Least expensive processing & scanning ever... [Archive]

cjm

03-26-2008, 15:56

I usually shoot C-41 film because it's so cheap to process and scan. I've been going to CVS and it costs a little less than $6 to process and scan one roll of film.

On a whim, I decided to try Target. I had four rolls of film. The total cost for processing and scanning all those rolls was... $6.24! The key was asking the technician to put all the photos on one CD. Then, you only get charged for one CD and the processing fees for each roll, which is $0.95 per roll at the target where I live. The CD is $1.95 and the pictures are about 1000x1500, plenty big for web viewing.

Can anyone beat those prices? (without processing and scanning yourself)

Pherdinand

03-26-2008, 16:03

good price... how about the quality you get?

JeffGreene

03-26-2008, 16:13

I've used our local Target and have never been happy with quality of the work. When I have c-41 color work I usually use my local Photo store (privately owned). The work is generally excellent. I develop my own B&W.

sweathog

03-26-2008, 16:19

I get mine done for... nothing.
That's mainly because I do them where I work and 95% of the time don't pay.
Naughty, I know, but I justify it by adding the cost of each roll up and adding it to my paycheck, thus pretending they pay me a decent wage...

pevelg

03-26-2008, 16:21

I always go to Walgreen's to process my negative film. They always do an excellent job in processing and printing. I once went to a pro lab and the results were hideous. There were artifacts and chemical marks all over the film, there CD images were low res, and they charged an outrageous amount. As for Walgreens there scanning is also poor quality, but at least there processing is good, as well as the colors being spot on. I usually go one-hour and get one set of prints. My price comes out around $10 per roll. But remember, that is with 4X5 prints.

erikhaugsby

03-26-2008, 16:41

I just go to Walgreens for processing, and scan at home. It's usually not more than $2.50 per roll for developing.
My only grievance is that their machines don't know how to cut film into 5-frame strips (they only do 4-frames), so I always have to remember to ask for them not to cut the negatives.

marke

03-26-2008, 17:28

I get my C-41 processed at Walgreens too. I'm surprized to hear that a few other here get it done there too. For the most part, I've been very happy with their quality. Although, just like any lab, it depends on the operator. The people at my neighborhood store all know me now. They got my phone number memorized and get them done in 15 minutes, for about $2.15/roll. Then scan my won negs. And I just got 60 roles of Walgreens film for $0.99/roll, so shooting film has become very inexpensive for me. :D

To the originator of this thread, I can't believe that Target does it for only $0.95! :eek:

IK13

03-27-2008, 13:05

Nothing beats Costco in my book.
And I get 6MP scans, while all the other guys in town give you at most 2MP.

swoop

03-27-2008, 13:21

I get my stuff processed at Duggal in NYC. $8 a roll for development with cut/sleeve. I moved out to Milwaukee, WI awhile ago for work, and the local pro camera shop/lab charged $2.70 a roll for develop only uncut. And they did good work. I just moved back to NYC and I really don't want to pay $8 a roll anymore.

ibcrewin

03-27-2008, 13:43

Duggal is a rip.. Contacts are 9 bucks!! WTF

raid

03-27-2008, 14:39

I use Sam's Club; 1MB scans and developing for $4, which includes taxes.

marke

03-27-2008, 17:59

Swoop, I'm in Milwaukee. Who did you go to gor $2.70 a roll?

Thanks.

I get my stuff processed at Duggal in NYC. $8 a roll for development with cut/sleeve. I moved out to Milwaukee, WI awhile ago for work, and the local pro camera shop/lab charged $2.70 a roll for develop only uncut. And they did good work. I just moved back to NYC and I really don't want to pay $8 a roll anymore.

Joe Vitessa

03-27-2008, 18:07

Another vote for Target processing. Cheap, fine for web or even 4 X 6 prints at home, and I've been pleased with their work. I consider it a digital contact sheet. If there's a shot I really like, I'll just have it re-scanned or printed at a pro lab.

mabelsound

03-28-2008, 04:32

In New York and New Jersey, the Wegmans grocery chain has a pretty decent photo lab, at least the one in my town. Negs look good, scans are 1544 wide. Here's one:

http://flickr.com/photos/mabelsound/2314786515/sizes/o/in/set-72157604057852890/

Andrew Sowerby

03-28-2008, 08:04

There's a drug store in town that I use all the time. The manager of the photo lab actually cares about what he's doing. The machines are well maintained and my film is never scratched. I get developing, a set of 4x6 prints and 18MB (!) TIFFs scanned to disc for about $10 per roll. If the manager ever leaves or they shut down the photo lab, I'm screwed.

ibcrewin

03-28-2008, 09:08

The girl at Eckard doesn't usually get request for index print only. Well she makes develops the roll and makes the index print. I get charged $.99! If I like it, I come back and order a bigger print, or scan it at home for web viewing!

ampguy

03-28-2008, 09:19

I pay ~$3 per roll at a Longs with ~ 1.5Mb scans and a cd (no pints), or ~$5 at Costco for ~3Mb scans (no pints).

I think the key to your target discount is putting multiple rolls on a single CD, I'll have to ask about that option, as there is certainly space available.

Because of lower volume, I would expect some pro labs to not have the latest sevicing and minilabs and scanning gear as a high volume drugstore/warehouse outlet, although the pro labs probably mean to do a very good job. Economically they should probably just outsouce to Costco with a quality ageement in place, and shut down their old labs.

erikhaugsby

03-28-2008, 09:27

I pay ~$3 per roll at a Longs with ~ 1.5Mb scans and a cd (no pints), or ~$5 at Costco for ~3Mb scans (no pints).
I wish I could get a pint with every roll of film I got developed. :p

IK13

03-28-2008, 17:09

Guys, don't measure scans in Mb (megabytes). Look at the size of the picture (mega-pixels), not the size of the file. Neither one alone tells the whole story though, but if you have to pick one - use the MP, not the MB. After all you buy "X mega pixels" digital camera, not "digital camera which makes "Y megabyte files".

...oops did I say "digital"....

Andrew Sowerby

03-28-2008, 21:28

How does one calculate megapixels anyway? Horizontal x vertical @ 300 dpi or something?

erikhaugsby

03-28-2008, 21:48

How does one calculate megapixels anyway? Horizontal x vertical @ 300 dpi or something?
It's just horizontal by vertical pixel count. "300 dpi" is just a quantifier of the pixel density of a print or imaging screen.

swoop

03-29-2008, 04:18

Swoop, I'm in Milwaukee. Who did you go to gor $2.70 a roll?

Thanks.

I went to Mike Crevello's on... ugh, I cant remember if it's Brookfield road or Bluemound road. You have to know what I'm talking about. Their central store right next to IVMedia. They're some good people in there. Knew my name, said hello, and generally very helpful.

Wait, I think it might be in Brookfield, on Bluemound road.

Andrew Sowerby

03-29-2008, 06:17

It's just horizontal by vertical pixel count. "300 dpi" is just a quantifier of the pixel density of a print or imaging screen.

So 3000 x 2000 = 6MP?

usagisakana

03-29-2008, 08:25

So 3000 x 2000 = 6MP?
Yes.

I wish I could get such cheap C-41 processing done over here in Aus.

ampguy

03-29-2008, 16:38

My costco scans are about 3000 x 2300, Walgreens about 2400 x 1600, and Longs about 1800 x 1228.

The Longs and Walgreens make fine 8x10s, but the Costco scan allows for nice posters up to 20" x 30".

However, these are what I get on the default CD in the DCIM folders, if you order an enlargement at Longs or Walgreens, they're happy to re-scan from negative (at probably a higher resolution).

I realize other folks get different file sizes from different stores and price ranges. I think the Longs and Walgreens use Fuji minilabs, and the Costco Noritsu.

Guys, don't measure scans in Mb (megabytes). Look at the size of the picture (mega-pixels), not the size of the file. Neither one alone tells the whole story though, but if you have to pick one - use the MP, not the MB. After all you buy "X mega pixels" digital camera, not "digital camera which makes "Y megabyte files".

...oops did I say "digital"....

Sparrow

03-29-2008, 17:10

ampguy

03-29-2008, 17:17

I realize it's far below the optimal 220 - 320 ppi, but it is extremely sharp. I am not sure if they interpolated or whatever, but I sent them a simple 3000x2000 JPG file. Costco amazes me. Many pro wedding and other photographers use them btw.

surely you jest, at 30" it would be just 100 dpi :confused:

Sparrow

03-29-2008, 17:39

I realize it's far below the optimal 220 - 320 ppi, but it is extremely sharp. I am not sure if they interpolated or whatever, but I sent them a simple 3000x2000 JPG file. Costco amazes me. Many pro wedding and other photographers use them btw.

my lab print at 402dpi, a roll of c41 and 2000x3000 scans is £4.98, about $10 that would print 5x7.5", you get what you pay for I suppose :)

marke

03-30-2008, 05:11

I went to Mike Crevello's on... ugh, I cant remember if it's Brookfield road or Bluemound road. You have to know what I'm talking about. Their central store right next to IVMedia. They're some good people in there. Knew my name, said hello, and generally very helpful.

Wait, I think it might be in Brookfield, on Bluemound road.

Yes, it is in Brookfield. Thanks, I'll try them. I just didn't think they would do it for that low of a price. I bought my early digital SLRs from them.

pevelg

03-30-2008, 16:32

Woe is me! My previous happiness with Walgreens has now seized. So far, they have given me the best prints as compared to Walmart and one pro lab. As I now have my Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED, I went and scanned the negatives. I was shocked by the amount of damage on the negatives. Many artifacts, scratches, and the like. They are so small that I had never noticed it before when I looked at the prints. And now I know.... And thus now sad! :( So I have a new plan. Find a new developer.... Scan my photos.... Edit in photoshop as needed.... Put on CD...... Have Costco print them at $0.15 a piece.... That equals to be $5.40 if I print all 36 prints, which is unlikely. How much is just developing?

EDIT: And no, it is not the negative being dirty/dusty.