Expert: David Silver - 1/16/2005

Question
Mr. Silver,
I love my split frame camera. Need someone to develop split frame + CD's.
Can't find commercial company?
Sanford

Answer
Hello Sanford,

Any photo lab can develop 35mm film with half-frame exposures, but they are not prepared to make prints from the negatives.  Well, not individual prints.  Some custom labs will make side-by-side pairs of images on single prints (since two half-frame exposures equal the same size as a single regular full-frame exposure).  Two pictures on every print!  Then you can cut them in half later, but the division is never quite right.  Otherwise, to the best of my knowledge, there is no longer any major service in the country that is prepared to make proper prints from half-frame 35mm exposures.  Remember, developing the film is NOT the problem.  It's getting the prints made!  I recommend you grab your local yellow pages and cold call every photo processer and photo supply store in your area and see if they know of a custom service.  You'd be surprised at how many "cottage industry" photographers, literally working out of their garages, still handle odd size processing and printing, and often at very reasonable prices.  For most of them it's the pleasure of the experience!  But you'll have to canvas all the photo stores in your area to get a lead on one.  Also ask if there are any photography clubs, especially featuring older and traditional photo processes.

As for making CD's, once you have the prints you can make all the CD's you want!  Either by handing them over to a regular processer to do it all for you, or, better yet, by simply visiting a local photo supply store (or all-purpose pharmacy, or big discount place, etc.) where they have a photo kiosk that allows you to scan the prints and burn a CD on your own!  Seriously, it's the easiest darn thing in the world to do, plus you can preview the scans and make all sorts of corrections (crop the size, fix the exposure, etc.) before you burn the image onto the CD.

So don't worry about the CD's, and don't worry about developing the film, but you WILL have to do some foot work to find somebody with the proper printing gear to make your prints.

Have fun!

Best wishes,

David Silver