Slide film - where to buy and get developed?

[ehasler]

Currently, I buy my Velvia film direct from Fuji, who I also use to develop it. This works out at £6.66 per film, including developing.

I've been very pleased so far with the service from them (films normally come back within a week or so, quality is good and so far, touch wood, none have gone missing in the post), however would be interested to see where others go to for film and developing.

[chrisj]

I get all my slide film, both 35mm and 120, from 7dayshop.com and also some of the processiing, although they have scratched a few films in the past.
I find their prices are unbeatable.
The only downside is fairly lengthy deliveries.

[simpo two]

I use www.mailshots.co.uk

[Scooby_snax]

I buy from mailshots also...very good service and good prices though probably not as keen as 7day shop. I get my trannies processed at Metro in Clerkenwell quite expensive at c£11 per 36 but it is a pro lab and I am shooting for magazines

Steve

[ehasler]

Scooby_snax said:

I get my trannies processed at Metro in Clerkenwell quite expensive at c£11 per 36 but it is a pro lab and I am shooting for magazines

Is there much difference in quality between a pro lab like Metro and using Fuji's mail-in service, or is it mainly the speed and convenience that you pay extra for?

[gravymaster]

I only shoot digital, but when i get mine printed (which is pretty much weekly) i use my local snappy snaps in oxford.

I thought they were just one of these crappy consumer high street developers but they take excellent care of my prints and the quality is first rate.

I know the guy in there quite well now and he knows i like my prints quite contrasty and always adjusts everything accordingly. They have only made one mistake which was printing a shot onto gloss instead of matt by accident and they redid it free.

I dont see how you could get that relationship with an online developer.

[ehasler]

I think it's different developing slide film (as far as I know), as there isn't any scope for changing colour balance/contrast like there is with prints.

My main worry is the post office either losing the film or the developed slides, plus it takes a minimum of 3-4 days to get the films back. On the plus side however, the films are being developed by the company who manufactures them, so in theory they should know what they are doing.

[JohnL]

I've always had good results from Fuji, but on the otherhand the post office lost one of my films a couple of years ago, never been heard of since. Fortunately not too unique material.

[chrisj]

I've used various places, including Fuji and never had a film lost.

[Scooby_snax]

>>>Is there much difference in quality between a pro lab like Metro and using Fuji's mail-in service<<<<<

I cannot speak for the Fuji service but the reason I use Metro is because I have yet to have a problem with them....it is quick service...90 minutes for 20/30 rolls processed and mounted....but the main reason is that I would worry if the film was lost in the post...most of the shoots I do are abroad and are of events so by definition I am unable to replicate. In summary I lessen the risk in being unable to produce material for the magazines I work for on a freelance basis in putting it through Metro