Kodachrome Processing Quality

[BolexPlusx]

I'm about to make my first Kodachrome purchase in almost a year because I'm starting a color project. Since Kodak has announced it's new Processing Included option, I'm kind of tempted to go that way and not use Dwayne's.

I want to make the decision purely on the quality of results that people who shoot a lot more film than me have experienced lately.

The question for the members of the group is this: Leaving all other issues out, who gives you better quality results, Kodak or Dwayne's?

(don't care about turnaround time or cost per roll, just nice looking film processed carefully)

Thanks

[Nigel]

I have had satisfactory results with both. I haven't had problems with any Kodachrome I have shot. I haven't used Kodak in a while because of the turn around.

Good Luck

PS--I too will be buying the film/mailers next time I put in an order.

[Mike Buckles]

I haven't used Kodak for processing. I just got a roll back from Walmart via Dwayne's, and it was great. Since Dwayne's gets the chemicals and licensing to process Kodachrome from Kodak, I assume the processing would be similar. I also think they have to periodically send Kodak samples of their chemicals as a quality control check. Neither place cleans or lubricates the films after processing, so it's always possible to get a roll back with dirt and water spots...according to Dwayne's, this can be removed by cleaning the film. Via Walmart, it took my roll about 2 weeks to get back from Dwayne's..about the same reported turnaround time from Kodak. Since you can order the film from Kodak with free processing, I would probably go with that. I intend on periodically sending Dwayne's some film, just to show them that Kodachrome processing in the USA is still needed! Mike

[Mike Buckles]

Another point...a roll I sent to Dwayne's about a month ago came back inundated with dirt and water spots..Alex from the super 8 digital forum emailed Dwayne's our forum conversations, and a very nice quality control guy emailed back that they would watch the problem...(also mentioned their chemist was on maternity leave!!) Well, my next roll was fine...as I previously mentioned, neither place cleans the films anymore after processing, I am getting some film cleaning materials soon, and I will be cleaning the roll to see if it comes off. Mike

[Mike Buckles]

Points well made..they may indeed get their chemistry from another source. Per their website,
they do participate in a "Kodak Kodachrome Monitoring Program"..where according to them, they send data reports on their chemistry to Kodak for analysis, and Dwayne's does employ a chemist...so there must be some kind of quality control going on over there! mike

[Nigel]

Just because Dwayne's does a K-14 process doesn't mean that they get their chemistry from Kodak.

Nor, does it mean that they are accountable to Kodak for quality control. I don't know what other stocks if any are K-14 process but I do know that the chemistry can be found without going to Kodak. On second thought--the dyes might be hard to get your hands on but I am sure they could be found with out going through Kodak.

[jefury]

I heard this from other forums, that if you send your Kodachrome directly to Switzerland, you'll get it back much faster, than sending it to Toronto or something like that.

Jeffery