More Kodachrome Worries

Post by **Freya** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:30 am

As you might expect I've been posting the last of my kodachrome out.

I sent a load out about 3 weeks ago and it came back to me fine. Then there were a number of carts I sent out a couple of weeks ago, and finally I sent out a few last minute carts about 6 or 7 days before the deadline, one even 5 days before the end that suspect might not make it.

The weird thing is that I have already received one of the carts I posted a couple of weeks ago back. That was on Friday. In the order I posted them it was about the last of those films I posted. I thought more would arrive on Monday, but they didn't and now it is wednesday and it is ominously silent.

I'm getting preety scared because some time ago I sent out some carts and royal mail completely screwed up delivering them. That was to Deer Park Road tho. This is to Switzerland, but you know, I don't trust Royal Mail, and certainly if my carts do continue to come back, they certainly aren't coming back in the order that I posted them.

I'm starting to wonder if the carts I posted a week before the deadline will make it there in time at all. I'm also wondering what happens to carts if they don't make it in time.

Annoyingly the cart that I shot that has come back from a couple of weeks ago is mostly film footage that came out awful (too dark) apart from a bit at the very beginning where there is the end of another film I made that looks wonderful. Unfortunnately there is probably less than a minute of this other film, and the rest of the film hasn't made it back even tho I shot and posted it out a couple of days earlier than the cart that came back.

I'm preety scared about what might have happend to all my carts. Maybe the postman is having a break for a few days. I havn't received any other mail either.

love

Freya

Post by **Angus** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:12 pm

They don't always come back in the order you send them. Sometimes I've sent two batches and they come back together, the nice people at the lab packing them all in a box for me!

You do seem to suffer more than most with the Royal Mail...the only troubles I ever had with film was when they'd send the film to the return address before the lab. Five days is more than enough to get from anywhere in the UK to Swizerland, if posted air mail.

Post by **Freya** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:55 am

Well another cart came back this morning. One I posted to switzerland much earlier than the ones I already received. Unfortunately it's mostly black. Someone must have really screwed up the lighting! I blame the post office! ;)

Unfortunately there is still no sign of the film that is the first half of the film I already got back that looked really amazing!

It's a shame as I'm supposed to project some stuff at hull international film festival today.

I hope it comes back soon I note it's nearly 4 days since the 25th.

*fingers crossed*

love

Freya

Post by **Dr_Strangelove** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 11:59 am

''most of it is black''

Doesnt this mean it film was underexposed?

Post by **Freya** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:20 pm

Dr_Strangelove wrote:''most of it is black''

Doesnt this mean it film was underexposed?

exactly! Some fool hadn't used powerful enough lighting!!!

When I find out who it was, I will definitely have words with them! ;)

love

Freya

Post by **Angus** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 12:54 pm

I think Freya is saying she made a mistake

As I understand it, they were doing the last super 8 run on Tuesday 26th. I wouldn't expect anything back until Friday at the very earliest...they were probably quite swamped with everyone sending in their stashes...could take some time to clear them all out and get them posted.

Post by **ccortez** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 2:38 am

I used US process paid mailers to mail 2 reg 8 films about 5 weeks ago. One came back in 2 weeks. The other is missing in action. The one I got is beautiful. I hope I see the 2nd one eventually, but I'm losing hope. Should/can I call someone? If so, whom?

Post by **cineandy** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:28 pm

Hi, my previous super 8 k40s were returned completely clear, enclosed an apologetic letter and 4 rolls of crappy 64t as compensation. That was 2 weeks ago, subject was a wedding, luckily i also filmed the wedding on ds-8 k25 via the bolex, results were stunning. Just received my last 3 rolls back from the lab 2day, results were perfect. RIP Swiss lab, thanks for the memories.

Post by **ccortez** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:40 am

Strangely enough, I just got my last R8 roll in the mail today. Haven't projected it yet, but the first part looks normal just pulling it off the reel and holding it up to the light.

I'm really excited to shoot more R8 now that I know this camera is so reliable and the meter so spot on. I'm sort of sad I might not get to shoot the K25 anymore. But maybe I'll be able to acquire some cut-down 50D someday? Mmmmm....

Post by **audadvnc** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:51 pm

50D? Is that the DS8 equivalent to 16mm 100D? I never knew you could change the ASA by cutting down the film. Imagine shooting 65mm, or 8x10 format - ASA 1 jillion! :lol:

Post by **ccortez** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:51 pm

audadvnc wrote:50D? Is that the DS8 equivalent to 16mm 100D? I never knew you could change the ASA by cutting down the film. Imagine shooting 65mm, or 8x10 format - ASA 1 jillion! :lol:

Ha. Cute, but no. ;)

I'm talking about Kodak 50D Negative, (somehow) cut down from 16mm to 8mm. I guess there's some reperfing to do as well? I'm not so familiar with how R8 film is cut down, but I remember somebody around here saying they had a bunch of color neg cut down to R8 from 16mm stock.

Post by **Freya** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:01 pm

Hiya!
I got back 2 more carts this morning including the earlier half of the film I got back last week!

Weird but good news!

I've only got one cart missing now but that one I was suspect would make it there on time as I had to post it on the 21st (as what I filmed only happened that day!)

love

Freya

Post by Ed » Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:33 pm

I sent a pre-paid cart out several weeks (possibly longer) ago. That one should have made the deadline. I had another pre-paid cart that I shot later, and decided to just wait and pay for processing at dwaynes. These couple of pre paid carts were bought over a year ago, and I don't mind paying a little bit more to get them processed. I'm not so much worried about if it made the deadline, I just want to get it back! I don't really like the idea of sending my film off so far away. You never know what can happen with mail! :roll:

Post by **Freya** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 12:15 am

Ed wrote:. I'm not so much worried about if it made the deadline, I just want to get it back! I don't really like the idea of sending my film off so far away. You never know what can happen with mail! :roll:

That's true but sadly for me switzerland is as close as it gets for processing K40. I used to send it to Deer Park Road in London, but then Kodak changed over to getting the royal mail to forward it to switzerland, instead of sending it there in the Kodak trucks and of course the royal mail screwed it all up.

Kodak Switzerland did manage to sort it all out and get my films back to me tho!

love

Freya