Hong Kong, in my opinion, is the analogue film photography paradise. (I can’t say for Japan because I haven’t been there) I have the impression that more people in Hong Kong take film than in Singapore. Anyway, I found out three shops in Hong Kong that are easily accessible, still develop and sell films.
1. Dot-Well Photo Workshop
Dot-Well Photo Workshop is within 5-10 minutes walk from Tsim Sha Shui MTR Station (considering the time snaking in the massive crowd). Other blogs mention this shop provides very good quality scanning. I very much agree. Not only that, they are cheap (compared to SG), and very speedy. The price for developing and scanning one 35mm colour film is HKD $35, that’s about SGD $6-7 and you can get your developed film in 1 hour. They also provide the stamp collection card where with each roll film purchased, you will receive one stamp. Upon successful collection of 10 stamps, you can start using it to redeem HKD $10 discount for each developing + scanning. Hence, the price would be HKD $25. Dirt cheap!!
Besides good developing services, they also sell films. I found the rare expired film that is no longer in production, Tudorcolor, here! Good news is their film is also cheaper compared to other shops and Singapore! They also have booth for repairing old and spoil cameras. Dot-Well is officially my most favourite film shop in Hong Kong. Their service is good too, especially the young man with specs.
Address: G/F 44, Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Shui
2. I-m-ageplayground Camera Shop
This is my second recommended film shop. Their website here. I think their developing and scanning is cheaper than Dot-Well but it takes several days so I didn’t try them. I believe they are good!
I-m-ageplayground is run by a group of young enthusiasts I guess, so cannot speak Cantonese? No problem! The friendly guy that introduced me all their films is good with English. Speaking of films, they have many rare films that I don’t see in Singapore. Especially those that produce funny colours. They recently got this film that is invented by Australia where the film got some funny effect such as light ray, laser ray and whatever. Not cheap though. Anyway, if you are into polaroid camera, they have tonnes of it.
In conclusion, if I can wait for a few days, I will develop my film here. If I want slightly cheaper films, I will go Dot-Well 🙂
Address: 3/F, 11 Queen Victoria Street, Central, HK (They moved to 4th floor as of 22nd Dec 2016)
Nearest MTR: Central
3. Sunrise Professional Photofinishing
This was the first shop I visited after being done with my first roll in Sham Shui Po. I deeply regretted not checking out other shops’ prices before going. Because Sunrise’s developing + scanning is SO EXPENSIVE, more expensive than Ruby Photos in Singapore!! The price for developing + scanning one roll is HKD $88 (SGD15-16). I don’t see any difference of their quality compared to Dot-Well. Grr…. Anyway, their waiting time is also 1 hour.
Address: B2 G/F 333 Lai Chi Kok Road, Kowloon, HK
Nearest MTR: Sham Shui Po
4. Output Pro Lab
Thanks Vince Cheng for the recommendation. So here’s the information from him:
(Mon – Fri) : 12:30PM ~ 8:00PM
(Sataurday) : 2:00PM ~ 7:00PM
(Sunday/Public Holidays) : 休息 CLOSED
地址: 旺角新填地街 612 號 2 樓1/F
612 1/F Reclamation Street; Mong Kok; Kowloon; Hong Kong
Website: http://www.outputprolab.com/index.html
Hope you find my post useful and have a good filming experience in Hong Kong 🙂
You may also want to know where to develop films in:
Planning (though not for the coming 2 years) to visit Hong Kong. Shooting a lot of film alongside my digital gear, so good post to save for the coming trip. Thanks!
I have mine developed at Output Pro Lab. Same prices as ImagePlayground but you can get them back in 2 hours.
(Mon – Fri) : 12:30PM ~ 8:00PM
(Sataurday) : 2:00PM ~ 7:00PM
(Sunday/Public Holidays) : 休息 CLOSED
地址: 旺角新填地街 612 號 2 樓1/F
612 1/F Reclamation Street; Mong Kok; Kowloon; Hong Kong
Thanks for telling me! Will check it out when I go to HK again and add it in the blogspot 🙂
I have tried developing three rolls of BnW and color at Imageplayground. They were quite decent but the scans were of fairly low resolution though. Good enough for your laptop viewing but don’t expect too much.
I have been Hong Kong for 3 months. I found “Showa film & camera” is the best quality. 2 hours for the color negative. 35mm in 3000×2000. It is much cheaper than Aus!!!
Oh yes i’ve heard of them and gonna develop my films there the next time i go to HK again 🙂
Just came back from HK and visited Dot Well & Showa. Indeed HK is a heaven for analogue film shooters. 🙂
There’s also another shop just read about called HK Camera at TST Granville Rd.
Try this shop. Many people used them for film processing.
Colorluxe Express 彩圖麗快速沖印
TEL – 2892-2323
@ColorluxeExpress · Printing Service – film processing
灣仔謝斐道316B地下 316B,G/F.,JAFFE ROAD,WAN CHAI, HONG KONG 999077 Hong Kong, Hong Kong
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/22.2664285,114.2271614/22.2795105,114.1784973/@22.2793829,114.177722,20z/data=!4m4!4m3!1m1!4e1!1m0