Re: Chrome Processing

[P3D Gregory J. Wageman <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Gary Schacker wrote:

>I can't imagine why anyone shooting Fujichrome, Ektachrome or any other
>E-6 film and who lives in or near a sizeable city would be putting the
>film in the mail for processing.  

>Find out where the local pros bring their film for 2 hour E-6
>developing.  We have several such labs here in San Diego.  You never
>have mail problems and you get almost instant gratification.  You deal
>with people face to face.  If they scratch your film they have to
>explain it to you in person and it usually won't happen again.

Well, Gary, I *don't* put mine in the mail, and it still goes to
Kodak or Fuji (my choice).  *My* "pro" shop sends their processing out
by courier daily to Fuji and Kodak.  I get two-day turnaround for E6
processing, one day if I get there before that day's pickup.  I get
"face to face" attention too.  Some of the staff knows me by name.

I can't help but think that the quality control at a large lab using
an industrial-type roller processor is going to be more consistent (not
necessarily "great", but consistent) than that of a small shop using a
dip-and-dunk processor (though the latter is known to be gentler on the
film).  The little guys are probably going to have to stretch their
chemicals to the limit to keep costs down, and even if they don't,
there's a lot of manual control (read: variability) involved.  Smaller
thermal mass is going to mean greater variation in temperatures.  Whereas
the big processors replenish their chemistry on a continuing basis,
and apply industrial-style quality control (i.e. automation) to the process.

Life isn't black-and-white (hey, we ARE talking E6 here!), there are
always tradeoffs to be made...  You pays your money and you takes your
choice.

	-Greg W.


------------------------------