Looking for info on film process shops in London and Paris

[gabrielma]

I will be going to London and Paris for a short stay (about a week) on

27th February, and have never been to those cities, so I am not sure

how it works out over there, so I'm imploring the locals or

knowledgeable in this area in both London and Paris for info.<BR>

Here in the U.S. I drop off my film to be developed <i>only</i>,

uncut, for about $1.95 per roll ($7.90 for slides), without a scratch,

stains, etc.; they know me, so I'm sure that helps, although I've

hardly shot film as much as I've been shooting digital.<BR>

Are these services available in London and/or Paris? Or is it more

cost-effective to have the develop/print done altogether?<BR>

I am taking my film on top of my digital gear because I'm planning on

shooting "real" wide-angle (Elan IIe/50e, 10D), and am nervous about

having my film go through various X-ray check-points. I have a lot of

film, so I'd rather take it with me than buying it locally (which

would be highly cost-inefficient), yet have it processed once I'm

there than having to carry exposed, undeveloped film back to the U.S.<BR>

Your recommendations, ideas, suggestions will be greatly appreciated.<BR>

Oh, just in case, this may help: in London I plan to stay near Hyde

Park/Kensington Gardens, and in Paris somewhere in between Hotel des

Invalides & Ecole Militaire.<BR>

Cheers, et merci.

[elliot_n]

Metro is probably the biggest pro lab in London:

 

www.metroimaging.co.uk

 

Their branch in Soho (Great Marlborough St) would be convenient for you.

 

But you might be shocked by their prices - about $11 for process only (C41 or E6).

 

Even though you're unlikely to be granted a hand search at Heathrow, I'd recommend

you take your film home with you, and have it processed at your trusted lab.

 

(If you want a minilab in London, the branch of Snappy Snaps on Wardour Street is

good - they have analogue and digital machines, and, in spite of their cheesy name,

do a lot of pro work. About $20, process and print. Round the corner from Metro.)

[aquilanebula]

I have yet to find the ideal lab for developing and printing in London. I tend to have my D&P done at Boots, which is a chain store found in London and across the UK. They use Fuji Frontier machines. I find the quality varies slightly from branch to branch, but as a company with a image to protect they will readily reprint any prints which are below standard. The Wood Green branch is excellent, but that's probably a bit far for you.

 

For anything specialist, I would try one of the many camera shops in the Holborn/Tottenham Court Road area - check the Yellow Pages or Yell.com for details.

 

Finally, I wouldn't worry about any X ray damage from the scanners used from hand luggage. There are plenty of threads on photo.net about this subject, most of which will confirm you that you get more radiation from your flight than you do from the X ray machines.

[michaelkh]

I second the idea of checking out Snappy Snaps.

 

They are, as I understand it, franchises, so quality _could_ vary, but they've historically

done very well indeed in Amateur Photographer lab processing comparisons.

 

The one I use in Tunbridge Wells doesn't do E6 in house but will do C41 dev-only, in one

hour, cut or uncut, for about three or four quid, can't remember exactly. Nice results, nice

people, obvious attention to detail and service - definitely a cut above the average minilab.

 

Pop in and ask them if they do E6 in house - the longer turnaround E6 they provided me

from the Tunbridge Wells branch was great, if a little pricey.

[gabrielma]

Thank you all for your answers. It is evident that money will be best spent on taking good care of my film or winking at the right guard for having the film hand inspected. I will carry as much ISO-100 as ISO-800 (for when inside churches and that sort of thing).<BR>

Something I've always done is line the cartridges with a few layers of aluminum foil, but I have flown a few times since 11 Sep., so I am not sure how that will play out. On a flight to Philadelphia I also did that, and only had the roll on my camera hand inspected (custom function to leave the lead out).<BR>

<BR>

I shall still consider the options you've mentioned for those roll I may consider too risky to leave undeveloped for a week.<BR>

Thanks again.