed in a series of chemical solutions to reveal and then stabilise the image.
Each step is crucial - from the developer that brings out the image, to the stop bath and fixer that halts the development and sets the image. The precision in timing and temperature during this process plays a vital role in the quality of your photos.
After development, your film is ready to scan or turn in to prints - yay!
How Much it Costs to Develop Film
Developing film isn't as common as it used to be, which means the costs can vary (but overall, it’s not cheap). In NZ, you might find prices range depending on the type of film (35mm, medium format, etc.), the number of exposures, and whether you want additional services like scans or prints.
Some NZ film labs charge more for push or pull processing, which alters the development time to compensate for over or underexposed film. As a rough guide, expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $30 for standard 35mm film development with scans.
This makes film photography an expensive hobby, considering that you’ve probably already paid anywhere from $20-45 for your film roll!
Choosing the Right Place to Develop Your Film
There’s a lot of things you want to consider when choosing a NZ film lab; don’t just base it on price! You’ll want to see images they’ve done, which is easy in this day and age as most photo labs post photos (with permission) to their Instagram accounts.
Location can make a difference, too. For me, unfortunately, there are zero film labs in my town, so I always end up having to mail my rolls away. This means I’ll choose a film lab that accepts couriered rolls and can send them back to me, too!
Turnaround time can also be important, especially if you're working on a project with a deadline. I’ve found that most film places are true to deadline; I haven’t yet developed my film anywhere that’s been late or unreasonable!
Where to Develop Film in New Zealand
Here’s a list of where to develop film in NZ. They’re not presented in any particular order and I haven’t gotten around to trying all of them - yet.
I’ve listed where they are, hopefully, you’ll find one close to you! If not, I’ve listed which ones accept rolls via courier. If you do this, be sure to follow the packaging and addressing instructions (if any) the film lab suggests!
The price that I’ve compared is for a no-frills, standard 35mm C-41 develop and scan. Where some of these film labs have supplied different options, I’ve picked the lowest price as a point of comparison.
Some of these labs have lots of extra options, so it’s worth shopping around to see which is the right one for you.
The Photo Store
- Website: The Photo Store
- Location: Warkworth
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $24.99
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Yes
Black and White Box
- Website: Black and White Box
- Location: Auck land
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $20
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Yes
Red Dragon Film Lab
- Website: Red Dragon Film Lab
- Location: Auckland
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $14
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Yes
Coast Photo
- Website: Coast Photo
- Location: Orewa
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $31
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Yes
Splendid
- Website: Splendid
- Location: Auckland and Wellington
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $16.50
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Yes
Photo Warehouse
- Website: Photo Warehouse
- Location: Auckland
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $23.90
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Yes
Kodak Lynn Mall
- Website: Kodak Lynn Mall
- Location: Auckland
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $24
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Unknown
Camera House
- Website: Camera House
- Location: Lower Hutt
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $18
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Yes
Photo Gear
- Website: Photo Gear
- Location: Auckland
- Dev + Scan 35mm Colour: $22
- Accepts mail-in rolls?: Unknown
Developing Film in NZ: Key Points
We’re lucky that we have so many great choices for getting film developed! I’m sure one of these nine film labs is going to be your new favourite. Prices can vary depending on quality of scan - so choose the right scan quality according to your needs.
Most of these labs also accept mailed-in rolls, perfect for those of us (like me) who can’t quite pop down the road to get your film developed! I hope this guide helps if you’ve been lost when getting your film sorted.
