Question on developing Kodak Portra in shops

[sara]

I have a roll of Kodak Porta 400VC I want to develop but, I am abroad at the moment and I'm not sure if there is a difference giving it to a local photo print shop (eg touristy-photo places) or to a proper-proper shop to process?

Would it make a huge difference? as in would there be colour differences?

I understand if I have a roll of Fuji Superia - that I would take to the local photo shop...

I'm just asking because to travel to a proper photo shop would take time to plan and travel to unknown areas, whereas obviously, there is a local photo lab just down the road lol!

 

[Mackinaw]

Theoretically, the C41 process is the same anywhere you go on this planet. In reality though, labs can and do make a difference. Try to seek out a reputable lab, if that's possible.

Jim B.

 

[Ronald M]

I had Portra 400 in a camera for 6 months when I was starting digital. When I finally got it processed, it was just fine.

So feel free to drag it home, or use a pro lab where you are. No way woould I use an unknown entity.

 

[antiquark]

Alec Soth did that when he went to Bogota, he got his film developed in local shops. However he says they "scratched the hell out of the negatives." So as usual, the old saying holds: buyer beware!

Soth interview:
http://blog.magnumphotos.com/2007/11/interview_alec_soth_on_dog_days_bogota.html

 

[sara]

Ah, thanks guys!
Thing is I just remembered after reading the Soth interview, that sometimes touristy-processing labs can make your photos more saturated because that's how they work.

But I don't mean the touristy processing labs are dodgy, they're not because they're located in shopping malls in the centre of the city and are proper Fuji/Kodak developing shops, but just wanted to check.

Guess it's okay to bring them to the local Fuji lab down the road.

 

[nimcod]

different mini-labs have different set-ups for the chroma (saturation) either for film as a whole, or for kodak/fuji depending. If the guys at your local minilab are the friendly type/or are actually allowed to change such things, they should be able to print at a standard saturation, rather than a boosted one.

this is in regards to the prints only though, but most high street labs use a standardised neg processor, (in uk anyway)

 

[sara]

Thanks nimcod, yes I think I was more worried about Neg processing, rather than scanning and prints 🙂

Also I'm not in London at the moment, hence the question lol