Realist Format Labs, Today

[P3D Bill Davis <bd3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Someone asked what other labs might process and mount Realist-format slides
since Qualex/Kodalux is slipping up.  I dug through my drawers (ow!) and
came up with the lists of alternative that Kodak had suggested when they
shut down their labs, plus a list that Reel-3D had generated, both from
1986.  

I spent a bit of time this morning calling around.  As could be expected,
most are now out of the stereo slide business and some just out of
business, including Kolor Print in AR, DynaColor (3M) in MA, Magnicolor in
CA and Lightworks Labs in FL.  Also no luck with Imation, DynaColor's
successor. 

In addition, at the suggestion of Brenda at Imation, who faxed a list of
labs doing "unusual" processing, I called Fuji Trucolor in AZ, Signature
Color in TX, Sundance Photo in WI, Dale, Mystic and York Labs.  No dice.
(No stereo mounting, either.)


I was not entirely unsuccessful, however!  The following labs still offer
Realist-format mounting, with all information posted here current as of
September 29, 1997:

Stereo Slides:
Wace Photo Imaging, 222 E. 44th St., NY NY 10017, phone (212-661-5600. I
spoke with Pat.  They charge $9.95 to process plus $1.00/pair to mount E-6
(36 exp.).  Kodachrome is $8.29 for 36 and $6.29 for 24 exp., plus $1/pair
to mount.

Pinkey's photo Service, PO Box 1087, Little Rock, AR 72203, phone (501)
375-6409.  They charge $13.50 for 24 exp., either E-6 or Kodachrome
(K-Chrome is sent out for processing, then back for mounting).  This
includes processing, mounting and return postage.  I spoke with "Mrs.
Pinkey", who does the mounting (by hand).  She's a kindred spirit who said
she enjoys the "free travel vacation" she gets when viewing people's
stereos (with her Realist viewer).  :--)

Rocky Mountain Film, 560 Geneva Street, Aurora, CO 80010, phone (303)
364-6444.  I spoke with Steve.  They process and mount stereo E-6 or
Kodachrome for $19.50/ roll, whether 24 or 36.  $4.00 more per order for
S&H, regardless of how many rolls in the order.  Mark "Attn.: K-14 Dept."
for Kodachrome.

I also have a copy of a 1992 letter from Kodak Processing Labs in Japan,
offering to process and mount stereo slides for the Kodak Camera Club in
Rochester.  Since the information is 5 years old, the service may be gone,
but perhaps someone in that area could contact them for current
information.  The address shown on the letter is:
Kodak Imagica K.K., PO Box 200, Kyobashi, Tokyo, Japan 104-91.  The letter
showed a customer service phone number, 81-3-5488-2613 and a fax
81-3-5488-4527


Stereo Prints:

PhotoFair, PO Box 37, Hastings MN 55033, phone (612) 437-6290.  I spoke
with Jean.  They DO NOT DO SLIDES, but they will do separate right and left
PRINTS (3 1/2 x 3 1/2) from Realist-format negative film.  The charge is
$18.00 to develop and print a 24 exp. roll (18 pairs).  Reprints are also
$1.00/pair.  They also will print the outer pair from multi-lens lent.
cameras like Nimslo, Nishiki or Image Tech.  I think she said the price was
the same, but I didn't confirm this.

Grand Photo, 1681 Grand Ave., St. Paul MN  55105, phone (612)451-5828
offers much the same as Photo Fair, but also will do monolith prints, 3 1/2
x 7.  Pricing for developing plus printing is $16.99 for separate r/l and
$22.50 for monolith.  This for 24 exp. (18 pair).  36 exp. (27 pairs, their
numbers not mine) is $24.50 and $33.75 for monolith.  Reprints are
$.95/pair split or $1.25/pair monolith.

Grand Photo offers other print/reprint options.  Call Janet and ask for an
information packet with all their services listed.  It includes one
monolithic print plus a Q-Vue mount, so you can see for yourself what all
the recent Q-Vue chatter is about.
 ..............................................
 
Hope this helps someone.  This is not an endorsement by me.  I have never
used any of these labs, and have no connection with them other than a hefty
cumulative phone bill at this point.  I've been mounting my own slides for
several years and I am not likely to use these services myself.  If anyone
does try them, feedback to this list would be welcome.  I would recommend
calling first, before submitting any film, to make sure they understand
what you want and exactly how to prvide your film to them. 

I intend to send some of my stereo print film to one of these and will
report results.

BTW: Rocky Mountain Film may be able to process (non-Super) 8mm Kodachrome
movie film, for whomever was asking about that. I've got some frozen 110
Kodachrome that Steve thought he could process.  Mounts for these are
another problem however.
  

Best regards,
Bill Davis
mailto:bd3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



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