Mail order film processing?

Norkusa

Norkusa

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Jan 20, 2012
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I'm about to try film again after 10 years with digital. Would like to get my rolls processed by a lab and scan the negatives myself. My only issue is most of the labs and grocery/drug stores near me have stopped processing film several years ago. There is a camera store here that still does it but they charge $12/$16 for 24 & 36 exposure Tri-X. Their C-41 prices aren't bad though...$3.83/roll.

Are there any good mail-order processing labs that I should look into? Or will I get better quality & service if I go local? I'd really like to shoot b&w but those processing prices are a killer. I'm in the US btw.
 
I can suggest checking into mpix.com. You can request pre-paid mailers. Once they get your film, they develop and upload low-res scans that you can view after you pay online. They send you the negative back and you can order prints online. I have been quite happy with their service.
 
Dwayne's is a good cheap option for processing only. I think C-41 is $4 a roll and BW is $5.50. Plus, they'll do lo-res (about 1.5mp) scans for another $3. You can proof and make 4x6 work prints with the lo-res scans, and then scan yourself for the few frames that you want to get serious about.

Another option is Precision Camera, which runs a special deal for RFF members. C-41 is $12 a roll with scans and you get glorious 26+mp scans. BW costs more, but the developing and scanning is better IMO than North Coast Photo for BW.
 
I send all my standard black and white to North Coast Photographic Supply to processed and scanned. They also do a fine job on E-6 and C-41, but at higher cost than PCV.

I send all my E-6 and C-41 (including XP2 B&W) to Precision Camera to be processed and scanned.

I sometimes send my 5-perf and 7-perf stereo E-6 to be developed only to Dwayne's. I have not found any processor that can scan 35mm stereo format. I have never been happy with scans I got from Dwayne's.

I keep trying other places, but I keep coming back to PCV and NCPS. The quality for the money can not be exceeded. The fact that PCV and NCPS are there is why I now enjoy film photography again after many years of digital only. I have sent the same roll to be scanned at both PCV and NCPS with equally good results.

See my gallery here or on flickr to see the results
 
I'm sure you've considered this, but b&w processing is very easy, and in my experience, you get a better a result than most labs, other than the very expensive.
Or just shoot xp2 of course.
 
I do my own B&W, it's too simple not to. Otherwise I send it to Wal-mart.

There was one lab in the US doing Kodachrome. They charged like $15 (or more, don't remember) and another $5 or $7 for return postage. Dropped it off at Walmart, came back in the same timeframe for $6.

Never had a problem with local Walmarts developing film. They stopped and now send to to huge lab that does the same good job. The process is pretty much automated so screw ups are rare.

When you pay you're local store to do B&W you have someone like me (in a hand tank) doing a few rolls a week for a little extra cash. Nothing wrong with that but do it yourself.
 
Thanks for the tips guys, will definitely look into all of the places suggested.

I guess processing my own film isn't out of the question. I used to do it years ago but I sold all of my darkroom equipment a few years back, including my tanks & reels. Out of curiosity, what would a 2 reel tank and chemistry cost me approximately?

The main problem with doing my own film though is getting it evenly on the reel. A lot of times it would bunch up, so I'd end up with undeveloped patches everywhere. I used to have a 35mm steel reel that worked for me 100% of the time but I never could find another like it. The film would connect to reel by its sprocket holes instead of being 'clipped' on. Has there been any technological improvements to 35mm developing reels in the past 15 years that are idiot proof for people like me?
 
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