Newbie - where do you guys get film processed?

[TheMagicFlute]

I've read that Peak imaging is a good place - any other recommendations? I plan to send out my film for development and scan it myself using a DSLR and macro lens.

 

[skysh4rk]

I've read that Peak imaging is a good place - any other recommendations? I plan to send out my film for development and scan it myself using a DSLR and macro lens.

UK Film Lab.

 

[Black Dog]

I've read that Peak imaging is a good place - any other recommendations? I plan to send out my film for development and scan it myself using a DSLR and macro lens.

One Vision Imaging in Coventry-I've used them for more than 20 years.

 

[twoeyeandy]

Could try here: http://www.metroimaging.co.uk/film-lab-services/film-processing-by-mail, I have never used their postal service but back in the days of 24/7 labs I used them all the time with no dramas. Genie Imaging in Wandsworth http://www.genieimaging.co.uk/film-processing/ may still have a process and post service but its not very clear from their web site.
If you shoot black and white you could always process it yourself ?

 

[skysh4rk]

Genie Imaging in Wandsworth http://www.genieimaging.co.uk/film-processing/ may still have a process and post service but its not very clear from their web site.

It is my understanding that Genie stopped offering film development services earlier this year.

 

[Xmas]

Bathroom... Mono, c41 or E6, wet printing in tube including cibachrome alas gone now.

 

[sagai]

Bathroom... Mono, c41 or E6, wet printing in tube including cibachrome alas gone now.

+1 [emoji2]
Except e6

+ without any automatised widget, solely a kettle and a thermometer

For regular scanning it is worthwhile to invest 200£ for a scanner.
DSLR is a tempting approach, it is a pain in the a.sh in reality.
Scanners compensate with the control of backlight lid of uneven exposures, it is rather difficult with dslr.
Plus you should ensure mounting the negs and the sensor parallel in a fraction of mm.

 

[Fr. Mark]

Basement darkroom

 

[Xmas]

+1 [emoji2]
Except e6

+ without any automatised widget, solely a kettle and a thermometer

For regular scanning it is worthwhile to invest 200£ for a scanner.
DSLR is a tempting approach, it is a pain in the a.sh in reality.
Scanners compensate with the control of backlight lid of uneven exposures, it is rather difficult with dslr.
Plus you should ensure mounting the negs and the sensor parallel in a fraction of mm.

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/aboutus/page.asp?n=31

 

[Sirius Glass]

Samys camera for small batches of color print film. I process black & white myself as well as large batches of color print.

 

[railwayman3]

When I'm not doing it myself:-
E6 - Peak Processing, Sheffield.
C41 - Photo Expess, Hull.
B & W - Ilford.

 

[Peltigera]

Mostly I use Snappy Snaps in Lincoln but for E6 I have used Palm Labs in Birmingham.

Sent from my A1-840 using Tapatalk

 

[MJLangdon]

Peak Imaging for sure.
They have processed all my colour neg and slide 4x5 film and also had a large photo printed and mounted. Always top quality results and very well packaged.

 

[mshchem]

I picked up a Nikon Coolscan V (US nomenclature) for 100 bucks. For slides it's a miracle.
I process everything, I'm with Sagai. All you need is a tank, and a thermometer (digital aquarium or a real thermometer)

Best Mike

 

[Carl170]

FWIW I just drop mine into Asda for a one hour service (Develop and Scan to CD is about £3). Its like a ritual with a mate and me. We drop films in and then have some breakfast in the cafe and read the magazines until the hour is up.

Results always seem fine and we would rather use it than lose it!

Cheers

Carl

 

[pentaxpete]

I do all my own B&W and some C41 Colour Neg ( all the 120 /220 size) but for lots of prints on C41 films BOOTS of Brentwood High Street do an excellent job as the operator there 'knows' photography. For E6 SLIDE I now use John Salim Photography in Southend-on-Sea Essex as my Sister-in-Law lives in the next road and c an drop off film and pick up and it saves the horrendous postage costs

 

[Leigh B]

I've read that Peak imaging is a good place - any other recommendations?

Since you haven't told us where you are...

It's rather difficult to provide a relevant answer.

- Leigh

 

[Robert Poole]

Could try here: http://www.metroimaging.co.uk/film-lab-services/film-processing-by-mail, I have never used their postal service but back in the days of 24/7 labs I used them all the time with no dramas. Genie Imaging in Wandsworth http://www.genieimaging.co.uk/film-processing/ may still have a process and post service but its not very clear from their web site.
If you shoot black and white you could always process it yourself ?

I live in Sheffield, home to Peak Imaging, and have used them for years and years. Excellent, reliable. For me they do E6 processing (mostly 5x4), scanning of LF transparencies and making exquisite FujiFlex prints that take your breath away. I do all my own B/W at home. The image is just a low res file but it's one that Peak Imaging did all of the above with.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Since you haven't told us where you are...

It's rather difficult to provide a relevant answer.

- Leigh

You are right, he didn't say where he is from. But, we can assume it is somewhere in the UK as this is the UK only part of the forum.
So, at least we can give him some advice about mail order labs.
But, this is all academic now as the original question was posted over a year ago.

 

[naxxfish]

Holy thread resurrection...

Worth mentioning UK Film Lab are now Canadian Film Lab, but they do offer a "Film Forwarding Service" from their old address. They were my go-to pro lab.

For cheap n' cheerful I usually go for Photo Hippo (Burnley) - the quality of their scans aren't always the best, but they're generally pretty decent for a non-pro lab and have a quick turnaround time.

 

[Agulliver]

I can specifically recommend, of all places, Asda in St Austell, Cornwall. I had 7 rolls of C41 processed, printed and scanned there last August while on holiday and they did a FANTASTIC job. There was an older lady (possibly 50s) behind the photo counter who was positively delighted to be dealing with film. They did the job in an hour with excellent processing, clean negs which I later home scanned too...Asda's scanning was fine for medium resolution uses such as posting to social media..the colour rendition and detail were perfectly acceptable. The prints, while probably not analogue, were good. And just £7 a film for a one hour service. Basically just like you'd have got 15 years ago before the labs ceased to care.

I did use Boots in the Luton Mall (Luton, Beds) but my last couple of films in February 2017 came back dirty with specks of dust and dirt, rather poor processing as if the chemicals might be beyond their best...prints not really QC checked as the colours again were a bit off (any neg problems could have been corrected if they bothered) and they returned two CDs but each contained just scans from one of my two films...ie one was not scanned at all. Shoddy service for which I paid £9.50 each.

FOr a more pro service, True Colour Imaging which is contained inside Luton Camera Repairs...the lady is a bit quirky/eccentric but she really cares. I've had a bit of 35mm and 120 C41 done there and she charges £10 to £12 for process, print and scan but she will do proper colour correcting and some basic blemish removal (marks from neg scratches etc) included in that. Gets very excited when you drop off 120 film with her.

 

[lantau]

+1 [emoji2]
Except e6

+ without any automatised widget, solely a kettle and a thermometer

For regular scanning it is worthwhile to invest 200£ for a scanner.
DSLR is a tempting approach, it is a pain in the a.sh in reality.
Scanners compensate with the control of backlight lid of uneven exposures, it is rather difficult with dslr.
Plus you should ensure mounting the negs and the sensor parallel in a fraction of mm.

Same here, bathroom except E6 and Scala.

Digital Repro is perfectly viable. Most likely with better results than a scanner. It will handle all densities. Underexposed slide is no problem. But it is more work. Almost like the analog workflow. A tethered camera is almost a must and vibrations are a problem. Like optical enlarging, but even more.

To get the film flat I use the anti newton glass from my optical enlarger. If necessary weigh it down. Perfect for 35mm film. My glass is just wide enough for 120. That is causing problems with colour films be cause of light piping in from the side. Have to use a frame for those. Either black paper with the glass, or a stiff plastic one from an enlarger. I have both and am experimenting,now that I noticed the problem.

One day I will use the setup to play with analog repro, too.

 

[neilt3]

I've always done black and white at home , myself .
Stop and fix are always in a bottle ready for use , and I just mix up fresh FD10 or Rodinal when needed .

Up untill now I've had Max Speilman do my C41 . 120 is sent away but isn't cheap at about £14 a roll .
35mm is done there and for development only ( no prints ) it's just £3 a roll .
No idea how much it would cost to have 5x4 done .
I scan everything myself , but I'm building a darkroom so soon everything will be done in there !

I'm about to start developing my own C41 , got the chemicals already and a Jobo processor .
As soon as I have enough ready to use all the mix up in one go I will get started , I've just got about 3 rolls to finish off .

I've got some colour 5x4 and roll film ( as well as 35mm) to do , so paying someone to do it is too expensive .
When the only C41 film I used was the odd roll of 35mm ( shooting mainly B&W film , colour digital) it made sense due to the cost of chemical to send it away .

 

[Black Dog]

I send my colour 5x4 to Palm Labs in Birmingham-can't remember the exact prices but they're reasonable if not cheap cheap ( I miss having access to the facilities at college though).

 

[John Salmon]

AgPhoto Lab: www.ag-photolab.co.uk