New York Photo Labs

Nhung · Mar 23, 2011

Hi all

i will be staying in new york for a couple of weeks and plan to shoot quite a few rolls of film. rather than pay for expensive processing costs when i get back to the UK, i wondered if any of you New Yorkers could recommend a cheap, and decent photo lab to take my films to. i plan to shoot both 35mm and medium format.

any help will be much appreciated. thanks!

36cm2 · Mar 23, 2011

Maybe not cheap, but certainly good: Duggal - Www.duggal.com

samcomet · Mar 23, 2011

For my Black & White I've usually gone to B & H Photo (www.bhphotovideo.com) where they've provided processing and proofs for a reasonable price and good work. They outsource the jobs (I think) so one simply hands ones work over the counter and gets it back later without the scope of talking it through with the hands-on-person. Still it beats worrying about x-ray scanners at airports for me. cheers, sam

degruyl · Mar 24, 2011

I would have recommended duggal, but someone beat me to it. I have hear good things about LTI http://www.ltiny.com/

There are several labs still fully operational in NYC, but turnaround time can be the killer. Do not ask for rush service if you want cheap.

Nhung · Mar 24, 2011

that's great. thanks for these.

@samcomet : yes. xrays are another reason i dont want to carry all my films home

@ degruyl : turnaround time is definitely another factor, i'm not going to be there long enough to be able to wait ages to get the films back

degruyl · Mar 24, 2011

Well, in NYC, rush is usually "same day service". Just ask how long it will take, and if it is too long, carry it home with you.

36cm2 · Mar 24, 2011

I've used both Duggal and LTI. Both are great. Both are as fast as you need. Duggal may be a bit more expensive, but it is also a much more glamorous affair. Their reception is loaded with huge Cibas and other amazing work. It's fun just walking in.

Nhung · Mar 29, 2011

thanks a lot. it's good to have multiple recommendations for a place

..... on a similar note do any of these places sell darkroom chemicals, just in case i am able to put together a temporary set up?

degruyl · Mar 29, 2011

B&H... 9th avenue between 33rd and 34th. It is ... huge.

36cm2 · Mar 29, 2011

Agree with Beards and Hats, but if you're going to duggal or lti, then adorama or calumet are closer. I'm not sure if calumet still has darkroom stuff. Call ahead for either.

Hiernst · Mar 29, 2011

For labs, Duggal definitely has the reputation, but when I brought them some B&W film to develop - they didn't do a very good job - crazy thin negatives. After that, and not wanting to run the risk of another bad batch of film, I decided to just go back to an old convenient, non-glamorous stop from my undergrad days - Imagination Photo Lab. I've had B&W and color done there and I've never had a problem.

Nhung · Apr 4, 2011

great thanks again

tim elder · Apr 4, 2011

You might also want to check out Print Space on 19th Street, a rental darkroom that has the space and chemicals to process B&W films yourself. I haven't been there in years but they used to have a C-41 line and I think they still do.

Tim

digitizedchaos · Sep 10, 2014

resurrecting this thread, i've called up duggal and they're still processing, other than that, any other labs you guys like to send film for processing?

Trask · Sep 10, 2014

I saw "Searching for Vivian Maier" the other day, and had the impression that Mr. Maloof was having those prints made in a pro NY lab. I've got to admit I'd never seen a print dryer that large before. Anyone know which place that was?

Alan Klein · Sep 10, 2014

I use LTI Lightside. Ask for Bernard. Tell him I recommended them to you.

digitizedchaos · Sep 10, 2014

Alan Klein said:
I use LTI Lightside. Ask for Bernard. Tell him I recommended them to you.

Great, will do!
Got quotes from Luster, LTI, Duggal & Accurate and if I have to factor in turn around time for processing 35mm, 120 & 220, LTI's the place to go.

samcomet · Sep 10, 2014

I'm not a big fan on TSA security scanners at airports so when I travel I try to find local film processing. I shoot high speed B & W and I've tried Duggal who were ok technically but treated me a tad offhand as I was not a "big" client. I went around the corner to Chelsea Photographic who treated me wonderfully and also does a fine job. I've been going to Chelsea for the past 6 years over 3 sojourns to NYC from Oz with no complaints. You may want to look them up. Cheers, Sam

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