C41 processing - pro lab or local minilab

[sojournerphoto]

Given that I expect to scan my own film for printing, is there any advantage to sending C41 film to a pro lab compared to the local minilab. Any prints are used primarily as a set of big contacts.

Thanks

Mike

[Michael I.]

yes there is.

[ClaremontPhoto]

There are minilabs and there are minilabs.

I take my C41 to a local family place that has a thriving wedding and studio business and use their minilab for their own work.

On the other hand a minimum wage school leaver without any training or photographic background in a supermarket may not be quite as good.

[sepiareverb]

It does depend on the lab. My pro lab has an attached minilab, I have them do my E6 and get the films run, scanned and mounted for much less, with pretty darn equal quality processing and scans plenty good for what I use them for. I shoot E6 (and Kodachrome) now just for snapshots, and email images to family and friends. Dwayne's scans my K64 when they run it, but the K64 process/scan/mount is more than the minilab charges for E6/scan/mount.

[Roger Hicks]

If someone offers a water wash (instead of stabilization) that's good, but even pro labs often stabilize.

Otherwise, it's down to the lab. You may find the following of interest, based as it is on decades of trying to find decent labs in different places.

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps%20choosing%20a%20lab.html

Cheers,

R.

[kshapero]

For C41, I have not found anyone who can beat the quality of Costco, at least for scans. About $4 for negs and a CD.

[kipkeston]

It seems like he's saying he only wants processing? He scans at home. Or did I missunderstand.

[sojournerphoto]

Yes, I scan at home on an LS5000, so the lower res scans that most labs provide are surplus to requirements - as is the large collection of CDs that develops.

My concerns are really whether there is a quality difference between labs resulting from equipment maintenance and useage skill as well as the archival properties of the negs.

Roger, thanks for the link. I like your site. I'm guessing that a water wash increases archival storage properties in cmparison to a stabiliser bath?

Thanks
Mike

[Roger Hicks]

Roger, thanks for the link. I like your site. I'm guessing that a water wash increases archival storage properties in cmparison to a stabiliser bath?

Thanks
Mike
Dear Mike,

You're welcome. Thanks for the kind words. Yes, that's the advantage of water wash.

Cheers,

R.

[MichaelW]

A pro lab should be better as I would expect them to use a processing machine that is less likely to damage your film, e.g. dip & dunk. Most mini labs use roller transport & there is more chance of film scratching. Also pro machines make it easier to push or pull if you require that.

[John Rountree]

All good answers. Go with the pro lab, unless you find a mini-lab that is near the same quality. After all, how much is a good negative worth to you? Film is always the cheapest part of the equation. If it's not on the film, you don't have anything. In this case I am not talking about the shooting. So what, if you spend more on processing at pro lab? If you get that negative that is just right, and gives you the print you want, isn't the extra money worth it? Sure, the mini lab MAY have done a similar job, but just as in shooting, it is the pro lab's responsibility (and reputation) to do the the job right EVERY time. For the few cents more it costs, I really think you will get your money's worth from the pro lab.

[Roger Hicks]

For the few cents more it costs, I really think you will get your money's worth from the pro lab.
Dear John,

It's not just the 'few cents' (more like 2x - 3x the cost). It's also the proximity of the lab. I can find several good minilabs in a 20 mile radius -- including one pro photographer who also does processing.

I don't recall the last dedicated pro lab I used that did dip-and-dunk C-41; most have been continuous (roller-transport) for 10 years or more.

Bear in mind that I am in fact talking from a professional viewpoint, i.e. taking pics to earn money.

Cheers,

R.