Hi, I need a good photo lab with an excellent reputation that will dev and print Ilford Delta film. Can anyone recommend a good one that does mail order? Thanks.
Give these dudes a try "Mark" (is that your name?) I've found them to be excellent with E6 but I've never tried them for monochrome. Why? Cause I do it myself! I reckon you are missing out on half the fun of monochrome by NOT doing it yourself. It ain't rocket science you know. Get yourself a cheap developing tank and some chemicals and start "doing it in the dark" It really is the most fun you can have with your clothes on you know! http://www.peak-imaging.com/htmls/mpnp.htm BigWill <font color=blue>Someday Jeri Ryan will weaken!<font color=black>
I can wholeheartedly agree with BigWill. There is something about producing your own negs. I then scan them in at 300dpi to produce my contac tprint and blow up the ones I want. Steepest learning curve is getting the bloody film onto the spiral. Once you have done that it is as simple as reading a recipe book. I picked up my Dev tanks and chemicals for about £20 (daylight change bag was another £15) and the chemicals should see me for about 10-15 films. I bought one-shot stuff as that was all they had in my local camera shop when I was starting. If you want some links to 'How to...' sites drop us a line, we will be glad to help. Gareth Images of Life
Thanks for the comments. I used to dev and print all my own work, but I just don't get the time now. Three kids under the age of 4 and my own business, plus other things keep me too busy. I do agree that printing your own is very rewarding. I may do that once the kids have grown up...
.......oh yes, many an expletive has been muttered as the film sticks on the spiral despite your best efforts to coax it round the bloody thing! All part of the fun though. There really is nothing to beat the satisfaction of having "done it yourself" BigWill <font color=blue>Someday Jeri Ryan will weaken!<font color=black>
Kids..........don't ya just love the little bleeders! What about digital "Keymoo"? It's the new thing for the "man on the move"? BigWill <font color=blue>Someday Jeri Ryan will weaken!<font color=black>
Are you guys trying to presuade me not to get someone else to process my films? I just want a few recommendations of reliable, quality photo labs. I might go digital in a few years when the quality is good enough. I view digital photography a bit like audiophiles view CDs. They stick with vinyl. It has it's place for snaps, but I don't believe it has the depth of a "real" photograph. Anyway, we're going off on another tangent. Please post a list of good photo labs.
I have to agree with you, I'm just too busy to have time to do my own dev. That's why I shoot almost exclusively on T400 CN and get the films developed by ESP-LAB. Have just acquired another printer to dedicate exclusively to printing monochrome prints... just need the time to scan all the negs I have waiting - Neil.
I'd suggest having a look in the back of Black and White magazine, there seem to be a number of specialist B&W developers listed in there. The only recommendation I have is a negative one - there is a developer based in Basingstoke who I used for some films, the dev was okay but the negs were very badly cut. - Neil.
", but I don't believe it has the depth of a "real" photograph." .........have a look here my friend and then decide: http://groups.msn.com/APMembersGallery/briantompkins.msnw BigWill <font color=blue>Someday Jeri Ryan will weaken!<font color=black>
<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:<hr> Anyway, we're going off on another tangent. Please post a list of good photo labs. <hr></blockquote> Not been here long have you? ;-) Threads have a habit of doing that on here, it's something you get used to. - Neil.
......absolutely! Big(Brian is God!)Will <font color=blue>Someday Jeri Ryan will weaken!<font color=black>
Hi Mark, to get back on topic /img/wwwthreads/wink.gif, how about Ilford themselves? Not particularly cheap, but very good quality. Unfortunately (even though I've got a d&p presentation box here) I can't remember the contact details as they didn't print anything on it /img/wwwthreads/frown.gif Anyone got contact details for Ilford's D&P lab? Cheers, Stef
Er, don't I seem to remember them getting an appalling review for B&W D&P in AP a couple of months back? ermx
Yeah but that's SLIMEY! The rest of us mere mortals can't even hope to achieve anything as good as that:-((( How's Brian anyway, he stopped posting whilst I was busy also not posting, I hope he is OK. ermx
Oh he's fine. Still the same old Leicaholic he always was, just can't be arsed posting here anymore..........which is a shame really.......I miss the old bugger! BigWill <font color=blue>Someday Jeri Ryan will weaken!<font color=black>
Dunno? AP voted them B&W Lab of the Year 2001, so I wouldn't have thought they would've slipped that much, but you never know? I've been happy enough with them. 2001 in order: <table> <tr><td>Ilford</td><td>83%</td></tr> <tr><td>Kodak</td><td>76%</td></tr> <tr><td>York</td><td>62%</td></tr> <tr><td>Jessops</td><td>60%</td></tr> </table>
