As a film photography hobbyist, you might have been searching tirelessly for the ideal location to get your delicate film rolls developed in Dallas, Texas. Both monochrome or colored, 35mm or medium format film requires a professional lab offering dependable services to handle them with utmost care and still deliver impressively high-quality results. And it’s good news for you that such labs abound in Dallas!
These labs range from full-service photo laboratories to camera stores that render exceptional film processing and scanning services. So, in this article, we’ll explore the top 5 film development labs in Dallas, focusing on aspects such as their location, the services they render, their pricing, user reviews, and ratings. With this, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your specific needs.
In addition, we will provide you with their websites, physical addresses, directions, and contact information, as well as their hours of operation. Ready to unveil the lucky five? Let’s dive in!
1. Photographique
Photographique stands out as a full-service photo lab, specializing in film processing, printing,
and framing. They welcome both color and black and white films and can handle different formats including 35mm, 120, and 220. Even more, they offer processing of slide films using the E-6 process. Their printing services are richly varied, capable of handling different paper varieties and sizes. They can go from creating traditional silver gelatin prints to producing superior quality archival inkjet prints.
The lab also provides framing, mounting and digital services. These digital services include scanning, retouching, and restoration.
Photographique is conveniently located in Dallas’s vibrant Deep Ellum neighbourhood, close to the famed Canton Street Art District. Not in Dallas? No worries, you can mail your film to them using their online order form.
With their customer-friendly staff ready to assist you with any inquiries, and a swift turnover of just 24 hours for film processing and scanning, and 48 hours for printing, Photographique is indeed a one-stop-shop for all your film photography needs in Dallas.
Their excellent services are reflected in their high 4.7-star rating garnered from 39 reviews on Google. Customers particularly appreciate their quality work, remarkable customer service, professionalism, and keen eye for detail. Here are some of what satisfied customers have had to say:
“Only place I trust with my film developing in Dallas, Texas. They offer amazing customer service.”
“I’ve been relying on Photographique for my film processing needs for years now. Their services are always top-notch: fast, friendly, and outstanding.”
“Great place to have your film developed! They do a great job with scanning and everyone on the staff is very helpful.”
Below are their contact details:
- Website: https://photographique.com/
- Address: 3111 Canton St, Dallas, TX 75226
- Directions: Here
- Phone: (214) 999-1120
- Services: Film developing (C-41, B&W, E-6), printing (silver gelatin, inkjet), framing, scanning, retouching, restoration
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| C-41 or B&W processing and scanning (35mm or 120) | $10 |
| E-6 processing and scanning (35mm or 120) | $15 |
| Additional scans (low-res) | $0.75 per frame |
| Additional scans (high-res) | $1.50 per frame |
| Additional scans (super high-res) | $3 per frame |
| Additional scans (ultra high-res) | $5 per frame |
| Push/pull processing | $5 per roll |
Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Friday from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
2. Competitive Cameras
As one of the largest camera and video specialty retailers in the United States, Competitive Cameras offers a variety of services to the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area and beyond. Not only do they sell new and used cameras, lenses, accessories, and equipment from top-rated brands, they also offer film developing and scanning services for both color and black and white films in the versatile 35mm and 120 formats.
The lab is situated in the Design District of Dallas, nearby the Trinity River Greenbelt Park. They invite you to their store to drop off your film or mail it to them using their online order form. The staff offers guidance with any questions or inquiries you may have and their turnover time is 3-5 days for both processing and scanning.
With a 4.5-star rating on Google, customers are quick to praise the quality of service, breadth of product selection, reasonable prices, and expertise. Here are a few reviews:
“This is a great place to buy new or used cameras! They also develop film which is a plus!”
“Competitive Cameras is my one-stop-shop for all things photography-related! The staff is always incredibly helpful and knowledgeable.”
“I love this place! They have everything you need for both photography and videography purposes. Plus, their film developing and scanning services, which are hard to find these days, are exceptional.”
The contact details for Competitive Cameras are as follows:
- Website: https://competitivecameras.com/
- Address: 2025 Irving Blvd Ste 107, Dallas, TX 75207
- Directions: Find here
- Phone: (214) 744-5511
Services: Film developing and scanning (C-41, B&W, 35mm, 120)
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| C-41 or B&W processing and scanning (35mm or 120) | $10 |
| Processing only (35mm or 120) | $5 |
| Scanning only (35mm or 120) | $5 |
Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
3. Lone Star Darkroom
Dubbed the traditional film photo lab, Lone Star Darkroom specializes in analog film processing and digital scanning. Capable of handling both color and black & white films, this lab can process a variety of formats including 35mm, 120, 220, 4×5, and 8×10. They are also experienced in processing slide film in the E-6 process. Similar to Photographique, their list of services also include retouching and restoration of old photographs.
Lone Star Darkroom is located in North Dallas neighborhood, in close proximity to Valley View Park. For non-residents or those uncomfortable visiting in person, they offer an online order form where you can conveniently mail your film to or even physically drop it off in their drop box locations at Dallas and Fort Worth.
Lone Star’s turnaround time is between 2 – 4 days for film processing and scanning, and between 5 – 7 days for printing. Their staff are not only passionate about their craft but also have a wealth of experience to handle all your requests or issues professionally.
With a high rating of 4.9 stars on Google based on 14 reviews, they boast of an impressive resume in providing high-quality work, excellent customer service, and professionalism. Here are a few customer reviews:
“Lone Star Darkroom is undoubtedly the best place to get your film developed in the DFW area. They do an outstanding job with processing and scanning, all at a very reasonable price.”
“I’ve been patronising Lone Star Darkroom for over a year now and I’ve been nothing short of satisfied with their services. They are swift, reliable, friendly, and always put an extra effort to ensure I’m satisfied with my scans and prints.”
“Lone Star Darkroom is terrific! They are very knowledgeable and are always there to assist with any question I have about film photography. They’re also known for their excellent film processing, scanning, and printing.”
The contact details for Lone Star Darkroom are as listed below:
- Website: https://www.lonestardarkroom.com/
- Address: Don’s Photo Equipment, 2731 Irving Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207
- Directions: Location
- Phone: (972) 591-1758
Services: Film developing (C-41, B&W, E-6, 35mm, 120, 220, 4×5, 8×10), printing (silver gelatin, inkjet), scanning, retouching, restoration.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| C-41 or B&W processing (35mm or 120) | $7 |
| E-6 processing (35mm or 120) | $10 |
| C-41 or B&W processing (220) | $12 |
| Low-res scans (35mm or 120) | $0 |
| High-res scans (35mm or 120) | $1 per frame |
| Super high-res scans (35mm or 120) | $2 per frame |
| Low-res scans (4×5 or 8×10) | $3 per frame |
| High-res scans (4×5 or 8×10) | $5 per frame |
| Super high-res scans (4×5 or 8×10) | $7 per frame |
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
4. Garland Camera & Repair
More than just a camera shop, Garland Camera & Repair doubles as a top-notch repair shop that offers film developing and scanning services. They take on both color and black and white film in 35mm and 120 formats. C-41 and B&w film processing is handled in-house whereas E-6 films are shipped out to a third party.
In addition to that, they provide printing services on a wide array of paper types and sizes. Moreover, they offer digital services such as scanning, retouching, and restoration.
Situated in the Garland neighborhood of Dallas close to the Firewheel Town Center, you can either visit their store to drop off your film or mail it using their online order form. They boast a quick turnaround time of 1-2 days for processing and scanning and 3-5 days for printing. Their staff are knowledgeable and friendly, making them capable to handle any camera or film related issues you might face.
With a remarkable 4.7-star rating on Google from 60 reviews, customers regularly commend their quality work, customer care, value for money, and expertise levels.
Their contact details include:
- Website: https://www.garlandcamera.net/
- Address: 1401 Northwest Hwy #101, Garland, TX 75041
- Directions: View here
- Phone: (972) 278-0717
Services: Film developing and scanning (C-41, B&W, E-6, 35mm, 120), printing (glossy, matte, metallic), scanning, retouching, restoration
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| C-41 or B&W processing (35mm or 120) | $7 |
| E-6 processing (35mm or 120) | $12 |
| Scanning (low-res) | $5 |
| Scanning (high-res) | $10 |
| Print (4×6) | $0.39-$0.59 |
| Print (5×7) | $0.99-$1.49 |
| Print (8×10) | $2.99-$3.99 |
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm, Saturday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
5. Denton Camera Exchange
Denton Camera Exchange, situated near the University of North Texas in the Denton neighborhood, is a well-known camera store that buys, sells, trades, and repairs camera equipment from top brands such as Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, and more. They also offer film developing and scanning for both color and black and white film in 35mm and 120 formats. Like Garland Camera & Repair, C-41 and B&W films are processed in-house while E-6 films are sent out to a third-party lab.
With an impressive 4.8-star rating from 13 Google reviews, the store stands as a preference for many local photographers. They laud the range of products, customer service, reasonable pricing, and professionalism of the staff.
Here is their contact information:
- Website: https://dentoncameraexchange.com/
- Address: 117 Piner St, Denton, TX 76201
- Directions: Find here
- Phone: (940) 206-5112
Service: Film developing and scanning (C-41, B&W, E-6, 35mm, 120)
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| C-41 or B&W processing (35mm or 120) | $8 |
| E-6 processing (35mm or 120) | $13 |
| Scanning (low-res) | $8 |
| Scanning (high-res) | $13 |
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
FAQs
- Q: How much does it cost to develop film in Dallas?
A: The cost of film developing in Dallas varies depending on the type, format and size of film, as well as the type and quality of scanning and printing services. Generally, the cost of processing and scanning a roll of 35mm or 120 color or black and white film ranges from $7 to $15, while the cost of processing and scanning a roll of 35mm or 120 slide film ranges from $12 to $20. The cost of printing a photo ranges from $0.39 to $3.99 depending on the paper and size. - Q: How long does it take to develop film in Dallas?
A: The turnaround time for film developing in Dallas varies depending on the lab and the type of service. Generally, the turnaround time for processing and scanning a roll of film ranges from 1 to 5 days, while the turnaround time for printing a photo ranges from 2 to 7 days. - Q: Where can I buy film in Dallas?
A: You can buy film in Dallas at some of the camera stores that also offer film developing services, such as Competitive Cameras, Garland Camera & Repair and Denton Camera Exchange. You can also buy film online from various websites such as B&H Photo Video, Amazon and Adorama.
Conclusion
Film photography is undeniably thriving well in Dallas, Texas, thanks to city-wide access to high-quality film developing labs. Whether you’re in search of a camera store, a full-service photo lab, or a traditional film photo lab, your needs and wants are catered for on this list.
We’ve delved into the top 5 film developing labs in Dallas, focusing on their locations, services provided, pricing, customer reviews, and ratings. Also, we’ve provided their websites, addresses, directions to locate them, their contact numbers, and more.
All of this rich detail combined with the interlinks to our guides on film developing in other Texas cities like Austin, San Antonio, and Houston ensure you have all the information you need at your fingertips. Our goal with this article is to make it easier for you to find the perfect film developing lab in Dallas that suits your requirements.
Neil Slater is a photographer, blogger, and passionate advocate of film development and camera technology. With a keen eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, Neil captures life’s fleeting moments through his lens.
He combines stunning imagery with captivating narratives, inspiring fellow photographers and readers alike. With a love for analog photography, Neil spends hours in his darkroom, meticulously developing film to reveal hidden stories. His exploration of various camera models, from vintage classics to modern marvels, fuels his creative vision.
As an educator, Neil shares his knowledge and empowers others to embark on their own photographic journeys. Through his work, Neil invites us to see the world through a unique lens and discover the beauty in everyday moments.