How does Pixelnet.de perform in film development?
Press the button, connect to the computer, copy over, and you have the pictures. That's how simple, depending on the device even simpler, digital photography is.
In analog photography, there are a few more steps until you have your finished image. A very important one is without a doubt the development of the film. If you don't develop yourself, you entrust your films to a lab. A good lab that also fulfills "special requests" must first be found.
I took a closer look at the offer from Pixelnet.de.
Pixelnet.de offers, in addition to the usual photo products like photo books, posters, photo gifts, and standard prints, also film development.
Process
Pixelnet is a service of ORWO Net GmbH and is based in Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Of course, the films must first get there.
Pixelnet offers a shipping envelope for this, with which you can send in films free of charge. On the first order, you can have it sent to you, afterwards you get a new one with each order. Up to 6 films can be sent per envelope.
Pixelnet offers development of 35mm, medium format, and even pocket films. Development processes in C-41, the process for color negative films, and E6, for slide films, are possible. I haven't tested whether black and white film development is also possible. Cross-processing of slide films in C-41 is possible at Pixelnet without extra charge. If you don't want the films to be cut immediately, that is also possible. Push processing of C-41 is also possible at Pixelnet.
These special requests should be clearly noted on the photo envelope. I also placed a note about the films in the envelope. If you don't want prints, you should also indicate this here. Now you can basically drop the shipping envelope in the mailbox.
Results & Quality
I placed my order on Wednesday and 13 days later, I had my developed films in my mailbox. You are kept informed about the order status via email.
But I think this long period was caused by the postal service, because as soon as the shipment arrived at Pixelnet, it was processed in no time and sent back out. (Update: With my second order, it was much faster)
The films themselves are well packaged and arrived safely. Films that should not be cut were not, and are safely stored in a film canister. For each film, Pixelnet also creates a matching index print that gives a preview of the images.
There is nothing to complain about in terms of processing or development; they are exactly as they should be. The slide film was cross-processed by Pixelnet without any issues. There were also no complaints about the redscale films.
In addition to development, Pixelnet also offers the creation of prints and scans. I didn't test either, as I scan myself and make prints selectively from some images. But since I have ordered prints from Pixelnet before, I assume the quality is good.
Prices
Now let's get to the prices for all this fun.
Per developed film in C-41, you pay 2.75 euros for pure development. Development of 120 and 110 films costs 2.80 euros. For development of slide films in E6, you pay 5 cents more. If you also have the slides mounted, you pay a total of 5.60 euros per film.
Although I didn't find anything on Pixelnet's site and haven't tested it myself, I assume that development for other film formats costs the same.
If you scan your films yourself, that's basically it.
Of course, you can also order prints. For a size of 9x13 cm, you pay 10 cents per image, for 10x15 cm 12 cents, and for 13x18 cm 20 cents.
If you don't have a scanner, you can also have your films digitized. For this, you pay 7.44 euros if you don't order prints. If you order prints, you only pay 3.99 euros. It's actually worth ordering the cheapest prints, as you end up with almost the same total.
Cross-processing of slide films costs no extra charge. However, for "not cutting" the films, 0.78 euros are charged. Additionally, there are 2.59 euros (3 euros for orders under 5 euros) for shipping.
Those were quite a few numbers; in short, if you send six films for pure development to Pixelnet, you pay 3.19 euros per film (including shipping). Payment is made by bank transfer on invoice.
Conclusion
What is my conclusion, would I recommend Pixelnet? I would recommend Pixelnet for film development. Special requests are possible and handled without issues, the quality is right, so what more could you want?
Pixelnet's support answered my questions quickly and competently.
One point that may sound trivial but still bothers me is that the negatives are cut into strips of 4 frames each. When I develop myself, I cut my negatives, and I'm used to my other lab cutting them into strips of 6 frames. This strip length is easier to archive with my system, as the negative sleeves are designed for that length. If I want that, I have to order "Not Cutting" at Pixelnet, and then the price per film is just under 4 euros.
Which photo labs can you recommend?
