Where To Get My Film Processed?

[Stu W]

Since the last real camera store in Brooklyn closed down, I'm at a loss as to where to have my processing done. I've tried all the minilabs in the area and they all leave a lot to be desired-mostly dirt on the negatives and of course the prints. This last batch today had a red hue to them, along with the assorted hairs. Is there any place left to process film? Mailorder perhaps? Stu

 

[macnorfin]

Shoot B&W and process it yourself!

Seriously, when I use a lab, I like Ben Ness in the East Village. The have same-day turn around for B&W, which is pretty cool. I've also used Alkit on 18th St. and they're pretty good as well, but I think they send their B&W out to Ben Ness. Both places have websites.

 

[ch1]

Can't speak for Brooklyn, it's so far away from Manhattan as to be on the other side of the Bridge but in Midtown there are plenty of places for basic developing. Alkit has a small outlet on 50th and 3rd which is where I go. They are pretty careful with the stuff they do themselves (e.g. the color print and chromogenic B&W I use).

When I shoot the "good stuff" (e.g. Tri-X and HP5) I am at a disadvantage since the lab they send it out to seems to enjoy scratching and gouging it. :bang:

One of these day I'm going to learn how to soup my own B&W. But that may not be until they add 4 more hours to the day and an extra day to the week! 🙁

 

[macnorfin]

George,

I just noticed your sig. Are you a fan of that "other team" up in the Bronx?

 

[ch1]

George,

I just noticed your sig. Are you a fan of that "other team" up in the Bronx?

Huh, you mean there's another team besides the one that plays in the Bronx? 😛

 

[Jabash]

I use L & I around 21st and 5th in Manhattan.

I know there is a pro lab near williamsburg brooklyn somewhere.

 

[ch1]

I use L & I around 21st and 5th in Manhattan.

I know there is a pro lab near williamsburg brooklyn somewhere.

Jabash,

When you bring film to a pro lab - is there a minimum number of rolls required?

For Tri-X and HP5 etc. processing I'd like to "eliminate" the middleman - but always figure dealing direct with the lab wouldn't "work" unless I had a farily large "job".

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Where or how? You mean where in Brooklyn? Where in the USA?

 

[grantray]

http://www.uscolorlab.com/

Four blocks off the NRW Prince St. stop. Also close to the 6, I think. They will do any size order, from a single roll to large batches. Slides are a three hour turn-around.

Haven't had a problem so far...

-grant

 

[Jabash]

Once you get into Manhattan there are many choices. I think Stu probably knows that but maybe he doesn't want to travel there and back.

As for min order, I never had a problem although I have only used a few places. I used to go to ColorEdge with even just one roll. I don't think anyone will turn away work, but I did feel lost in the crowd at Coloredge- same with Duggal. I think Coloredge and Duggal are the premier developers in NYC and they charge accordingly, but will not turn away a small order.

 

[amateriat]

Huh, you mean there's another team besides the one that plays in the Bronx? 😛

Just follow the sound of all that cheering on the #7 train. 😀


- Barrett (tight with Mr. Met)

 

[grantray]

My landlord is a photojournalist and couldn't think of any around the GP and 'Burg area. Park Slope might have someone, but I wouldn't know as I stay from all that stroller grid-lock.

-grant

 

[Stu W]

Just tried another local minilab. They screwed up 4 frames out of 24. Dirt and dust content was better than the others. Nothing of any importance as I'm just trying to get real comfortable with a rangefinder. What about mail away? Stu

 

[amateriat]

Stu, since you mention trying mini-labs, I'll presume you're talking color neg. The bad news is, at least from my outpost in Park Slope, nobody here can be entirely trusted (here's a sick one: my local Rite Aid seems to run a tighter ship than a lot of the local labs; they give me my rolls uncut for about $2.50 a pop, including tax, minimal physical damage most of the time, and usually turn it around in less than an hour). For anything more important, I hop on the train (or, if the weather's okay, one of my bikes) and head into Chelsea, and hand my film over to Manhattan Color Lab on West 20th Street (just off 5th Avenue). Dip/dunk processing for both C41 and E6, not super-cheap but not crazy-expensive either, and they run a very tight ship. They do b/w as well, but I don't know their turnaround time for that (I soup my own).


- Barrett

 

[pesphoto]

look up- http://www.whcc.com/

 

[amateriat]

Just tried another local minilab. They screwed up 4 frames out of 24. Dirt and dust content was better than the others. Nothing of any importance as I'm just trying to get real comfortable with a rangefinder. What about mail away? Stu

I don't really have the patience for mail-order processing, and only tolerate it when there's no other means of getting a particular film type processed (Only Kodachrome and Scala come to mind: I rarely shoot with the former, and never with the latter).

One place I used when I lived on the other side of Prospect Park (I moved last year) is a minilab on Flatbush Avenue, run by a wedding photographer. He does decent work - since he runs his own stuff (35mm $ 120) through the machine, I figure he keeps things on more of an even keel than most. Haven't used him lately, so I don't know if he's still up to snuff, but he should be. PM me if you want more info.


Barrett

 

[ch1]

Just follow the sound of all that cheering on the #7 train. 😀


- Barrett (tight with Mr. Met)

Barrett,

Have no doubt, by the end of the season the Metsies will have broken your heart once again! :bang:

 

[ch1]

Just tried another local minilab. They screwed up 4 frames out of 24. Dirt and dust content was better than the others. Nothing of any importance as I'm just trying to get real comfortable with a rangefinder. What about mail away? Stu

Aw c'mon, what could possibly lead you to think that mail order makes any sense if you live in NYC? Certainly not a time factor - even a subway ride from farthest away Brooklyn to lower Manhattan takes no more than an hour!

And what could possibly make you think that you'd get better quality sending your film to Timbuktu anyway?

Okay, you former favorite camera store is history. Get over it. It is gone and it isn't coming back.

For crying out loud, just get yourself a subway map and a buy a Metrocard! :bang:

 

[nightfly]

Any recommendations for labs that will do cross processing in either Brooklyn or Manhattan? I'm going to shoot some slide film that I want to cross process this weekend. I usually send all my slide film out to A and I but it's pricey with the shipping and it takes a few weeks. They do a fantastic job though.

 

[macnorfin]

Have no doubt, by the end of the season the Metsies will have broken your heart once again! :bang:

Let's hope all the Yankees are around to see it. They're not getting any younger, you know.