ICON in Los Angeles...looks good maybe

[jtk]

https://www.iconla.com/

Have you used Icon lab in Los Angeles? I'm mostly interested in Icon's E6 and their scanning resources.

I respect popular mail-in labs and we have a great c41 lab here, but I'm looking for a lab that does E6 properly, which means they have significant E6 clientele, use dip/dunk machines, not tube improvisations.

 

[BradS]

I have not used Icon in a while so things may have changed. I started using them around the time that Calypso moved to Santa Cruz and E&J in Dublin closed. At the time, Icon in LA was considered one of the best pro labs around. They definitely used dip-n-dunk machines. Their work was always as good as any had had done by Calypso or E&J....which is to say, it was excellent.

 

[Huss]

A few years ago I had considered using Icon, but then heard about complaints that they only handled your work well/too care, if you were a valued client.
That was about 10 years ago so hopefully things are different now.
I'd send them a 'test' roll to see the results, and take it from there.

They use dip n dunk which seems a really good value at $10 for 35mm c41 and $12 for E6. I'd try them!

 

[logan2z]

I used Icon LA for a while and initially had good results. But things started to go down hill after a while - lots of inexplicable defects on my negatives, water stains, etc. I decided to give up on them and start home processing.

I've certainly had my share of growing pains while learning to do my own film development, but my results at this point are better/more consistent than what I was getting from Icon.

 

[BradS]

Not sure if it is relevant or not but, I only used Icon for Kodak E100G and Fuji Provia. I'd send them 10 or 20 sheets of 4x5 at a time. Never anything but excellence from them...but, like I said above. It's been a while.

This thread reminds me how bitterly I miss the local pro labs like E&J and Calypso.

 

[logan2z]

FWIW my experience was in the last year or two.

I should add that their customer service was very good. When I had issues the lab manager would reach out to discuss them. But I ultimately got tired of receiving negatives with problems and so I gave up.

Maybe I was just unlucky...

 

[Peter Schrager]

Prauss in Rochester is where u need to go .
Class act.

 

[Avalancheofbricks]

I’ve had mixed results, but only done C-41 processing.Some negatives back super clean but some with residue on them. Seems up to par with any other lab in LA imo. They’re probably better with printing though.

 

[Huss]

Back in the day when I first checked out Icon, they were much more expensive than other labs. Now the prices seem on par so IMO no harm in trying them.

 

[halfaman]

I’ve had mixed results, but only done C-41 processing.Some negatives back super clean but some with residue on them. Seems up to par with any other lab in LA imo. They’re probably better with printing though.

Dip&Dunk processors seem to leave occasionally dirtyness on film if the installation is not very carefully maintained.

 

[jtk]

Icon's messaage in response to my questions.....

Katrina Edelen <katrina@iconla.com>
To:djon43@yahoo.com

Mon, Sep 26 at 8:58 AM


Hi John,

We offer a free mailer when you place an order for any film service on our website. USPS is the carrier we use for that. If you need the film shipped back to you we have a few options at check out as well, including FedEx.

We use Refrema Dip & Dunk machines to process all our film, including E6 film up to 8x10.

With digital files, we can do a number of things depending on the size and quality. We offer printing directly from digital files (orders for that can also be placed on our website), as well as retouching services, and custom print services. Let us know what you had in mind and we can go from there.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Thanks,
Katrina

--
The Icon
5450 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90036
Ph: 323-933-1666 x24

Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 6:30PM
Saturday 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Closed Sunday

Need to place a print order? Email us directly at prints@iconla.com
Looking for Fine Art services? Email fa@iconla.com to get started

Please tag us #iconla

 

[jtk]

Prauss in Rochester is where u need to go .
Class act.

Praus is not an E6 lab. Hard to imagine that they serve many pros if they only run C41.

 

[MattKing]

Praus is not an E6 lab. Hard to imagine that they serve many pros if they only run C41.

Praus list E6 on their services page: https://www.4photolab.com/services