Need Good Lab for C-41 + Scans

[wilonstott]

Alright, with my C-41 I have been going the drugstore route, but I have a project coming up and I want quality processing and scans.

Need a lab. Location does not matter.

Looked at Dwayne's and they provide 4mb image files, which is awesome, cause 2.5 is the best I've been getting--plus I feel like that shadows/highlights have been a bit clipped--perhaps this is an operator issue.

Want scans that look as good or better than a properly used Coolscan.

Decently quick turnaround would be nice.

Also, decently priced would be a plus, but I have no illusions about 4 dollar roll process+scan.

What are your experiences?
Must be able to produce high quality large scans or no deal.

Thanks in advance.


also--I have no plans to purchase a used scanner, so no need to delve into that.

 

[lilmsmaggie]

You might want to check out A & I: http://aandi.com Fast service including overnight. Not exactly cheap.

 

[rbiemer]

I used Dwayne's for quite some time but got very tired of dust, scratches, and water marks on my negs.
Tried Precision Camera's offer and am very happy with their work.
Highly recommended.
See here:http://www.precision-camera.com/webmaster/forms/view.php?id=5
Rob

 

[wilonstott]

I used Dwayne's for quite some time but got very tired of dust, scratches, and water marks on my negs.
Tried Precision Camera's offer and am very happy with their work.
Highly recommended.
See here:http://www.precision-camera.com/webmaster/forms/view.php?id=5
Rob

sweet.
this is it.

 

[grif]

http://chromedigital.com/location.html

Used them a couple of times.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Precision scans are great, and they sponsor here. Equal scans at north Coast Photographic Services In San Diego (Google them).

 

[divewizard]

The processing and scans by Precision Camera and North Coast Photo are why I started shooting film again.

Lately I have sent almost all of my C41 and E6 for PCV and my black and white to NCPS.

I sometimes use NCPS for quick turn around for E6 and C41 since from Los Angeles they are 1 day each way by mail, and PCV is 3-4 days each way.

 

[Mister E]

northcoastphoto.com or http://www.precision-camera.com/landing

 

[Chinasaur]

Panda Lab - Seattle, WA. Dedicated to B&W but they do C-41 excellently as well.

Mail order? Bien sur!

 

[Faintandfuzzy]

Richard Photo Lab. Look no further.

 

[wilonstott]

What's the turnaround time at Precision? Any difference between E-6 and C-41?

After seeing that the price is the same for E-6 and C-41, it makes me really want to start shooting slides.

You guys have all been very helpful--I've checked out all of the recommendations so far.

 

[Tim Gray]

NCPS is faster than Precision in my experience. I liked the scans from Precision more - larger and more pleasing color in my opinion. NCPS is great stuff though - the scans are definitely large enough, and if you feel the need to get the Precision sized scans, you can pay a bit extra to get them.

From the Philly, NCPS is about a week, while Precision is more like 2ish.

 

[wilonstott]

Thanks Tim. Good to know.

 

[Mister E]

I won't use precision again.

 

[David_Manning]

Why won't you?

 

[goo0h]

I used Dwayne's for quite some time but got very tired of dust, scratches, and water marks on my negs.
Tried Precision Camera's offer and am very happy with their work.
Highly recommended.
See here:http://www.precision-camera.com/webmaster/forms/view.php?id=5
Rob

I just used them for a 20-roll batch, and couldn't be happier. I'm sticking with them.

 

[Zonan]

I won't use precision again.

Would be interested in knowing why that is- this is the first negative remark I've seen about them, and am looking for someone to use

Thanks

 

[whitecat]

Of the two I like NCPS. Fast turnaroud.

 

[Mister E]

Why won't you?

Here's a scan from my last batch I sent to them. This was a well exposed 220 roll of E100VS:


by NateVenture, on Flickr

Look at the noise in the blacks? This is from not setting the proper white and black points on the scanner. I'm assuming their prices are cheap because they're using auto-mode to do everything. I get completely inconsistent results from them. I've contacted them repeatedly and the only one whoever tried to work with me, Robert, is now no longer with precision.

I've been using PCV for a few months. I tried them because their prices were so good. I cannot afford to pay $30 a roll of 220 at NCPS. Now I am not sure what to do. I won't use PCV again, after a whole week of them not replying to my questions, comment and messages I asked them to just return my last batch of film, undeveloped. I've been using NCPS for 3 years I think and while they occasionally make mistakes they always have fixed them and have been great at communicating. Marsha, their scanner, is top notch and even the most difficult scenes to scan are expertly managed. I have no affiliation with them other than being a happy customer; however, like I said, I need/want the higher resolution scans, but simply cannot afford them.

PCV also makes other amateur mistakes like only burning CDs instead of DVDs, each roll of film is on a CD. Send 100 rolls, get 100 CDs. That really costs me more to have my film shipped back to Japan. 50 CDs is HEAVY! Instead of naming folders for the film tag like, '1210' they just have them labeled with the scanner default of DCIM, so every single folder is the same name. You have to change them on import. This is terrible. I asked them about this, to which they again didn't respond.

 

[Zonan]

Mister E,

thanks for the report- I had emailed Robert a few days ago, hadn't heard back, guess I now know why. Too bad- I was planning to send a bunch of 220- smoking price with the special, but no point in getting back poor results no matter how cheap.