The lab trashed my negs!

[doubs43]

May I suggest not having prints made.
Bill Mattocks

Bill, most places won't do that (develope only), at least not in this area. I suppose one could ask for developing only and pay for prints without actually having them made. I take very little color so it hasn't been a real problem for me.

Those who have suggested scanning the negatives in color and converting the images to B&W later are correct. For whatever reason, my software won't show a negative that's been scanned in grayscale. I scan everything in color and then convert to either 16 or 8 bit grayscale. My software locks out some functions in 16 bit so I usually go with 8 bit grayscale.

Walker

 

[fraley]

Hey Bill, I was afraid you were going to say it's the same machine that prints and/or makes a CD. Of course you're right! So as you say the solution is obvious, get myself a scanner & have *wherever* develop only. I was feeling morally superior 'cause I was getting a CD only, no prints. Doh, it's the same machine!

jlw donated a scanner to me - this is a great site isn't it? I've been playing around with it but if I'm going to scan everything I need to invest a little money in a newer model. Looks like it's time to get serious 🙂

 

[Doug]

Well, in most of the 1-hour places I know of, the machine that does the scans is the same machine that makes the prints - the negs get loaded and dragged through, and then either prints are made and scans are done or just the scans or just the negs - but the same machine, same path for the negs, same scratches.

Exactly, Bill; you and Bubba are right. I've watched this happen right in front of me! All the equipment is out in the open behind the counter, and every time a customer comes or goes through the outside door, dust flies around... The operator takes the developed film strip out of the processor and carries it over to the scan/print machine, wipes the strip lengthwise with the cloth lying on the shelf and feeds it in. If one end of a long strip should happen to drag across the floor, it shouldn't surprise us.

After seeing this a couple times, and finding scratches and dust on my negs, it slowly dawned on me that there was a connection! Fortunately the lab offers Pro service as well, where the processing is done in the main lab in a neighboring county where the machinery is all in a controlled atmosphere, and more care is taken. It isn't same-day service, but I'll take "slow" over "damaged".

Of course, "develop only, no scan or print" is another easy option, if the lab will do it. I've been puzzled to hear a couple of members say their lab just won't do the job without prints... Faced with that, I'd probably get torqued enough to buy a C41 home development chemical kit and have at it myself. Done it before...

 

[bmattock]

Doug,

I've found that the national retail chains Walgreens, CVS, Eckards (drugstore chains) and Walmart all offer 'negative only' service if you ask for it. You give them the film, they say 'one print or two?' and you say 'none, negs only, cut and sleeved, please.' I've had to 'train' a few labs to look through their computer for the price code for negative-only developing. They *can* do it in most cases - often the objection is that they don't know *how* to key it into their cash register or they don't *want* to be bothered to look. But I've found that friendly persistance works.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[stymie]

Well, in most of the 1-hour places I know of, the machine that does the scans is the same machine that makes the prints - the negs get loaded and dragged through, and then either prints are made and scans are done or just the scans or just the negs - but the same machine, same path for the negs, same scratches. Frankly, I've never had a CD made that didn't disappoint me. Terrible, terrible problems. Plus, the scan rate is too low, and the cost is too high.

I bought my Scan Dual IV with the math that it would soon pay for itself in terms of costs saved in prints not made, scan CDs not created. That has turned out to be true. I've recouped - even more. And the scans I make myself are so superior to the wretched CD's I've had made commercially - not even a comparison.

I'm very happy with what I've done - it works great for me. I will admit that it takes time to make my scans - but I just scan reload the negative carrier as it ejects and I'm working on other things. It works just fine.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Sounds good Bill - once I have payed my winter heating bill, I'll be in the market for a Scan Dual IV. Like you, I did the maths, and it will pay for itself fairly quickly, and hopefully, as you say, with better results.

Cheers,

David

 

[DougK]

Bill, I for one tried your advice after a particularly bad experience and you are correct. The fewer times the negs are handled, the fewer opportunities there are for bad things to happen. The cost savings is nice too.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Bill

I have found that what you say about the negs and the quality of the scans to be true. Now all I have to do is convince one of the 1 hour labs to do "develope only no prints". That may be the hardest part.

Bob

 

[digitalox]

Hey Bob, all the one hour shops I've gone to around here do it, you shouldn't have to much trouble. They don't advertise it, but they do it. It takes anywhere from 10 mins. and up depending on the skill level and if there's any film ahead of you. Here it costs about 2.50 at the one hours, and 4.xx if you go to wolf's/ritz.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Scott

I have asked before and just got an outright no or a blank stare. I think it is a case of asking till you get the answer that you want or asking the right person around here. Nice to see that it can be done.

Bob

 

[doubs43]

"I have asked before and just got an outright no or a blank stare."

That's been my experience too here in middle Georgia. I have Agfa color film purchased as Walgreen's brand and when I asked for negatives only, I was told that they didn't offer that and I had to have prints made.

I have the chemicals to process C-41 film. I just haven't worked up the nerve to try it yet! 🙂

Walker

 

[bmattock]

Walker,

Here in rural NC, I have Walgreens do my negs only all the time. They didn't know how to at first, they had to look through their cash register/computer for the appropriate codes - but they can do it and they sure do for me. If you like, I can ask them the next time I am there if they can tell me what to have you tell your local Walgreens so that they can 'find' it in their computer. I believe all the Walgreens are company-owned, so that should work, eh?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Nikon Bob]

David

How did you make out with the negs? Were you able to clean them and/or scan them as colour negs with ICE? Just curious as to outcome.

 

[doubs43]

Walker,

Here in rural NC, I have Walgreens do my negs only all the time. They didn't know how to at first, they had to look through their cash register/computer for the appropriate codes - but they can do it and they sure do for me. If you like, I can ask them the next time I am there if they can tell me what to have you tell your local Walgreens so that they can 'find' it in their computer. I believe all the Walgreens are company-owned, so that should work, eh?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Bill, I'd appreciate that. It sounds reasonable that the clerk may not be aware that it can be done. With the right information, maybe I can get them to find it on their computer.

I'll also let you know how the Pentacon-Six TL does when I get it. It's one of the last made as it has the black lens mount. Still not made recently but if it's as nice as it's been described, it should do just fine. I got a 120mm f/2.8 Biometar lens from Alex-Photo yesterday. The glass is clean and I'm hoping it does well. It's been used some and that may be a good sign that it performed for it's previous owner. It's a zebra-stripe model with a serial number beginning with 98 but I'm not sure ZC-Jena used a year dating serial number system.

Walker

 

[Nikon Bob]

I guess you just have to do as Bill says and ask a little more insistantly. I just asked again at the 1 hour I go to and after being a little puzzle the clerk checked on the register and seems that they can do it for $1.99 CAD a 24 roll. Thanks Bill and good luck Walker.

Bob

 

[stymie]

David

How did you make out with the negs? Were you able to clean them and/or scan them as colour negs with ICE? Just curious as to outcome.

Hi Bob,

I'm yet to lay the money down on the scanner, but I'll post results as soon as they are in!

David

 

[canonetc]

Neg Scratched

Neg Scratched

If you can do your own printing, but a bottle of "No Scratch". It's a clear petroleum-based product. You coat both sides of the neg, and most scratches temporarily disappear while you are printing. be sure to wash the neg afterwards in slightly warm water, dip in Photoflo, and hang to dry overnight.

I do not recommend No Scratch for 120 negatives though. Only 35mm.

Chris
Canonetc

 

[Pherdinand]

Well guess what, just last time, on about 50% of the frames from a roll of XP2 i got scratches too. I KNOW it's not the camera... grrrr

 

[iMacfan]

Hi everyone - Long time no post!

Anyhow, I finally got round to scanning some of the pics this evening. They really are a testament to the quality of the CV 21/4 and the latitude of XP2. Anyhow, this was my workflow:

•Scan as colour positive with ICE on Minolta 5400.
•Open in Photoshop Elements (v2)
•Invert
•Desaturate
•Use auto levels
•Crop
•Convert to greyscale
•Save as jpeg.

The only problem is that in some of the pics, there is a propensity for a very grainy look - is this poor exposure (might be as I was probably underexposing slightly underground), the scanner's ICE not liking the B&W film or anything else?

I also want to add in my defence that I forgot the VF on this trip and so was limited to a shoe mounted spirit level. I think this actually might have helped adjust to the different view on things.

Any comments on the shots themselves would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

David

 

[iMacfan]

A couple more pics

 

[Nikon Bob]

David

Boy, I have to get me a CV 21/4! If the neg scan appears grainier than usual then possibly it was under exposed. A lot of people are using it at 200 and process it normally and this may help reduce grain as XP2 is print film which is usually slightly better over exposed than under. I do not think it is the scanners ICE not liking the B&W film as it is not traditional B&W film which the scanners ICE would not like.

Bob