Mail order development

I have a s**T load of black and white film that I need to have processed with prints. My only option is mail order for the most part. I was thinking of using Dwaynes since the price is not too terrible. Does anyone have anything to say about their service. And also does anyone have any other options in the states that I could look into that offers developing with prints for a decent price.

Any friends live near by with a darkroom? Anybody from APUG near marsbars willing to help out? Freestyle B&W processing service (kinda pricey)probably the best bet though.

Rick

Have you looked at Blue Moon, in Portland? Not too far. Not sure about the pricing and your comfort zone.

There is a lab right here in town but they are a PITA to get to if one works a real job and they don't do prints as part of the service. The development is pretty cheap, like 4 bucks a roll but then they want like 35 cents per print. 35X36 gets expensive pretty fast. Mostly what I am looking for is proof prints as reading a negative is not my forte and a contact print just doesn't show me much. Price wouldn't be a issue if I didn't have 10 rolls that I need to get developed. Some of it has been waiting for a pretty long time. So long that i don't even remember what is on them. Or what camera I used them in. Money has been tight for a while and now it is starting to free up a little. But there still isn't a whole lot.

Looked at Blue Moon and they are out of this world if you ask me.

I used Dwayne's to develop and print a few rolls of b&w a few years ago, before I had the equipment to do so on my own. Their service was fine, but I remember not liking the 4x6 prints. I much prefer contact sheets. Since we're opposites on that, it sounds perfect for you.

-Laura

35 cents a print seems very cheap to me. What about having contact sheets made and then scanning them on your flat bed scanner at a resolution that makes them large on your monitor? Or you could send your film to me since I process film for people and I will make you a set of 5x7 proof prints for 7 dollars each?
Dennis

Nobody is going to get nice B&W prints for .35.

If a contact sheet isn't big enough, get a magnifying glass or a film scanner.

Dwayne's does pretty good black and white. They print on real black and white paper too.

jp498 said:

Nobody is going to get nice B&W prints for .35.

If a contact sheet isn't big enough, get a magnifying glass or a film scanner.

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I have used my loupe on contact sheets but it just isn't quite the same as something that I don't have to stare at with a magnifying glass. And my search for prints is more just as a proof more than something to display. Although my wife will pull good ones out and put them in frames if there is one that she really likes but we don't want to enlarge any bigger. My local lab has done some 8x10 and larger prints and those are custom prints and they aren't cheap but not out of this world and I have loved everyone of them.