Reasonably priced developing and scanning service

[Charles S]

Let me just come out and say it: I love film photography for the simplicity of taking the photographs, but I hate developing and scanning.

At this point, I am using BW C41 film so I can get the development done cheaply and I have a scanner at home. However, I hate sitting there for hours feeding film into the thing and then processing it in PS. I'd rather spend my time photographing than processing.

I live in Switzerland, and services don't come cheap here. Whenever I have the scanning done by the cheapest local lab I could find, the cost are easily US $ 50 per film. I am therefore looking for an alternative, a lab that has more reasonable development and scanning cost. Location is not that important as long as mailing cost is reasonable. Mailing cost within Europe or to the US are not that different. Also, I am a hobbiist and I don't have deadlines to meet, even though I would want to see the results within two weeks of sending the rolls.

So, I would like to ask your help in identifying a lab that does mail-order, E6, C41 and old fashioned BW for my Tri X addiction, can make high rez scans (something like coming out of a Nikon V or better) saved in TIFF. I would even be perfectly happy downloading the scans from some website or FTP server and not even get the negatives or a DVD back.

Your suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Hello Charles --

Precision Camera, a sponsor here, does excellent machine scans, along with developing of all the chemistries you mention. North Coast Photographic Services in San Diego California does the same. I understand these two labs have the same equipment, and in my experience, the scans are equally high quality.

The good news is the scans are terrific and very reasonable. On the other hand, they are 8-bit jpeg only. If I really work at it with my Nikon Coolscan V, I can get a scan which is only a little better than these from 35mm. For 120, these scans are better than I can do with my Epson V500.

Delivery of scans on a server? I don't know.

 

[oftheherd]

On the upper left of this web page are several businesses. Our sponsor CameraQuest is there, and more importantly for a possible answer to your question, Precision Camera & Video. I haven't, but those who have used it say it is great. One of our members works there and/or owns part of the business.

EDIT: Well, I see RichardKarash beat me to it while I was posting.

 

[Darshan]

Read this thread.
I don't think they offer free developing (you might want to check tho) on traditional B&W (TriX etc.) but the scans are awesome.

I now use NCPS as I just send out my rolls for developing, and their developing only rates are much lower than PrecisionCamera.

 

[j j]

Hi Charles

My workflow is to use a cheap develop and scan (like this one, which is £4 for 35mm http://www.photo-express.co.uk/pricelist.html) and use their OK scans as proofs to decide which photos I scan properly myself. Cuts out most of the hassle and leaves me the more rewarding work on my favourites.

 

[thegman]

For C41, 120 dev and scan, Genie Imaging in the UK is quite good.

 

[dct]

...

However, I hate sitting there for hours feeding film into the thing and then processing it in PS. I'd rather spend my time photographing than processing.

I live in Switzerland, and services don't come cheap here. Whenever I have the scanning done by the cheapest local lab I could find, the cost are easily US $ 50 per film. I am therefore looking for an alternative...

Same situation, Charles, like me. I think the development and scan (Fujifilm SP3300 equipment) of my lab in Zurich is not a bad job. But it is still too overprized. This is an example directly off the CD I got.

A few days ago I just contacted PrecisionCamera by mail, but still waiting for an answer. I really would try a few rolls overseas, because of the great price difference.

Will post more as soon I see some progress.

 

[Charles S]

DCT, just out of interest, which lab do you use ? I have been using Hobbylab.ch he quality is ok, but the prices are killing me.
Let me know what happens with precision lab

Same situation, Charles, like me. I think the development and scan (Fujifilm SP3300 equipment) of my lab in Zurich is not a bad job. But it is still too overprized. This is an example directly off the CD I got.

A few days ago I just contacted PrecisionCamera by mail, but still waiting for an answer. I really would try a few rolls overseas, because of the great price difference.

Will post more as soon I see some progress.

 

[dct]

Lab in Switzerland

Lab in Switzerland

DCT, just out of interest, which lab do you use ? I have been using Hobbylab.ch he quality is ok, but the prices are killing me.

Well, as I already mentioned, quality is not the main reason to look for another lab, but the prices. Because I like to walk in and do some chat, I'm used to bring my film stuff to FotoPro Ganz in Zurich main station.

They do the normal C41 processing and low resolution scan theirself (~1 MB per image). Special processing (b/w, but also Kodak Ektar) and high res scan (~5 MB/image) are done by subcontractor Studio 13.

What they lack is a broad offering of film types. I have to buy special wishes like some Kodak or Ilfords from different places around and still didn't find a preferred shop, where I can buy all the types I need.

I've seen your referenced hobbyfoto lab has a good choice of films. Maybe I should give it a try for my film orders.

Let me know what happens with precision lab

I'm just sorting out some older 135 film stripes to place a first order overseas. I'm very courious how they will work from a quality point of view but also will test if there are any shortcomings due to foreign shipping. Will keep the thread informed.

 

[PrecisionCamera]

A few days ago I just contacted PrecisionCamera by mail, but still waiting for an answer. I really would try a few rolls overseas, because of the great price difference.

Hi, did you get a reply? What email address did you send to?

We service many overseas customers.

 

[dct]

Hi, did you get a reply? What email address did you send to?

We service many overseas customers.

Your feedback here is welcome, because I didn't get any reply. I used the address you mentioned in another thread (robertj (at) precision-camera.com). Isn't this the right one?

 

[dct]

I still got no email answers from Robert at precision-camera. Nevertheless I will show here some calculation for other Swiss based people and send a few rolls to precision-camera just for a first test. The feedbacks to P-C was very good in RFF.

For scan service without development, I have to wait for an actual job, to tell about Swiss prices.
But for normal development + scan service (3360x2240px) I was charged CHF 36 per roll, including CD with thumbnail cover sheet. That price is at FotoPro Ganz in Zurich, walking in. At today's exchange rate we are around USD 41,00 per roll! That's for 135 or 240 rolls.

The offering of P-C for dev+scan (4181x6305px) at USD 11,99 plays really in a league of their own (CHF 10,50). This leaves enough room for postage fees.

Will post back after I have a first result.

 

[Charles S]

I did use Ganz on Rennweg, they also have a wide collection of used stuff, including Leica. Since they now subcontract with Studio 13, the turnaround became just as long as hobby lab. At Rennweg they have a better film selection than in HB as far as I know

 

[jordanstarr]

What resolution do your want your scans? Is it just for web? If so, CRC can develop and scan your film for about $25 a roll in New York City.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Precision camera is great. Very good 4000dpi scans from 35mm. These are 8bit jpg with little compression (roughly 20mb files). It's obviously an automated process, but it must be excellent equipment and well tuned. These scans are night and day different from what you get at a typical mini-lab. With effort, on my Nikon Coolscan V, I can maybe do a little better, but these are great and very reasonably priced. With the price and quality, I see this as a foundation for enjoying my film shooting.

And, they sponsor us here.

 

[Mister E]

NCPS is who I use. The PrecisionCamera username is no longer in use.

 

[dct]

Let me know what happens with precision lab

Just sent (already developed) 240 and 135 material (negative & slides) as a test order. Will inform you about the results/prices from a Swiss point of view, as soon I got the stuff back.

 

[dct]

Premium quality

Premium quality

Just sent (already developed) 240 and 135 material (negative & slides) as a test order. Will inform you about the results/prices from a Swiss point of view, as soon I got the stuff back.

Got the scans back and they are excellent.

@Charles S:
It is worthwile the transfer time overseas. I will send film material to P-C again. Make the count: USD 11,99 for C41 developing inlcuding high-res scanning... Add some postage fee and you are still many Swiss Franks under our domestic prices.