C41 Dev and Scan

[ClaremontPhoto]

My usual place that does a C41 dev, index and scan to CD is out of action.

Recently their price has been €6 for this service. They scan at 1,200dpi.

I went to the 'other place' today on the other side of town. The young guy clearly had never been asked about this weird combo before and quoted me €5.

But he had to phone his father for advice, and during the call I browsed around his store and made sure he saw my camera slung over my shoulder. He was whispering but I heard the word 'Leica'. Odd because I had a Voigtlander.

I asked about the scan resoloution and he said 300dpi. So I acted shocked and said that I was used to getting *at least 4,000* dpi and he said ok he would do that resolution at the same €5 price.

Pickup tomorrow at around 11.00.

What do you pay, and what do you get?

 

[dmr]

$5 and change (US) for develop and CD at Walgreens, the local drug store chain. My guess it is around 1200 dpi, about 1 meg files.

$8 and change (US) at a local independent lab. Again, I think it's around 1200 dpi but the files are just over 3 meg, so I assume they use less jpg compression.

 

[bmattock]

Try looking here:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/professional/tib/tib7058.jhtml?id=0.1.14.34.5.98&lc=en

Also:

http://bermangraphics.com/press/frontier.htm

Scanning 35mm Slides with the Frontier Printer
Not many people know about this, but the Frontier printer can also produce high resolution scans (3000 pixels per inch) from 35mm slides and negatives for a remarkably low cost. (Costco's price was 59 cents each!) Over a one week period we had 100 of Larry’s old slides scanned to create a new Film Gallery and two galleries of images for sale on BermanArt.com. The scanned files were 4535x3035 pixels and were saved as 12 to 19 megabyte high quality Jpeg’s. These opened in Photoshop as a 39 megabyte PSD files. Not all Frontiers’ will output at this resolution; it will depend on the IC (image control) software in use. Ask the operator to scan for a 10x15 inch print and that will set the unit to output at its highest quality.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

It's a new ball game and they don't know what to charge.

I used to pay €3, then bit by bit it increased to €6 for dev, index and scan.

But another place nearby is asking for €35!

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Yes, the Fuji Frontier can scan at HIRES but the operators seem not to know about it.

Problem is, a HIRES scan of a 135/36 takes some time (about thirty minutes I think), and they would rather be pushing 300dpi films through the same machine in a fraction of the time.

 

[bmattock]

For what it may be worth, I still believe that if a person wants scans done on a frequent basis, it is far cheaper to buy a dedicated film scanner and amortize the cost over time. I get far better scans than any one-hour or even your basic pro lab can offer - and I paid $300 for a scanner that is now available for $200. I fail to see the advantage to having it done and paying, and paying, and paying for inferior scans.

But to each their own.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Yeah, I know you're right Bill. But a good scanner is going to cost me €750 or so. The minilab does it for maybe €3, I don't know exactly as it's a bundle with the dev and index.

So if it is €3 I'll need to scan 250 films to break even, and I only do about 100 a year.

 

[dmr]

For what it may be worth, I still believe that if a person wants scans done on a frequent basis, it is far cheaper to buy a dedicated film scanner and amortize the cost over time. I get far better scans than any one-hour or even your basic pro lab can offer - and I paid $300 for a scanner that is now available for $200. I fail to see the advantage to having it done and paying, and paying, and paying for inferior scans.

I planned to, and use the film scanner for the real good ones only, those I want a very good scan of.

For those I want just casual prints of, or maybe for e-mail and the web, it's much easier to pay a couple bucks for the CD when it's being processed.

It takes a few minutes total per scan, when taking time to do it right, on the Dual IV, that's an hour at least for a 24 exposure roll. IMAO it's money well spent to get a medium-res scan of each frame.

 

[bmattock]

Yeah, I know you're right Bill. But a good scanner is going to cost me €750 or so. The minilab does it for maybe €3, I don't know exactly as it's a bundle with the dev and index.

So if it is €3 I'll need to scan 250 films to break even, and I only do about 100 a year.

I'm sorry it will cost you that much. May I ask why? I know that prices are not the same everywhere, VAT, etc, but that much more? A ScanDual IV is a pretty good scanner, you're saying it costs 750 Euros where you are? Ouch!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Nikon Bob]

I pay $3.44 Canadian (2.44 Euro), including taxes, for develope only with a Kodak Photo CD and index sheet. I have no idea what the rez is and neither do the operaters interestingly enough. I just use the CD to see which I may want to scan at home. Another strange thing is that the develope only is the same price as including the CD and index. If the develope only was cheaper I would not bother with the CD.

Bob

 

[bmattock]

I planned to, and use the film scanner for the real good ones only, those I want a very good scan of.

For those I want just casual prints of, or maybe for e-mail and the web, it's much easier to pay a couple bucks for the CD when it's being processed.

It takes a few minutes total per scan, when taking time to do it right, on the Dual IV, that's an hour at least for a 24 exposure roll. IMAO it's money well spent to get a medium-res scan of each frame.

Again, just my 2 cents - but once a roll of film has been commercially scanned, in my experience and opinion, it is hopelessly scratched up - your milage may vary.

I does not take a few minutes per scan to scan your negs at low rez at home. Much much less. Plus, you can be doing other things while scanning - I do it all the time.

If you're looking to do a low-cost 'index' scan sort of thing, the latest flatbeds with transparency adapters will do something like 24 frames at a whack. That's your whole roll in most cases. Not the greastest compared to a dedicated scanner, but heck - I think I could make a case for buying both a flatbed and a dedicated scanner - using the flatbed for 'index scan' type scanning if time is that much of an issue.

Of course it is your money and your choice. Frankly, I could not begin to afford it with the amount of film I shoot - I'd be spending a thousand or more a year on just scanning. And money spent on having scans done is gone - you don't own anything but a CD at the end of it. When I've amortized my investment in scanners, I still have the scanners. For the remaining life of the scanners, the scans they produce are essentially free.

It all comes down to personal choice though. I can't see paying to have it done, but those are my circumstances.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

I pay $3.44 Canadian (2.44 Euro), including taxes, for develope only with a Kodak Photo CD and index sheet. I have no idea what the rez is and neither do the operaters interestingly enough. I just use the CD to see which I may want to scan at home. Another strange thing is that the develope only is the same price as including the CD and index. If the develope only was cheaper I would not bother with the CD.

Bob

I'd say you're getting a pretty good deal. I pay $2 US for process only, no scan, no prints. That's about what, $3 CDN?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

A decent scanner is the thick end of £500, at £ x 1.45 = € that won't be far off €750 once delivery is included.

 

[bmattock]

A decent scanner is the thick end of £500, at £ x 1.45 = € that won't be far off €750 once delivery is included.

Wow, that's really awful. I'm sorry to hear it. I would not be able to afford a decent scanner for a long time with prices like that. I wonder why they're so high where you are?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Some things are very expensive in Europe.

Ten dollars a gallon for gas always surprises US visitors.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I'd say you're getting a pretty good deal. I pay $2 US for process only, no scan, no prints. That's about what, $3 CDN?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

If the currency calculator is right, then $2 US = $2.38 Canadian. I might try skipping the CD next time and see if it results in better condition negs as you have suggested but when it is included for the smae price it is hard to resist. To put it another way $3.44 CAD = $2.94 US. There seems to be great variences on what is being charged for similar services in different parts of the globe but then that is no surprise either.

Bob

 

[Nikon Bob]

Some things are very expensive in Europe.

Ten dollars a gallon for gas always surprises US visitors.

Gas I can live without when visiting Europe but smokes are a real killer, pun intended.

Bob

 

[jtzordon]

I used to use my Epson 3170 for proof scans until it went *KAPUT*. Lately I've been using the local Walmart for about $5 a pop for 1200x1800 pixel scans. MUCH better than my local photo lab. It would cost about $9 per roll for 1000x1500 pixel scans that look like crap!

 

[Nikon Bob]

Yeah, I know you're right Bill. But a good scanner is going to cost me €750 or so. The minilab does it for maybe €3, I don't know exactly as it's a bundle with the dev and index.

So if it is €3 I'll need to scan 250 films to break even, and I only do about 100 a year.

Jon

I think you and Bill are talking about two different levels of scanners. I realize Europe is more expensive but a scanner like a Minolta 5400 II is more than a Minolta similar to what Bill uses ( sorry forgot the model Bill). I am just thinking of the apples to oranges thing maybe happening here. No matter which model the cost will be more in Europe but not by that margin, I hope.

Bob

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Smokes price varies a lot.

Portugal is very cheap compared to Britain. About half the price.

But go to a shop in Algarve and there will always be touts by the door offering no-brand cigarettes for 50% discount so long as you buy a whole case.