Slide processing is dying in Australia...or is it already dead!

[parasko]

Hi all Aussie RFF members,

It would seem that slide processing is dying a ridiculously fast death in Australia. 🙁

I'm in Sydney and now there is only a couple of credible labs processing E6 that I know of:
Phototechnica in Chippendale (who have substantially reduced their hours) and:
The Lighthouse on Bondi Rd, Bondi (Beach).

I guess I should've thought about this before investing in my 2 recently purchased M7s! :bang:

...but I can't believe how quickly other labs have died a digital death!

Rumour has it that Teds in the City, FotoRiesel in the City and Mainline Photo at Crows Nest will all soon be drop off points for Lighthouse.
...not sure of the turnaround time...Teds already uses them but the turnaround time is approx. 2 weeks!!!!!! 😱

Photographers I know have also had bad experiences from Vision Lab in Waterloo (which you would think cater to professionals).

I have used Lab X in St. Kilda previously, whilst in Melbourne and they did a great job..very professional setup.

Anyway, just my gripe for the day!

If anyone knows of credible labs in Sydney or in Australia, please list.

Cheers.

And god bless the diggers for Anzac Day tomorrow!

 

[Parkes Owen]

I agree that E6 is rapidly dissapearing in Sydney, check out a lab called Blow Up in Crows Nest, and Vision Graphics in North Sydney, I have done a lot of work for them over the years (framing and mounting) and I`ve had them do some velvia in 35 and 120 for me, very professional service.Also Ken Duncan`s lab in the Central Coast of NSW called Created For Life, does E6,drum scans and very large printing with stunning results and a good mail order service.

I have recently moved up to Noosa in QLD and cant find anyone to process my E6, I might have to mail it back to Sydney!

 

[ARCHIVIST]

I would agree with Parkes Owen and try Vision Graphics and also Ken Duncan's lab.
Have used both some time back and they were most professional.

The E6 lab is fast approaching extinction I'm afraid.
If you are really keen try and get hold of a second hand JOBO ATL1000 bench top processor and a Kodak E6 kit. The ATL will set you back anywhere from $650 to $1000 for a good one and the kits can be bought for under $200.

I use one of these at work and it is just a matter of mixing the amount of chemical required for the number of rolls of film you have to process.

We have had chemical in par filled containers that is in excess of 18 months old that still works as it should.

Regards
Peter

 

[gavinlg]

I agree that E6 is rapidly dissapearing in Sydney, check out a lab called Blow Up in Crows Nest, and Vision Graphics in North Sydney, I have done a lot of work for them over the years (framing and mounting) and I`ve had them do some velvia in 35 and 120 for me, very professional service.Also Ken Duncan`s lab in the Central Coast of NSW called Created For Life, does E6,drum scans and very large printing with stunning results and a good mail order service.

I have recently moved up to Noosa in QLD and cant find anyone to process my E6, I might have to mail it back to Sydney!

Camera house in maroochydore near the sunshine plaza/officeworks send e6 halfway to brisbane and have about a 2 week turnaround usually. The quality is good, but sometimes the slides have tiny little black marks on them that show up at high magnification on screen after scanning.

Otherwise, Photocontinental in Brisbane takes mail ins for e6 and I think they do it much quicker. They're supposed to be a very good lab.

 

[infrequent]

there are couple of labs in adelaide that i know of that still do E6. hopefully that continues.

 

[parasko]

....and Vision Graphics in North Sydney

Nope. These guys now send to Vision Lab in Waterloo for E6 processing. They used to send to Vision Graphics in Redfern but it closed down. 🙁

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Nope. These guys now send to Vision Lab in Waterloo for E6 processing. They used to send to Vision Graphics in Redfern but it closed down. 🙁

I think they might all be the same company or at least divisions of it.

 

[akalai]

Phototechnica, as far as I know, shut down last week.

If you do a quick google search you will see they have had an administrator appointed and their equipment is up for auction on Gray's online auction site.

Pretty sad.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

I remember when Phototechnica first openend and how vibrant a place it was and always seemed to be.

Sad it has closed. I feel sorry for Deb.

 

[Keith]

Camera house in maroochydore near the sunshine plaza/officeworks send e6 halfway to brisbane and have about a 2 week turnaround usually. The quality is good, but sometimes the slides have tiny little black marks on them that show up at high magnification on screen after scanning.

Otherwise, Photocontinental in Brisbane takes mail ins for e6 and I think they do it much quicker. They're supposed to be a very good lab.

There's a lab in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane called Alchromes that does E-6 ... I noticed it on their price list when I was in there getting a couple of rolls of Reala developed a year ago.

But that was a year ago ... in this digital world they may be gone by now ... who knows? 😛

 

[parasko]

Phototechnica, as far as I know, shut down last week.

No way! How tragic!

 

[usagisakana]

In perth there are still at least 3 major labs doing any kind of developing and printing.. pretty good for such a small city.