sloppy development?

[ericdan]

On a recent trip to Europe I thought I am smart by avoiding x-ray machines and buying all my film locally and having most of it developed locally before I went home.

I bought and shot Portra 400 in 135 and 120. All 135 turned out crappy. Colors that I am just not used to with this film. The 120 film came out as expected. I am now wondering if the store maybe developed the 135 film locally with bad chemistry and sends of the 120 film to another lab to have it processed.

I guess I've learned a lesson there. Trusting a lab I don't know seems to be a bigger risk than having my film x-rayed at the airport but developed by a lab I can trust. The irony in all of this is that I had two rolls with me in carry-on luggage and brought a few back home. None of my rolls were x-rayed. I just asked them friendly and everyone at three airports agreed to hand inspect the film.

 

[darkosaric]

I am now wondering if the store maybe developed the 135 film locally with bad chemistry and sends of the 120 film to another lab to have it processed.

Yes, most probable cause.

 

[MattKing]

The rolls may have been developed properly, and then printed poorly.

Try having further prints done from the negatives.

 

[Nathan King]

The rolls may have been developed properly, and then printed poorly.

Try having further prints done from the negatives.

This seems likely. Unless it's a pro lab, the employees probably are not making informed adjustments to your images.

 

[ericdan]

Haven't done any prints yet. I usually scan all rolls of film and only send a very small number for wet prints. Haven't attempted any prints by myself yet.

 

[ericdan]

The place was not a pro lab but I assume they send MF film to a pro lab for developing.