Costco scan

[IK13]

My local Costco used to give me 6MP scans which were pretty decent.
Well, the last roll was scanned at 2.1MP (and not as good). The lady behind the counter answered my question about the scan resolution with "it's high" and "the machine is set this way". She had no knowledge about any numbers whatsoever. They use a Noritsu machine.

I tried, but couldn't find it written anywhere - what their scanning resolution is supposed to be? 😕

I suspect 2MP sounds about right since everybody else is doing it this way, but these 6MP scans were so much better...😡

 

[PATB]

The last time I used Costco, the scans were right around 5-6MB. This was in Mt. View California. I have a Nikon Coolscan but am too lazy to scan, especially C41, and the Noritsu does a good job of scanning Kodak 400UC. I guess its time to remove the Tri-X and shoot some C41 to try Costco processing again.

Anybody else experienced this?

 

[charjohncarter]

I just look at one of my Costco scans done at their Danville store. It is 3087x2048 pixels and 6.4 mb.

 

[BillBingham2]

I've stopped getting prints at Costco and just soup and scan. If I want anything better I take the negative elsewhere afterward.

Mine are pretty big too, do not remember how big though. Have a roll and will get back to you Wednesday.

Make friends with the department manager, it goes a long way!

B2 (;->

 

[mllanos1111]

I've been wanting to try them but everytime I've been to the one here in Carmel Mountain in San Diego I see them handeling the negetive with bare hands and being a bit rough. I'm concerned my negs may get scratched.

 

[biomed]

The last time I used Costco, my negatives were scratched lengthwise (from processing?) and at various across the negative strip (careless handling?)

Mike

 

[charjohncarter]

I have had scratched negatives at Costco. But it was caused by an older developer machine. They have all new equipment. In Danville they seem to use cotton gloves while handling negatives. But getting them to change their settings is impossible. Some of my color scans were coming out with little shadow detail. I complained and they said it was preset. Since then though they are better if not very good. So, maybe complaining helped??????????

 

[plummerl]

I quit using Costco long ago after determining that scratching the negatives was part of the process 😱 . If you watch how they work, it will be enough to send you else where. 36 exposure roll processing was the most heart stopping, the hanging racks are sized for 24 exposure 😱 😱 . The extra 12 exposures are lucky it they are not stepped on. Of course your Costco's might vary, but this was the conditions at four different ones that I have tried. I have seen them wear cotton gloves also, but they seem to also wear them while doing everything else, as well. When feeding the print machines, the negatives are allowed to be pulled across counters; the same for when they cut the negatives down.

 

[charjohncarter]

Yeah, but at least they do it in the open. How do you know custom labs aren't just as sloppy. I know one that is. Maybe you just have to find the one that works best in your area. In my area Costco is the best. Which may not be saying much. I don't mean to be contentious but everyone that I have ever used, mail order or local, have given me fits.

 

[plummerl]

I agree completely! As I said, I really did like what came out of Costco, print wise, but their handling of the negative was terrible. Here in the land of Costco, I tried four different ones, but they all were/are performing post production activities the same. This is the area where all the scratches were coming from, the initial print of the process was pristine. Believe it or not, I am now using a Walgreens for 35mm color negative. I have found the incidence of scratching to be almost non-existent. As you say your mileage may vary. 🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

Plummerl,

That's good, in my area the Walgreens I can walk to. But they have nothing but dust on their scans/negatives. Scratching, it is better at Walgreens.

I'm from Seattle but it appears that I'm 10 years your senior. Where do you live? I used to live on 37th West in Magnolia.

 

[JNewell]

Kodak's doing the same...last few rolls have been scratched.😱 😡 :bang:

 

[Brennotdan]

The only time I ever used a "pro" lab, my negatives we so mangled I had to send them back (got a full refund after the manager saw it). More than a few frames had been cut in half and some had chunks of emulsion missing altogether. This was consistent with all 5 rolls, different speeds and bought at different times. They were also so poorly developed, that I checked my light meter against every one in town just to be sure they weren't underexposed. I have shot with the camera since and developed at ritz and riteaid with no problems.

If anyone wants to know the name of this lab PM me and I'll let you know.

 

[jano]

You need to write "hi res scan" on the envelope in the designated area.

They may charge you more for that. My costco used to do it for $3/roll, but then they changed policy and all high rez scans were $10/roll.

Sounds like they had automagically been scanning at the hi res, and someone changed the settings. If they don't know how to change it, see their photo manager, should be able to help.

Jano

 

[jano]

Film scratches too easily.

the scratches you see on negatives from costco you may likely get from other places that use the noritsu's and fuji's. Before placing the film through the scanner, the technician's wipe the negative with a lint-free cloth - which is okay, but the negs have been sitting out, hanged up, to the open air. Dust gets on it, and the wipe causes the scratch(es). It's also possible the scratch(es) occur during development in the machine, if it wasn't properly cleaned, some piece of grit may be stuck. OR.. even your canister can cause it.

 

[ampguy]

San Bruno and SSF give me 3K x 2K ~ 3MB scan sizes which is better than the local Longs. Occasional negative scratches but not frequent enough for me to pay 3-4x at a Ritz.

 

[Rhoyle]

My Costco in Enfield, CT gives me 18 mb (this is not a misprint) scans. I asked why so big, including that I was not complaining, and they answered that so many people were requesting it that they just decided to do them all that way. Sometimes there are some minor scratches, but I've come to accept that as normal from just about anywhere you have them done. Their software all has dust/scratch removal, so it's not a huge issue for me. The quality (color balance, exposure, shadow/highlight detail) is good to very good. If I've got something that I really want to work with, I'll scan it myself on a Nikon Coolscan V, and I'll get slightly better results. But for my money (did I mention that developing, scanning and burning to CD runs me just under $5 per roll?!?!?) I'll not go any place else. This is a bargain that is not to be beat.

 

[Doug]

My local lab is a branch of a larger lab in the neighboring county. All their machinery is in open view behind the counter, and the main customer entry door is on the upwind side of the building, so dirt blows in right on the works as people come and go. Before they feed the negatives into the scanner, they wipe them down with a cloth kept at the machine. Long negative strips drag across the floor from one machine to the next. They offer only smaller scans, about 2 MP.

There is a "pro" service (which I always now use) available by having them send the film to the main lab, a 2-day to 6-day turnaround. There the processing area is in a filtered and climate-controlled room, so less dust and scratches, and scans are 2992 x 2000 pixels, 6.1 MP. This is adequate for small prints and as basis for uploads. I think they actually do a rather nice job of it.

 

[biomed]

I quit using Costco long ago after determining that scratching the negatives was part of the process ..........the negatives are allowed to be pulled across counters; the same for when they cut the negatives down.

Exactly my experience at Costco, Larry. I had my last C-41 processing done at Ken's Camera in Everett and they were good - there was one minor scratch on a negative. I used to have my C-41 processing at Kit's Camera in the local mall. It was only $1.99 per roll (process and cut). There was an employee that did most of the processing - NO SCRATCHES OR SPOTS. After she left the processing went downhill and I went elsewhere.

Mike

 

[jbf]

I usually take my C41 scans to a local CVS (like walgreens) that was recently built. They do a great job with the film. Super clean, very careful, etc. They're always very professional.