Response to New to Medium Format, help with film processing...

Sergio, Welcome to MF! As far as labs go... if you are really wanting to shine and have tech advice behind you (remember, aside from shooting film, the lab you choose can either make or break you!!!) it is advisable to go with a pro lab. In the New England area, it is typical to pay about $7.00 for a contact sheet, $3.00 for film processing and about $12.00 for processing and proofing with a commercial lab. Work this pricing into your pricing plus an additional for shipping and handling. You can get by without a darkroom. You don't get paid enough to do lab work as a shooter. Your time should be spent marketing, shooting and satisfying Uncle Sams requirements. With a good lab, like the one I use for my stuff, if I want 2 pts warm tone for portraits or 1 pt cool tone (from neutral) that is EXACTLY what I get. Communication with the lab is imperative. How else are they to know what you want. They are pros at what they do (a good lab is) and will even do film tests for you with density testing. This is the difference with a pro lab and Joe Shmoe at your local camera store. Because labs are closing (because of bad decisions on their part), I now have to send to Kentucky or Conneticut for canvas prints. So to answer your question, mail order is not out of the question. If you email me I'll give you a few suggestions. Cheers and Happy shooting, Scott

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