Scratched Negatives Expectations?

RattyMouse · Aug 7, 2012

When you get negatives back from a lab, what are you expectations regarding scratches? Do you expect/demand none? Or do you have some level of acceptance that scratches happen?

I want to keep my expectations in line with what is reasonable.

Thanks,

batwister · Aug 7, 2012

I've had one scratch on a slide in the last four years of using my lab. It was scanned however. This is the only time I can imagine negatives getting scratched because of the extra handling.

winger · Aug 7, 2012

Since I can process and print from my negs without scratching them, I expect someone getting paid to handle others' film to not scratch it either. Ditto for dust, though I find that more difficult to avoid on my own (my darkroom is also the laundry room and we have 4 dogs).

Thomas Bertilsson · Aug 7, 2012

I expect the lab to take reasonable care of my film while in their possession. I have never had film scratched by professional labs, but it has happened at lower cost places.

You might consider doing your own film processing too.

David Brown · Aug 7, 2012

RattyMouse said:
Do you expect/demand none?

Yes.

kbrede · Aug 7, 2012

Maybe this is a stupid question, but how do you tell if the lab scratched the film, or it was done in camera?

MattKing · Aug 7, 2012

kbrede said:
Maybe this is a stupid question, but how do you tell if the lab scratched the film, or it was done in camera?

Scratches done in camera have a very distinct appearance.

And generally you will be able to see them on undeveloped film, so if you are suspicious about the camera, it is worthwhile wasting a bit of film to check.

And that certainly is not a stupid question!

PKM-25 · Aug 7, 2012

And how is this topic and the other one you titled something like first film shot in 10 years....."Industry News"?

Chris Lange · Aug 7, 2012

I'll quote an earlier post I made about the praise being rained down on Richard Photo (who, while I'm sure they are a good lab, are simply doing what any good lab -should- be doing)

If I get film back with scratches, dried in dust, or other blemishes, it seriously compromises my faith in that lab's ability to meet my standards. I understand that errors occur from time to time, but I will not accept them. My father used to send volumes of chrome to Duggal every month (on the order of 600-900 rolls) when he was photographing full time, for 15 years and I have never heard him tell any horror stories. When he switched to ColorEdge (now CRC) for color negative processing, sending the same amount of film, it was the same case.

It's a lab's job to give you professional results.

A certain quote from The Rock comes to mind.

"Your best? Losers "try their best". Winners go home and f**k the prom queen.

Scratched Negatives Expectations?

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