Can you recommend a good lab?

cooltouch · Mar 4, 2016

Dwaynes Photo is probably the best known mail-order outfit in the US that I know of. They handled the rather monumental task of developing the last of the Kodachrome. Prices are reasonable.

https://dwaynesphoto.com/newsite2006/overview.html

Here locally (Houston, TX) we have an excellent pro lab, Aker Imaging, formerly A-Z Lab. I've used them for E-6 processing and they've always done a top-notch job. Here's their website, but I don't know if they do mail order.

http://www.azphoto.com/

Bob Carnie · Mar 4, 2016

Us Based ship to location is actually very high on my radar... Buffalo is the closest or Niagara Falls NY.. I am just wondering how this all would work but I do think it would ease the minds of USA customers.

Kirks518 said:
I wouldn't have an issue sending to Canada. Overseas would be different, but only because of transit times. Shipping costs would be the other consideration, and may negate any financial advantages. But, the level of quality could over-ride the shipping costs, but the problem is becoming a known source for quality developing. Having a US based ship-to location would be beneficial I would think, if it's logistically and financially feasible for you.

Theo Sulphate · Mar 4, 2016

Kirks518 said:
I wouldn't have an issue sending to Canada. Overseas would be different, but only because of transit times. Shipping costs would be the other consideration, and may negate any financial advantages. But, the level of quality could over-ride the shipping costs, but the problem is becoming a known source for quality developing. ...

These are my thoughts as well. Many photographers invest a lot of time and thought in trying to make good photos, it only makes sense that the final product, the print, is of high quality.

Even in my case, just getting 5x7 proofs, it's a waste when I spend $30 and get a batch of soft prints when I can see with a Leica MZ6 microscope at 40x that the negatives are tack sharp.

I realize that sharpness isn't everything when admiring a good photo, but there comes a point where excessive softness is distracting.

For me, this issue is a recent phenomenon. Fifteen years ago it seemed you could get good prints just about anywhere.

images39 · Mar 5, 2016

I've used Allied Photocolor in St. Louis for a few years. Have only used them for black and white, but always get great results:

http://www.alliedphotocolor.com/

Dale

rpsawin · Mar 5, 2016

Check these guys out:

http://www.digitalsilverimaging.com

Bob

btaylor · Mar 5, 2016

albada said:
I like North Coast Photographic Services in Carlsbad, California, a one-hour's drive south of San Clemente.
I've found their work to be reliable and top quality.
They return your negatives, and can give you prints or scans (on CD) or both.
Their website: northcoastphoto.com

Mark Overton

Another vote for North Coast. I have had excellent results with C41, E6 and b&w from them. Nice scans and prints. Turnaround is about a week, door to door.

Huss · Mar 7, 2016

Bob Carnie said:
Here is a question for all of you.... Would you ship film over international borders???

I wouldn't because I have no idea if the film would be subject to xrays, what kind etc. For example, the xray machines used at the security inspections that passengers walk through w/ their carry on luggage is much weaker than the x ray machines used to examine checked in luggage. Most airlines state not to put unexposed film in checked in baggage.
Directly shipping film - does it get xrayed by customs/security? And with what?

Bob Carnie · Mar 8, 2016

I understand this worry, I am hoping that between our two country's a solution for legitimate vendors to be able to work together without some of the extreme
measures at the border.

from personal experience - we were sent back at the Detroit border for not having the correct paper work for a museum show we were personally delivering.
Now I will admit we probably met the wrong guy at the wrong time but no matter what I produced we were not welcome.
I have thought about a Buffalo retail location, but I think until something is fixed at the border then I have a problem with material coming back and forth.

Huss said:
I wouldn't because I have no idea if the film would be subject to xrays, what kind etc. For example, the xray machines used at the security inspections that passengers walk through w/ their carry on luggage is much weaker than the x ray machines used to examine checked in luggage. Most airlines state not to put unexposed film in checked in baggage.
Directly shipping film - does it get xrayed by customs/security? And with what?

Arthurwg · May 18, 2022

Mackinaw said:
The Darkroom is terrible. They lost my negatives.

Jim B.

I've got to agree. The processing is OK, but they cut 35mm negs into strips of four frames and stick them into opaque paper selves. When I asked if they could make six-frame strips and place them in Print Files, they said they could not do custom work. Very unprofessional.

joelbolden · May 18, 2022

BrianShaw said:
I'm sorry for your loss, Jim. But they've never done me wrong in any way... Ever.

I've been using them for years with absolutely no problem either. They do excellent work.

KinoGrafx · May 19, 2022

Theo Sulphate said:
Sorry, forgot to mention that: U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Hmmm - in light of a recent other thread, do I need to worry about the undeveloped film being X-rayed in shipping?

There’s a lab just over the bridge from you in tacoma called speedy, but i haven’t used them yet- and Portland Has Citizens, pro photo, blue moon and a couple other places, they are all good.

Huss · May 19, 2022

joelbolden said:
I've been using them for years with absolutely no problem either. They do excellent work.

What's your point of reference? I found them to be garbage and switched to other labs.

logan2z · May 19, 2022

I have yet to find a lab that I've been happy with in the long run. I've used two in San Francisco and one in LA and decided I'd rather mess up my film myself for free

dynachrome · May 19, 2022

I can recommend Livingston Camera in Livingston, NJ.

BCM · May 19, 2022

dynachrome said:
I can recommend Livingston Camera in Livingston, NJ.

I have a friend who uses them pretty regularly with good results.

tom williams · May 19, 2022

Theo Sulphate said:
So, I neither develop nor print color and I have a lot of 35mm processing I'd like done. There really is nothing locally at all that I trust.

I'm looking to have the negatives developed (common C-41) and printed as glossy borderless 5x7 prints that I'll use as proofs.

My problems with the few local places I use is that they use old (expired) chemicals for developing and also leave gunk on the negatives.

The two main criteria:

1. Develop the negatives properly.
2. Make *sharp* prints with good color overall.

I'm thinking of Dwayne's but am open to all. Cost and shipping is not important if the work is good.

The Darkroom in San Clemente,CA has performed flawlessly for me, with 4x5 color negative processing. No experience with prints though. Haven't been able to raise a response from Citizen's in Portland.

Sirius Glass · May 19, 2022

Samy's Camera has been doing my C41 film processing for decades.

abruzzi · May 21, 2022

In the past I’ve used Photrio member @Adrian Bacon and been very happy with his work. He does DSLR scans, inverts them, and provides raw files on the digital side, and returns the negatives any way you like. I’ve never tried his printing, so I can’t comment on that:

Film Processing | Simple Photography Services

We handle Disposable Cameras, C-41, E-6, and B&W film in 35mm, 120, and 4x5 sheet film here. If you have custom types or sizes, please contact us for service.

www.simplephotographyservices.com

joelbolden · May 22, 2022

Huss said:
What's your point of reference? I found them to be garbage and switched to other labs.

My "point of reference" is that I've been using them for years with absolutely no problems. I send them 35 mm and 120mm, plus have them do enlargements of certain negatives; all of which they process faultlessly. I haven't tried other labs for the simple reason I don't need to.

Huss · May 22, 2022

joelbolden said:
My "point of reference" is that I've been using them for years with absolutely no problems. I send them 35 mm and 120mm, plus have them do enlargements of certain negatives; all of which they process faultlessly. I haven't tried other labs for the simple reason I don't need to.

So, no point of reference. I've used them and their quality is very poor compared to other labs that I have used. As well as not making things right when they screw up.

Joseph Bell · May 23, 2022

Bob Carnie said:
Here is a question for all of you.... Would you ship film over international borders???

For years I have questioned the viability of restarting my film development, contact print business. Thanks to the internet the world has shrunk and
we are talking to each other from all over the world.

But to start a high quality film production business one needs film to process. All process control is based on enough film going through the chemicals.

My wife and I are old school in that we both have worked at what I would consider the Top film labs that could compete with any lab anywhere. We
know this side of the business very well, but are extremely hesitant to buy the necessary equipment to satisfy the quality expectations.

I have considered moving closer to Buffalo to hand walk over the border client film from the States, as it seems there is hesitancy and as well associated
costs to do such a thing.

I live in Toronto so you would think there is a huge market demand for this, well not that I have seen so if something is to work it has to be mail order
with clients sending from all points.

My Point on all this... All the top technicians are doing other things to survive.

RE: Toronto: there is not a single reliable professional film lab in this enormous city! I do hear good things about Borealis in Montreal but I haven't tried them personally.

And for the OP: if you are willing to ship outside the United States - in my experience Canadian Film Lab in BC does a very nice job.

Can you recommend a good lab?

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