Although you might think that film cameras are a dying technology, sales are still strong among classic models like the Canon AE-1, and so consequently there are still plenty of places where 35mm film developing is still possible.
This is especially true of developing film in NYC, where there are tens, if not hundreds of labs spread across New York, all ready to handle disposable camera developing, 35mm, and 120 film developing.
Looking at reviews, it can be tough to find somewhere reputable that develops film in New York City. Do you trust the one-star reviews, the five-star reviews, or neither?
I’ve looked for examples of people who regularly use these services to get an idea of which are the top NYC film labs.
If you want to know where to develop disposable cameras or where to develop film in NYC, then this list, compiled from my own research, of the best film developing labs in NYC is for you.
Where Can I Develop 35mm Film in NYC?
We’ll start with places where you can develop film in Manhattan, then move onto a few extra locations in the surrounding boroughs, and then you can take a look at a map of all the photo developing labs. All of these locations are excellent choices to develop 35mm film in NYC – you shouldn’t take the positions given as fixed.
1. Bleeker Digital
Address: 85 Kenmare St Ground Floor, New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: Nolita
Borough: Manhattan
With a clientele that includes many of the best commercial photographers in NYC, Bleeker Digital is one of the best places for film developing in New York right now.
They offer a variety of film processing, scanning and printing options, including C-41, black & white and E-6, in formats ranging from 35mm to 120, 220 and 4×5 and 8×10 large format processing.
Developing starts at $10 for standard 35mm C-41 film, with add-ons for scanning and printing.
You can also get prints custom-framed along with the production of posters, and they have a wide range of 35mm film to purchase, including Kodak Portra 160, Ektar 100, Ilford HP5, and many more.
What do their customers say?
Up-vote for Bleeker Digital. They do a good job for me. Prices are competitive.
Reddit
Always professional, tiff scans come out the best and prices are fair!!
Google Reviews
They also seem to be very popular with commercial photographers:
Take a look at their Instagram and website for more info.
2. PictureHouse + thesmalldarkroom
Address: 437 W 16th St, New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Borough: Manhattan
With a very wide selection of services, this NYC film lab covers pretty much every base in film development, from the standard C-41 and B+W to more niche CMYK proofs and a range of retouching services.
C-41 35mm film developing starts at $8, which is among the cheapest you will find in Manhattan, with a variety of scan quality and print sizes possible from your film.
Note that because this is a more high-end lab favored by professionals, and is more geared towards the retouching and commerical photography side, print prices are higher than you will get at other labs, although their quality speaks for itself.
Nonetheless, if you are looking for film developing only, the Picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom is right up there.
What do their customers say?
I’ve used PictureHouse a lot and still do whenever I’m in the states. They were close to where I lived and are a little more expensive but they are better than any other place I’ve used there.
Reddit
Everything is quality from this place. Helpful and friendly service. Prices are reasonable and fair. I travel out of my way just to get my rolls developed here. 10/10
Google Reviews
Take a look at their Instagram and website for more info.
3. Photo Life
Address: 992 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11225
Borough: Brooklyn
Photo Life in Brooklyn have no pricing info and very little about the services they offer on their website, but all of this is within their Instagram stories: C-41 35mm is developed for $6, with standard JPG scans free!
You’ll pay a little more for TIFF scans, but this is still much cheaper than other labs overall.
They seem to offer very fast turnaround times and seem to be most easily contactable over Instragram or in-person at their shop.
There are multiple customers reporting film developing and scanning within an hour of dropping off their film, which is remarkably fast and is perfect if you are looking for same day film developing in NYC.
You should also be able to buy film, including Kodak Portra 400 from them.
If you’re willing to make the trek out to Brooklyn, then Photo Life seem to be one of the top photo developing labs in NYC.
What do their customers say?
You literally cannot beat their prices anywhere in the entire country I’d argue. Their customer service is top notch, they’re a friendly, family-owned and run business, not to mention you can get your rolls developed in as little as 30 minutes sometimes. There’s nowhere else in the country in my honest opinion that gets you this high level of development, turnaround and customer service like Photo Life.
Google Reviews
Best value lab to develop film. Seems like it is a family owned business. They’re fast paced and have great customer service. I developed my photos from a trip to Savannah and they came out great
Google Reviews
Take a look at their Instagram and website for more info.
4. Luster Photo NYC
Address: 121 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Neighborhood: East Village
Borough: Manhattan
Many customers site the very fast turnaround times for film processing and scanning, along with the competitive pricing of $8.50 for a standard 24 exposure 35mm film with either C41, E6 or B+W processing with same or next-day service.
You can include a set of 4×6 prints for a small extra charge using the Minilab service, or have JPGs or TIFFs scanned and emailed / added to to a USB drive for you.
There is also a wide range of fine art giclee prints available that come highly recommended.
What do their customers say?
Luster’s scans are always 10/10 and they’re fast.
Reddit
Great scans from a knowledgeable staff. I’ve used this lab for 5 years and always get great results.
Yelp
Take a look at their Instagram and website for more info.
5. Photodom
Address: 1717 Broadway #310, Brooklyn, NY 11207
Borough: Brooklyn
Photodom has very cheap prices for film developing, starting at $6 for a roll of 35mm following the C-41 process. They will also cover E-6, B+W and ECN-2, the latter of which is relatively rare to find in photo labs these days.
Processing is typically around one hour for C-41, making Photodom ideal for same day film developing, but stretches over several days for the other film stocks. Note that you cannot push or pull film here.
There’s also a more limited menu of scanning and printing than other labs, but Photodom offers a wide-range of services in addition to photo development, including camera sales and rentals.
What do their customers say?
A picture perfect place for all your photo needs! The owner Dom, has done an amazing job creating a community within the Brooklyn neighborhood & beyond.
Google Reviews
5 Start Service beginning to end. I had a couple of questions before dropping off my first ever film roll to be processed. I called and they were super nice and patient over the phone. When I went into the shop, Dom was very helpful and knowledgable about film. The turnaround time was super quick for getting my film back! The colors are amazing.
Google Reviews
Take a look at their Instagram and website for more info, and read about them in Field Mag.
6. Eliz Digital
Address: 77 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Borough: Manhattan
Although they don’t have a website, Instagram or any other online presence, Eliz Digital have a well-known reputation for quality film developing, prints and scans from their base in Chinatown.
Note that they are a cash-only establishment, and it’s not possible to find accurate prices without going there in person, but broadly speaking, prices are comparable to other film labs in Manhattan.
Eliz is an ideal place for disposable camera developing in NYC, because of their high levels of customer service.
What do their customers say?
I second Eliz digital! It’s been around for a long time (30+ years) and it’s about $15 to develop and they provide digital copies as well!
Reddit
Great people. Good prices. Very communicative, they do great work.
Nice Local
7. Sammy’s Photo Lab
Address: 27 Essex St, New York, NY 10002
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Borough: Manhattan
With no website, it can be difficult to find Sammy’s full range of services and prices, but these are both similar to other labs in the area, with a 35mm C-41 processing and scanning available at $15 per 24-exposure roll.
Turnaround times are reported to be super-fast, with a very professional service from the owner, who is willing to go over what other labs might offer, pushing and pulling film in development according to your wishes.
If you are looking for same day film developing in Manhattan, this is probably your best option, but try to call first to check how busy Sammy is.
What do their customers say?
I personally went to Sammy’s Photo Lab by essex to develop c41 35mm film, they included tiff scans for $13 – which I think is a very good price.
Reddit
Sammy’s is literally one of a kind. No other photo lab compares in Manhattan if you’re shooting on film. The processing, first of all, is POSSIBLE. it’s also very good (he will push film or develop negative and positives even transfer to digital with ease) and he is fast -/ literally an hour!
Yelp
Take a look at their Instagram for more info.
8. CRC VISTA
Address: 73 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Borough: Manhattan
35mm film processing for C-41, E-6 or B+W starts at $8.50 and you can get cross-processing applied for no extra charge. Their E6 processing does not use a color dye after processing, so you should get cleaner looking film.
CRC Vista also develop 120 film, and provide a variety of scans and prints with the Fujifilm mini lab service. They also operate a policy of reprinting any prints that you are unhappy with, which is a sign of excellent customer service.
What do their customers say?
I use CRC VISTA for more than ten years. They are really professional and offer all the services you need. Very friendly staff. I’m not sure about the prices, but they do offer you student discounts if you are one.
Reddit
I’ve used Print Space and Vista/CRC before, both excellent with fast turnarounds.
Reddit
Take a look at their Instagram and website for more info.
9. Accurate Photo Shop
Address: 639 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Borough: Brooklyn
Another family-owned photo lab in Brooklyn, Accurate Photo Shop has a loyal customer base who appreciate the fast turnaround times and friendly service.
Prices are at the cheaper end of the NYC range, starting at $7 for C-41. Same-day service for color processing (provided drop-off is before 3pm) and next-day for black and white as standard makes Accurate Photo Shop very competitive for standard color negatives, and you can see why they have so much repeat custom.
The standard range of prints and scans are also possible, along with a wide selection of enlargement prints.
Unlike many of the other small photo labs, they accept card payments with a $10 minimum.
What do their customers say?
If you’re ever in Brooklyn, Accurate Photo Shop is my forever favorite! Same day scans and family owned goodness.
Reddit
Accurate Photo in park slope has been a joy to work with the last few years.
Reddit
Take a look at their website for more info.
10. LTI Lightside
Address: 34 E 30th St, New York, NY 10016
Neighborhood: NoMad
Borough: Manhattan
LTI is one of the larger photo labs in NYC, offering standard film processing and proofing services up to retouching, mounting and exhibition framing.
Standard C-41 35mm film processing starts at $8 with a 6-hour turnaround, which is very good, and there is a 2-hour rush service available. Although they process C-41 and black and white, they no longer process E-6.
LTI will also develop disposable cameras and can provide standard scanning and printing, as with the other labs.
They are one of the few labs happy to develop C-41 large format film up to 16 x 20, making them the best choice for large format photographers.
What do their customers say?
I use LTI Lightside at 34 East 30th Street in Manhattan. They have a mail in order form and are very nice people. They will develop (and scan) BW and C41 though they don’t do E6 anymore.
Reddit
I recently went to Lti Lightside in Ktown and had a really good experience. They’re knowledgeable and I noticed they had a personal relationship with almost all of the customers in there. Scans were pretty good.
Reddit
I solely use LTI on 30th and park, IMHO they’re the best film lab in the city (I know a lot of professional artists and commercial photogs use them).
Reddit
Take a look at their Instagram and website for more info.
11. NYC Film Lab
Address: NYC Film Lab
321 Starr Street, Suite E
Brooklyn, NY 11237
Borough: Brooklyn
If you’re out in Brooklyn, then NYC Film Lab offers a wide selection of services, including the standard color side film processing, color negative processing and black and white developing.
You can get a variety of JPG and TIFF scanning options with their Noritsu scanners.
NYC Film Lab currently only offers 1 stop of push / pull with black and white film, but hope to also offer this with C-41 in the near future.
Turnaround times can be a little slower than other labs, particularly if you are processing B+W, but you should be able to get your developed film back within a few days regardless.
What do their customers say?
I dropped two rolls off earlier this week for developing/scanning and got back both sets of scans today; I couldn’t be happier!! The scan quality is great, they have a great selection of film stocks, and the team seems to be a lovely bunch.
Google Reviews
I used this lab to develop a roll of 120 Cinestill 800T and a roll of 35mm Ilford HP5. Both rolls developed fantastic and the High-Res scans I ordered look great. The order was satisfied in a fair amount of time.
Google Reviews
Take a look at their Instagram and Website for more info.
12. Quick Color
Address: 119 W 23rd St #503, New York, NY 10011
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Borough: Manhattan
One of the most popular places in NYC for actors getting headshots printed, Quick Color has a strong reputation for attention to detail and making sure that every customer is happy. This can lead to longer wait times however.
Their price list states a 4 business day wait for film developing and scans, although pricing is very similar to some of the other film developing labs in New York.
If you are specifically looking to get headshots developed, or don’t mind waiting a few days for you film to be developed, then Quick Color is a great choice.
What do their customers say?
I can’t recommend this place enough! It’s a small operation, nothing fancy but the most honest businessman you’ll ever meet, the quality is literal perfection, communication is very good(within an hour) and I accidentally overpaid and the sent me 5 dollars back.
Google Reviews
I’m a photographer here in the city and I can tell you first hand that Quick Color has never let me down. This lab has printed hundreds of images for my clients – the colors are always beautiful. I really couldn’t recommend this place more.
Google Reviews
Take a look at their website for more info.
13. The Color House
Address: 177 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Borough: Manhattan
If you’re after one of the top-rated places for developing film in NYC, then you can’t go wrong with The Color House.
Situated in the heart of downtown Manhattan, they offer C-41, E6 and black and white film processing, with prices starting at $8.65 for 35mm film developing.
You also have the option of scanning and printing your photos through The Color House for a small extra charge, plus they offer a variety of large format prints to create truly stunning wall art.
What do their customers say?
I really like Color House on Lafayette. Their prices are reasonable, turnaround is fast, and scans are excellent quality. They also sell film rolls in various formats which is nice to be able to pick up while dropping off.
Reddit
Colorhouse gets my full-hearted recommendation. I work with a bunch of film shooters, and we all go there … Not crazy expensive, but you are paying for what you get.
Reddit
Take a look at their Instagram or website for more info.
14. Print Space – No Longer Developing Film
Address: 19 W 21st St #706, New York, NY 10010
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Borough: Manhattan
Although still an excellent lab, Print Space no longer have darkrooms or process films, but instead focus on digital printing and high-quality scanning.
Print prices are very reasonable, with a wide variety of print options available, but this is not the place for you if you are looking to develop film, despite the older reviews you might read online.
What do their customers say?
I’ve used Print Space and Vista/CRC before, both excellent with fast turnarounds.
Reddit
Solid place to get photos printed and (I’ve been told) use a dark room. Great customer service.
Foursquare
Take a look at their website for more info, or read about them on Manhattan Sideways.
Film Developing New York Map
Take a look at the map below for a complete list of all the photo labs covered in this article.
Where Can I Develop 120 Film in NYC?
Developing 120 film is a little more specialized than standard film developing, but a number of locations do provide 120 film developing, including:
- Bleeker Digital
- CRC VISTA
- NYC Film Lab
Where Can I Develop 110 Film in NYC?
Developing 110 film in NYC is not common, but Photodom in Brooklyn will develop 110 film, and are the recommended location for this.
Any More Recommended Places?
This is just a taster of the most popular photo developing labs in New York. Have we missed out you favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Read More:
Where can you get disposable cameras developed?
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