Jamie123
Veteran
My girlfriend and I are travelling to the US this summer and will be spending a week in LA before we head to NYC for another week.
I decided to travel light and leave the 5DII at home. I'll be taking my Bessa III for medium format and a Nikon 35Ti for 35mm with me instead. As film is much cheaper to buy and process in the US than it is where I live I thought I'd buy a ton of film when I get there and have it processed before I return home.
Since LA is going to be our first stop, I'll most likely stock up on film there. Where in LA can I find good stores that sell film at a reasonable price? I want to buy only Kodak Portra NC so supermarkets that sell consumer film won't do. Also, where can I find a good pro lab in LA? I'll probably just take the exposed rolls with me to New York and have everything processed at the end of the trip but it's always a good to know just in case.
As for NYC, I'll probably just go to B&H for film if I run out but where can I find a good lab with decent prices? Ideally I'd like to get contact prints with my negs so I'll have an easier time editing but it really depends on the price. What does it cost to have a roll of 35mm or 120 film processed with a contact print? What does it cost to process and scan?
I decided to travel light and leave the 5DII at home. I'll be taking my Bessa III for medium format and a Nikon 35Ti for 35mm with me instead. As film is much cheaper to buy and process in the US than it is where I live I thought I'd buy a ton of film when I get there and have it processed before I return home.
Since LA is going to be our first stop, I'll most likely stock up on film there. Where in LA can I find good stores that sell film at a reasonable price? I want to buy only Kodak Portra NC so supermarkets that sell consumer film won't do. Also, where can I find a good pro lab in LA? I'll probably just take the exposed rolls with me to New York and have everything processed at the end of the trip but it's always a good to know just in case.
As for NYC, I'll probably just go to B&H for film if I run out but where can I find a good lab with decent prices? Ideally I'd like to get contact prints with my negs so I'll have an easier time editing but it really depends on the price. What does it cost to have a roll of 35mm or 120 film processed with a contact print? What does it cost to process and scan?
aizan
Veteran
freestyle is in thai town. order something from the southern thai menu at jitlada.
a&i or the icon are good for film processing.
a&i or the icon are good for film processing.
imokruok
Well-known
Freestyle is good and I'm usually able to find what I need there. But their selection and prices on film are generally not as good as the Samy's on 431 S. Fairfax.
Also, if you do decide to get film developed in LA, take it to the lab yourself and don't deal with the retail shops. Most are just middlemen for the labs anyhow. A&I and the Icon (from above) are great suggestions. But I'm not sure if either place has same day turnaround. There are also two other places that I haven't used, but have been told are good: Richard Photo Lab and One Hour Photo Avenue. Of course if you're really in a pinch to get C41 done quickly, Walgreens and CVS drug stores in LA generally still have one-hour labs on site.
Also, if you do decide to get film developed in LA, take it to the lab yourself and don't deal with the retail shops. Most are just middlemen for the labs anyhow. A&I and the Icon (from above) are great suggestions. But I'm not sure if either place has same day turnaround. There are also two other places that I haven't used, but have been told are good: Richard Photo Lab and One Hour Photo Avenue. Of course if you're really in a pinch to get C41 done quickly, Walgreens and CVS drug stores in LA generally still have one-hour labs on site.
nightfly
Well-known
In New York I like L and I labs for developing color stuff:
http://www.landiphotolabs.com/homepage.html
There are a bunch of other labs around that same area including Duggal but I like L and I, they do a good job and usually have your film back in a few hours. I pay about $8/roll for color developing with no prints or CD. Not sure how much proofs are, never asked.
http://www.landiphotolabs.com/homepage.html
There are a bunch of other labs around that same area including Duggal but I like L and I, they do a good job and usually have your film back in a few hours. I pay about $8/roll for color developing with no prints or CD. Not sure how much proofs are, never asked.
Johnny RF
Rodinal User
Do not go to Duggal (23rd St/between 5th and 6th Ave) unless you absolutely need your processing done on a Sunday, but even then, they're usually heavily backed up for days. The prices can be ridiculous for anyone not using a corporate or studio account.
I highly recommend L&I Photo (22nd St /between 5th & 6th Ave) just across the street. Processing alone is usually same day if you drop it off in the morning. Professional and personable people. Open late, but closed on Sundays. About $7 for C-41, $8 for B&W (processing only).
Adorama is also just 4 blocks down from L&I (18th St/between 5th & 6th), if you need to stock up on pro film.
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aizan
Veteran
samy's does have lower prices than freestyle. i'd go to samy's before dinner. there are some nice fancy restaurants in that area, but they're much more expensive than lunch in thai town. 
processing is officially 4hrs at both places, but it is often done sooner. $8 a roll.
processing is officially 4hrs at both places, but it is often done sooner. $8 a roll.
Jamie123
Veteran
Thanks guys, that's exactly the information I was looking for! Samy's or Freestyle seem good for film supply. I will see which one is closer to our hotel. Our exact plans are still to be determined but we will stay in a hotel/motel in LA for at least a couple of days and then we might visit a friend in Del Mar or go to San Diego for a few days.
L&I seems nice for processing in New York. Processing is actually a bit more expensive than pro labs here (who'd have thought!) but not much. I'm not too worried about quick turnaround as my girlfriend is staying in New York for another week after I leave and if needed I'll have her pick up my film
Since we're at it, can anyone recommend a good hotel in LA? In New York? For New York I'm thinking something in the price range of $200-250/night. I'm not made of money but I don't want to cheap out on the hotel either. Last time I booked a $100 hotel room in NYC I spent my whole first day looking for another hotel.
I don't know what price range I should have in mind for LA. Last time I was in California is more than 10 years ago (was a kid back then) and my parents haver long forgotten what we paid for our trip back then.
L&I seems nice for processing in New York. Processing is actually a bit more expensive than pro labs here (who'd have thought!) but not much. I'm not too worried about quick turnaround as my girlfriend is staying in New York for another week after I leave and if needed I'll have her pick up my film
Since we're at it, can anyone recommend a good hotel in LA? In New York? For New York I'm thinking something in the price range of $200-250/night. I'm not made of money but I don't want to cheap out on the hotel either. Last time I booked a $100 hotel room in NYC I spent my whole first day looking for another hotel.
I don't know what price range I should have in mind for LA. Last time I was in California is more than 10 years ago (was a kid back then) and my parents haver long forgotten what we paid for our trip back then.
Riccis
Well-known
Jamie:
The best pro lab in L.A. (and probably the US) is Richard Photo Lab (www.richardphotolab.com)... Stop by, speak with Bill and they will take great care of you and deliver amazing results...
Cheers,
The best pro lab in L.A. (and probably the US) is Richard Photo Lab (www.richardphotolab.com)... Stop by, speak with Bill and they will take great care of you and deliver amazing results...
Cheers,
kxl
Social Documentary
Since you haven't been here since you were a kid, you may not know or remember, but keep in mind that "LA" generally extends beyond the city of Los Angeles itself, and includes the beaches, mountains and valleys -- an area of roughly 4000 square miles.
So it would help to know what you want to see/experience while in LA before you can figure out where to stay.
I also hope, for your sake, that you will rent a car. Also, what days will you be in town? Traffic congestion, as you probably already know, is a nightmare.
So it would help to know what you want to see/experience while in LA before you can figure out where to stay.
I also hope, for your sake, that you will rent a car. Also, what days will you be in town? Traffic congestion, as you probably already know, is a nightmare.
Jamie123
Veteran
Last time I was in LA I was 13 (which is exactly half a lifetime ago for me
) and we stayed mainly in Santa Monica. It was just one stop in a trip through California so we didn't spend much time there. I can't say much yet about what we want to see as we're still in the early planning stages but I'd love to hear suggestions! As I said, we migh also visit a friend in Del Mar who will surely be able to show us a few interesting places around LA and San Diego.We will rent a car although all the driving will have to be done by the one of us who has a license (i.e. not me).
sepiareverb
genius and moron
imokruok
Well-known
Half of the people driving in LA don't have licenses either!
But anyhow...generally, when people come to "LA," they think of the 12 mile stretch of land between Downtown and Santa Monica. So, plenty of areas to stay in between there, including West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Westwood, Santa Monica... Despite the traffic, all of those places will put you within driving distance of most of the stuff people come here to see.
Jamie123
Veteran
Half of the people driving in LA don't have licenses either!
But anyhow...generally, when people come to "LA," they think of the 12 mile stretch of land between Downtown and Santa Monica. So, plenty of areas to stay in between there, including West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Westwood, Santa Monica... Despite the traffic, all of those places will put you within driving distance of most of the stuff people come here to see.
What are some of the things worth seeing that people usually don't go to?
bhop73
Well-known
I guess your question's been answered already, but I go to freestyle since I can walk there.
If you're interested in b&w film, Freestyle also has their Arista Premium and Legacy Pro films which is just repackaged Tri-X and Neopan, but cheaper.
If you're interested in b&w film, Freestyle also has their Arista Premium and Legacy Pro films which is just repackaged Tri-X and Neopan, but cheaper.
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Jamie123
Veteran
I guess your question's been answered already, but I go to freestyle since I can walk there.
If you're interested in b&w film, Freestyle also has their Arista Premium and Legacy Pro films which is just repackaged Tri-X and Neopan, but cheaper.
I'm more of a color neg guy and when I occasionally use b&w it's mostly Ilford Delta but at 2 bucks a roll for Tri-X I might just stock up on it and bring it home.
Thanks for the tip!Renzsu
Well-known
Guys, I'm visiting NYC in June, shooting E6 on medium format mostly and since I'm trying to avoid horror stories at the customs dept. I'm really happy with these lab suggestions. I also read a horror story about Duggal on photo.net so I think I will give LTI and L&I a try.