where do i take my 15 year old film to get developed and does it matter?

[joeydrunk]

I have 11 rolls of 35mm camera film, 24 and 36 exsposure of 200 and 400 film. I also have 5 disposable cameras of the same and 2 110 disposable I believe. Everything is from 12-18 years old. It has been stored in a paper bag in the closet the whole time. I would very much like the best quality I can get. I called a real photo lab and asked them and they said there is a good chance that they would turn out and they could look at the (film, prints, or something?) before they were deviloped to be able to tell wich were good. At there place it evens out to about $12 a roll.($.35 cents a picture plus $3.50 a roll). I called walmart wich sends them out and its only $.16 cents a picture, sand mi extra charge. I'm low on money too. Is it worth it to go to the photo lab? will they do a better job? do they have a certain procedure for old film? Will Walmart do the same thing? Should I find somewhere else besides those two? Is there something certain to look for and ask about regarding the lab and my pictures when looking for a place to develop them? Like I said I'm low on money so if its all going to be the same or extremelyy close I will go cheap but if its going to make a huge diference I will just get some done now that I can afford and wait on the rest. I've talked to people online and keep getting different answers. Some say any place will be the same since its all the same process and others ay its not the same process and a good lab will do a better job. Wich is it?

 

[sanmich]

I guess it is color negs.
I have no idea if you can ask to adjust the film processing, but my guess is that you will get strong color shifts. I would ask to get scans before printing anything.

 

[jordanstarr]

If it was black and white, I would say to take it to a pro-lab where they would test one roll and adjust the other rolls accordingly. However, with colour, I'm not sure if they would run one roll and then adjust their developing times, chemicals, etc. If you can find a lab that does, it might be worth it for you to spend a little extra if they are usable. When it comes to developing and printing, you get what you pay for. So, "the best quality I can get" with translate into "top dollar per roll".

 

[joeydrunk]

If it was black and white, I would say to take it to a pro-lab where they would test one roll and adjust the other rolls accordingly. However, with colour, I'm not sure if they would run one roll and then adjust their developing times, chemicals, etc. If you can find a lab that does, it might be worth it for you to spend a little extra if they are usable. When it comes to developing and printing, you get what you pay for. So, "the best quality I can get" with translate into "top dollar per roll".

It is Kodak color. You say I will get what I pay for. Most of the people I have talked to says it wont matter if i take it to wal mart or a pro lab because the process is going to be the same and whatever is left in the film will either come out or it wont no matter whete i take it. Are you saying that isn't the case and there are difetent processes that can be used to acheive better or worse results? What should I ask for when trying to locate the best place if that is indeed what you are saying.