Kodalux processing action follow-up

[P3D Emil Volcheck <volcheck@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Folks,

after some delay due to supply problems, I am the proud owner
of a Kodak Stereo Camera!  Shot my first roll this weekend and
acquired a flash unit and lightmeter for it.  Thanks to Dalia
and Andrew Miller for their advice and tech support.

I'd like to turn back to the question of stereo slide processing
services.  Since I proposed that several of us send (sacrificial)
rolls to Kodak Premium Processing in Dallas, other reputable labs
have been mentioned.  Someone asked why we should even bother
trying Kodak at all, since they don't seem to have their act together,
and there are better alternatives.  I think it's worth trying out
all the labs.  But it's particularly good to get the attention of
Kodak because they are a *big* player.  We want to make stereo photography
appealing to a beginner.  It's easier to persuade them by saying that
Kodak can process their slides, rather than some lab they've never
heard of.  My Kodak turned heads when I brought it in to a local
professional camera shop, and one worker was surprised when I said
that the Kodak mailers they sell can be used for stereo film (with
a surcharge of course).

For myself, I will be sending the next roll of Kodachrome
I shoot to Kodak in Dallas.  I've sent a roll of print film to
PhotoWorks (Joliet IL) already and will report how that turns out.
But I think I'll send my first serious roll of slide film to one of
the more competent labs mentioned, maybe Colorado Camera lab.

I called Kodak Dallas again today to inquire about stereo processing
and to find out if there's a particular contact to know about.  I was
pleasantly surprised to find that this particular clerk/phone operator
had heard that Kodak does stereo, and she gave me a name.  She said
to mark stereo rolls to the attention of EARLINE PEARSON, and that
her department does stereo processing.  Please be sure to mark your
rolls accordingly!  And if you have a problem, there's someone you
can try to reach.

There was another thread about whether to submit rolls together or
separately.  Someone made an analogy about colored jellybeans in a bathtub.
I don't think it's necessary to pool the stereo film for impact.  This
is natural demand from an existing community of photographers.
The notion that one cup full of jellybeans is more visible than the same
number of jellybeans scattered about the bathtub does not quite apply to
our situation IMHO because each jelly bean can talk back, and many voices
are louder than one.  Besides, pooling rolls requires more organization.
Would someone like to strengthen their argument for pooling rolls?

Dalia told me Monday that she still intends to contact Kodak officials
with regard to stereo processing if problems continue.  Dalia, would
you care to speak to the list on this point?

So, George, Paul, and other interested folks, I'd like to suggest that you
please go ahead and send film to Kodak Dallas.  Maybe we can keep
Earline busy. :-)


                                        --Emil Volcheck



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