New to Toronto - Where to Develop?

sunsesame · Aug 25, 2011

I'll be living in downtown Toronto for the next few months and wanted to get my bearings down.

First of all, where is a good and cheap place for photo developing? B+W, Pushing and Cross Processing included.

Also, Analog Camera repairs - are there any places still around?

Your help would be really appreciated, I can't seem to find much information online!

thebanana · Aug 25, 2011

Well, you live in Toronto, so you can have good, or you can have cheap, but maybe not both

Try these guys. If they can't help you they will know who can.

http://www.elevatordigital.ca/

CGW · Aug 25, 2011

For film service:

Toronto Image Works

Downtown Camera

Some Loblaws and Loblaws Supercenter stores still run Fuji minilabs--cheap but a total crapshoot on quality. Use at your own risk though some in the western GTA aren't consistently awful.

Sadly, "cheap" and "film processing" are pretty much mutually exclusive now in TO. Elevator is not budget-priced.

Winball Camera Repair is good for Nikon, especially manual focus gear.

Film prices can be slightly better at Silvano's and FilmPlus than elsewhere(e.g., Henry's and Vistek).

There's a big photo swap meet in early October, usually a good source for cheap short and outdated film. Details here:

http://phsc.ca/

silentworld · Aug 25, 2011

if you want to do black and white processing, Toronto Image Works will be a better choice. Downtown camera will only process black and white once a week, while Toronto Image Works has the same day turnaround (in by 11, out by 3).

BrianL · Aug 25, 2011

Kinderman has an excellent reputation for repairs. Several of the camera stores outsource to them and I think they are the warranty Leica service center. As for cheap and good processing, if you find one, please tell me as I can't find one. I'd actually be happy with good and reasonable piced. Stay away from Black's.

Vilk · Aug 25, 2011

repair-wise, a hearty vote of confidence for Dead Link Removed (nikon only)

for processing, downtown camera has a good reputation and as reasonable a price list as you can get these days in a brick store north of 49th: http://www.downtowncamera.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=23 (i process my own but my friends won't go anywhere else). i used toronto image works a few times in the past, years ago, and they would typically scratch about half of my film

ps. elevator may be pricey, but i've seen his prints--he's very very good

Steve Sherman · Aug 25, 2011

Toronto Processing

I am familiar with Toronto Image Works and Elevator. If quality is your first concern then Elevator has no equal. Their processing and print making is first rate and they have clients from all over the world.

Cheers

m. dowdall · Aug 26, 2011

Camera repair

I've found Kominek Camera Repair good for manual cameras.

http://www.kominek.com/

Marek Warunkiewicz · Aug 27, 2011

For repairs, try David Yau. He's terrific, a nice guy and works on many analog cameras including Nikon, Hasselblad and many others. Fair pricing and it is what he does full time, so you don't have to wait around a long time for repairs to get done. PM me and I'll send his phone number to anyone who wants it.

Regarding developing, if you want to do it yourself call Gallery 44, they might allow you to use the facilities for when you are in town. For quality, definitely Elevator. They aren't that pricey if you have a number of rolls to do in the same process. They don't charge by roll but by run. Best printers around, not just for Toronto or North America, they are a world-class operation.

CGW · Aug 27, 2011

FYI: David Yau's contact info:

Dead Link Removed

feb · Sep 18, 2011

I had very bad experience with Winball.

I had very bad experience with Winball. They couldn't repair my Nikon Camera lens well. And they don't have the instruments/equipment for the repair. When I picked my Camera up and found out the camera couldn't work well, I asked the questions, the owner Raymond couldn't answered it, then his wife said they would call 911. My God! Their small shop/work place is inside of the house beside the garage. The garage door always is closed.

CGW · Sep 18, 2011

feb said:
I had very bad experience with Winball. They couldn't repair my Nikon Camera lens well. And they don't have the instruments/equipment for the repair. When I picked my Camera up and found out the camera couldn't work well, I asked the questions, the owner Raymond couldn't answered it, then his wife said they would call 911. My God! Their small shop/work place is inside of the house beside the garage. The garage door always is closed.

Details? The man's English is not good, so his wife is the contact--never a problem for me.

No one's going to take your complaint very seriously without some specifics and background info. Sounds a bit like they promised nothing but would attempt a repair that proved impossible. Find it hard to believe they didn't make this clear.

New to Toronto - Where to Develop?

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