The Darkroom v Ilford Labs v Indie Labs v Other

[mdwsta4]

Undeveloped rolls are starting to pile up and I'd like to drop them off to get developed. My last few batches I've gone to a local film shop as well as Ilford Labs. I was extremely pleased with the local lab, but they were significantly more expensive than other places. Ilford wasn't bad, but I kept getting emails from The Darkroom so it made me wonder why I'm paying more sending stuff to Ilford? I've also read good things about Indie Labs, but have not tried them.

The Darkroom is the cheapest at $15 for higher res scans, followed by Ilford at $16 (although you also have to pay $5 for shipping). Indie Labs are $18 and my local lab is $25.

Has anyone had experience with The Darkroom, Ilford, and Indie Labs? Preference? Pros/Cons?


Thanks!
M

 

[v_roma]

I've used Indie Labs and the Darkroom. I generally prefer the former but it is more expensive so I sometimes go with the Darkroom. I have never been unhappy with what I have gotten from the Darkroom. I just think that Indie Labs does a slightly better job.

 

[danielsterno]

Ive used Darkroom for about 40-45 rolls, basic and medium scan and contact sheets, most B&W and some color slide- very happy- only one batch of B&W scans were showing dust/lint from scan and they rescanned… like them- I am curios about Ilford labs and will try them some day but Darkroom is easy to deal with and no shipping cost

 

[VertovSvilova]

fwiw, the Darkroom, Ilford Direct, and Swan Labs are the same place. The Darkroom is an internet portal for Swan Labs. Ilford Direct has contracted Swan Labs to be their processing company in the US.

There are of course plenty of places in LA (depending on where you live in LA) and which saves on mailing (and less chance of any loss through the mail, etc..) Ranging from low to mid to very high end places (e.g., people like John Weldon and Chip Leavitt who have the Aztek Premier drum scanner.) There's even Samy's (which sends all their film up to the Santa Barbara shop where they have a Refrema dip and dunk and a Noritsu.)

For mail order, NCPS is pretty decent. Plus it's a one day delivery (LA <--> Carlsbad) They have a Hostert dip and dunk and two Noritsu machines. $11.95 for 3339x5035 'enhanced' scans from 35mm at the time of processing (processing + scans comes to just a little under $18.)

I've never personally used Indie Film Labs since it seems mailing to Alabama is a bit too far considering the alternatives. But it appears their prices are the lowest (for what they call their 'budget uncorrected' scans.)

 

[mdwsta4]

Looks like I'll give the Darkroom a shot, thank you for the tips.

VertoSvilova - I'm on the Westside (Santa Monica). I've gone to Boulevard Photo on Wilshire a few times, but that is the only local place I've tried.

 

[Pioneer]

Why not send them down to North Coast Photo? They're in San Diego and do a terrific job.

 

[David_Manning]

The Darkroom does a good job. Aside from scans, they take good care of the film itself...no scratches from their process, which has been my experience at a multitude of other places using machines somewhere in the process.

 

[Ansel]

Why not develop and scan your own? Much cheaper.

 

[anjoca76]

I've used Precision and North Coast, and several local places, but for the past year or so I have used The Darkroom, and having just gotten another batch back from them yesterday, I feel compelled to mention how terrific my experiences have been with them. The scans themselves are not any necessarily any better than the other places I mentioned--certainly at least on par--but more so I am routinely impressed by their customer service, care for my film, attention to detail, and fast turnaround. Last Monday I dropped in the mail--from Boston--9 rolls of various formats and emulsions. A couple days later I got an email to say my film had arrived. On Saturday, all my images were uploaded to their website, and when I came home yesterday there was a package sitting on my front porch with all my negs/slides and scans on CD. I'm not exaggerating when I say that if it wasn't for them, I would rarely shoot any color film anymore. But they keep me going because they have yet to disappoint me.

Anyway…sorry if this sounds like an infomercial! I swear I have nothing to do with them other than being some guy who sends them film every couple months and is routinely surprised that there are still companies out there that deliver like they do.

 

[Aristophanes]

The Darkroom gets my vote as well, 60 rolls in.

 

[mw_uio]

I have used RPL once and the work they did was A+.
http://www.richardphotolab.com/
They are in LA.

Mark
Quito, EC