New processing lab in the UK

xtolsniffer · Oct 5, 2012

I think this is the right place to post this. As a customer of Ag Photographic, I got an email shot this morning saying that they have just opened a new processing lab for C41, E6 and black and white. Details at www.ag-photolab.co.uk. This is encouraging news as they are also a supplier of films and darkroom products. I usually use Peak Imaging which are excellent but I have a sharp intake of breath everytime I see the bill for latest batch of 10 rolls of 35mm printed at 5"x7.5". I have a batch of rolls ready to send off and I may give them a go.

Steve Smith · Oct 5, 2012

Those prices are very reasonable. I will probably try them out too.

Steve.

wilfbiffherb · Oct 5, 2012

i have been an AG customer for a while now and they have never let me down. excellent customer service - lets hope this continues on into their new lab.

benjiboy · Oct 5, 2012

It's not a new lab, the processing is done by Peter Gaffney's Metro Colour labs in Birmingham where I have been a customer for a long time, I can recommend this lab wholeheartedly they have very reasonable prices and their work is some of the best and cleanest I have ever seen, but their turn round time isn't fast it's about ten days.

xtolsniffer · Oct 5, 2012

I can afford to wait if I'm saving money (spoken like a true Yorkshireman). Thanks for the update benjiboy.

pentaxuser · Oct 5, 2012

I thought the prices excellent. If you were only an occasional user of colour and didn't particularly fancy the investment and learning curve for home processing then this would fit the bill. Same applies if you prefer chromogenic B&W such as XP2 Super but did your own printing

pentaxuser

mr rusty · Oct 5, 2012

Just called in at AG to pick up some stuff. I was chatting to the owner (didn't get his name) but he was telling me that they have taken over metro (I think that's the story) anyway, it seems Metro's lab gear is now at AG. I was in a bit of a hurry so was a little confused on all the detail.

pentaxuser · Oct 5, 2012

mr rusty said:
Just called in at AG to pick up some stuff.

Quite a commute from Lanacashire You basically have it correct. Matt at Ag has done very well, starting off as he did in the B'ham suburbs over a garage. Shows what can be done with a retail analogue business if you work hard, don't overcharge and have a real connection to the customer.

Well done Matt

pentaxuser

mr rusty · Oct 5, 2012

Quite a commute from Lanacashire

on the way home from cornwall!

benjiboy · Oct 8, 2012

I'm sending a C41 135 Ektar film in tomorrow for them to process, watch this space

batwister · Oct 10, 2012

Peak Imaging are cheaper for a single roll of black & white, process only, if you were so inclined. £5.88 with them, £5.95 with Ag. From what I gather from the posts, faster turnaround too.
Colour is cheaper with Ag though.

benjiboy · Oct 13, 2012

batwister said:
Peak Imaging are cheaper for a single roll of black & white, process only, if you were so inclined. £5.88 with them, £5.95 with Ag. From what I gather from the posts, faster turnaround too.
Colour is cheaper with Ag though.

I was referring to Metro colour labs when I wrote that the turn round time was around ten days, I just sent my first C41 135 Kodak Ektar into Ag, and got it back from door to door in three days.

perkeleellinen · Oct 13, 2012

How does it look, Ben? Are you going to print from it? Interested to know how much filter pack difference there is between Ag and Peak.

pentaxuser · Oct 13, 2012

batwister said:
Peak Imaging are cheaper for a single roll of black & white, process only, if you were so inclined. £5.88 with them, £5.95 with Ag. From what I gather from the posts, faster turnaround too.
Colour is cheaper with Ag though.

Well 7p is neither here nor there. What's counts is the difference in processing, if any, and in whose favour. If there is no difference then we are looking at postage and possibly the package deal involving both if you needed both B&W and C41 film processed. If it's a dead heat or nearly so then Ag has the added advantage of being a full range analogue materials retailer

pentaxuser

benjiboy · Oct 14, 2012

perkeleellinen said:
How does it look, Ben? Are you going to print from it? Interested to know how much filter pack difference there is between Ag and Peak.

I don't do my own processing, I previously used Metro Colour Lab, it looks excellent the prints are very clean with good colour balance, and the negs have no scratches dirt or drying marks, they are printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper and I'm very happy with them. I have no knowledge of the filtration they use, at their prices for this quality frankly don't care.

New processing lab in the UK

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