P3D Re: A few questions from a new subscriber

[Bill Davis <bd3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jim, welcome back to the world of stereo!

Can't pretend to know the answers to all of your questions, but can help a
bit.

>Sometime in the last several days one of you mentioned that Kodak
>still processes stereo pairs.  Is this true?

Yes and no.  

The last of the *Kodak* Processing Labs closed in 1986.  That lab, in
Rochester, NY was the last to offer automated stereo mounting.

Some of Kodak's lab facilities were apparently sold to an outfit called
Qualex.  Later, Kodak bought a piece of the operations and changed the name
to Kodalux Processing.  Recently, Kodak bought everything back and now
calls the labs "Kodak Processing Labs" again.  Alas, the automated (and
somewhat precise) mounting machines from the Rochester lab (which never
re-opened) have disappeared.  

The *only* Kodak (nee Qualex/Kodalux) Lab which offers stereo mounting is
the Fairlawn, NJ site (see below).  They mount by hand.

>Can anyone tell me where at Kodak I can have my stereo film from
>a Graphlex "Stereo Graphic" developed and mounted?

Here's a copy of the post I sent to Photo-3D in June (with a current update
on Sunset):

>>>>>
Hi all.

Last October I did some calling around to find which labs still provided
stereo (Realist-format) processing and mounting services, then posted a
report to this list.  John Dennis recently contacted me to see if there had
been any updates to the list before he prints it in Stereo World magazine.  

I did a bit of calling today and have made some revisions to the list.
There is one additional lab shown, and a change in the QUALEX address, but
the main change is that I found several of the labs offer "Mounting Only"
for your already-processed film strips. 

This is the current (6/98)information:

Stereo Slides:
(Except as noted, all of these labs mount by hand in cardboard heat-seal
mounts.)

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 or 24 exp.).  (They no longer offer Kodachrome service.) "Mounting
Only" is $1.00 per pair.  Shipping and handling extra.

PINKEY'S PHOTO SERVICE, P.O. Box 1087, Little Rock, AR 72203, phone (501)
375-6409.    I spoke with Lynn. They charge $13.50 for 24 exp. and $17.50
for 36 exp., either E-6 or Kodachrome (K-Chrome is sent out for processing,
then back for mounting).  This includes processing and mounting.  "Mounting
Only" is $.50 per pair. Return postage is $1.50 more per order.


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.


COLORADO CAMERA CO.,   2480 Kipling Street,  Lakewood, Colorado 80215,
phone: (303) 233-4788    Fax: (303) 237-5207  I spoke with Keith Shrum.
Processing (E-6 only), stereo mounting and postage for 24 exp. rolls is
$10.00.  36 exp. rolls $12.00. 

They also offer "Mounting Only" for $3.90 for 24 exp. rolls, $5.90 for 36
exp. rolls.  They have a website on the Internet.  Address:
http://www.indra.com/cocamco/Location.htm

KODAK PROCESSING LABS (formerly QUALEX), 16-30 Route 208, Fairlawn NJ
07410. Phone 800-345-6973  They charge $10.18 for 24 and $12.08 for 36
exposure rolls, or $4.20 in addition to a prepaid mailer (PK-36) per roll.
(Mailers from B&H or other NYC mailorder places run about $5 each including
S&H.)  (I haven't personally spoken to anyone at Qualex; all information
gleaned from Photo-3D postings.)

A new addition to this list is RITZ CAMERA, 1201 West Broadway, Minneapolis
MN 55411, phone 612-521-2224. (Formerly Black's Photography, also formerly
Lerner Processing Labs) I spoke with Halyna.  They offer processing and
stereo mounting of Kodachrome and E-6 films. (There's a Qualex right next
door) They charge "$17 something" for 36 exp. and "$12 something" for 24
exp. Halyna said it had been a month or so since she had seen any stereo,
so wasn't sure on price.  They offer "Mounting Only" for $.50 per pair.
Shipping around $1.50 per order.

SUNSET COLOR LAB, Box 46145 L.A., CA  90046 (no phone # listed). They
process and mount (E6) 24 exp. roll (19 pairs) for $6.50, 36 exp. (28
pairs) for $9. 

Kodachrome is $3.50 to process plus $3.80 to mount 24 exp..  $5.50
processing plus $5.50 mounting for 36 exp. Kodachrome stereo.

They offer "Mounting Only" for $3.00, $3.80 and $5.50 per roll of 20, 24
and 36 exposure, respectively.  Shipping varies with order. ($6 to $10
order: $2 s/h; $10 to $25 order: #3 s/h, etc.)

They dupe stereo slides for 75 cents a pair, mounted.
They have a reputation for good, but very slow service.  One customer told
me they take up to three months for duplicates. (WOW!) 
                      
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 6 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

--------------------
PRECISION Slide Mounting:

Although this was supposed to be a list of labs offering standard
processing and mounting, it may be worth noting that precision mounting of
pre-processed film is available. 
 
Ron Labbe's STUDIO 3D, 30 Glendale St., Maynard, MA 01754
website http://www.studio3d.com  No phone listed.  According to the
website, they offer precision mounting in a variety of materials, from
cardboard foldovers at $.50 each to glassed metal-masked in binders at
$3.75 each. 

STUDIO 3D also offers slide duplication with available cropping, copying of
stereo cards to slides and stereo slides to cards, with a variety of
options therein.
$10.00 minimum order. Postage $3.50 min. (2nd day PRIORITY U.S. Mail)
Check the website for pricing and other details.


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.

PHOTO WORKS, 4 S. Midland Ave., Joliet IL  60436, phone (815) 744-6700
>From their brochure:   "Realist-size (C-41) negative film developed and
printed to Holmes-size views -- you cut only one print and lap join."  12
exp. rolls (9 views): $6.17;  24 exp. rolls (18 views):  $10.49;  36 exp.
rolls (29 views):  $15.77   Add $2 postage per order.  1 day in lab
turn-around.  I spoke with Nancy.  They also do reprints for $0.35 each
($0.70/pair)

GRAND PHOTO, 1681 Grand Ave., St. Paul MN  55105, phone (612)451-5828
offers much the same as Photo Fair.  Pricing for developing plus printing
is $16.99 for 24 exp. (18 pair).  36 exp. (27 pairs, their numbers not
mine) is $24.50 .  Reprints are $.95/pair.  They currently are NOT offering
monolithic(left and right on one 3 1/2 x 7 inch print)any more.

GRAND PHOTO offers other many other print/reprint/duping options.  Call
Janet and ask for their information packet with all their services and
pricing listed.
  
..............................................

A search of the Photo-3D archives for any of the labs mentioned will likely
turn up some discussion, critique or complaint of their services. I have
had a few rolls mounted by COLORADO CAMERA and posted a report in Digest
2392 in November '97.  As yet, I have sent no other film out for mounting. 

For what it's worth, everyone I spoke with at the various labs was at least
conversationally familiar with stereo photography, and most seemed to be
fans as well. 

Hope this helps someone.   I would recommend calling first, before
submitting any film, to make sure they understand what you want and exactly
how to provide your film to them. For any of the labs, mark rolls "STEREO
PROCESSING AND MOUNTING" 

Permission is hereby given to reproduce this list at will.  Credit to me
would be appreciated, but is not required, as I don't intend to claim
copyrights.
>>>>>>


>
>Does Kodak require either Kodachrome or Ektachrome for stereo pairs?

The NJ Lab cited above can process either Kodachrome or Ektrachrome.

>Are there mailers available as there are for other Kodak items?
>

The Stereo mailers are no longer available.


Best regards,
Bill Davis

mailto:bd3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



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