Looking for a new film developer in 2024

kshapero

South Florida Man
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Mar 27, 2006
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I no longer develop my film rolls. Recommend to me a reputable film developer, please. Mail order is fine.
 
I use Midwest Film Company for ECN-2 (they also process C-41 and B+W) via mail order, they are located in Kansas. They have very nice and affordable scans.

I also use Dodge Chrome which is just down the road from me (they have locations in DC and Maryland) for E-6 and C-41 (they also process B+W), but they accept mail order as well. $9.75 for C-41 and $12.00 for E-6 and (both 35mm/120, prices for 220 and large format vary). Their scanning is fairly expensive though so I'd go the home scanning route.

 
Google is not always your friend, but in this case, yeah. Most labs have pretty informative websites; if they don't, move on. Email those that do interest you, to get a better sense of what they're about. There's a lot out there!
 
B&W? C-41? E-6? All of the above. yes
For E-6, Dwaynes. I have no experience with other processes. And you can stock up on Fuji prepaid E-6 mailers, which go to Dwayne's. Buy a bunch now, and beat the future price increases. Sort of like buying "Forever" stamps.
 
I am thinking about sending my C41 to Dwayne’s in Kansas. They’re $6/roll, which is as economical as any other mail-in lab.
I recently sent a dozen rolls of Tx400 and a few rolls Portra to Dwayne's. Disappointed that I had to wait 5 weeks make 3 phone calls to get my scans.
 
I use The Darkroom. They are in California so it takes a 7-9 day turnaround from shipping to receiving negs to the East coast but they have so far been very reliable (I’ve used them for about 6 or 7 years - ever since my local labs stopped running any volume through their machines causing iffy results).
 
I recently sent a dozen rolls of Tx400 and a few rolls Portra to Dwayne's. Disappointed that I had to wait 5 weeks make 3 phone calls to get my scans.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I used Dwayne's for Kodachrome processing years ago, which went fine. Maybe I'll call them beforehand about turnaround for develop only of 4 rolls of color negative.
 
The website Lens Lurker includes listings for labs that offer development via the mail as well as brick & mortar locations for cities in the USA. Some listings are also provided for Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
 
I am reminded, once again, that I am lucky to have a local lab since Eau Claire really isn't that large of a city.
 
I wanted to follow up on this thread with my results using a lab recommended here. I ended up sending my 4 rolls of C-41 to Fulltone because they had the best price. I paid about $22 for develop only of 4 rolls, and that included shipping from Washington State. The price is good and the turnaround was fine, at about 2 weeks. Unfortunately my negs have a lot of particles on them. There are not many stains or scratches, like you see from some labs, but the amount of particle matter is a bit ridiculous on some frames. I did what I could with my soft gloves and a blower, but the specs do not come off the negs. Mabey they have neglected to change the rinse solution in thier machine.

53981925483_07ef606cc1_o.jpg
IMG_1161
 
I wanted to follow up on this thread with my results using a lab recommended here. I ended up sending my 4 rolls of C-41 to Fulltone because they had the best price. I paid about $22 for develop only of 4 rolls, and that included shipping from Washington State. The price is good and the turnaround was fine, at about 2 weeks. Unfortunately my negs have a lot of particles on them. There are not many stains or scratches, like you see from some labs, but the amount of particle matter is a bit ridiculous on some frames. I did what I could with my soft gloves and a blower, but the specs do not come off the negs. Mabey they have neglected to change the rinse solution in thier machine.

IMG_1161
Well that looks ridiculous.
The negatives I get in my home-lab are by FAR better.
 
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