Mail order processing in the UK

[BJ Bignell]

Hey guys, anybody have some recommendations or cautionary tales for some mail order processing here in the UK? I've got a big batch to send out while I'm touring Scotland, so would appreciate any quick input.

Thanks!
BJ

 

[Mark Wood]

Hi BJ

For several years, I've used Peak Imaging in Sheffield for print film (www.peak-imaging.com) - they are about the only processors I've ever come across that don't scratch film and the quality of their colour printing is excellent. That is even with their "cheaper" Standard service. They print B&W on colour paper but have produced some of the best lab. printed B&W I've seen.

For transparency film, Peak Imaging seem fine although I tend to use Fuji (www.fujilab.co.uk) as they seem to be consistent (infinitely better than they were 10 years ago) and I like their thinner slide mounts.

Hope that's of some use - I don't have connections with either company except that both take a lot of my money!!

 

[kuvvy]

I second that! Peak are excellent. Superb quality and excellent service. More costly than the very cheapo mail order companies but well worth it. Even my wife noticed the difference in the quality of shots done at Peak. Always get good marks in the photo press when they do their annual lab comparisons. Give 'em a go!

Paul

 

[Goodyear]

I'll give another vote for Peak. I've never had any cause to complain, and they are my usual lab for C41 and E6.

 

[Mark Wood]

I can probably top Paul's comment - even my Mother liked the look of Peak Imaging's prints and now uses them! (Mind you, she won't use anything less than a Contax T2!) Her only criticism of them and it would be one of mine too, is that it would be nice to have some form of wallet for storing the prints (they just come in a paper bag). The proper negative filing sheets more than make up for that though. Just occasionally, in the past, I've thought that they might have overdone the sharpening (the printing is "digital") but that now seems to be well under control.

 

[jamiewakeham]

Just as an alternative, I'll recommend Dlab7 for slide processing (never tried their C41 so can't comment). Very good (usually come highly in mag surveys, and they've never disappointed me), fast and reasonably cheap (due to avoiding lots of tax by being in Guernsey).

On the other hand, avoid their shop sister company, 7DayShop.com. Again, cheap and fast, but the worst customer service in the world. Took me eight months to get a refund on a duff lens.

Jamie

 

[pab]

Peak Imaging- totally reliable for C41 and E6 processing. I've never had drying marks, scratches, dust hair or anything like that. I usually scan my film but on the odd occasion when I've requested prints, they have been of hgh quality. B & W is printed digitally on colour paper but is not bad.

 

[IanForber]

Peak are v good. If you need proper B&W dev and print I would go for Lab35 (they print out on BW paper) - their slides are pretty good too. Never tried C41 though. Only downside for B&W is that they can take over a week to turn around (as opposed to 48hrs or less for E6).

 

[kuvvy]

I'm with you Jamie on slide procesing. I send mine to Dlab7 too, in fact I'm sending a roll off today. One thing I do avoid is having prints done off the slides. I had some done from a roll at the same time as processing and they were awful. Focus looked soft and the colours were off a little, yet the slides were excellent.

Paul

 

[jrong]

Another vote for Peak Imaging. Haven't used them for a while now since sending my slides to a local pro lab here (to avoid the cruel whims of the postal service in my area) but Peak have always offered me a top-rate service at reasonable prices.

Jin

 

[airds]

The Peak

The Peak

Her only criticism of them and it would be one of mine too, is that it would be nice to have some form of wallet for storing the prints (they just come in a paper bag)

I brought this very matter up with them almost exactly 2 years ago, about their - is it glassine paper bags they are called? - and received this disappointing short reply:-



%<---------------------------------------------------------------

I'm sorry, we don't use wallets. Years ago we abandoned them
due to the many varying sizes of prints and quantities we do.
We found the wallets to damage print corners.

%<---------------------------------------------------------------



Damage? I don't see what the problem just to ENCLOSE a wallet and keep the prints in the present bag. I think they are missing a very good marketing opportunity, since everybody that see's my Peak Processed prints want's to know who did them ....... they could even run a photo competition for the wallet artwork or similar.



As a side note, the wallets that Photobox - another very good company - use to return their prints from digital uploads are very sturdy and ideal. Anybody happen to know a good source of similar types?

ps

Your first 10 prints (6 x4") are free from Photobox, 100 Mb initial free storage with 50Mb added on each order - so get some some scans uploaded ! They are usually arrive in the letterbox the next day, + £1.50 P&P/order, if ordered online before about 2:30PM