 Larry Ginter |
Film Developing: Which Lab Is Best? I would like to know the difference in film developing - commercial developers (Wal-mart, Meijers, etc.) vs. photo labs. Which ones are better?
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Michael H. Cothran |
It would not be fair to compare film labs by their store-type designation - that is, whether they are a retail store or "photo" lab. The "best" lab is the one that processes YOUR film consistently to your liking. Chemicals and machines are pretty much the same. It's usually a matter of quality control, and the persons running the lab. If you get bad results from one lab, take them elsewhere. Some labs, be they a retail store or a photo lab, just test their chemicals and/or replace them more often than others. Michael H. Cothran www.mhcphoto.net
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Taunya M. Ackerman |
That is a great question. I always wondered the same thing. I have taken my disposable cameras to all kinds of diffrent places. ( because in a previous post I told everyone I am new to photography) and I notice a big diffrence. I have taken them to Wolf and special developing places, and some to walmart. I actually like the walmart photos. They seem to ahve up to date machines and a good staff.
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shannon casey |
I agree with Michael and Taunya. I shoot both digital and film. I typically take film to discount retail places (Walgreens, Costco, and a CVS with all new equipment). I have consistently had better results on the initial processing in such places. I try to match up the film to the processor. In my oopinion, they do a consistently good job with (compared to me!) When I do find that I actually like a shot, or part of a shot, and want it adjusted - ie. cropped and enlarged and sometimes something a bit more complicated I take it to a specialized lab. To me, it is the best of both worlds. I don't spend a fortune getting my often flawed film prints processed. But film is film and when I get a "keeper", I'm so much happier if I shot it with film. Anyway, that's what I do, to keep costs down.
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William Koplitz |
You are speaking of the difference between a photofinisher and a commerical/professional lab. If photofinishers produced the same quality as a custom lab, custom labs wouldn't exist. All transparency film has to go to commerical labs for processing, anything less is a bad idea. Even high end camera stores that have a photo finishing department can't process your slide film as well as a dedicated commerical lab. A commercial lab that has commerical photographers as clients will be delivering 99.9% of the film they process without defects in color balance caused by over used chemicals, physical defects (scratches) or a flip "I don't care" attitude. Custom prints have to be made at commerical labs as well as large prints or prints you need on archival paper or ones that you are going to deliver to a client. If it's a job the client is paying for all these lab services. Why would you want to risk your photography career or the relationship with the client on a photofinisher?
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Larry Ginter |
Thank each of you for replying. What i;m getting at is do the commercial developers know if a roll or just a print or two has been "pushed" or underdeveloped? Like wal-mart,rite-aid,etc. What about a commercial lab? Will they know and fix it right then. A lot of times wal-mart does good work,but when I look at my negatives,part of the pic is missing
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Kerry L. Walker |
Any processor can tell if a roll or a single picture has been underexposed after it is processed. At that time, it is too late, unless the underexposure is within the exposure latitude of the film. If YOU know a roll has been underexposed, a professional lab can and will adjust the developing process to compensate, if you can tell them by how much it has been pushed. If it is only a print or two, nothing can be done beyond the limits of the latitude.
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Laura Roth |
Just to put in my 2c... I like the equipment that Eckerd Drug has, but it requires also that they have a good technician. Good technician at eckerd usually equals good prints. CVS has a machine that just processes the film, nobody sees the prints (so I am told). I have been told that the machine calibrates the photos based off of the white content and will not print the picture if there is no white. I once took a roll of film in and several pics were missing. I could see the picture on the negative, but they would have been a combo of green, brown & flesh tones. No White. The technician told me that's why those didn't print out. I didn't care for that setup
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Laura Roth |
Just to put in my 2c... I like the equipment that Eckerd Drug has, but it requires also that they have a good technician. Good technician at eckerd usually equals good prints. CVS has a machine that just processes the film, nobody sees the prints (so I am told). I have been told that the machine calibrates the photos based off of the white content and will not print the picture if there is no white. I once took a roll of film in and several pics were missing. I could see the picture on the negative, but they would have been a combo of green, brown & flesh tones. No White. The technician told me that's why those didn't print out. I didn't care for that setup
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Brenda D. |
Hi Larry, I work at a one-hour photo lab in a Wal-Mart,I also do photography so I treat each roll as if it belonged to me. we do weekly and monthly maintence on our machines to assure quality prints, but as someone said before check with the person behind the counter, if they are only there because its a job and have no interest in photography I'd look someplace else.
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Kevin Ekstrom |
THE LIGHT BOX here in Chicago still dip. This always makes the prints that much better. Just the personal care that goes in to the process is well worth the price you pay.
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Ron Mortelliti |
You patently canNOT compare images processed by a Commerical Lab with your Walmarts, K-Mart's, et al. Having been in E6 and C-41 QA/QC for ten years - and serving as a consultant to Professional Labs - I can unequovically state that there exists a world of difference. To Wit: E-6 is a process that requires extensive monitoring of many, many parameters and must be done so on a consistent basis. Ph of the Color Developer, Bromide levels of the First Developer, Replenishments Rates, Specific Gravity (absolutely CRITICAL for both First and Color Developers), Time and Temperature, et al. Crossover from one batch of Control Strips to another is a rather involved process with many calculations; you need to know your Math. Why is Specific Gravity so critical to the Color Developer? A high SpG is indicative of too much CZA (Citrazinic Acid) which is a Competing Coupler in the Color Developer. It's purposes is to keep the Dye Clouds from becoming too 'heavy'. Too much CZA and you will have lowered Contrast; too little and you will have too much Contrast. I'm just scratching the tip of the Ice Berg here, trust me. E-6 Lines under my direct supervision have over a two year period (the practical life of the First and Color developers) have exhibited an average CB Spread of .04 @LD, and .06@HD. Good luck finding that at Walmart, Sears, etc.......... ;-)
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Jennifer S |
I agree that there's no comparison! I don't use film much anymore, but if I do, or if I get digital prints, I'd much prefer going to a professional lab. If I need a quick print of something from my everyday life- like say a quick shot of my daughter with food all over her face, I may just go to wal-mart. But Wal-Marts prints arent even close to the quality I could get a pro lab. I don't know much about what the differences actually are (But I think Ron did a great job touching on that!) besides the pro's lab ability to custom, and use pro paper, but for me, there's quite a bit of difference!
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Jennifer S |
I agree that there's no comparison! I don't use film much anymore, but if I do, or if I get digital prints, I'd much prefer going to a professional lab. If I need a quick print of something from my everyday life- like say a quick shot of my daughter with food all over her face, I may just go to wal-mart. But Wal-Marts prints arent even close to the quality I could get a pro lab. I don't know much about what the differences actually are (But I think Ron did a great job touching on that!) besides the pro's lab ability to custom, and use pro paper, but for me, there's quite a bit of difference!
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