C41 developing, walgreens etc?

Fall · Apr 15, 2017

So I will be short here.. My local small business film processor (murphy's camera) has.. changed. anyway. I used to only develop my own c41, but the process became a hassle, and for 3 dollars, developed and sheathed... I thought it was good. anyway. How is walgreens, etc for developing? I don't have much experience with these low rate locations, as I always either did it myself, my local, or one of the online "prolabs". I'm just really frustrated. To me it doesn't seem like rocket science to put the film in the machine and then cut it and put it in a sheathe, instead of wrapped up in a little coil in a film canister so when I pull the film out it's like a spring and nearly impossible to scan. shew. I saw a video from some asian kid (don't remember his name), but apparently he's popular and dumped 100 rolls there or something. Anyway, just looking for experiences and advice. I have really gotten back into colour photography, and this is really getting me down.

mshchem · Apr 15, 2017

All our Walgreens have stopped film and RA4 printing last year.
Not sure if this is just here in Midwest US.
I am lucky I can do it myself and I have access to 2 great labs

canvassy · Apr 15, 2017

My experience with our local Walgreens wasn't good. Dev + scans was $15, and the scan quality is poor. I also watched the tech drag my film on the floor I do my C41 at home now, but when I sent it out I used TheDarkroom.com.

removed account4 · Apr 15, 2017

walgreens might have send out service to fuji, but theywon't give you your film back.
walmart is the same way to fuji, no return film, but RITE AID from what i understand, WILL
return your film, or at least they would a few years ago. this might change though, all the rite aids
might become walgreens, and then you're outta luck !

if you don't mind sending out the darkroom.com is an apug sponsor as well as blue moon
and they both get very good reviews. millers, gets good reviews too, but you need to set up a professional account.
(the other 2 aren't like that. )

winger · Apr 15, 2017

The problem with Walgreens and the like who do it for cheap and in-house will be that they don't have a very high through-put. They will probably not be checking that their chemicals are working properly and those will probably be old anyway. Chances are also high that the person running the machine won't have gotten much more training than "push the button to start it" and they may not even know that film is light-sensitive.
Personally, I'd prefer to save up a few rolls to make the postage worth it and send it out to Praus in Rochester or Blue Moon in OR - both do a really good job. There are a few other pro-level labs left that will take film by mail order. I'd rather spend the money on postage and have it done right than save a few bucks and have it done poorly. Can't redo film once it's processed.

trythis · Apr 15, 2017

$3!

Where can I send my film to get processed for $3?
My local labs went to $8 a few years ago and are probably higher now. Maintaining the chemicals and disposing of them is a hassle for me and I would open or run a lab because of that. Low volume = high losses for companies. I lost all faith in Walgreens 4 years ago after watching a kid pulling my film between their fingers back and forth like a ribbon. SCRATCHHHHH...ugh. "Stop! Now!" [stunned look on face... "What???"]

I am doing my own C41 too and its a hassle. I bought my last batch of chemicals and will be sticking to b&w. Hp5 @1600 with Diafine is really easy.

Fall said:
So I will be short here.. My local small business film processor (murphy's camera) has.. changed. anyway. I used to only develop my own c41, but the process became a hassle, and for 3 dollars, developed and sheathed... I thought it was good. anyway. How is walgreens, etc for developing?

removed account4 · Apr 15, 2017

trythis said:
$3!

the lab down the street from me
i th1nk proces only is about $3 at her place.
around there anyways.

Sirius Glass · Apr 15, 2017

jnanian said:
walgreens might have send out service to fuji, but they won't give you your film back.
walmart is the same way to fuji, no return film, but RITE AID from what i understand, WILL
return your film, or at least they would a few years ago. this might change though, all the rite aids
might become walgreens, and then you're outta luck !

if you don't mind sending out the darkroom.com is an apug sponsor as well as blue moon
and they both get very good reviews. millers, gets good reviews too, but you need to set up a professional account.
(the other 2 aren't like that. )

I agree with John. The most important thing is marked in Bold.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 15, 2017

Walgreens and similar stores have very few people bringing film to them these days. Consequently, the few stores that still process film in-house change chemicals and clean the machine very infrequently. Not only that, they make little or no effort to color-balance or ensure your prints look good. The 16 year-old saddled with taking your film and operating the machine sees you as a luddite fossil or a technophobe.

I've had good results with Blue Moon on their "standard" 4x6 prints - they are sharp and they do a wonderful job with the color. For B&W, they use color paper, so their black isn't that cool deep black that I like, but it's still good.

For larger than 4x6, I've sent my negs out to various places.

Fall · Apr 15, 2017

Thanks for the replies. I just want my film developed not for 2 times the price I payed for it. It's ridiculous. I hate developing colour, the water baths and temperature watching... it's really a pain... It's such a shame that you can't just get film developed for reasonable. I don't want scans. I hate when other people scan my film. they do it wrong. at charge me 5 dollars for 10 minutes of their time. Well thanks for the comments.. Looks like I will build something, and do them at home..

Well at murpheys camera you can develop for 3 dollars if you want your film shoved into a 35mm film canister with dust and scratches on it. they used to be perfect....

MattKing · Apr 15, 2017

Fall said:
Well at murpheys camera you can develop for 3 dollars if you want your film shoved into a 35mm film canister with dust and scratches on it. they used to be perfect....

Have you given that feedback to them, and explained why you would prefer to be able to give them your business again?
One of my local processors is hit and miss with respect to whether the film comes back sleeved. That is because they are having difficulty getting supplies of the sleeving material. Maybe your lab would be willing to put your negatives into Printfile sheets if you supplied them.

Patrick Robert James · Apr 15, 2017

I don't shoot much color film these days, but when I do, I develop it myself. I used to shoot family pictures on film and get them developed at Walgreens or CVS, but CVS stopped doing it years ago, then the Walgreens near me jacked the price way up. Not worth it for the quality they give. If I had to send it out these days I would send it to a dedicated pro lab and eat the cost. Color is easy enough to do by yourself as long as you can read a thermometer.... It is quick too!

It is a shame getting color film developed locally is missing these days. Color films are pretty spectacular if you ask me. Better than before digital took over!

mshchem · Apr 15, 2017

Here You go I have known the owner Dave Johnson for 45 years. His lab manager, Lori, watches the place like a hawk. Develop only and prints are very good. He just bought a new (I think one of the last) Noritsu printers. Photo Pro Cedar Rapids, IA

http://www.photoproonline.com/prints/film-processing/

3 bucks develop only and sleeved. (obviously doesn't include mailing) They make outstanding prints, have regular Kodak paper or Endura, even Metallic available for 4x6 to 12 in wide. Local pros use his lab for weddings etc.

They use Kodak Flexicolor C-41 chemistry, I have never had a problem of any kind. A great local shop but he does a lot online too.
Mike

Fall · Apr 15, 2017

MattKing said:
Have you given that feedback to them, and explained why you would prefer to be able to give them your business again?
One of my local processors is hit and miss with respect to whether the film comes back sleeved. That is because they are having difficulty getting supplies of the sleeving material. Maybe your lab would be willing to put your negatives into Printfile sheets if you supplied them.

Yeah I did, they were smartalecs. Acted like they didn't need my business anyway, so.. in search of alternative options.

faberryman · Apr 15, 2017

Fall said:
So I will be short here.. My local small business film processor (murphy's camera) has.. changed. anyway. I used to only develop my own c41, but the process became a hassle, and for 3 dollars, developed and sheathed... I thought it was good. anyway ...I have really gotten back into colour photography, and this is really getting me down.

A loaf of bread used to be twenty-nine cents. Now it's over two dollars. When did bread get so expensive? I've really gotten back into sandwiches, and this is really getting me down.

Fall · Apr 15, 2017

Well patrick I used to rarely shoot it. However, now I have desire to use colour, it's so beautiful... The colours... It's like childhood. I love the colour timing of kodak film.

Thanks mshchem! I'll try them! I looked there and have no idea how to order, but I'll send them an email

Fall · Apr 15, 2017

faberryman said:
A loaf of bread used to be twenty-nine cents. Now it's over two dollars. When did bread get so expensive? I've really gotten back into sandwiches, and this is really getting me down.

I'd pay six dollars a roll for local. it's the point that they reduced their quality and charge the same and treated a long time and loyal costumer like crap.

I really think this comment was uncalled for, and unrelated to sourcing c41 development in april 2017.

removed account4 · Apr 16, 2017

$6 a roll ?!
now i know why
you need to get your film
processed so cheaply, the bread
is too good to do without ...

railwayman3 · Apr 16, 2017

Potential problems with mini-labs these days are largely due to the small volume of orders and hence the low throughput. The consequent risks are that the chemicals are not maintained fresh, the machines not kept clean, and the work delegated to disinterested and inexperienced operators.
I've always maintained that there are no "bad" C-41 films on the market, even the consumer films C200, etc., will give great results with good processing and printing....but where you can find that, at a reasonable price, is another matter.

foc · Apr 17, 2017

railwayman3 said:
Potential problems with mini-labs these days are largely due to the small volume of orders and hence the low throughput. The consequent risks are that the chemicals are not maintained fresh, the machines not kept clean, and the work delegated to disinterested and inexperienced operators.
I've always maintained that there are no "bad" C-41 films on the market, even the consumer films C200, etc., will give great results with good processing and printing....but where you can find that, at a reasonable price, is another matter.

The holy grail of C41 processing. Cheap but very high quality.

As has been said above, any processor needs a certain volume of film throughput to maintain consistency. That volume, basiclly, depends on your developer tank size and your replenishment rate. I have known some labs only running their processor a few day a week, because of low volume, but unless they can increase volume it doesn't make a huge difference.

That's where marketing film developing services comes into play. Even in a niche market it can be done and cost very little. As some of you may know I own a minilab( in a rural area in a small country on the periphery of Europe) and we still process a lot of film. How? Because 80% of our film processing is via mailorder. This wasn't done overnight but took time to build up ( took us 3 years ) but can be done. And there is no secret. Airline companies have been doing it for years. We charge different prices in the different markets we sell our processing, (different websites). So far it has worked, no one complained and we can maintain our all important volume.

Regarding a well run lab, that is simple good house keeping. Some are better at it than others.

And price? Well no matter what price is charged, some will think it too expensive and a few will think it too cheap. And remember the old saying, "you pay for what you get".

Wallendo · Apr 17, 2017

You can try Mpix (the consumer version of Miller Lab): http://www.mpix.com/products/film
They send you mailers which you then send in. The develop and scan (low quality) your images for $0.19 per image and then mail you back your negatives. Their scans and prints are not great quality, but they do a great job with the negatives which you can then print/scan yourself at higher quality.

C41 developing, walgreens etc?

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