120 (645) print processing - any good, inexpensive labs?

I'm looking for a decent, inexpensive lab to process and print 645

format negatives. Any suggestions? I read about Sunset Color lab

in another thread, but they sound a bit odd (no credit cards etc.).

"Reliable Photo" advertise in Pop Photog and their prices seem

reasonable. Anyone here used them? They seem to be set up for

wedding/portrait stuff, but I guess that's the norm for 120.

 

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What about Kodak? They sell a DP-12 mailer, which I assume is for

6x6 format? Has anyone sent them a 645 format film, if so what did

they do with it?

 

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Most of my work is landscapes, still life etc., not portraits and

weddings, so ideally I suppose I'd prefer a lab not set up for VPS

and low contrast printing, but I suppose I'm asking a bit much,

especially with the "inexpensive" qualifier!

Answering my own question in part(!), it seems that the Kodak DP-12

may be for 35mm 12exp (though the PK-12 is for 120 slides...).

 

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How about Porters? Anyone used their 120 mailers ($7.95)? Their

catalog doesn't comment on 645 vs. 6x6 vs. 6x7 formats though.

Try www.photo-tek.com they have good prices and take Visa and Master card, amex,Discover.

I HAVE HAD VERY GOOD RESULTS WITH ABC PHOTO AND IMAGING SERVICES IN

MANASSAS, VA. 1-800-368-4044 ASK FOR MELISSA KING

I tried Reliable and had excellent results the first couple of

times. I then had questionable results two time in a row. Their

prices are certainly fair, but I'm not real confident in their

consistency after my experience. I've recently tried LPL Photoworks,

1201 West Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411 (Ph 612/588-7861) and the

two batches I've sent there were done very nicely and their prices

are very competitive.

Why do you want to use a mail order lab? Aren't there any labs in

your area which will handle 645?

 

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One lab I use quite regularly for developing and proof prints is <a

href="http://www.overlakephoto.com">Overlake Photo</a>. They do mail

order, and they are inexpensive. Every 10 rolls processed gets you

the 11th one free. They also have quantity discounts. The B&W

developer they use is Rodinal, and they use dip & dunk tanks.

Nothing goes through rollers.

 

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Problems I've had with them: Their 8x10 prints are sometimes really

awfull. Who, us, focus the enlarger? What water stains on the

print? You can't prove we etched that finger print into your slide.

If its a machine-made proof print, it'll be OK. I think they do

better 35mm work than MF.

 

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On occasion an 8x10 will come out right. Usually it doesn't. The

8x10 of flowers on my wall using Fuji 100/1000 at 800/1000 was done

by them (they also processed the film) and its one of two prints they

did right.

 

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Specify "do not cut film" on your order. The less they handle the

film, the better. I don't recommend that you send them 220, as the

tanks they use are the "short" ones, so the film is draped over a

hanger. Sometimes it's not centered, so there might be a small

hanger mark inside the frame. I haven't seen the mark show on the

light box.

 

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Yes, I do use them <b>a lot</b>. I don't bother with them for custom

prints, and if I do have them do a print then it's with film I really

don't care about. Otherwise, they process a lot of film for me. My

last order with them was about 20 rolls. Two of the E-6 had a red

stain in the first frame, so they ran it back through the bleach/fix

and the film came out fine. They have pulled and pushed E-6 for me

quite nicely. Don't use them for Kodak HIE or Tech Pan. Other than

that, the're OK.

Try Photo Finishing Specialists http://www.pfsphoto.com.

I just tried Reliable and they screwed up my order by printing the wrong

size proofs, 3x5 instead of 5x7. I don't see how they can think anyone who

shoots 120 would want a 3" proof! I thought print quality was just okay.

They took a long time also, about 6 weeks.

 

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Sunset is slow also but they have never made a mistake order wise and

their work looks good.

 

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Patience is the key with these low price guys.

I have my 120 645 negs processed at Sears Ala Moana 1 hour photo in Honolulu, Hawaii. They will reprint if the color balance is off at no charge. Helps to gets to know the workers; complement them when prints are good; and even when some prints need to be redone. Try to establish a personal professional relationship with any lab and they will put extra care in handling your negs.

 

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Not all mini labs handle 120; depends on what machine they use.

Those that handle 120 film can generally print to 6X6 but 6X7 and 6X9 can be a problem finding a minilab processor

 

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I have tried so-called pro labs wiith poor results. Had negatives destroyed by their faulty processing.

In the distant past, I found that the Kodak mailers are o.k if you

like very small prints. I use Dorian Color Lab in Arlington, MA. They

are the only people who touch my color film now! I have tried MANY and

have come to trust these people with the most valuable and the regular

film also.