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Film photo development recommendations

sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
I have about 16 rolls of standard 35mm Kodak film I need developed. My requirements are simple:

4x6" Matte
Doubles
Kodak Photo CD

My first thought was to take it to my local Costco. They are inexpensive and only a few miles away and quite frankly I love Costco. But then I started researching and it seems like many (if not all) of the online printing services (like Snapfish.com) also are able to develop film and in addition to the standard features (matte vs glossy, Kodak CD, etc) they also provide you with the opportunity to purchase other neat things such as photo booklets.

Anyway, my question is: Has the film developing industry been standardized? That is, if I develop my film at Costco, the neighborhood 1-Hour Photo shop, and Snapfish and if I order all the same features (matte, 4x6", Kodak paper), will the quality be exactly the same?

I am tempted to send my 16 rolls to Snapfish (or a competitor) but I feel a bit uneasy. I probably wouldn't know the difference but I'd hate to think or find out later down the road that their quality is subpar.

And on a related note - Once a lab develops your film and returns your negatives, can you take your negatives to a totally differnet lab and have them make prints using their printer? The negatives aren't "ruined" right? Silly question, I know.
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
Has the film developing industry been standardized? That is, if I develop my film at Costco, the neighborhood 1-Hour Photo shop, and Snapfish and if I order all the same features (matte, 4x6", Kodak paper), will the quality be exactly the same?
Click to expand...
No. There is a standard C-41 process, but there are many variables within that process that will affect the final image. Unfortunately, there's no way to find out which one you like without trying it out. The type of processor, brand of chemistry, tighness of QC, will all change the look of the final product. And that's just on the processing side. The printing has even more effect on the final image quality.
I am tempted to send my 16 rolls to Snapfish (or a competitor) but I feel a bit uneasy. I probably wouldn't know the difference but I'd hate to think or find out later down the road that their quality is subpar.
Click to expand...
If the images were that important to me, I would process them locally rather than sending them out and risk losing them in the mail. The best quality will come from a film lab, rather than your Costco.
And on a related note - Once a lab develops your film and returns your negatives, can you take your negatives to a totally differnet lab and have them make prints using their printer? The negatives aren't "ruined" right? Silly question, I know.
Click to expand...
They aren't "ruined", but because of differences in products, it is likely that you will not be able to match the color of the new prints to the old. In particular, you should stick with one brand process. I.E. if the first place uses Fuji chemistry and paper, then always make reprints on Fuji paper. If possible, it is nice to carry the process through to the brand of film. If you have Kodak film, get it processed somewhere that uses Kodak chemistry and paper, and likewise for Fuji.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the response.

1. Why would a local lab be better than Costco? Ever since they introduced their photo services, I don't know anyone that uses a ma and pa lab anymore. I don't think Costco does anything subpar, but you seem to be an expert. Please elaborate.

2. Will a photo CD be made in the same way at every location? For example, if I get a Kodak (specifically) CD, will it be made using the same process from Costco versus a local lab? What about CD's that are not Kodak Photo CD (TM)? What process is used to get the images scanned? Are they using some USB scanner and scanning the prints? Or are they using slide scanners from the negatives? Is there an industry standard resolution? Will one place scan at 180 DPI and another at 300 DPI?

3. Can you explain the processes further? I don't know anything about film processing. Are you saying that the process used affects the negatives from the very beginning? That is, if you take two negatives that were developed with two different processes, you could tell them apart? Like the process somehow mars the negative?
 
Originally posted by: sygyzy
1. Why would a local lab be better than Costco?
Click to expand...
It wouldn't necessarily. It's really a matter of equipment maintenance and operator training. A professional lab is probably less likely to scratch your film. They can also pull or push process, though it doesn't sound like that's an issue for you. If Costco doesn't scratch your film, then by all means stick with Costco. I was actually just speaking of the risk of losing the film in the mail when I suggested a local lab.
2. Will a photo CD be made in the same way at every location? For example, if I get a Kodak (specifically) CD, will it be made using the same process from Costco versus a local lab?
Click to expand...
In short, no. A PictureCD contains tiny pictures (1024 x 1536), a PhotoCD contains decent pictures(2048 x 3072) and a ProPhotoCD contains nice captures indeed(4096 x 6144). The PictureCD is what most places offer. PhotoCD is no longer supported by Kodak and uses a Kodak filetype, so you won't see too many of those. Beyond that, image quality depends on the equipment and operator.
What about CD's that are not Kodak Photo CD (TM)? What process is used to get the images scanned? Are they using some USB scanner and scanning the prints? Or are they using slide scanners from the negatives? Is there an industry standard resolution? Will one place scan at 180 DPI and another at 300 DPI?
Click to expand...
That's up to whoever is scanning your film and burning the CD, no, basically, no, yes.
Are you saying that the process used affects the negatives from the very beginning? That is, if you take two negatives that were developed with two different processes, you could tell them apart? Like the process somehow mars the negative?
Click to expand...
It's a chemical process. Variations in the components and concentration of the chemistry as well as the temperature of the solution will alter the appearance of the final product. The negative is not damaged, but the color will reproduce differently.
 
Excellent.

Is there any reason why Costco's (or any other lab's) 1 Hour photo would produce pictures with lesser quality than the send away (2-3 days) service? My friend is convinced that as far as quality is concerned, the "send away" (ie Costco sends it away to another lab) 2-3 day service yields better results. Are 1 Hour photo jobs rushed? Shortcuts taken? This is the first I've heard of this.

I decided that the Kodak Photo CD scans suck so I'll just get the pictures developed then pick out all the good shots and have them scanned professionally. Any recommendations on who can do something like this, besides Mystic? Are there any popular/favorite online sites that are known for their negative scanning?

Thanks again.
 
It sounds like you're interested enough that you should do some reading on how film is actually developed, so you can understand why there will be differences between who does the developing. It's a somewhat elaborate process, and something of a black art to get the "best" picture quality, which is why the mom & pop shops still exist for professional photographers (actually alot of pros do it all themselves).

Basically, you have to develop the film with chemicals to become a negative (this process is dependent upon type of film, brand of chemicals, temperature, timing), and then transition this negative to a positive (the photograph) via exposing the positive to light shined through the negative. Now the positive in turn needs to be developed again (dependent upon type of paper, brand of chemicals, temperature, timing). The positive is like taking a picture of a picture. So maybe you can see in my extremely abbreviated description, why it isn't as easy as saying that things are "standardized" because in order to get the "best" print, all of these factors can and should be adjusted for each individual photograph.
 
Almost all the places that send film out for processing (not 1hour photo)
send them to the same place anyways.


Couriers pick up the rolls from different stores and take them
to a huge processing lab and bring back the developed pictures

I worked for one and can tell you
Costco, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Kmart, and and anyone else
who uses Kodak processing all go to the same place,
a Kodak owned lab under the name Qualex


There's only a couple of these big labs in each region

 
I'm going to bump this up for further discussion. I'm planning on having 4-5 rolls taken on a vacation and want to know if there is economical ways to have it printed online. Snapfish seems to have good prices (~$5-6 per roll) and they give you digital albums online you can reorder from.

Anyone else have other recommendations?
 
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