My one hour photo processing experience

[greene881]

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I recently purchased a used M7 off eBay and was anxious to check it out. I reeled off a roll of XP2 Super over a range of shutter speeds then set off to a local (Max Spielman) photo outlet. 

Wanting instant results I opted for the one hour D&P processing service at a cost £11 GBP.

I returned on the hour but had a further 15 minutes wait for my negatives and prints.

I waited until getting home before checking out the results.

My first impression was that the 6x4 prints, which had been presented in an oversized paper wallet, were “too sharp” and several had dirty marks on them. 

The negatives were cut into strips of four but placed together in a single plastic sleeve.

The condition of the negatives was also quite poor. several strips had operator finger prints on them. I recalled that she was eating a bag of crisps just prior to serving me. There were also several scratch lines on the negs, and prints. Surprisingly there were no drying stains.

I should have taken the matter up with the shop manager but my objective had been achieved in that the camera functioned ok and there were only two keepers on the roll which I scanned to Lightroom. I had hoped to use this conveniently located shop for future work but that is now definitely ruled out.

 

So can any members recommend a mail order lab in the UK for process only of XP2 and Tri-X.

I expect several members will encourage me to develop my own but this isn’t a practical option.

In the recent past I have used:

Ilford Labs - suffered from drying stains

AG Photo Lab - can’t recall much about them other than I tried out Forest next

Forest Photographic - seem ok but return postage is £2.95

 

A couple of other points relating to my experience. When the photos started coming off the printer the operator was surprised they were black and white. She said we normally have to send them off site to be processed. It begs the question of what checks are in place before they go to work on a customers film.

I also asked if they provided a develop only service and the cost. The assistant who served me thought they did but did not know how much. She asked a colleague but he didn’t know either. No attempt was made to check further but she did add that she guessed it would be about half the price of the D&P package!!

[Beresford]

Best not to buy shares in this company!

 

I use Metro Imaging in London. They are not the cheapest, but you can be sure that their quality is top notch.

 

I have also found that a guy called Hamish writes a very interesting blog at http://www.35mmc.com. In some of the postings he discusses the merits of several UK labs. (And he uses Leicas amongst other cameras.)

[spydrxx]

Glad it was only a test roll. At least next time you will be using a more professional place to have your film developed. When I first used XP-2 I grilled the operator at the photo store to  ensure she was competent, not just some snarky teenager who only knew how to press buttons, and I also inquired how often they changed the chemicals. Unfortunately all of the local places near me which did 1 hr service have moved on.

[earleygallery]

I have found the Snappy Snaps chain consistently good, although my local one had problems with their machine and can't do 1 hour processing at present, so I have used Boots and they've been OK but I did have a problem with them spoiling a film in the past, most likely an error on the part of a particular operator rather than an issue with Boots generally.

 

C41 B&W can be processed by any 1 hour lab, there's no difference to colour film, but I expect they have to send traditional B&W off to a central lab. Your person at Max Spielman obviously doesn't understand the difference which is a worry!

 

Although you have said processing your own film isn't an option I do think you should consider it. Traditional B&W film is so easy to process at home. All you need is a changing bag, a film tank/reel, thermometer, measuring jug and the chemicals. If you can make a pot of tea successfully you can process your own film!

 

C41 is also pretty easy but temperature accuracy is more critical, although I do farm my C41 out.

[honcho]

......... When the photos started coming off the printer the operator was surprised they were black and white. She said we normally have to send them off site to be processed. It begs the question of what checks are in place before they go to work on a customers film.

I also asked if they provided a develop only service and the cost. The assistant who served me thought they did but did not know how much. She asked a colleague but he didn’t know either. No attempt was made to check further but she did add that she guessed it would be about half the price of the D&P package!!

 

Don't use them again, you are lucky this was only a test roll to try out your new camera.   The main problems with places like Spielmann's, Boots, Snappy Snaps etc are that the film processing equipment is rarely used and can stand idle for days on end.  The result is inconsistent processing, residue, damage and marks on films.  The lack of staff training and practical knowledge of film processing isn't confined to your branch of Spielmann's, I would suggest in future you send more important films to professional labs who can handle film properly.  Peak Imaging are often quoted on here and I have never had any issues with them with E6 processing.  I also use Palm Labs in Birmingham (far more than I use Peak). 

 

All of Palm's film processing is undertaken on Fridays, the equipment and chemistry is cleaned, replaced and made ready for processing beforehand. I have no affiliation with Palm, I just find them consistently good with reliable delivery of processed films.  I dropped a dozen 120 rolls in on Tuesday and I know I will receive them, well packaged, by 1st class post this coming Saturday.

[earleygallery]

The main problems with places like Spielmann's, Boots, Snappy Snaps etc are that the film processing equipment is rarely used and can stand idle for days on end.  The result is inconsistent processing, residue, damage and marks on films. 

 

As I said, I've found Snappy Snaps very consistent in all the years I've used them, and they certainly seem to get enough business to keep their processing machines turning over.

 

They also seem to employ people who are interested in photography, who will presumably take more care than someone who's just been trained up on how to use a machine.

[Falstaff]

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As I said, I've found Snappy Snaps very consistent in all the years I've used them, and they certainly seem to get enough business to keep their processing machines turning over.

 

They also seem to employ people who are interested in photography, who will presumably take more care than someone who's just been trained up on how to use a machine.

 

James, because of a previous recommendation by you, I also have used them for processing only, when in London and in a hurry - probably about 20 times.

 

Never had any issues.

[kentishrev]

I'm pleased to read of others' success with Snappy Snaps - my three experiences have all been terrible; heavily oversharpened prints and very dusty scans to disc.  I commented once, and was told the machine sets itself to get the best image.

 

On rare occasions I need 1 hour processing, I now go to Boots or Jessops (all C41 only).  But for BW and less urgent I prefer to send off to AG or take to Aperture in London. Both take time and care.

[Falstaff]

I'm pleased to read of others' success with Snappy Snaps - my three experiences have all been terrible; heavily oversharpened prints and very dusty scans to disc.  I commented once, and was told the machine sets itself to get the best image.

 

 

 

Just to clarify, I've only used them for processing and not for prints or scans.

[mikemgb]

 

 

Although you have said processing your own film isn't an option I do think you should consider it. Traditional B&W film is so easy to process at home. All you need is a changing bag, a film tank/reel, thermometer, measuring jug and the chemicals. If you can make a pot of tea successfully you can process your own film!

 

C41 is also pretty easy but temperature accuracy is more critical, although I do farm my C41 out.

 

I am going to second this, I process my own black and white, everything I need fits in a small box that can be stored anywhere. I have a two reel tank and can develop two films from start to cleanup in a little more than 30 minutes.

 

I'm about to start colour processing too, temperature control is easily accomplished by using an aquarium heater in a water bath.

[Herr Barnack]

I have found the Snappy Snaps chain consistently good, although my local one had problems with their machine and can't do 1 hour processing at present, so I have used Boots and they've been OK but I did have a problem with them spoiling a film in the past, most likely an error on the part of a particular operator rather than an issue with Boots generally.

 

C41 B&W can be processed by any 1 hour lab, there's no difference to colour film, but I expect they have to send traditional B&W off to a central lab. Your person at Max Spielman obviously doesn't understand the difference which is a worry!

 

Although you have said processing your own film isn't an option I do think you should consider it. Traditional B&W film is so easy to process at home. All you need is a changing bag, a film tank/reel, thermometer, measuring jug and the chemicals. If you can make a pot of tea successfully you can process your own film!

 

C41 is also pretty easy but temperature accuracy is more critical, although I do farm my C41 out.

 

I am 100% in agreement.  Developing your own film is the only way to go.  You will get much better results than any one hour lab will ever give you.  The equipment you need to get started will cost around $100 or so USD.  When you buy chemistry, you save about 50% on the cost of having a lab process your film.  In terms of money saved and high quality negatives produced, it makes a lot of sense to do your own developing.

[gbealnz]

Not to mention the warm and fuzzy glow you get when it all comes together, "yeah..... I did that".

Gary

[250swb]

I am going to second this, I process my own black and white, everything I need fits in a small box that can be stored anywhere. I have a two reel tank and can develop two films from start to cleanup in a little more than 30 minutes.

 

I'm about to start colour processing too, temperature control is easily accomplished by using an aquarium heater in a water bath.

 

Yes, in reality processing C41 is just as easy as any other film, you just need one or two extra bits of equipment to deal with keeping a consistent temperature. It can be done at 86F which isn't so much higher than normal B&W films 72F so an aquarium heater is ideal to warm a water bath (washing up bowl of water) to keep your bottles of chemicals in, and a Paterson tank can also stand in the water bath to keep that up to temperature. And while I wouldn't advise deviating from temperatures and times the mistakes made as part of 'the learning process' (mine at least) show that even big errors still produce a perfectly good negative.

[EoinC]

Not to mention the warm and fuzzy glow you get when it all comes together, "yeah..... I did that".

Gary

This value should not be underestimated.

[mikemgb]

Yes, in reality processing C41 is just as easy as any other film, you just need one or two extra bits of equipment to deal with keeping a consistent temperature. It can be done at 86F which isn't so much higher than normal B&W films 72F so an aquarium heater is ideal to warm a water bath (washing up bowl of water) to keep your bottles of chemicals in, and a Paterson tank can also stand in the water bath to keep that up to temperature. And while I wouldn't advise deviating from temperatures and times the mistakes made as part of 'the learning process' (mine at least) show that even big errors still produce a perfectly good negative.

 

I believe the temperature requirements are more about getting consistent results film to film. As you say, errors will still produce a good negative. I used to process E6 and after my first couple of films I realised that precise temperature control wasn't quite as critical as I had been led to believe.

[carl170]

I use my local Asda and never had any issues. £3 for develop and scan to CD. You have to give them a bit over the hour if you get their first thing as the chemicals have to heat up.

 

I did use Max S for 2x120 film earlier in the year. The 7 days turned into 3 weeks and the results were crap with a few scans having dust spots on them. Never again!

[Brenton C]

Those of you eho are developimg your own film . . .

 

Do you also do your own enlargements? I'm thinking of going In this direction, but worry about the fiddliness of enlarging. Endless test strips, etc.

 

Back in the 70's my dad had a home darkroom for B&W, but he had a nifty device that automatically comtrolled exposure time for the prints (presumably based on how light or dark the negative), and he developed the primts through another machine that ran the paper through developer and fixer... No bothering with timers and stop watches.

 

Now that Dad's gone, I can't ask, and haven't been able to track down any info about such time saving machinery for the dark room.

[105012]

Back in the 70's my dad had a home darkroom for B&W, but he had a nifty device that automatically comtrolled exposure time for the prints (presumably based on how light or dark the negative), and he developed the primts through another machine that ran the paper through developer and fixer... No bothering with timers and stop watches.

 

Now that Dad's gone, I can't ask, and haven't been able to track down any info about such time saving machinery for the dark room.

 

 

I use one of these:

 

http://www.rhdesigns.co.uk/darkroom/html/analyser_pro.html

 

It does take the guess work out of enlarging. Maybe this is what your Dad used? There are other types out there as well (for example, I also have a Jobo ColorLine 5100 which is colour oriented).

[Brenton C]

Thanks 105',

 

This looks like a much more sophisticated version, but I'm pretty sure this is the type of device. The one in your link looks to be a very handy piece of kit!

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