Are there any minilabs left?

pbromaghin · Apr 11, 2014

Chan Tran said:
Those labs don't make money any more so they have to close them down. There isn't enough business. If somehow we could get together and create sufficient volume we can easily buy one of those processor and run the C41 ourselves. Since those labs are closing their processors are for sale and cheap like this one on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/noritsu-V30...674?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4842af4b6a

So how much liquid does it take to feed one of these things? It's cheaper than a new Jobo, so it should be a viable alternative for some people.

removed account4 · Apr 11, 2014

ijust googled "houston tx + photolab"
and came up with http://www.azphoto.com
they are a pro lab so the quality is good
not 2$ .. but a few dollars more than that
so you won't be at the mercy of a 17 year old
girl with boy-on-the-brain-syndrome
( like the local dunkindonut-girls seem to all have )
azphoto will process everything
b/w, color chromes, 35mm-8x10
i wish there was something like that up here
in RI where i am, no one left to process anything
bigger than 35mm/120 unless i spend the bucks on postage
or spend 4hours in the car.

good luck!

jp498 · Apr 11, 2014

pbromaghin said:
So how much liquid does it take to feed one of these things? It's cheaper than a new Jobo, so it should be a viable alternative for some people.

Here's a small one...

http://www.noritsu.com/downloads/t15 sell sheet.pdf

Minimum 11 rolls a day, 75 pounds of solution, 11 pounds of water.

msage · Apr 11, 2014

jp498 said:
Here's a small one...

http://www.noritsu.com/downloads/t15 sell sheet.pdf

Minimum 11 rolls a day, 75 pounds of solution, 11 pounds of water.

This one(Noritsu) is more then a Jobo!

Xmas · Apr 11, 2014

pbromaghin said:
So how much liquid does it take to feed one of these things? It's cheaper than a new Jobo, so it should be a viable alternative for some people.

what is wrong with just using a Patterson and plastic bowl (for temper bath)?

My local photo shop sells a multi tank insert for 4x5

http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=1082

pbromaghin · Apr 11, 2014

msage said:
This one(Noritsu) is more then a Jobo!

??

A new Jobo at Freestyle is $3000. That Noritsu on ebay is $750 buy it now.

Chan Tran · Apr 11, 2014

pbromaghin said:
??

A new Jobo at Freestyle is $3000. That Noritsu on ebay is $750 buy it now.

The Noritsu V30 is a bigger machine and is capable of doing 120/220 as well as 35mm. The T15 is smaller and only does 35mm. Either one is much cheaper to run than the Jobo IF (a big if) you have enough volume. Even the T15 which is designed for low volume you must process at least 10 roll a day to keep the process stable. The V30 would need even more. The Jobo is a one shot processor which use the chemical only once and thus you can mix just enough chemical for the 1 roll but the cost per roll would be high. The Noritsu has fully automatic replenishment system. A brand new Noritsu is very expensive but since a lot of labs get out of business so they are cheap on the used market.

mopar_guy · Apr 14, 2014

I live near a small town and we have two drug stores that run minilabs.

Shootar401 · Apr 16, 2014

I've done all my own processing of B/W, C41 and E6. It's just too easy.

I know Johnson Camera in Syracuse, NY does B/W, C41 and sends E6 out.
George Street Camera in New Bruswick, NJ does C41.
The two Targets next to me do digital only, I'm not sure if they accept film even to send out. Never asked.
The closest WalMart to me is like stepping into a third world country, I walked in once, and walked right out. Not sure what they do.
CVS is hit and miss, some have them, some don't. Same with Walgreens.
Not sure about Duane Reade in NYC
B&H will develop everything up to 8x10 E6

AgX · Apr 19, 2014

One aspect completely neglectect so far is the massive difference worldwide in market share of minilabs versus industrial fotofinishers in the past.

sticknpuck · Apr 27, 2014

I only recently started shooting film and took my first couple rolls to get developed at the local minilab. Thinking hey, they must be able to process this and give me the negatives back without issue... I scanned them with my new V600 and was completely disappointed. First of all they threw my double exposures in the trash thinking they were junk (probably - but I still want to see them!!!) And looking at the negs closer founds streaks and spots that I wasn't sure should be there. I then shot another couple rolls and took it to a pro lab about 40min away and the results were what I originally expected - a million times better. I will never go back to this place again. I think it's pro labs from here on out with film. A buck or two is no good reason to risk shitty results. If I had a little more time/space I would give it a go myself but I'm not quite there yet.

Cheers

markaudacity · Apr 27, 2014

Wait til you're shooting a roll every day and then see if that buck or two doesn't start to stack up!

shutterboy · Apr 28, 2014

Shootar401 said:
The closest WalMart to me is like stepping into a third world country, I walked in once, and walked right out. Not sure what they do.

A third world country eh? I really hope you did not mean what you just said

Are there any minilabs left?

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