dr5 reversal processing?

[ChrisPlatt]

I missed the boat on Agfa Scala, but am intrigued by the thought of black & white slides.
dr5 Labs will process many black & white negative films in a similar fashion:

http://www.dr5.com/Filmreview.html

Has anyone here tried them out? Which film(s) did you use?
How well do they project and scan? Do they fade?

TIA,
Chris

 

[NickTrop]

Yes. I used them. Excellent. Used Tri-X. Intend to use them again.

 

[foto_fool]

Nick - I am interested in them as well, but I have heard that turnaround can be really slow. Also it is pretty espensive. Got anything to post that you want to share?

- John

 

[DeeCee3]

Prices on Website

Prices on Website

The DR5 process sounds quite interesting and the website indicates they do more than just B&W negative films.

Their price list (a bit dicey to find) sounds reasonable enough.

Looks as if I'll give them a try before long.

dc3

 

[NickTrop]

Nick - I am interested in them as well, but I have heard that turnaround can be really slow. Also it is pretty espensive. Got anything to post that you want to share?

- John

Hi John,

Turn around wasn't bad, a week? Ten days? Used them last year. I didn't scan any of the slides and have to look for them. If I get some time tomorrow, I'll scan and post some. Think it cost $15.00, "I think" with postage (but don't quote me) for a single roll.

I would suggest just giving them a try for a roll. Nothing wonky happened - promise. Works as billed - black and white slides that look like, well, black and white slides. I used developer 1 (regular, non sepia).

No particular reason for not using them again. More a print than a slide guy is the only reason. What I really wanted to do is do 120 black and white. MF slides are supposed to be gorgeous, and black and white quite unique. I was bidding on some MF slide projectors but always got out-bid. Then I lost interest.

 

[NickTrop]

PS - next time I use them, I intend to use FP4. Tri-x was fine but it seems that the slower speed stuff really brings out the superior tonality and sharpness over the medium and higher speed films when projected.

 

[Flinor]

Try some Tech Pan if you can find any. It's just amazing in dr5. I've replaced my Scala with Fomapan R and I think I like it better. Dr5 has always done good work for me in a reasonable length of time.

 

[adietrich]

...or you could try EFKE25.
-a

 

[ldhayden@mac.co]

Chris,

I've used the dr5 process over the last few years. From an expense standpoint if you have a roll of film developed and a contact sheet made you are looking at roughly the same cost, at least as I see it.

I've had success with HP5 and Delta 100 and really like the neutral developer better. You can see some of my images over on flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldhayden/tags/dr5/

I think the lab has certain days that it runs the film that needs to be processed and there can be delays if you miss that window but they have been pretty good to me and I like them.

A few points: I find scanning these transparencies easier than scanning film. HP5 pushed to 1600 looks great with 120 film not showing much at all in respect to grain. 35mm however does show grain but it's good as far as I am concerned. This image was taken at night in times Square with a Mamiya 7, HP5 pushed to 1600. No grain to speak of.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Larry

 

[AusDLK]

I have also had very satisfactory results with dr5.

I have a mess of 35mm TMax100 and 120 Plus-X rolls to send over at the end of the month.