This is for all of you are wondering where to get film developed in Hong Kong. There’s quite a few places but really only one that I would recommend. One of the more well-known and perhaps most famous places to get film developed in Hong Kong is Dotwell Photo, but before you go running off to them – Stop, turn around, and stay as far away as possible from Dotwell Photo as possible. This is of course, unless you want to run the risk of running into the nastiest sales lady in the history of film developing. If you don’t take my word for it, just google “Dotwell Photo” and read some of the comments posted about her. Yes, I have encountered her, and yes, she is the most miserable sod you could ever imagine. So if not Dotwell Photo, then where to get film developed in Hong Kong?
The best place to not only get film developed in Hong Kong, but buy film in Hong Kong, by a long, long way, is OutPut Pro Lab. OutPut Pro Lan is a tiny little shop in Sham Shui Po in a very hard to find entrance up one flight of stairs. The staff in there are friendly and pleasant. They will do rush service, in an hour if they’re not busy, and they do C41, E6, B&W and pretty much whatever size you want. I’m not print photo expert, but I’ve been happy with the results I get back, I’ve probably had about 50 rolls of film developed by OutPut Pro Lab. They also sell a large selection of 135 and 120 film, and I managed to get some Agfa Scala 200X of them a while back – 5 boxes! You can read my post about them here.
If you don’t want to go to Sham Shui Po or still want to know more places where to get film developed in Hong Kong, try out Chung Pui Photo Supplies in Central. I must have had them develop close to 200 rolls of film (colour, black and white and slide film) and most have come back the way I wanted them to. Chung Pui Photo are on Stanley Street in Central so they’re not the cheapest, but do a good job and if you live on HK Island or are staying on HK Island, these guys are the most convenient. The verdict: Expensive but I quite like the guy who runs the film developing bit. The other guys are a bit cold and seem to be experts at Candy Crush so don’t expect to be served until they’ve finished their game.
Sunrise Professional Photo Finishing is also in Sham Shui Po. They don’t open until after 1p.m and as well as developing film, they sell quite a few old film cameras. A lot of locals go there to get their film developed in Hong Kong but on the couple of times I’ve gone there (not for film developing), the staff seemed a bit grumpy and not really that friendly. They’ve got one of the worst websites I’ve seen, it’s something out of the 90’s and are very “local”. You can give them a try if you’re in Sham Shui Po and are looking where to get film developed in Hong Kong.
ImagePlayground, the real name is something I-m-agePlayGround (Kudos to the genius who thought up that impossible to say name) also develop film. They took a long time to develop. I haven’t been there personally to get film developed but I’ve got a mate who did and he said pretty much the same as what I though of their film camera sales service – not much English and it’s like you have burdened them when going in. I’d give them a miss and just stick to OutPut Pro Lab.
I used to use Colorsix every once in a while but the girls in there were absolutely miserable and impossible to get a smile out of let aline a few words. No surprise they’ve closed down at their Central branch, but apparently they’re still open in Chai Wan, which is way out of the way. To be fair I think they do a very professional job and I’ve heard that they do a lot of commercial work and some famous photographer used to use them to get film developed way back in the day. The Verdict: Used to use them every now and again but what a couple of miserable sods at the counter. Think Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Now closed in Central but services still available in their Chai Wan branch.
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