East Coast (or close) LF processing/printing

LMNOP

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My shameless LF newbie status continues to show, but I'm looking for processing, printing, and scanning recommendations for 4x5 negatives. My local shop does not have 4x5 equipment, and I want to shoot color so home developing is a bit daunting at the moment. I've used LTI Lightside in NYC before, and they're great, but I always shop around a bit, and they're scanning options are confusing/pricey.

Any suggestions? I would prefer the east coast, but not a deal breaker. My goal is to have prints made, and I don't have the resources at home.

Thanks for any input!
 

removed account4

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you might look into dorian color lab in arlington mass ..
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while i have never used them
they are highly recommended ...
 

frobozz

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I've had excellent service from Edgar Praus ( Dead Link Removed ) but so far I've only done 35mm E-6 with mounting, nothing larger and no printing or scanning services.

Duncan
 

Alan Gales

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Drum scanning is not created equal. Some equipment is better than others but it's more the skill of the operator than anything. Check out Lenny Eiger at http://www.eigerphoto.com/about_ep.php. Lenny is a great guy, a highly skilled drum scanner and printer, and a member of Large Format Photography Forum. A lot of the forum members use him. He has printed for Richard Avedon so he is pretty good! Lenny is on the west coast in California.

APUG is great but since you are getting into large format you need to join Large Format Photography Forum too. It's free and a lot of APUG members including myself are members. The forum is like APUG but specializes in large format photography. http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/index.php
 

palewin

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LMNOP: I have no experience with lab processing for 4x5 (I only shoot B&W, and process it myself) but you should find out if the labs you are interested in provide any choices in scanning and print quality. The reason I mention this is Alan Gales' post above about drum scanning and Lenny Eiger. Everything he says is accurate, but my sense is that you are not looking for exhibition-grade scans and prints at this point, you just want to see what is on your negatives (of course, if my understanding is wrong, I apologize for the usual problems arising from "assuming" anything!). Drum scanning provides the highest quality, and is priced accordingly; flat bed scanning (which most of us do ourselves with consumer-quality Epson scanners) is easily sufficient for most needs. There is a similar range in print qualities, for example my local printer/gallery (it's a hybrid business model) has different prices for consumer-quality 8x10 prints, and those produced on Epson wide-bed printers which allow for all sorts of custom color profiles for different papers, etc. In a nutshell, make sure you are not paying for more quality than you need.

P.S. I highly recommend you follow Alan's suggestion and join the LargeFormatPhotography Forum. It is a wonderful source for all information related to LF photography, as well as a great source for LF-specific used equipment (by people who know exactly what it is that they are selling!).
 
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TheFlyingCamera

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Don't be daunted by color processing yourself. I let it daunt me for years, even though I knew how to do it. I even had a Jobo processor of my own for a long time but was too afraid of goofing up the chemistry. Well, let me tell you, when I finally bit the bullet and did it myself, I was so glad I did. It actually can't be easier. Unlike b/w, the times and temperatures are totally consistent across all films, brands and speeds - color neg uses C-41, but after that it's all the same, and transparency film uses E-6, after that it's all the same too. The trick is getting your temperature consistent, which lots of folks here have written up solutions for DIY tempering baths should you not want to get a Jobo or other processor. And, once you get over the initial setup investment, the amount you'll save by souping it yourself will astound you. For example, buying the Tetenal C-41 kits at $25 each and running 8 rolls of 120, I'm coming in around $3.15 a roll. If I were to take those same rolls to my local (and very excellent) pro lab, I'd be paying $8.50/roll. JUST FOR PROCESSING - no scanning, no contact sheet, nothing. If I re-use my C-41 chems for a second batch, I'm down to ~$1.50/roll. That's a heck of a savings, and I'm not even buying Kodak Flexicolor chems which can be replenished, for even greater savings.
 

Alan Gales

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Like palewin is saying, drum scanning is expensive. You only want to drum scan your best work.

Get an Epson flat bed scanner. They are not dirt cheap but will quickly pay for themselves over sending out work. Sometimes you can find a deal on a used one.
 

bdial

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Vermont Center for Photography in Brattleboro can do the scan and print. For processing you'll need to use one of the labs mentioned though.
 

winger

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frobozz said:
I've had excellent service from Edgar Praus ( Dead Link Removed ) but so far I've only done 35mm E-6 with mounting, nothing larger and no printing or scanning services.

Duncan
Click to expand...

I sent Praus a mixed box of 35mm E6 and B&W, 120 E6, and 4x5 B&W and all were done quickly and nicely. I'll use them again. I've also sent 35mm and 120 to Blue Moon in Oregon and had great service from them, too. Praus is slightly cheaper for 4x5. I sent them because I've had uneven development problems and I was also moving from IA to PA.

For quick and dirty scans (and small prints from them), an Epson does a good enough job. It will depend on what your expectations are. I've never had a lab scan my negs/slides as I'd rather screw them up myself. If I ever need something drum scanned, I'd likely use Lenny Eiger as others have mentioned. And LFPF is a good place, too.
 

Axle

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frobozz said:
I've had excellent service from Edgar Praus ( Dead Link Removed ) but so far I've only done 35mm E-6 with mounting, nothing larger and no printing or scanning services.
Click to expand...

Praus is a great lab!

But probably the best 4x5 processing I've found in the US is from thedarkroom.com in California.
 

bdial

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And, recently, Northeast Photographic, and they are an Photrio advertiser.
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Peter Schrager

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I haven't used many services as I don't do much color but Prauss is like amazing!!
one more for him!!
best, Peter
 

Tim Stapp

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Dec 21, 2012
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Big Rapids, MI
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While I have not used them and they only do E6 processing, they do scans of all types and sizes of negatives
 
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