E6 processing -- how much does the lab matter?

[noimmunity]

I shot a bunch of RVP 50 recently and am looking to have it developed...being away from my usual channels now in a new country, I need to consider how to get it developed. Friendly advice has pointed me to mail service developing in Paris, but a local Kodak developer also has a service where they forward it to a central lab for processing. Saves me a lot of hassle in terms of mailing and communication, but, my question is, how much does the quality of the lab matter in terms of E6 processing?

 

[Roger Hicks]

Quite a lot, but it's TOTALLY BLOODY UNPREDICTABLE. There is almost no correlation between price and quality except perhaps in a few major cities where there's competition.

Never use a new lab for anything that matters without trying at least one unimportant roll first.

Cheers,

R.

 

[noimmunity]

Totally Bloody Unpredictable? Great.
Roger, the rolls I have in hand are important, to me. I spent a week hiking through the volcanic park in Auvergne at what has to be one of if not the prettiest times of year, when snow remains on the peaks and alpine flowers abound. I've been hiking in that region before, in the summer which is when most postcards are taken, but the colors can't compare with early spring.

It might be worth shooting two test rolls around town, have that developed at two different places, and then compare results.

Then again, I could just post the undeveloped rolls to my usual lab in Taipei. The cost would end up being less expensive, but there would be an added time delay.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Totally Bloody Unpredictable? Great.
Roger, the rolls I have in hand are important, to me. I spent a week hiking through the volcanic park in Auvergne at what has to be one of if not the prettiest times of year, when snow remains on the peaks and alpine flowers abound. I've been hiking in that region before, in the summer which is when most postcards are taken, but the colors can't compare with early spring.

It might be worth shooting two test rolls around town, have that developed at two different places, and then compare results.

Then again, I could just post the undeveloped rolls to my usual lab in Taipei. The cost would end up being less expensive, but there would be an added time delay.

That is, without question, what I would do. Cheaper, quicker and safer than mailing to Taipei, too.

Cheers,

R.

 

[noimmunity]

Cheaper, quicker and safer than mailing to Taipei, too.

While it certainly would be safer, the actual truth is that mailing to Taipei turns out to be cheaper. Not having my scanner with me in France yet, the cost of development plus scan in France is about 12-13 euros, while the cost in Taipei is about 4-5 euros. With a dozen rolls to develop, it is cheaper to send to Taipei, even given the mailing costs.

 

[Pablito]

I guess you trust the mail.
As Roger says, lab quality is very important with E6. But you should be able to find out without too much trouble what labs have a good reputation in France. You could also just develop and not mount the film, then scan and mount later & save money that way.

 

[Thomas-Paris]

While it certainly would be safer, the actual truth is that mailing to Taipei turns out to be cheaper. Not having my scanner with me in France yet, the cost of development plus scan in France is about 12-13 euros, while the cost in Taipei is about 4-5 euros. With a dozen rolls to develop, it is cheaper to send to Taipei, even given the mailing costs.

With a dozen rolls, assuming you trust the mail, it probably does make sense to send the film abroad. I don't shoot a lot of E6 -- I'm usually shooting B&W film or digital color -- but I've only had good experience with Negatif Plus in Paris. Their prices are perfectly fine for Europe and their quality has always been great. Have you tried asking for suggestions in the French-language film forum at 35mm-compact.com ?

 

[HHPhoto]

While it certainly would be safer, the actual truth is that mailing to Taipei turns out to be cheaper. Not having my scanner with me in France yet, the cost of development plus scan in France is about 12-13 euros, while the cost in Taipei is about 4-5 euros. With a dozen rolls to develop, it is cheaper to send to Taipei, even given the mailing costs.

As you are now living in France, you are a neighbour to the "slide flim paradise of the world":
Germany. Slide film and slide projection has always been very popular here.
In Germany you can get all you need for slide film shooting (and very cheap), even new slide film projectors from four different manufacturers.

And there are lots of excellent professional E6 labs, more than 45 overall.
I can highly recommend www.photostudio13.de , a lab with an outstanding reputation. I send them my E6 and BW slide films.
Excellent quality and service.
D&d machines and Kodak quality control system.

E6 is 3,92€ + 19% german VAT.

Cheers, Jan

 

[thegman]

I'd send it to my regular lab I think, not sure I'd risk another, unless it came with a great reputation. Having said that, there is something about German service that would make me rest easy sending to a large lab in Germany.

 

[noimmunity]

As you are now living in France, you are a neighbour to the "slide flim paradise of the world":
Germany. Slide film and slide projection has always been very popular here.
In Germany you can get all you need for slide film shooting (and very cheap), even new slide film projectors from four different manufacturers.

And there are lots of excellent professional E6 labs, more than 45 overall.
I can highly recommend www.photostudio13.de , a lab with an outstanding reputation. I send them my E6 and BW slide films.
Excellent quality and service.
D&d machines and Kodak quality control system.

E6 is 3,92€ + 19% german VAT.

Cheers, Jan

Dear Jan,

Thank you so very much for the kind tip. Although I only read your post after having mailed my rolls to Taipei, I will certainly try the lab you have suggested in the future.

Cheers in return,
Jon