jim10219
16-Jun-2018, 14:09
Where are you sending your film out for development these days? I'm specifically talking about sheet film (4x5) C-41 and E-6.
I had been using thedarkroom.com for several years, but I'm getting fed up with the quality of their work. Every time I send them film, about 1 in 5 come back with uneven development, 1 in 3 come back not being completely washed, and all of them seem to have more scratches and dust than the B&W film I develop at home. They also puncture the edges (I assume to hang the film) and that messes with my wet scanning process. Now the scratches and dust I could forgive. Maybe they get scratched and dusty in the mail. But the uneven development and the lack of thoroughly washing the film is really getting to me. I'm tired of seeing streaks across my skies. Since I often scan my shots using a wet scanning process, I wash my film in a water tray with some Photo-Flo to remove any residual scanning fluid afterwards. About 1 in 3 will leave the water yellow. Thedarkroom.com does a good job with 135 and 120 film, but I have a local place that also does a good job with those formats, and does it for much cheaper (assuming I don't get their scanning service) and much quicker (though E-6 takes about the same amount of time because they have to send it out). So I'm beginning to think that thedarkroom's reputation as a quality lab comes from their work with roll film, cause their sheet film developing has left me unimpressed.
What I'm looking for is a lab that does quality work, doesn't charge too much, and has a reasonably quick turn around time. 2 weeks is good. I don't need lightning speed, but I don't want to have to wait a month or more. I don't need scanning services, though it would be nice if they offered them (especially drum scanning). It would also be nice if they returned the box I sent the film in and didn't charge an exorbitant amount for shipping. I'd also like to find a place that does both C-41 and E-6, so I don't have to send my film off to two separate places.
I've contemplated developing my own color film, but I don't shoot enough color to make it worth my while. I don't have room or the money for a JOBO or other sheet developing automation machines. Also, I don't shoot color that often, so I'd be wasting a lot of chemicals (and money) trying to do it myself. So it just make more sense for me to send it out.
So who do you use in 2018?
I had been using thedarkroom.com for several years, but I'm getting fed up with the quality of their work. Every time I send them film, about 1 in 5 come back with uneven development, 1 in 3 come back not being completely washed, and all of them seem to have more scratches and dust than the B&W film I develop at home. They also puncture the edges (I assume to hang the film) and that messes with my wet scanning process. Now the scratches and dust I could forgive. Maybe they get scratched and dusty in the mail. But the uneven development and the lack of thoroughly washing the film is really getting to me. I'm tired of seeing streaks across my skies. Since I often scan my shots using a wet scanning process, I wash my film in a water tray with some Photo-Flo to remove any residual scanning fluid afterwards. About 1 in 3 will leave the water yellow. Thedarkroom.com does a good job with 135 and 120 film, but I have a local place that also does a good job with those formats, and does it for much cheaper (assuming I don't get their scanning service) and much quicker (though E-6 takes about the same amount of time because they have to send it out). So I'm beginning to think that thedarkroom's reputation as a quality lab comes from their work with roll film, cause their sheet film developing has left me unimpressed.
What I'm looking for is a lab that does quality work, doesn't charge too much, and has a reasonably quick turn around time. 2 weeks is good. I don't need lightning speed, but I don't want to have to wait a month or more. I don't need scanning services, though it would be nice if they offered them (especially drum scanning). It would also be nice if they returned the box I sent the film in and didn't charge an exorbitant amount for shipping. I'd also like to find a place that does both C-41 and E-6, so I don't have to send my film off to two separate places.
I've contemplated developing my own color film, but I don't shoot enough color to make it worth my while. I don't have room or the money for a JOBO or other sheet developing automation machines. Also, I don't shoot color that often, so I'd be wasting a lot of chemicals (and money) trying to do it myself. So it just make more sense for me to send it out.
So who do you use in 2018?