Anyone Else had Problems with Fuji Slide Processing?

[Steve Roberts]

When Fuji changed its accredited lab for process-paid slide film a couple of years ago, I had cause to send back some slides that were covered in finger prints. After two months and some chasing, I did finally receive a reply and an assurance that Fuji were on the case. Things then seemed to be OK, but in the last three months the slides I've had back have left a lot to be desired, with marks, scratches and general crud that really shouldn't be there. Just wondered if anyone else has been having similar problems with Fuji process-paid film? (Mine is Sensia). I'm considering buying non-PP film and getting it processed elsewhere.

Best wishes,

Steve

 

[perkeleellinen]

I can't comment upon Fuji's processing, but I can recommend Peak Imaging if you decide to look elsewhere. In fact, I think buying non-PP and sending it to Peak will save you a £1 or so.

 

[TSSPro]

When the personal budgets get lean I have turned to Fuji processing in the past. I havent had too many complaints from them, other than the occasional bent piece of 2 1/4" film. But, I have to wonder, How much film/day are they handling? How that amount has an affect on the processing quality and handling? And these may not be the brightest bulbs in the box who operate the processors or mount the slides. I have seen people (at other retail film processing locations, not in a fuji lab) run their bare dirty hands up and down other peoples film either because they didnt know any better, or they didnt care.
I have been lucky enough that I have generally get good results when I have to use them to process chrome. I hope that your luck improves, or you find a pro-lab that will satisfy your quality needs. Those are just a few things that I try and keep in mind to temper my emotions about ruined film when I have had to use their services.

 

[WetMogwai]

Last summer, I sent them two rolls of medium format Velvia and a roll of 35mm Ektachrome. I sent Kodak to Fuji because the lab I was using sent all their E-6 there. I requested no cutting on the 35mm but it came back mounted. The medium format film was lost for about a month. They eventually found it and sent it back in good shape. I can't complain about how it looked. The lab told me that this had happened before. Every few E-6 orders take forever or get lost. I won't be sending film to Fuji anymore.

 

[lxdude]

Note the OP is talking about Fuji's processing in the UK. Elsewhere is probably different. Here in the US I think it's all Dwayne's now.

 

[Edward_S]

I can't comment upon Fuji's processing, but I can recommend Peak Imaging if you decide to look elsewhere. In fact, I think buying non-PP and sending it to Peak will save you a £1 or so.

I can recommend Peak Imaging too; never had any problems with their Fuji side processing.

 

[Steve Roberts]

Thanks for the tips about Peak Imaging. The Dark Room in Cheltenham has also been recommended.

lxdude - Yes, it's processing here in the UK, though I've whinged enough about Dwayne's Kodachrome processing shortcomings in the past. Maybe Fuji's UK lab is a subsidiary of Dwayne's!

TSSPro - It's not a case of budgets being lean, just that I like Sensia for the kind of things I do and foolishly believed that the manufacturers of Sensia would be best placed to process it!

The previous lab in Warwick was absolutely fine. Problems seemed to start when the Leeds lab got the franchise. Fuji told me that the change was because they'd been having problems with Warwick. Perhaps I'm just being cynical, but my guess is that the Leeds set-up was cheaper and Fuji could pocket more of the cost of their process-paid film. (Buying film with processing included is, I gather, a European thing as US laws tend to frown on it as anti-competitive or an "un-American Activity" or something!)

Steve

 

[Ian Cooper]

If you're shopping around, then I'll put another good word in for "The Darkroom", they use a "dip & dunk" process and their quality on 120 E6 can't be faulted (by me).

Their prices have crept up, but they're still fairly reasonable. £4.50 for 120 film including a 1st class postage paid sticker for the next film. Peak charge £3.75+£1.47=£5.22, and I think their freepost address is 2nd class.

 

[railwayman3]

When Fuji changed its accredited lab for process-paid slide film a couple of years ago, I had cause to send back some slides that were covered in finger prints. After two months and some chasing, I did finally receive a reply and an assurance that Fuji were on the case. Things then seemed to be OK, but in the last three months the slides I've had back have left a lot to be desired, with marks, scratches and general crud that really shouldn't be there. Just wondered if anyone else has been having similar problems with Fuji process-paid film? (Mine is Sensia). I'm considering buying non-PP film and getting it processed elsewhere.

Best wishes,

Steve

That rather worrying. I'd have expected better from a company like Fuji.

I found the Warwick lab fine, but have a stack of the paid "Professional" processing mailers for Leeds, which I have not yet used. (Currently having a last summer of Kodachrome shooting ). Maybe I'll switch to Peak Processing or Transpacolor (Leicester), both of whom I've used in the past.

(Or even home processing again....I have had better E6 results in my kitchen than those from some so-called "professional" labs. )

 

[Steve Roberts]

Following on from my complaint yesterday, see http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/1727476/fuji-sensia-rip which announces the discontinuation of Sensia production.
Perhaps the Fuji Lab had already got wind of this...
Steve

 

[perkeleellinen]

Sad to see Sensia go, what will be your replacement?

Talk of that Fuji lab in Warwick reminded me that back in the '90s I used to walk past that place every day on my way home from work. I'd always look into their rubbish skips hunting for goodies!

 

[bblhed]

In my area the Fuji lab was Fuji Newyork, and I have been told that they have now closed, I had only used them once through the local Walmart, and that was enough to teach me on never use them again. It would appear that they have a stock way of doing things and if you ask for anything other than their stock way of doing things they make a total mess of it.

they cut my 3D film printed and scanned it, didn't scan my 120, and then tried to bill me for the extra service that they didn't perform, and the services they did but I didn't ask for.

I have read similar stories about other Fuji labs, I think it is a case of them closing labs to save money because "no one" is using film any more but they now can't keep up with the demand form all the people that "aren't" using film because they lack capacity.

 

[benjiboy]

I've been using CC Imaging the company that are the Fuji official processing lab for more than twenty years and never had any problems.