Uncle Fester
Well-known
I shoot film because I dislike digital, so we obviously have vastly different perceptions on what constitutes "absolute perfection". I tried going the cheap route years ago and had my film ruined on more than one occasion. Just little things like dusty and dirty negatives, scratches that ran the entire length of the roll, fingerprints, uncorrectable color casts due to poor process control and physically damaged negs as well. A lot of the pictures may not have been important at the time, but a lot of those rolls contained photos of family and friends who are no longer living. I now avoid these problems by developing the film myself, in my own darkroom. I am very careful to keep the whole process within recommended tolerances, using the chemicals one-shot and my success rate has gone way up. DIY C-41 developing is ridiculously easy.
I couldn't tell you if Wally World ships to Fuji labs or not, since I refuse to do business with them under any circumstances, but I have used Fuji's labs in the past, and while their work was generally acceptable, I am happier with my own developing, or a lab that really makes the effort to not screw up my film.
PatrickT
New Rangefinder User
Yep, Fuji labs! Haven't had a problem yet, aside from the fact that for the last roll I sent in, a blind monkey must have cut the negatives. From now on, I'll be specifying "do not cut"
dyao
Well-known
Picked up the roll I dropped off today... they ignored my instructions and made me regular prints and charged the full price (~$5!) Worst part was they stickered over the special instructions part with the actual price so you couldn't even see my special instructions. Guess somebody must have made the prints, seen the special instructions, then stickered over it.
IT's okay though because I found a local lab that will do $3 a roll for just developing. Someday when I have time I'll investigate doing it myself..
IT's okay though because I found a local lab that will do $3 a roll for just developing. Someday when I have time I'll investigate doing it myself..
Tim Gray
Well-known
I used to use Target. I would get dev and a CD for around $2. Sometimes. Sometimes it would be $6. Sometimes I'd get prints with it even though I didn't ask for them.
Then I moved. The Target at the new place ruined the first two rolls of film I dropped off (exposed them to light before developing) AND charged me $6 for developing. About a month later they stopped doing on site development. Walmart followed suit about 3 months later.
I use NCPS now instead of photoworkssf. I liked photoworks, its just that for the same price I get bigger scans from NCPS.
Then I moved. The Target at the new place ruined the first two rolls of film I dropped off (exposed them to light before developing) AND charged me $6 for developing. About a month later they stopped doing on site development. Walmart followed suit about 3 months later.
I use NCPS now instead of photoworkssf. I liked photoworks, its just that for the same price I get bigger scans from NCPS.
not_in_good_order
Well-known
My local CVS does an excellent job. No scratches or fingerprints for $2.19 per roll, developing only. The employees there seem knowledgeable and professional. Since I scan my own negatives, it is perfect for me.
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rjbuzzclick
Well-known
Self process B&W (35mm, 120, 4x5).
Target for 35mm C-41 color, develop only, about $1/roll.
Universal Color Inc. in New Hope, MN for 120 C-41 color, develop only, about $7/roll.
4x5 color...umm...I've not crossed that bridge yet.
Target for 35mm C-41 color, develop only, about $1/roll.
Universal Color Inc. in New Hope, MN for 120 C-41 color, develop only, about $7/roll.
4x5 color...umm...I've not crossed that bridge yet.