P3D Re: Problems with processing labs

[jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Gabriel Jacob)]

Dr.T reveals:

>Here is my story:  I gave two rolls with important pictures (Kindergarten
>graduation for my son and graduation party of Greek school) to our local
>Drug Mart and selected the "Premium Processing" service with 5" prints, 
>and double prints (an option for which I had to pay extra).

You shoot print film!?! ;-)

>I can only think of two explanations for this behavior:
>
>1) They both suffer from serious vision problems.
>
>2) Their standards are so low that anything that it not totally out of
>   focus is acceptable.  I think someone said that there was a small
>   difference but nothing to worry about.
>
>This situation really scares me.  People's standards are so low, they
>would accept anything they are given.

Actually your describing three explanations and I think the third
one (about the public) is the most plausible.

>If I did not have the double prints
>with one tack sharp and one slightly blurred, I would have no way to
>tell that something was wrong with the blurred ones.  This can be a
>serious problem with those working with stereo prints.  Because if
>the prints are not sharp, they stand out like a sore thumb in 3d.

In one case some reprints I had done for an APEC exchange were not
as good as the originals I remembered doing. When I got home I confirmed
my suspicion and had them redone. If it wasn't for the good work they
did the first time the second reprint's poor processing would have gone
unnoticed (they were okay but not in comparison with the first time).

>Alan Lewis has mentioned how important it is to work with the lab to show
>them what a sharp print is.  In one sense, I am glad I am working with
>slides where what you shoot is what you get.... (assuming, of course,
>that you don't get back butchered Realist slides, scratched film, etc.)

Yes but what I have noticed is it's kinda hard to judge slightly off
focussing (or average optics) with slide film (at least for me). Using
a FED, it looks okay with slides but for prints they are kinda average.
I have tried a few rolls and have ruled out the film processor, since
developing prints with my other cameras (unless it's a single-use or
Argus) doesn't produce this problem.

I have only seen other FED's slides and not prints, which didn't look
any better than my FED. But what about others that have tried prints,
does it take sharp pics. The lenses are supposedly the equivalent to
Tessars(?) but not in my case. 

Gabriel sticking to a Realist and twin P&S Yashicas for now.


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