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I've just called pro2col to arrange a collection for some sheets I need processed. Unfortunately they went in to liquidation on Monday and are therefore no longer trading. Looks like it's back to mail order from Peak now

That's interesting news, if a little depressing. Maybe we all need to shoot more?
Did you ever finish the old vs new velvia test?
A

I've still got 3 shots left on the roll of new Velvia. I took some shots, then it started raining, and then Archie arrived. But Archie's almost 4 weeks old now and settled, and the rain seems to have stopped a little, so hopefully I'll be able to fire the rest off. Where I'll send them for processing is now an intriguing question.

Tim, it might surprise you if you knew the truth about many UK labs.

My local lab was set up about 25 years ago, processes everything except Kodachrome, and still does - or so it appears.

Reality is very different, E-6 is now farmed out to a lab in Birmingham, Black & White to another, the market has shrunk a long way. Most albs are struggling.

Ian

As another lab, there always Leach Colour at Bradley, Huddersfield. I've taken my colour 4x5 there for a while and it seems OK. They don't have a B&W process line now but have been OK with quickloads when I explained what they were (didn't fill me with confidence at first but the backroom crowd know what they're on about...)

They are only 10 mins from me at work so can drop them off on a lunchtime and I generally leave them until the following day. They once asked me if I wanted them back in the hour and were a bit miffed when I "playfully" asked if they'd be dry in that time...

If you store up enough sheets there's some decent discounts for bulk orders (a sliding scale with the best prices at 20+ quantity)

Andrew

I've heard good things about Leach, too, but never used them myself.
Midlands users may wish to try Moorland in Burslem, Stoke on Trent. Try it yourself, see what happens.
A

IanG wrote:Tim, it might surprise you if you knew the truth about many UK labs.

No - it doesn't surprise me, it's obvious that the E6 Market has shrunken drastically over the past 10 years, I've seen a sucession of local labs either close or drop their wet processing side.

Here in the south east we are also getting low on labs. The one I use is Othens in Greenwich. They do not do black & white but the colur service is very good although it has now been reduced to mornings only. I take things in personally and they are ready in about 90 min.
Yes we should all try to use more film.
Alan Golding

I've been using Loxley Colour in Glasgow for the past 10 years (even before I moved to Scotlland and lived in Hampshire) - They do great E6 + Scanning if required, but I don't think they do B & W. Van deliveries cover the North of England as well as Scotland. www.loxleycolour.com

Brian E

Fortunately for me Reflections in Norwich is still functioning with both C41 and E6 lines. Long may they continue.

Anybody with any idea of what is happening with BPD?
They had close links with Pro2Col. I noticed recently that they have started offering printing on canvas. That sounds like a desperate move.
Charles

Hi Charles - I hope everything is okay with BPD ... just sent them entire exposed film from Iceland trip for processing

It's almost going to get to "Who's got the space to house one of the bigger Jobo ATL* units and we'll do our own as a group by chipping in for the purchase and running costs?"

Secondly, off the top of my head without any research - if Fuji's pushing the Choose-film stuff, do they do sheet film development? I guess it won't be the cheapest option about but may become the only one if everyone else falls away

* other makes and models available...