O great, you used Photostudio13.
What are your experiences with this lab?
How much does it cost for a roll to be developed and mounted?
The slides developed by Photostudio how relates to those self developed at home? Are any better?
I have never developed slides at home, so I can't tell you. Slide is the one thing that I never intended to do myself. I'd like to be reassured that everything was done perfectly in development and any flaws are due to exposure.
My experience with them is very good. My impression is that they are a traditional lab, which has been running the way it is running for decades. Henning Serger has been inside, I have only been at the front counter dropping off film when I was driving past Stuttgart on work trips. They are very close to the Autobahn. It looks pretty large from the outside. I can't imagine there ever having been a minilab machine in there.
I have been phoned by them two or three times when they wanted a clarification about my order. I think once I accidentally checked the box for having the slides mounted. I was very happy that they caught this. Also I phoned in when I was going to send sheet film for the first time. When I asked something more specific they put me through to the lab technician right away. As I was talking to him, the image in my mind was of an older Gentleman in a grey lab coat, running the operation like a clock work.
About the pricing, I had to phone in to request a pice list, they don't have it on their website. I took my first slides in 2016, the price list was from 2011. Late last year, or early this year, I received back developed film and the bill and realised that they raised prices. After eight years! So I called to ask them for a new price list... it is dated September 2019.
Generally, 135 film costs quite a bit more to develop than 120 film and their C41 service costs more than E6. The latter seems to be their main service with the highest volume. Scala is most expensive and run only once a week on Mondays. C41 and E6 are done daily, AFAIK, in the morning only. I'm not sure if that has always been the case, because it means that the mail of the day will probably not make it into the tanks until the next day. Maybe volume has gone down in recent years? I seem to remember in the beginning I once sent in films on a Tuesday and had them back on Thursday. But most of the time I'll have at least one b/w film for Scala in there and then it'll always wait until Monday, delivered on Tuesday. I have to send in by Thursday at the latest to make sure it gets into their inbox on Friday for Monday morning processing.
Their price list is exclusive of tax, as is customary for B2B services. They accept private customers without issue, though. Currently you have to add 16% tax, from 2021 on it will revert to the pre-covid rate of 19%:
Process E6
- rollfilm 120: €4.47/€8.67 (unmounted/mounted)
- 135 film: €5.49/€7.99
- 4x5 sheets: €2.92 each. You'll get incremental discount starting at 10% from 10 sheets, 15% from 25 sheets, 20% from 50 sheets and the max 25% from 100 sheets.
- 5x7 sheets: €3,97
- 8x10 sheets: €7,46
- 20cm x 25cm: €8,29
Scala development
- 120 rollfilm €6.05
- 135 film €8.73
- 4x5 sheets €4,44
- 8x10 sheets €13,32
Push processing is 50% extra. However, my request to develop Tmax 400 rollfilm for 10 minutes instead of 9 minutes has never incurred an extra cost.
Although it is no their price list, I'm not sure if they will mount slides. Maybe they do but they are not keen. I guess you'd have to find out.
Another thing is that from my anecdotal experience I would not use the postal service between Italy and Germany. Any parcel service might be okay.
Quality is fine & turnaround was ok. Main issue is dealing with the antiquated German banking system. Prices aren't that dissimilar to the bigger dip/dunk E-6/ C-41 labs here - as opposed to smaller throughput custom labs.
Essentially a choice of direct bank transfer (that costs money if sending from outside Germany) or sending cash with order - Paypal, or payment by credit/ debit card online is all still a bit alien in a lot of Germany.
It's not a bug, it's a feature!
The (retail) banking system itself is not as antiquated as the one in the UK and, the worst, in the US. Young(er) Germans wouldn't recognise a cheque. Direct debits and direct transfers have been in use since the seventies, according to my mother. Most definitely since 1980. Cheques came later, apparently, and are long gone now. B2B still used cheques on a small scale for some transactions, but it might be gone now. Just like bills of exchange.
Your point is more likely that certain business don't to modern payment methods, like paypal, credit cards, etc. Most retail shops accept local debit cards, the major international cards (Master, Visa) are accepted more and more. Even at food discounters. That is because the EU finally stepped in to stop the credit card issuers price racket and capped certain fees. Prior to that credit cards were pretty much boycotted by many businesses. And the culture of small shops preferring you not to use your credit card is still deeply ingrained. At places like a bakery or a butchers shop you'll need cash, though.
PS13 is a pro lab. I believe traditionally their customers were companies and professional photographers. I noticed, because they told me when I first used them that they will send back the film along with an invoice. No prepayment necessary or possible. No credit check whatsoever. I guess there are very few scumbags among people who shoot slide film...
A money transfer is the way businesses pay their bills. It costs nothing to receive and for most people nothing to send. Retails banks in the US often want $20-$30 for a wire transfer. I costs very little when you use an alternative service or if you have money wired into your bank account from your account at an online (discount) stock broker. It is my experience while living in the UK and US; things become very expensive if you want anything but stuff for the masses. I think Adox products at Freestyle are an example
Using Transferwise should minimise your fees, and, yes, I think they still get a generous cut.
