35mm Film developing

Hello,

I just bought a Canon Elan 7 because, quite frankly, the local Walgreens and Walmart suck at printing digital prints and it has left me a "view on computer only" person. My images look great there but are hardly decent, especially skin tones, when processed. I miss all of my envelopes w/pictures and negatives.

So, I'm looking for someone online to develop my 35mm film (possibly some digital too) so that I can actually look through a stack of pictures once again.

Who do you recommend?

Thank you.

Well, hmm...it's been a while since I've sent out film to be developed -- inconsistent stuff and al that and I never had m own darkroom...

Now, with digital and my own Digital Darkroom I enjoy digital potography!

Snapfish still does it (and from the digital as well).

Hmmm........ I think you are making a mistake to go backward in technology if you are not willing to do it yourself. There are just as many variables with allowing someone else to process and print your film as you have found when you allow someone to mass process and print digital. It's a sideways move.

And expensive.

My thoughts are that I am better off to learn to process and print my own digital files. It's easier, faster, more flexible, and more fun because I'm not in some dark, smelly, tiny room by myself when I do it. Why not add that part of photography to your repertoire?

rral22 wrote in post #13072269
Hmmm........ I think you are making a mistake to go backward in technology if you are not willing to do it yourself. There are just as many variables with allowing someone else to process and print your film as you have found when you allow someone to mass process and print digital. It's a sideways move.

And expensive.

My thoughts are that I am better off to learn to process and print my own digital files. It's easier, faster, more flexible, and more fun because I'm not in some dark, smelly, tiny room by myself when I do it. Why not add that part of photography to your repertoire?

I paid $109 shipped for the Elan 7 so it wasn't very expensive. Processing basically balances out between the two ($0.19 per image) so I'll just be out the cost of film. I've had a lot better luck over the years with 35mm labs than digital too.

But you make a good point and it is for sure something I'll consider. I'm still going to shoot some film though.

Hmm, the local guys I use send out to Swan Photo Labs. I do want to learn how to do it myself soon though.

Do you live anywhere near a Costco? Pretty good digital prints and they process C-41 film for $1.50 a roll.

We have a BJ's and a Sams but no Costco. I'm going to check and see if they process C-41 color film. Saw Swan Photo Labs, it's on the opposite coast for me though.

cptrios wrote in post #13073984
Do you live anywhere near a Costco? Pretty good digital prints and they process C-41 film for $1.50 a roll.

Our local Costco photo department only works with digital images according to the gal behind the counter.

SkipD wrote in post #13075243
Our local Costco photo department only works with digital images according to the gal behind the counter.

Aw that's a shame. I guess it's not a company-wide thing, eh? If it makes you feel any better, the people at mine get visibly annoyed when you bring film in, and make no attempt to hide how much they hate dealing with it!

You should of invested in a screen calibration tool for your computer monitor (Spyder3) and sent your digital files to Mpix, which does amazing prints. I have been blow away by all the photos I have got from them. HIGHLY recommended.

If your color tones and such are always off, its due to your monitor being calibrated poorly. Spyder3 will correct that.

In the long run, this will be cheaper then film.

Invertalon wrote in post #13075482
You should of invested in a screen calibration tool for your computer monitor (Spyder3) and sent your digital files to Mpix, which does amazing prints. I have been blow away by all the photos I have got from them. HIGHLY recommended.

If your color tones and such are always off, its due to your monitor being calibrated poorly. Spyder3 will correct that.

In the long run, this will be cheaper then film.

They do film too as, ironically, I just got mailers from them today. You're right though, this LCD needs calibrating. What looks bright on this is printed much darker. I've had Mpix do some large prints for me, including a 16x20 of my son's iquana and they did a great job with them. Cost is the same digital or film though. You're just paying for the prints.

My beef is with the local Walmart/Walgreens. For sure, not good results with digital while they did an acceptable job with film in the past.

HrcRacing wrote in post #13074489
We have a BJ's and a Sams but no Costco. I'm going to check and see if they process C-41 color film. Saw Swan Photo Labs, it's on the opposite coast for me though.

But I'll likely still try them.