U.S. suggestions for film processing via prepaid mailers

[rtphotos]

Has anyone tried A&I (in Hollywood, Calif.) for pre-paid film processing via mailers? I noticed you can buy the mailers directly from them, or thru B&H.

I'm particularly interested in 120 processing, contact printing, and scans to CD.

My local labs are getting out of the med.-format processing business and I need to find alternatives.

Thanks!
rt

 

[pphuang]

I've used them in the past for 35 mm film processing (purchased the mailers through B&H). They did a good job and I never had any problems, although the turnaround was a bit long (NY to CA to NY, roughly 3 weeks), so I now use Dwayne's.

 

[rtphotos]

Thanks for the reply, pphuang. I checked Dwayne's online pricelist and the prices are good, esp. for the scan to CD.

I've since come across some recent threads on Dwayne's. Unable to search for "a&i" with current search limitations, though.

I'm still interested hearing feedback on A & I.

thanks,
rt

 

[robertdfeinman]

I used to use A&I but also found them slow and it had nothing to do with the mails.

Is there a reason you don't want to use a service closer to home? Most one hour machines can process 120 even if the staff doesn't know it. You might check around. Of course if you are shooting E6 the choices are more limited. You could check with some of the local wedding photo stores and see where they send (sent?) their film.

 

[rtphotos]

Choices are slim in my neck of the woods. I'm interested in both med- format C41 and E6 processing.

Today found a local lab not too far away who does C41, but won't do cross-processing which is something I've been playing with recently (having gotten a free brick of tungsten film E6 film).

Anyway, I will look into A&I and Dwayne's, and probably send each a few rolls to see how it goes. Will ask a few local wedding fotogs when I see them.

thanks for any additional leads, esp. for west coast mail-order labs.

rt