Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => The Wet Darkroom => Topic started by: conan24 on April 04, 2006, 03:48:08 pm

Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: conan24 on April 04, 2006, 03:48:08 pm
I was hoping someone could recommend a good place I can send a few rolls of B&W film for development. Ideally a place that will just develop the film and send me the negatives...I'll make the prints later.
The reason is that I have some rolls to develop, but am very busy with work right now and it will be awhile before I can make it to the local art studio and develop them myself. I know a local photo place can do it, but they charge a bundle and it takes forever.

Thanks!
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: gr82bart on April 04, 2006, 08:07:52 pm
Where are you located?

Art.
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: conan24 on April 04, 2006, 10:06:03 pm
I live in central MN. I'm guessing there's a place in the Twin Cities area, but I've sent slide film out to places pretty far away and it's come back fairly quick, so mail order may be easiest.
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: gr82bart on April 05, 2006, 10:28:58 pm
The closest good B&W labs I know in your area are in Chicago.

The Print Lab is dedicated to only B&W film - http://www.printlab.com/ (http://www.printlab.com/)
and Gamma is a full service pro lab http://www.gammaphoto.com/ (http://www.gammaphoto.com/)

I don't know if either do 'mail order' exactly, but I'd give them both a call. I'm sure you can mail them the film and make arrangements for prints to be mailed back.

Regards, Art.
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: conan24 on April 06, 2006, 09:35:39 am
They both look like very good bets. Thanks!!
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: paulvan on April 06, 2006, 06:33:00 pm
A little off topic, but if you know before you shoot that you will not be able to develop them yourself, have you tried C41 B&W film? I've done that a few times myself and dropped them off at a one hour place; soup only, return negs uncut. Only about $2 a roll, and I can still print them when I want or have time. Just a thought.
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: Frere Jacques on April 14, 2006, 08:41:19 am
Has anyone ever tried these folks?

http://www.dr5.com/main.html (http://www.dr5.com/main.html)

I am very curious about how the negs from this process turn out...
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: gr82bart on April 14, 2006, 10:24:08 pm
Quote
Has anyone ever tried these folks?

http://www.dr5.com/main.html (http://www.dr5.com/main.html)

I am very curious about how the negs from this process turn out...
Yes. They come out positive.

Art.
Title: Mail Order B&W Developing
Post by: scho37 on May 06, 2006, 03:06:45 pm
Quote
Has anyone ever tried these folks?

http://www.dr5.com/main.html (http://www.dr5.com/main.html)

I am very curious about how the negs from this process turn out...
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I tried some 4x5 TMAX 100 and  the dr5 neutral positives I got back were excellent.  Scanned very nicely using Vuescan with an Epson 3200 flatbed.