Labs in NJ / NYC Area?

[rguinter]

Greetings everyone:

This may not be a new question but probably one that can be asked again due to the ever-changing status of operating photo-processing labs.

I've been using a local lab in northern NJ for some time for all my E6, C41, and B&W film processing. The owner gave me a heads-up yesterday that the business is faltering and may need to close. (No surprise there).

If so it will be the demise of the last remaining lab in NJ (I believe). And one that I can pass-by easily any day on my work commute with a short side-trip.

So. From others in the NJ/NYC area - are there any suggestions where I should try if my NJ lab does close? Making a trip into NYC periodically with film is an option. Or even mailing if necessary. I have no desire or facility to set up an area at home to do my own processing.

My work is all 120-rolls and 4x5-inch sheets.

Suggestions are welcome. Cheers. Bob G.

[36cm2]

Duggal's in nyc is the first name that comes to mind. They're high-end and do just about everything. Google them. Where were you going in NJ, b.t.w.?

[Pete Roody]

LTI on West 3oth Street

[Bob Salomon]

TPI in Fairfied, NJ

[IanMazursky]

I second LTI (http://www.ltiny.com). They are the best lab in NYC!
Ive been using them for years and they are the nicest people to work with. If your in the city, i would stop by and check them out.
Their E6, C41 and B&W dip n dunk processing is top notch. They also offer a custom C41 process that eliminates mottling.
Its a little more expensive but worth it if you have a lot of sky or solid colors. They also have a LightJet!
Their color and B&W printers are miracle workers.

Upstairs, Eric (the owner) has created an alternative process school. I took a wet plate class a few moths ago and it was great!
Its called The Center for Alternative Photograph (http://www.capworkshops.org/).

LTI is located at 34 east 30th st between Park and Madison, 212.685.6871.

[Fotoguy20d]

Bob (OP),

I'm in Bergen Cty - I used to use a pro lab in Paramus that I think closed long ago. I was going to ask Bergen County Camera in Westwood about C-41 processing of 120 and 4x5 - I don't think they do it in house, and they're not too convenient for me but better than nothing. What lab do you use - perhaps if more business goes his way, he can stay afloat.

Bob (HP) - Do you have contact info for TPI - I work nearby to Fairfield - they might work for me.

Dan

[rguinter]

Thanks for the tip Ian.

Yes my last few sheets of Ektar 100 4x5 had some mottling in the sky and I was wondering why. I've only started doing C41 in 4x5-inch recently. Almost all my previous work has been E6.

I was not aware of the mottling problem and thinking perhaps it was the horrendous humidity and wet weather out in the heartland last week where I was shooting. I keep film in a cooler in zip-lock bags but still thinking some condensation might have occurred.

Much appreciated. Cheers. Bob G.


I second LTI (http://www.ltiny.com). They are the best lab in NYC!
Ive been using them for years and they are the nicest people to work with. If your in the city, i would stop by and check them out.
Their E6, C41 and B&W dip n dunk processing is top notch. They also offer a custom C41 process that eliminates mottling.
Its a little more expensive but worth it if you have a lot of sky or solid colors. They also have a LightJet!
Their color and B&W printers are miracle workers.

Upstairs, Eric (the owner) has created an alternative process school. I took a wet plate class a few moths ago and it was great!
Its called The Center for Alternative Photograph (http://www.capworkshops.org/).

LTI is located at 34 east 30th st between Park and Madison, 212.685.6871.

[rguinter]

...Upstairs, Eric (the owner) has created an alternative process school. I took a wet plate class a few moths ago and it was great!
Its called [URL="http://www.capworkshops.org/"]The Center for Alternative Photograph...

Ian.: forgot to mention in my PM. Thanks also for the above info.

Most of my photo work over the years has been what I would call "alternative" in style. i.e., alternative films and alternative subject matter. Not your average snapshot type of stuff. I'll look into taking the class. If offered on weekends would be do-able.

Maybe I could even get one of my two children interested enough to join me... probably dreaming on that...

Cheers. Bob G.

[Bob Salomon]

Bob (OP),

I'm in Bergen Cty - I used to use a pro lab in Paramus that I think closed long ago. I was going to ask Bergen County Camera in Westwood about C-41 processing of 120 and 4x5 - I don't think they do it in house, and they're not too convenient for me but better than nothing. What lab do you use - perhaps if more business goes his way, he can stay afloat.

Bob (HP) - Do you have contact info for TPI - I work nearby to Fairfield - they might work for me.

Dan

1275 Bloomfield Ave. Fairfield

Bergen County Camera has 2 locations; Westwood and Englewood. The Englewood location is closer to you.

[Evanjoe610]

Taylor Photo in Princeton Junction vinicity. E-6, C-41, and digital service.

Evan

[rguinter]

1275 Bloomfield Ave. Fairfield

Bergen County Camera has 2 locations; Westwood and Englewood. The Englewood location is closer to you.

I bought my Fuji G617 so many years ago at Bergen County Camera. They were the only ones stocking it at the time. Which was well before the newer GX617 came out.

But I haven't been back there much since. A bit far for me to travel and now things so much easier ordering via the web. Bob G.

[Jim Rhoades]

North Jersey is my old hood. I was just up there a few days ago and sorry to see Pro-Set in West Paterson is gone. How about Pro-Lab in Clifton, they were still in the phone book. I used them for wedding work. A very Good lab.

[Bob Salomon]

I bought my Fuji G617 so many years ago at Bergen County Camera. They were the only ones stocking it at the time. Which was well before the newer GX617 came out.

But I haven't been back there much since. A bit far for me to travel and now things so much easier ordering via the web. Bob G.

I spent yesterday morning there.

[IanMazursky]

Ian.: forgot to mention in my PM. Thanks also for the above info.
Most of my photo work over the years has been what I would call "alternative" in style. i.e., alternative films and alternative subject matter. Not your average snapshot type of stuff. I'll look into taking the class. If offered on weekends would be do-able.
Maybe I could even get one of my two children interested enough to join me... probably dreaming on that...
Cheers. Bob G.

Hi Bob,
If you do have a chance to take a workshop, you wont be disappointed. Everyone there is fantastic.
Most of their courses are on weekends and they do offer private classes.

Good luck with getting the kids to go, just tell them its worth it! If my parents took me when i was a kid (not that it was available), i would have been the happiest kid on the block.
And they get a weekend in the city, lots of fun stuff to do.

A few more thoughts mottling, sudden humidity changes can cause condensation but its looks a bit different.
The problem is that the standard C41 dev time is 3:15 and its hard to get good agitation in the process.
The racks and nitrogen bursts also have a lot to do with it. You would have to modify the process and thats what LTI did in their Special Process.
Its great for sky’s and large areas of solids but portraits are sort of a wash. They don’t benefit as much as landscapes.

[sgelb]

ill reiterate LTI, probably the best service in the city.

i use coloredge a lot, very very inexpensive and good reliable service.

[rguinter]

Ian et.al: I'll keep your thoughts in mind regarding my Ektar 100, C-41 work. Over the years my C-41 work has only been a few percent of my total. When PKR-120 was available my work was about 30% Kodachrome and 60% E6 films. And all of my LF at that time was E6.

I only started using C-41 recently. Some with 120 because I can still get it processed locally. And with 4x5-inch because I wanted to support Kodak's re-introduction of Ektar. So I'm kind of a newcomer when it comes to the C-41. Bob G.