Re: [APML]: 1-Hour Photo Lab Capabilities

[byen@ix.netcom.com]

> Chuck Vaughan wrote:

> I took my best eclipse photo to the best 1-hour lab I knew of. They make
> 8x10 and bigger enlargements. I asked if they could make a 16X enlargement
> on an 8x10 piece of paper. I got a blank stare. Even after I explained why
> they had no idea if they could do it or not. I got repeat performance at
> another 1-hour lab.

   I know of 2 1hr labs (several minutes away from me), who have a separate 
darkroom with a full fledged enlarger.  One of them really goes beyond the 
typical 1hr stuff (they are nearly a pro-lab) - they are privately owned & do 
E-6 and work with 120 film/4x5 as well.  They handle the film carefully (less 
"fingerprinting" than other places).  But, their 8x10 developing machine 
actually leaves some barely noticeable "banding" (roller marks).  They are 
good people & made friends with them.  I pay a little extra for astro-stuff, 
when they bracket for exposure & color balance (using test strips).  Jack 
Newton supposedly uses candy bars to keep the 1hr people happy, for his extra 
requests.


> 
> I know they have a machine that makes these prints. Can these machines do
> what I want and the people don't know how to operate them or are they not
> this flexible? If they did manage to figure it out they wanted more money
> because it was a bigger enlargement. Huh? As far as I'm concerned an 8x10
> is an 8x10. We all know it's no more difficult to make a 16X print than it
> is an 8X print.
> 
> I could make a print on one of those do-it-yourself machines. Is the
> enlargement adjustable on those? It would certainly be cheaper, faster
> and probably better results than taking it to a professional Lab.
> 


  Actually, since you just did a deepsky PPF shot, you should get into color.  
They have room temperature chemistry now (like Beseler), and I do it in trays 
(developer, stop, bleach-fix).  Like B&W, except you do it in pitch dark (you 
get used to it).  Most people use drums.  So for $16 chemistry kit, get a drum 
- you can do it yourself.  I would highly recommend a dichroic filter head & 
stabilized power supply (though you could use acetate filters in your B&W 
enlarger).

 I was in your position a few months ago, after needing 8x10 color prints of 
Hyakutake pictures.  An astro-photo friend advised me, like I'm hinting at you 
now.  So, I picked up a used Beseler dicrhoic head & 35mm slide holder for 
$70, bought the chemistry, paper, and started cranking out 8x10s. 


Bob Yen