Commercial film processing (by mail, in .us)

madsox · Jan 30, 2023

Apologies for poor search-fu, as I'm sure this question is fairly common. But I'm getting active in photography again after quite a few years of just not doing much, and am getting my film gear out of the closet. I intend to "go hybrid" and shoot on film, then replace the darkroom part of things with digital processes. I've been scanning a lot of prints and slides over the past few years, so I'm getting comfortable with that, but have a big gap: where to get film processed?

Realistically, I'm not going to be able (or want) to set up a darkroom again. I'd like to find some place I can send film (35mm and 120/220) for processing, to have a commercial lab do that part of things. I'm in the eastern US, so something .us based is going to be preferred (geography does matter). Recommendations and experiences welcome!

koraks · Jan 30, 2023

Assuming this is about B&W, not color: processing film doesn't require a darkroom; all you need is a changing bag or tent, tanks & reels and some chemistry. I'm sure there are mail order labs, but frankly, why not just DIY the whole thing? It's quicker, cheaper and more fun
For color the same applies, but you need a little more kit in terms of temperature control.

madsox · Jan 30, 2023

koraks said:
Assuming this is about B&W, not color: processing film doesn't require a darkroom; all you need is a changing bag or tent, tanks & reels and some chemistry. I'm sure there are mail order labs, but frankly, why not just DIY the whole thing? It's quicker, cheaper and more fun
For color the same applies, but you need a little more kit in terms of temperature control.

Hmm. You know what? You're not entirely wrong. I'll probably shoot some color too, but mostly B&W, and I *do* have almost all of dad's darkroom gear just waiting for me to "do something" with it.

I have so many good memories of hours and hours spent in the darkroom - you have me thinking now.

Not sure if you are good or bad influence!

gone · Jan 30, 2023

What koracks said. I prefer a dark closet or bathroom for loading the reels. Just stuff a towel under the bottom of the bathroom door and hang a blanket on 2 screws at either side of the top of the door for a light tight setup.

I use a small Wolverine F2D 20 Super scanner, which can do 35mm, 110, 126 and Super 8 films to 20MB. For $50, the quality of the proof scans is great. Good enough to print from if someone wanted to do that. A roll of 36 exp 35mm film takes about 5-8 minutes to scan and copy to my laptop.

When you do set up a darkroom, go to the FB matte papers once you get learned back up on the RC. People who see mine think they're paintings or art prints, not photographs. Most people rarely have even seen a good FB print, much less one that isn't under glass. The glossy FB are nice too, but the 11x14 matte prints are in-your-face different.

skylight1b · Jan 30, 2023

madsox said:
Apologies for poor search-fu, as I'm sure this question is fairly common. But I'm getting active in photography again after quite a few years of just not doing much, and am getting my film gear out of the closet. I intend to "go hybrid" and shoot on film, then replace the darkroom part of things with digital processes. I've been scanning a lot of prints and slides over the past few years, so I'm getting comfortable with that, but have a big gap: where to get film processed?

Realistically, I'm not going to be able (or want) to set up a darkroom again. I'd like to find some place I can send film (35mm and 120/220) for processing, to have a commercial lab do that part of things. I'm in the eastern US, so something .us based is going to be preferred (geography does matter). Recommendations and experiences welcome!

Assuming you do want to do color and/or don't want to process at home, are you looking for the cheapest or is quality control more important? Also, many places now do basic scans as part of their pricing schematic, but I believe most have the option to "downgrade" to processing only.

Sirius Glass · Jan 30, 2023

madsox said:
Hmm. You know what? You're not entirely wrong. I'll probably shoot some color too, but mostly B&W, and I *do* have almost all of dad's darkroom gear just waiting for me to "do something" with it.

I have so many good memories of hours and hours spent in the darkroom - you have me thinking now.

Not sure if you are good or bad influence!

The first thing that you need to know if you are going to lurk or post here, is that we are all enablers. That is what we do. First we will get you shooting more film, next we will get you using the darkroom for black & white film development, then we lure into making enlargements, then we will lead you into developing color film, follow immediately to making color enlargements, and then buying more lenses, then leaping into medium format, buying more lenses, and large format photography with press cameras, then view cameras, monorail cameras, 8"x10" cameras and finally 16"x 20" cameras. You are so screwed and it is too late for you run away. We will find you and bring you back. You are doomed!!

madsox · Jan 30, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
The first thing that you need to know if you are going to lurk or post here, is that we are all enablers. That is what we do. First we will get you shooting more film, next we will get you using the darkroom for black & white film development, then we lure into making enlargements, then we will lead you into developing color film, follow immediately to making color enlargements, and then buying more lenses, then leaping into medium format, buying more lenses, and large format photography with press cameras, then view cameras, monorail cameras, 8"x10" cameras and finally 16"x 20" cameras. You are so screwed and it is too late for you run away. We will find you and bring you back. You are doomed!!

You mean something like this?

-----

JOBO CPP 2 processor with lifter, drums, tanks and bottles. Up to 20 x 24 inch size drum
JOBO CPE 2 Processor with lifter, drums, tanks and bottles.

Bogen 3036 Professional Tripod, made in Italy by Manfrotto Nord.

Saunders LPL Super Dichroic 4500 Il 4 x 5 enlarger. With baseboard, paper easel, timers, etc.
Lenses:
Scheider-Kreuznach Componson-S, 5.6 150 mm.
Spiratone Resomax, 2.8 50 mm.
Rodenstock Rodagon, 4, 80 mm.

Calumet Cambo SC 4 x 5 monorail. No lens (Nagaoka lens boards may/may not be compatible)
Calumet Roll Film Holder Model C2 (120).

Osaka 8 x 10 view camera with Osaka Commercial 6.3 lens, 300 mm, Copal No. 35 shutter. 4 Film holders.

Nagaoka Seisakusho 4 x 5 field view camera, several film holders
Lenses (checking on shutters):
Caltar Il 150 mm.
Rodenstock Sironar — X 210 mm.
Ilex Calumet Wide Field Caltar — 90 mm.

-----

That's not even including the RB67 with 3 film backs, 2 lenses & metering prism hood, the GW670, the Minolta Autocord, one little Leica point-n-shoot, and all the Pentax 35mm gear. Or a detailed list of the manual processing tanks (Jobo and Spiratone, mostly), safelights, timers, etc that go with the enlarger. Or the very nice Epson printer and decent also Epson scanner (time for an upgrade on that). This is all that "passed on from dad" stuff I've mentioned in other posts. We had a *great* darkroom at that old house...

BrianShaw · Jan 30, 2023

Since nobody really seems to want to help the person...

Welcome to Photrio.

Google Search

www.google.com

Also, check out the sponsors and advertizers on this forum.

I use The Darkroom in San Clemente, CA via USPS and have generally been plenty satisfied

MattKing · Jan 30, 2023

BrianShaw said:
Since nobody really seems to want to help the person...

Or more accurately, nobody wants to answer the question asked ....
Thanks for adding balance to the thread

madsox · Jan 30, 2023

BrianShaw said:
Since nobody really seems to want to help the person...

Welcome to Photrio.

Google Search

www.google.com

Also, check out the sponsors and advertizers on this forum.

I use The Darkroom in San Clemente, CA via USPS and have generally been plenty satisfied

MattKing said:
Or more accurately, nobody wants to answer the question asked ....
Thanks for adding balance to the thread

Yeah, nah, no problem! It's all good, I like the interactions. And thanks for the "hey dummy, remember we have sponsors here" without actually saying "hey dummy"

Sirius Glass · Jan 30, 2023

madsox said:
You mean something like this?

-----

JOBO CPP 2 processor with lifter, drums, tanks and bottles. Up to 20 x 24 inch size drum
JOBO CPE 2 Processor with lifter, drums, tanks and bottles.

Bogen 3036 Professional Tripod, made in Italy by Manfrotto Nord.

Saunders LPL Super Dichroic 4500 Il 4 x 5 enlarger. With baseboard, paper easel, timers, etc.
Lenses:
Scheider-Kreuznach Componson-S, 5.6 150 mm.
Spiratone Resomax, 2.8 50 mm.
Rodenstock Rodagon, 4, 80 mm.

Calumet Cambo SC 4 x 5 monorail. No lens (Nagaoka lens boards may/may not be compatible)
Calumet Roll Film Holder Model C2 (120).

Osaka 8 x 10 view camera with Osaka Commercial 6.3 lens, 300 mm, Copal No. 35 shutter. 4 Film holders.

Nagaoka Seisakusho 4 x 5 field view camera, several film holders
Lenses (checking on shutters):
Caltar Il 150 mm.
Rodenstock Sironar — X 210 mm.
Ilex Calumet Wide Field Caltar — 90 mm.

-----

That's not even including the RB67 with 3 film backs, 2 lenses & metering prism hood, the GW670, the Minolta Autocord, one little Leica point-n-shoot, and all the Pentax 35mm gear. Or a detailed list of the manual processing tanks (Jobo and Spiratone, mostly), safelights, timers, etc that go with the enlarger. Or the very nice Epson printer and decent also Epson scanner (time for an upgrade on that). This is all that "passed on from dad" stuff I've mentioned in other posts. We had a *great* darkroom at that old house...

Well that is a good beginning grasshopper, you have far to go. [hee hee]

mshchem · Jan 30, 2023

madsox said:
Apologies for poor search-fu, as I'm sure this question is fairly common. But I'm getting active in photography again after quite a few years of just not doing much, and am getting my film gear out of the closet. I intend to "go hybrid" and shoot on film, then replace the darkroom part of things with digital processes. I've been scanning a lot of prints and slides over the past few years, so I'm getting comfortable with that, but have a big gap: where to get film processed?

Realistically, I'm not going to be able (or want) to set up a darkroom again. I'd like to find some place I can send film (35mm and 120/220) for processing, to have a commercial lab do that part of things. I'm in the eastern US, so something .us based is going to be preferred (geography does matter). Recommendations and experiences welcome!

Photo Lab Film Developing | Dwayne's Photo

Dwayne's is a full service mail-in film developing lab specializing in 35mm film, disposable cameras, B&W film, slide film, and other historic films.

www.dwaynesphoto.com

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 30, 2023

Although I'm in NJ, I'm using North Coast Photo in Carlsbad, CA. They dip and dunk and will push and pull. They use D76 equivalent for BW (Clayton F76+ developer). I also use them for chromes but I don't shoot negative color.

Film developing

Processing and Scanning Film from around the world. 35mm, 120mm, and Sheet film processing, C41, Black and White, and E6 color positive film. Located in Carlsbad, California.

northcoastphoto.com

I've also used LTI Lightside in Manhattan NYC but they only do BW (with XTOL) and color negative film, no chromes E6. They also dip and dunk and push and pull.

LTI - Lightside, home, main,

LTI/Lightside: photography services for artists, professionals and enthsiasts for over 30 years

www.lti-lightside.com

Good luck.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 30, 2023

Oh, LTI Lightside will use any developer you want besides their regular XTOL. But there's a setup fee. It used to be $50 but I don't know what it is currently.

madsox · Jan 30, 2023

@Alan Edward Klein - thanks, great pointers! Those are going into the files...

Commercial film processing (by mail, in .us)

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Commercial film processing (by mail, in .us)

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