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From: howard@sfmag.UUCP (H.M.Moskovitz)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: automatic processing?
Message-ID: <734@sfmag.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-Oct-85 08:53:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: sfmag.734
Posted: Fri Oct 11 08:53:05 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Oct-85 04:23:37 EDT
References: <11900002@uicsl>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Summit, NJ
Lines: 36

> 
> Is there really a difference between all the discount processing services?
> I know that I COULD go to each one and try them out, but what kind of
> experiences have people had with K-mart, Osco, Fox, ???-mart, whatever
> places. I mean, K-mart just sends of off to some REAL lab right? Many
> places use Kodak paper (for a good look). I have been reasonably happy
> with the OSCO processing (although a couple of times they cut the negs
> THOUGH some of the pix once...arggggg!), but I don't feel like a REAL
> photographer unless I spend big $$$ to have KODAK do it personally.
> 

Most of the drugstore and department store variety processing is sent out
to discount processing plants like Marvel Photo in Clifton, NJ. Almost
every processing plant and 1-hour photo places I've seen use exactly the
same machine: the Kodak automatic film developer and automatic printer.

Assuming that they all use Kodak paper and chemistry (and they usually
do if they are dealing with Kodak), they would all produce exactly the
same results. They don't, only because some places know how to set
up, care for, and run their machines better than others. If a place
is sloppy and has a tendency not to clean their machines regularly,
the processing solutions become contaminated and this shows up in crappy
pictures. Same thing if they don't regularly run quality runs and re-
calibrate the machines as needed (usually needs to be done AT LEAST
twice daily!!!).

If you want reliable and CONSISTENT results, spend the extra bucks and
send your film to Kodak or Berkey. Either are very reliable.

-- 


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					Howard Moskovitz
					AT&T Info. Systems
					attunix!howard