Processing to CD in the UK?

[thegman]

Hi all,
I am a newcomer to film, and am currently running my first roll through a Zeiss Ikon. I want to experiment with different films, B&W and slide, I'd like them developed straight to CD, no prints.

These guys: http://www.photo-express.co.uk look cheap for C41, but don't do slide or B&W, the Fuji labs offer what appears to be a good and convenient service for all film, but it's not cheap, any recommendations?

Thanks

Garry

 

[hans voralberg]

I use this place, not sure if it's too expensive for you but have a look anyway. http://www.palmlabs.co.uk/

 

[Michael Markey]

Fuji are good for slides but not cheap, as you say. Ilford will process HP5 for £7 (36 ex) and charge £3 for a std res scan or £9.95 for a high res scan. Add in the cost of the film and postage and your not far short of £20 per roll. For that reason I now use C41 for BW which you can get processed at Tescoe for £1 plus £1 for a CD although I now scan my own . Quicker and cheaper .For C41 ,Jessops do a dev and scan service which ,I think , is £10. Boots is about the same.

Michael

 

[thegman]

Can't find any prices on the Palm Labs site, I've never noticed film developing in my local Tesco, but it's only a small one.

I could scan myself, but I wonder if the up front cost and hassle is worth it for me, I'm fundamentally lazy, so getting a CD back really appeals...

I'll check out Palm Labs though and investigate Tesco a little more..

Thanks

Garry

 

[Michael Markey]

Garry

Well I thought the same untill I found that I could get an Epson V500 which is plenty good enough for me for about £195. I`d spent about £70 on Ilford scans in less than a year. Plus ,and this was the big surprise,the scans on the V500 were much much better !
So I switched to Kodak 400 a C41 film or XP2 ,use Boots or Tescoe ,get them back same day or day after instead of waiting two weeks .
Cheaper ,faster and better quality. If there is a Cd included I chuck it and just scan onto my PC.
Michael

 

[hans voralberg]

Jezz can't believe the guy didn't put up his price on the web. Here's are the Scan packages (Processing + Scan) from Palm for 35mm (minus postage)

Low res (3-4Mb): £8/roll
Med res (10-15Mb): £18/roll
High res (30-70Mb): £30/roll

 

[thegman]

Wow, that's expensive, the low-res is not too bad, but to add on £22 for high res is remarkable. Maybe they use an expensive scanner and it takes longer, but still, that's a lot...

 

[Michael Markey]

With the high res scan from Ilford (4500x3000) you also get a low and a medium scan on the same disk. The std res scan is 1800x1200.

Michael

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Have a look at Peak Processing -Sheffield, not shure how their prices will suit - but their service is excellent!

 

[thegman]

I see, at photo express, std res seems to be 3000x2000, £3.50 for developing and scanning, just C41 though. I do have a HP5 waiting to go in the camera, maybe I'll send that to Ilford and see what the results are like. Hopefully I'll like XP2, and be able to stick with the cheap processors...

 

[Michael Markey]

Garry
Yes ,I`d do that. I have one roll of HP5 left to use. You will find that the scanning process really brings out the grain in this film. Which is big ! I found that I did not care for it although it wasn`t too bad in the low res scan. Kodak 400 (still on offer in Boots along with XP2) was ,to my taste much smoother. Plus because its C41 I`m getting the results back same day or day after and scanning it myself it`s only costing £1 or £4/£5 at Boots / Jessops to dev.

Michael

 

[ronnies]

I use this lab based in Edinburgh (and so very handy for me!). Not sure if they do postal stuff.
http://www.amimage.co.uk/

Ronnie

 

[Acliff]

I am curious about the scan resolution of the tesco scans.
My local processing shop does 3000x2000 and processing for 4.99, 7.49 including 4x6" prints.

Photo express seems like a great deal, i might give them a go.