Lab turnaround time: C-41

[BrianShaw]

I just decided to try a new lab (greater Los Angeles area) for C-41 processing of 120 film. The lab's website looked very impressive but their turnaround time surprised me - 5 working days for development and 5x5 proofs. The previous lab I used would turn them around in 3 days but cost quite a bit more.

I'm curous about other folks' experiences with pro lab turnaround time for C-41 processing/proofs?

 

[Dave Parker]

Both of them seem long to me, I get my 120 with 5x5 proofs back in about an hour, or a bit more if they are busy, 5 days seems extreme to say the least, I shot a senior this afternoon at 2PM and had the proofs in my hands at 3:30 PM for them to look at, so even 3 days seems quite long!

Dave

 

[Nick Zentena]

Four hours? Unless you want to pay extra for rush service.

 

[Jimster]

2 days for me. Jim.

 

[dschneller]

My local independant guy down the street who does 120 and 127 will process "While U wait". How's that for service? Although most of the time he's busy and it's in an few hours.

 

[Nicole]

I often have to wait 1-2 weeks if I have to use a local service

 

[Helen B]

I don't bother with proofs, so finding somewhere that will develop 120 or 220 in an hour or less isn't a problem - a lot of minilabs can develop C-41 120 and 220 but not print it.

Best,
Helen

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I'm sure in LA you must have labs with standard turnaround of 4 hours or less for C-41 medium format.

 

[Imke]

C-Lab in NY: 1 day for process and contact w/out rush charges, don't know about 5x5 proofs. Local lab here in Savannah: process in 2 hours, and then I need to bug them to have 5x5's within 1 day, but they usually do it.
5 days seems really long, especially for a pro lab.

Imke

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Reed in Denver, 2 hrs for C-41 developing, three business days for proofs! Fortunately, I don't need these services.

 

[Travis Nunn]

Here in Richmond, VA 2 shops will do same day service if in by 11:00, otherwise its ready the next morning.

 

[BrianShaw]

I'm sure in LA you must have labs with standard turnaround of 4 hours or less for C-41 medium format.

Yes... you'd think. The delay appears to be the prints (as mentioned by others responding to this thread). I live in one of the northern suburbs of LA (west San Fernando Valley) and nearby there are 4 pro labs. One went digital and their film services are atrocious now; another is still getting set up after moving (the 5-day turnaround I mentioned earlier); and the 2 others (I just found out) will turn C-41 negs, both 35mm and 120 in 4 hours but the prints/proofsheets take 2 days. Service might be better on the other side of "The Valley" since that is closer to the film/TV industry. As far as the chain photo stores go, their turnaround for any C-41 processing/printing is 3 days because they use a centralized lab.

Thanks everybody for the feedback! I've been on a hiatus from anything other than 35mm developed at Walgreens for the past few years and it seems like things have changed alot. I don't adapt to change very well sometimes ;-)

 

[BrianShaw]

My local independant guy down the street who does 120 and 127 will process "While U wait". How's that for service? Although most of the time he's busy and it's in an few hours.

I always knew that there was something I REALLY, REALLY liked about Canada. Until now I thought it was mostly the pea-meal bacon!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Here ya go--

http://www.aandi.com/cneg.html

I've used their mailers. Always good results.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

What kind of wusses don't develop their own film? They're not photographers -- they're button pushers.

 

[BrianShaw]

What kind of wusses don't develop their own film? They're not photographers -- they're button pushers.

Is this a statement of fact.... or a rhetorical comment?

Sincerely,
Wuss ButtonPusher

 

[Bill Mitchell]

Is this a statement of fact.... or a rhetorical comment?

A little of both, Brian. But it's mainly a troll.
And I'll add another one.
That the real work and commitment to photography lies in the drudgery of processing, particularly for color. If APUG was limited only to people who do all their own wet darkroom work, it would soon fade away like unfixed POP (despite the noble Pyro/Azo and Alternate Process stalwarts). Digital is not taking over because it's better, but because it's easier.

 

[jd callow]

Here in ferndale it takes about 45mins for development and 10mins for a contact. The service is great the price is next to nothing and the the lab rat who does the work is charming, goodlooking, talented, a fine dresser, has a great sense of humour, helps old ladies across the street and is an all around good guy.

 

[Nick Zentena]

A little of both, Brian. But it's mainly a troll.
And I'll add another one.
That the real work and commitment to photography lies in the drudgery of processing, particularly for color. If APUG was limited only to people who do all their own wet darkroom work, it would soon fade away like unfixed POP (despite the noble Pyro/Azo and Alternate Process stalwarts). Digital is not taking over because it's better, but because it's easier.

You're not related to Bob Mitchell are you? The colour guy? Inventor of the Unicube? etc?

If colour processing is hard I'd hate what you'd call B&W.

 

[Bill Mitchell]

More Troll

You're not related to Bob Mitchell are you? The colour guy? Inventor of the Unicube? etc?

If colour processing is hard I'd hate what you'd call B&W.

"We are all brothers, under the skin." Otherwise, not related.

Nick, after I've done 3 color (that's colour to you) separation Dye Transfers for 25 years, then masked Cibachromes for another 10, B&W is technically a piece of cake.
I have no problem with commercial photographers who send everything out to a lab (they're all going digital, anyhow), nor anyone who has their master prints made by a master printer after they've first done the scutwork of developing and proofing themselves (scanning instead of proofing is digital, not APUG).