The best quality C-41 lab?

[MultiFormat Shooter]

What is the best C-41 lab, both for quality of processing (i.e. "tight" chemistry and clean film with no fingerprints or scratches) and quality of scans (i.e. corrected for color, brightness, contrast without having to be told what to do). This roll of film cannot be redone/repeated/re-shot. Price isn't really any issue for this roll. The film is 35mm Fuji, if that makes any subtle difference.

I'm looking at Icon LA, Richard Photo Lab and A&I. Which one would you use, or would you use another lab all together?

 

[Colonel Blimp]

What part of the world?

 

[MattKing]

And are you looking at the sort of project that would make test runs and custom handling and maybe even clip tests viable?
If this wasn't APUG, I would ask as well about what your requirements are for digital files - scanning resolution, etc. Also, do you need the developing and the scanning to be done by the same entity?
And what sort of budgetary constraints are you working with?

 

[MultiFormat Shooter]

What part of the world?

The USA; as long the lab is in the USA, I can ship it anywhere in the country.

And are you looking at...

I can't really do clip tests since it's only one roll of a never-to-be-repeated event. As to price, as long as the work is done right, price isn't really an issue.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

There are several things here:

1. Quality of processing with proper & fresh chemicals and the handling of the film.

2. Scanning of negs to a CD or some online storage, mostly as a backup.

3. Adjustments from scanned images, printing.

The first and second are vital and you want an excellent lab. The third is somewhat subjective and you may need to have this done several times to get the look you want from the images. If you have a local lab for this phase, that may work out best.

 

[trendland]

It is like the question to find a good dentist?

with regards

PS : A good dentist is an expert to you, to
your problem at day x, and to a special situation.

To an other time after bad weekends/breakfast the same dentist may be a terrible slaughter!
The same is to labs!

 

[Bob Carnie]

What is the best C-41 lab, both for quality of processing (i.e. "tight" chemistry and clean film with no fingerprints or scratches) and quality of scans (i.e. corrected for color, brightness, contrast without having to be told what to do). This roll of film cannot be redone/repeated/re-shot. Price isn't really any issue for this roll. The film is 35mm Fuji, if that makes any subtle difference.

I'm looking at Icon LA, Richard Photo Lab and A&I. Which one would you use, or would you use another lab all together?

I would use Icon,

 

[Les Sarile]

A treasured roll, I would take it to my local lab here instead of sending by mail. For that matter I have all my film locally processed.