I know that Kodak TMax reversal chemistry will convert B&W negs into chromes. But do any of you know about labs that will do this for you?

-- Rob Schopke (schopke@attbi.com), December 30, 2001

Answers

See the January Photo-Techniques magazine for a whole article on a lab that does proprietary B&W slide processing (their own chemicals, not Kodak's). I think they are NY and LA based. $12.00 per roll. This issue also has formulas for mixing your own version of Kodak's formulas.

Here in Denver there is/was an individual who runs Scala and other B&W films through the Kodak process - I don't know his name but tried his service through a photo store - it was OK quality, but I quit trying to do B&W slides once I got my scanning technique down for negatives - they're faster AND cheaper, so I haven't pursued slides any further.

Incidentally the Kodak chemicals will work with ANY B&W film with some degree of success - I actually got my best results using Ilford Delta 400. But you lose 1-2 stops of speed, and the chemicals are really rough on the emulsion - it becomes VERY soft until dried!!

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), December 30, 2001.

Rob: Take at look at the web site www.dr5.com.

-- Earl Belofsky (belofsky@pacbell.net), December 30, 2001.

I've been meaning to try out the dr5 process for a while now--everyone I know of who has used it raves about how great the transparencies look. The site is quite informative.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), December 30, 2001.

dr5 is the lab reported in Photo Techniques....

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), December 30, 2001.

I'm another fan of dr5 processing. As stated on the dr5 site, you can specify either sepia/gold tone or neutral. So far, I've only used it with Tri-X, but info is available on the site about various films. Here are a couple of samples from my test rolls:

Model in slip

gears

The dr5 lab is now located in NYC.

-- Ralph Barker (rbarker@pacbell.net), December 31, 2001.