mix

Last summer we undertook an experiment to test the quality of film processing at two film developing labs that could handle 10x8 Fuji Pro 160S colour negative film shot on our Toyo 10x8 large format camera. The returned developed negatives were scanned on a Epson 4990 scanner and no adjustments or corrections were made to the images posted below. After scanning the negatives and looking at the images in greater detail we were rather shocked in the difference in quality of the film processing. We have decided to refer to the processing labs as A and B and feel we cannot give details of the companies but we have learned a very important lesson from these tests. Before committing your work to a processing lab it is best practice to submit the same image to as many processing labs that can develop your film and see which one can provide the best results and there after develop a long term and loving relationship with them.

10x8 Colour Negative - Lab A

10x8 Colour Negative - Lab B

Lab A left - Lab B right - close up of face The photographs above were taken in the same lighting conditions and you can clearly see that in the processing at Lab A all the shadow detail has gone have we have a rather crude shadow blocking out all the subtle gradual tones on the left side of the faces. Lab A image's colour balance is also out of balance with magenta and cyan overwhelming yellow. Lab A left -  Lab B right - close of building in the background Lab A left -  Lab B right - close of trees in the background Lab A left -  Lab B right - close of foreground