First roll of Portra 400

[sukumizu]

Like the topic says, I just finished my first roll of Portra 400 after shooting on the streets all day and I could use some information on getting this developed.

I no longer trust my stuff getting developed at cheap drugstores/Costco since they always tend to scratch my negatives somehow so I'm hoping that one of you guys (or gals) can help point me in a general direction of where I can get my stuff developed/scanned for fair prices. Hopefully there are local shops near my area (Los Angeles), but if I have to ship it out then I guess I won't have a choice but to do so.

Cheers.

P.S. I would develop it myself, but I don't even have confidence with doing B&W yet. I'll get around to doing it, just not at this moment.

 

[Steve Ash]

If I would be so lucky to live in the area I would give all my stuff to this lab:

http://www.richardphotolab.com/

Regards,
Steve

 

[Araakii]

For C41 in LA, I heard that there's a couple that does a really good job. I think they are on Santa Monica blvd.

 

[cabbiinc]

I don't live in LA nor do I use any of these guys but Ken Rockwell has some links that may or may not help. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/labs.htm

 

[divewizard]

Use Precision Camera. A sponsor here. They do great work.

 

[gb hill]

I agree with Divewizard use Precision. They have special rates for members. But if you feel you need to use local then Richards is an option.
http://www.richardphotolab.com/index.html

 

[sukumizu]

Thanks a lot guys. I might head over to Richard's tomorrow morning. Hopefully they have same day service.

@cabbiinc: I might check out NCPS whenever I have more rolls to develop.


By the way, when you mail out film, they don't go through any sort of xray do they? It's a question that's always been bugging me.

 

[Roscoe]

I don't live in LA nor do I use any of these guys but Ken Rockwell has some links that may or may not help. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/labs.htm

Sorry, but Ken Rockwell is a pompous blowhard that thinks too highly of his own opinions.

 

[sukumizu]

Sorry, but Ken Rockwell is a pompous blowhard that thinks too highly of his own opinions.

That is true, which is why I am a tad bit wary of things that he posts on his website. The guy seems to contradict everything he says on every other article that he writes.

 

[Araakii]

I didn't have a good experience with the Icon.

 

[Rayt]

Rockwell can be a good source but if he says he has never used a particular lens but here is a review anyway then look elsewhere. And he does that often.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I go to Samy's on fairfax, it's $4 for C-41/B&W development and if you take it to them in the morning they'll have it by 4pm same day. (i don't know how much scanning is)

 

[Lovesong]

I've been mailing my C41 and E6 to NCPS for several years now, and have been very happy with their work. Clean negs and slides, with few/no scratches.

That being said, about a year ago I received a package from them in the mail, which happened to be some poor girl's film in Pennsylvania. I forwarded it to her, but still- I would hate to have them ship my film off to someone who may or may not send them to me.

 

[imokruok]

I go to Samy's on fairfax, it's $4 for C-41/B&W development and if you take it to them in the morning they'll have it by 4pm same day. (i don't know how much scanning is)

+1, and they have some interesting used stuff upstairs sometimes.

 

[jefffribourg]

I go to Samy's on fairfax, it's $4 for C-41/B&W development and if you take it to them in the morning they'll have it by 4pm same day. (i don't know how much scanning is)

i forgot samys even developed. i try to stay away from the fairfax store though because everyone other then the security guard seems to be a bit condescending . For $4 they can take a look at my negatives and tell me how poor the exposure is though😀.

 

[amyukie]

I live in LA but haven't tried to process C-41 yet. If I will do it someday, I think I prefer to send it by a mail..

 

[Paddy C]

I no longer trust my stuff getting developed at cheap drugstores/Costco since they always tend to scratch my negatives somehow so I'm hoping that one of you guys (or gals) can help point me in a general direction of where I can get my stuff developed/scanned for fair prices. Hopefully there are local shops near my area (Los Angeles), but if I have to ship it out then I guess I won't have a choice but to do so.

Not sure what your reasonable is. But if you want great developing/scanning/printing then Richard Photo Lab (in LA) is really good place to go.

I shot this set at Christmas and sent it to RPL. Got the processing, Noritsu scans, and prints:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61569711@N04/sets/72157629273790039/

All I did with the scans was re-size them and upload them to flickr. And I was really really happy with the prints I got.

But it wasn't cheap.