Would You Have Ektar Processed/Printed From Local Drugstore?

DF

Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2012
Messages
591
Just shot my first roll of color - Ektar, in 10 years since my last which was Kodachrome 64.
Do my own B & W , but need advice where good processing/printing is done at reasonable price. Couldn't believe $16 for 36 exp. 4'X6', $25 5'X7' (I should mention a second set is free). Personally I'd prefer one set 5'X7' for $16. All this from "professional " lab, so, would say Walgreens be any better/different?
 

mgb74

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
4,774
Location
MN and MA US
Format
Multi Format
I haven't seen a C41 machine in a Walgreens (or other drugstore) in the last few years. Not to say there isn't one.

But my short answer is "no". C41 machines (and their chemicals) need to be maintained properly and I doubt that any drugstore (or similar, inherently low volume processor) can do that. I'd do mail order; being sure that you get the negatives back as Kino mentioned.
 

runswithsizzers

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
1,773
Location
SW Missouri, USA
Format
Multi Format

I agree about the second set of duplicate prints; personally, most of my negatives are not worth printing the first time - what am I going to do with two prints?

My experience with Ektar is quite limited - one roll, to be exact - but I was quite happy with the processing and scans I got from Adrian Bacon, doing business as Simple Photography Services in Petaluma, CA. HIs "Standard Film Develop and Straight Scan" was $15 and that includes return postage. I did not order prints, so I cannot comment on that.

Based on my recent experience with other rolls of other C-41 films, I suspect the quality of the prints and scans is probably going to vary more than the quality of the C-41 processing. I tried to like the lab in my hometown camera shop, but I was just not at all impressed by the scans and 4"x6" prints made from those scans. It's much more difficult for me to evaluate the quality of the C-41 negatives because I am much less experienced in looking at color negatives than I am at b&w negatives and slides.

My usual default is to just get processing, and sometimes scans - and then wait until I've examined them before deciding if I want any printed. Whether the lab does the scans or I scan them, I usually do some post processing, then send the digital files to an online service for printing. I don't get many prints, and I am not a connoisseur of prints - but at one time I sent the same set of digital files to 4 or 5 different online printers so I could compare the results. There was definitely a significant amount of variation.

I have also made a short list of labs which I have seen recommended by members of various photo forums - for whatever that kind of anecdotal endorsement is worth. I can post that list if anyone is interested.
 
Last edited:

Ariston

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2019
Messages
1,658
Location
Atlanta
Format
Multi Format
All the drug stores near me mail them out, anyway. I'm not sure if they return the negatives.
 

pbromaghin

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 30, 2010
Messages
3,813
Location
Castle Rock, CO
Format
Multi Format
I have C41 done at a camera store with pretty good volume. The processing is good but the scans are bad and the prints even worse, so I've given up on that. No drugstores in the area do it onsite anymore. There are better labs around where I would get scans and prints, but this one is very close to work.
 

Truzi

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
2,656
Format
Multi Format
Drug stores will do as good or bad a job with Ektar as any other film they process. As people have mentioned, you want to take it somewhere that will return your negatives.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,783
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
I remember sending 35mm Ektacolor S directly to Kodak in Chicago for develop and prints. 3 1/2 × 5 glossy RC prints. Phenomenal! . All optical prints, video color analyzers with operators that new what they were doing. I've never seen minilab prints like that. At least not since digital exposure.
There's certainly good labs out there. I do my own.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
There is no local processing here at all. There even never was wide spread of minilabs as in other countries. Industrial labs had a firm grip on the market, and were quite fast in the long past. They still are super cheap.

But one must know what to expect. Of course no extras at processing, automated printing, but also meanwhile lack of certain service as slide mounting, or maybe certain shortcomings as washless processing.
 

wiltw

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
6,459
Location
SF Bay area
Format
Multi Format
It is quite difficult and expensive to keep the processor chemistry in proper balance and matching the control sample film/print when the processing volume is too low. It is getting hard to find even pro labs that can maintain the standards that were so easy to find in the 1990s, due to the severe drop in volume. For anything that I need to be picky about, I would NEVER go to drugstore processing, but would insist that --at the bare minimum -- the stuff is sent by the store out to an established and recognized commercial lab (as were once provided by Fuji and Kodak) rather than done in-store!!!
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
I share your view. By the way, the only minilab film processor I know of within 1hour driving is idle and disconnected for years.

However we also have reports at Apug as this from a medium size british city:
 

Agulliver

Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2015
Messages
3,582
Location
Luton, United Kingdom
Format
Multi Format
Indeed there are some areas where colour film usage is increasing rapidly, such that Henning reports a global backlog of several million rolls of film for Kodak and Fuji. Certainly the shop that AgX mentions in Luton, UK where I live has been unable to restock Color Plus and Fuji 400H since August because they are unable to obtain any and the film processing business is so busy the lady can barely keep up with demand. BTW her charge is also £4 per film including medium resolution scans. Her chemicals are always fresh and the machine (and Agfa D-Lab 2) is well maintained.

As for Walgreens, my most recent experience would be 2001 so that's way out of date. When I lived in Boise, Idaho back in 1997-99 I used to get my film developed via Albertsons who would actually fly it out to a big lab in Salt Lake City and back in 24-48 hours including the negatives.

I'd echo everyone who says that before entrusting films to any North American provider of processing services, check that they return the negatives. Not doing so would be utterly unthinkable in Europe and probably considered theft...but I hear and see it's now common practise stateside. If your roll of Ektar is in any way valuable to you, have them process something less important first so you can gauge the quality of their service.

Additionally look around for somewhere local that actually processes film. I've seen other threads here and on non-photo forums where somebody will say "there's no actual lab near me" and later people pop up with the addresses of a couple that are within driving distance. Sometimes these labs don't have good online presence and it's word of mouth that informs potential customers.
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid
Since my posts in the linked to threads Walgreens purchase rite aid and chances are “upgraded” their photo departments. Meaning like everyone else (. It chains at least ) they get picked up by Fuji and in about 2 weeks you get in store dye sub prints with files beamed to them from Fuji and no negatives returned because “. No one wants negatives” ( and meaning the stores are too cheep to pay for return shipping). You are better off going to a local mini lab if your neck of the woods still has them... if you don’t mind shipping dwaynes ( Kansas ). BLue moon ( Oregon ) and Kerry’s ( Rhode Island ) all do mailorder and good work... I’m partial to Kerry’s. She just got a machine to develop 120 film and she is a hell of a printer.
 

Agulliver

Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2015
Messages
3,582
Location
Luton, United Kingdom
Format
Multi Format
I can personally recommend Dwaynes of Parsons, KS as a mail order lab in the USA. I have used them when I've been visiting America and have also recommended them to American friends who regularly use Dwayne's. Definitely to be recommended if mail order is the way to go.
 

foc

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 30, 2010
Messages
2,525
Location
Sligo, Ireland
Format
35mm
Come to my minilab.

No stale chemicals here. No scratching or gouging of negatives. Your film is treated as if it was your " firstborn ". You may have to wait a few days as we are very busy with film developing. And yes you will get back your negs. The only drawback is we are on a different continent to you.

All joking aside, if you haven't had c41 colour film processing done recently then it can be hard to choose what to do.
Any lab, pro lab or minilab can produce excellent work just as easily as doing rubbish work, it is really a matter of good housekeeping on their behalf. And that is where it is hard to know what their quality is like unless you have a film processed.

If you can visit a lab that will process on premises, a simple look at any enquiment on display will give you a good indicator of their quality. Nice clean machines usually mean good housekeeping. Dirty stained equipment means the opposite. Ask other customers in-store.

With mail order it can be harder. Do like any other online shopper and read the reviews. Any online site worth its salt will have a customer review section. Do a bit of research (like you are doing here) and ask for lab recommendations. Send a test roll, if possible, and then judge for yourself.

Most labs offer a range of film developing services, like dev only, dev and scan to cloud/google drive/CD and offer prints as well.
 

AgX

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
foc said:
Come to my minilab.
Click to expand...


Moreover you ask less for C-41 processing than one would pay over here via the drugstore for the industrial lab !

(However with industrial labs one does not pay any postal fees as typically one can bring and take films at ones routine shopping.)
 
Last edited:

runswithsizzers

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
1,773
Location
SW Missouri, USA
Format
Multi Format
Dwayne's does enjoy a good reputation, but...

About a year ago (August 2018) I had a roll of Portra 160 processed a Dwayne's including "hi-res scans" but no prints. The negatives were fine, but I thought the scans were marginal. At 100% resolution, there was a pronounced "speckled" effect, which I believe may be due to some kind of sharpening artifact.
 

runswithsizzers

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
1,773
Location
SW Missouri, USA
Format
Multi Format
Here is an un-vetted list of film developers (from 2014)
https://www.slrlounge.com/list-mail-order-film-developing-labs/
===

The following film processing labs have been recommended by various photo forum members. The ones I have actually tried are marked with an asterisk (*) Prices and services may have changed.

11/6/15 Miller's, by FujiX-Forum member robert (admin)
Labs in Pittsburg, KS and Columbia, MO
https://www.millerslab.com/home
Many print services aimed at wedding photogs and schools, and C41 processing, but no E-6 ?
Can't get price list/order from without signing up for an account

8/3/18, by FujiX-Forum member beakhammer
The Darkroom, San Clemente, CA,
https://thedarkroom.com/product/35mm-film-developing/
Develop and Super Scan (c41) @ $20 - add $3 for E-6
https://thedarkroom.com/scans/
Super Scans @ 4492×6774 pixels or 87.1 MB files uncompressed (max qual JPGs)

8/14/18, by FujiX-Forum member Activatedfx:
Richard Photo Lab, Los Angeles,
http://www.richardphotolab.com
https://www.richardphotolab.com/services/film
C41+scan is a little higher than Darkroom, E-6 + scan is very high!

8/14/18, by FujiX-Forum member, Michael Teresko
Photolab (Photolaboratory), Berkeley, CA
https://www.photolaboratory.com/film-processing.html
C41 develop and "hi-res" scan @ $20, but no resolution numbers given
E-6 develop and mount @ $14, but not sure what scanning would cost ?
Standard b&w processing in Kodak Xtol
Also offers "special" b&w processing in Acufine, Rodinal, or HC110

Precision Photo, Austin, TX
https://www.precision-camera.com/b-w-film-developing-35mm/
http://www.precision-camera.com/color-film-developing
http://www.precision-camera.com/photo-lab/archiving/film-scans/
C41 + Ultra Hi res scans @ $19
E-6, mounted @ $12.75 + $12 for Ultra-Hi res scans (?)

*Dwaynes, Parsons, KS
https://www.dwaynesphoto.com
Large JPGs (24-34MB), but, based on my experience in Aug. 2018,
strange speckled artifacts; not recommended for scans​

1/12/19 by a Pentax Forum member
*Process One, KC MO area
C41 and E6 as well as b&w in Kodak X-Tol developer, and including 120
https://processonephoto.com/black-and-white-film-processing.htm
https://processonephoto.com/film-scanning.htm
* 9/28/19 - mailed 2 rolls E6 (one OLD roll, partially exposed); develop and mount, no scans
Good communication: I got an email when they received my film, and again when shipped.Slides look good.​

ProPhoto, Orange County
https://www.prophotoconnection.com/film-processing-scanning

*Simple Film Lab, Petaluma, CA
https://adrianbacon.com
Mailing address Simple Photography Services
1390 N. McDowell Blvd.
Ste. G, PMB274
Petaluma, CA. 94954
Photrio Member - Adrian Bacon will process B&W in a variety of chemistries (as well as E-6 slides, C-41 color negatives - scanning services, too
7/25/19 - sent 1 roll Kodak Ektar for develop+basic scan @ $15 which includes return postage
Good communication: I got an email when they received my film, and again when shipped.​

The FIND Lab - Orem, UT
https://thefindlab.com
8-2018 - FujiX-Forum member Rhaegar uses THE FIND LAB for C-41 processing and scanning of Ektar, Provia, and other films (medium format). Says scans need only minor tweaks.
Basic Scans includes developing, scanning, minor color and density correction in scanner, and labeling of folders for corresponding film stocks. … expectation that some editing will [may] be required on our client’s end. $14-21, depending on scan resolution.
"Basic +" adds "feedback" for $2/roll​
 

Adrian Bacon

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 18, 2016
Messages
2,086
Location
Petaluma, CA.
Format
Multi Format

Thank you for the kind words.

Yes, if you send film in to me, you get your film back, though I do get the occasional customer that doesn’t want their film back, usually because they sent it in from another country and don’t want to pay customs to get it back. In terms of chemistry, it’s always fresh, and I use process control strips for C-41.

Re: prints: prints are made from the scans using a 12 color archival pigment printer in pretty much any size up to the maximum paper size my printer can handle, which is 17x22 inches. I offer standard prints on RC Luster paper, and archival prints on Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta Satin paper. Prints are sold on an individual image basis, and if you prefer different paper, I’ll use it as long as you’re willing to pay for the paper.

For black and white, I do offer optical prints in sizes up to 16x20 on Ilford RC pearl. If you want Fiber, I can do that too, as long as you’re willing to pay for the paper.
 

Adrian Bacon

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 18, 2016
Messages
2,086
Location
Petaluma, CA.
Format
Multi Format
MultiFormat Shooter said:
Will you offer optical color prints?
Click to expand...

That’s not currently in the plans simply because almost nobody gets prints, and those that do, typically want prints at sizes larger than I can produce, and/or don’t want to pay that much. Optical prints from me are hand made. That takes time. Time = money. The cost of the materials is actually secondary to the cost of engaging me for time spent doing something in the darkroom. That being said, I do offer the space for rent, and will do custom work, so if you just have to have it, you can go that route as long as you’re willing to fund the work.

Typically getting the pigment print is orders of magnitude less expensive, and on archival paper, looks very good and will last a very long time.
 
OP
OP

DF

Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2012
Messages
591
Well they're in - and my G_D are they awefull ! I shot all frames at or near 90 degrees to the sun with polarizer - like I used to with Ektachrome GX, Kodachrome, Agfa RSX etc., and the colors are yuck! Skies are barely blue, sometimes washed out - not what I saw through the viewfinder.
Flower beds no big deal - like there was no polarizer.
Reputable place that gives negatives.
Perhaps Ektar not for me....?
 

Adrian Bacon

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 18, 2016
Messages
2,086
Location
Petaluma, CA.
Format
Multi Format

Can you post a sample?
 

Adrian Bacon

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 18, 2016
Messages
2,086
Location
Petaluma, CA.
Format
Multi Format

Just for reference, this is what Ektar looks like from me: https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/stop-in-the-name-of-love.57533/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…