Best Film Labs to Go to in NYC (Contact Sheets, Prices & Who Uses Them)
By Sambit Biswas
Whether you’re after immaculate drum scans or you just want a fast dev+scan on a weekend shoot, NYC’s lab scene has range. Below are 10 legit spots New Yorkers actually use what they’re best for, whether they make real contact sheets, and what you’ll pay for the cheapest develop-and-scan.
Prices change! These were checked on Oct 26, 2025. Always confirm before you go.
1) LTI-Lightside (Flatiron, Manhattan)
Why people love it: NYC's long-running pro lab with museum- and editorial-grade processing, optical/digital proofing (yes, real contact sheets), and meticulous color. Their "Process & Proofing" menu includes contact sheets and 18 MB Noritsu scans.
Famous work: LTI has processed, contacted, and scanned projects by artists like John Edmonds, Tina Barney, An-My Lê, and Stefan Ruiz.
Contact sheets? Yes (digital and silver-based proofing options).
Cheapest dev+scan (35 mm C-41): $20 (24-exp “Process & 18 MB Scan”).
2) picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom (Chelsea, Manhattan)
Why people love it: A Chelsea institution (since the '90s) that fuses traditional darkroom mastery with high-end scanning/retouching popular with editorial & fashion shooters. Their price list explicitly includes "Contact Only" and "Dev + Contact" bundles.
Famous work: Recent credits include Philip Montgomery (NYT Magazine), Renell Medrano (Harper’s Bazaar), Rahim Fortune (AnOther), Daniel Arnold, Spike Jonze, Quil Lemons, and more.
Contact sheets? Yes (“Contact Only” & enlarged contact options).
Cheapest dev+scan: $19 (C-41 35 mm “Dev + 10 MB Scan”).
3) Color Resource Center (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Why people love it: Darkroom-printed color contact sheets on Fujicolor Crystal Archive great for analog proofing that actually looks like a proof. They also run full processing and scanning services.
Contact sheets? Yes 10×12″ glossy/matte $12.50–12.99.
Cheapest dev+scan: $18.90 (Process + 4.5MB low-res scan).
4) Photodom / FilmProcessing.nyc (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
Why people love it: Community-driven, Black-owned lab & camera shop; fast turnarounds, mail-in friendly, and straightforward a-la-carte pricing.
Contact sheets? Digital delivery is the default; prints available via their print shop. (They emphasize quick Noritsu HS-1800 scans.)
Cheapest dev+scan: from $14 (dev from $8 + smallest scan from $6).
5) NYC Film Lab (Williamsburg/Bushwick, Brooklyn)
Photo Credit: Jitin Dodd
Why people love it: Straight-ahead online ordering, quick processing, and consistent scans; large-format options too.
Contact sheets? Digital contact sheets have been noted as “coming soon” historically; check the current options when ordering.
Cheapest dev+scan: $18 (Process + Large JPEG for 35 mm).
6) Exposure Therapy (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn)
Why people love it: A reliable neighborhood spot with very low base pricing and clear service tiers; open 7 days.
Contact sheets? Ask at drop-off core offer is dev+scan at budget rates.
Cheapest dev+scan: $10.99 (Develop & Basic Scan 35 mm/120, C-41 or B&W).
7) PhotoLab-NYC (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
Why people love it: A hybrid community lab with darkroom rentals/classes and a service counter. They explicitly price color & B&W contact sheets and B&W dev+scan bundles.
Contact sheets? Yes Color $15, B&W $18 (plus processing).
Cheapest dev+scan: from $22 (Color 18 MB bundle).
8) Bleeker Digital Solutions (Nolita/SoHo, Manhattan)
Why people love it: Quiet, pro-facing lab for high-volume scanning and custom work; service menu includes Develop & Contact, Dev+Scan, and more.
Contact sheets? Yes (“Develop & Contact” listed).
Cheapest dev+scan: $14.99 (Color 35mm "Med-High JPEG (2400x3600)").
9) Trilogy Photo (TriBeCa, Manhattan)
Why people love it: Old-school NYC mini-lab energy with claims of same-day scans and in-house C-41/B&W/E-6 and it's been around since 1984.
Contact sheets? They offer develop-and-print services; ask for contact sheets at drop-off.
Cheapest dev+scan: $15.00 (Color 35mm (27 exp) "Scans/Email").
10) Nice Film Club (Mail-in, HQ NYC)
Why people love it: A tech-y platform built around film online delivery, customizable digital contact sheets, and asset management. Memberships can unlock very low roll pricing.
Contact sheets? Yes digital “contact sheets” in your account (shareable/downloadable).
Cheapest dev+scan: $17.99 (Non-Member C-41 (35/120) Standard).
Quick Price Chart Cheapest Develop + Scan (base tier)
| Lab | Cheapest Dev+Scan (35 mm unless noted) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure Therapy | $10.99 | Basic Scan, 35 mm/120, C-41 or B&W. |
| Photodom / FilmProcessing.nyc | from $14 | Dev $8 + small scan $6. |
| Bleeker Digital Solutions | $14.99 | Color 35mm "Med-High JPEG (2400x3600)". |
| Trilogy Photo | $15.00 | Color 35mm (27 exp) "Scans/Email". |
| Nice Film Club | $17.99 | Non-Member C-41 (35/120) Standard. |
| NYC Film Lab | $18 | Process + Large JPEG. |
| picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom | $19 | C-41 35 mm "Dev + 10 MB Scan." |
| LTI-Lightside | $20 | 24-exp "Process & 18 MB Scan." |
| PhotoLab-NYC | $22.00 | Color (35mm/120) 18 MB bundle. |
| Color Resource Center | $18.90 | Process + 4.5MB low-res scan; contact sheets $12.50–12.99. |
Tip: If you mainly want real, darkroom contact sheets, CRC and picturehouse+thesmalldarkroom make traditional proofs; LTI lists both digital and silver-based proofing; PhotoLab-NYC does B&W and color contacts. Always call before checking them out as prices and services might change!
How to Pick the Right NYC Lab (Fast!)
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Proofing preference: Need classic paper contact sheets to mark up? Choose CRC, PHTSDR, LTI, or PhotoLab-NYC. Digital contact sheets only? Nice Film Club is designed for that.
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Scanner flavor: Most NYC labs rely on Noritsu (clean, “neutral” look). If you’re nerdy about it, check each lab’s exact Noritsu/Frontier details.
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Turnaround & budget: For the cheapest baseline, Exposure Therapy/Photodom/Nice often win. For editorial-grade QC, PHTSDR/LTI are safe bets.
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Community access: Want to print yourself? Bushwick Community Darkroom has memberships and contact printing gear (and a shared connection with CRC’s color processor).
Tiny “Who Goes Where” Rolodex
- LTI-Lightside: Projects by John Edmonds, Tina Barney, An-My Lê, Stefan Ruiz (processed, contacted, scanned at LTI).
- picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom: Work with Philip Montgomery (Taylor Swift/NYT Mag), Renell Medrano, Rahim Fortune, Daniel Arnold, Spike Jonze, Quil Lemons, and more.
If you’re pitching or book-printing, ask for their high-res/cleaned scan tiers and color-matching those services are in their menus.
Further Reading
Notes & Sources
- Prices and offerings mentioned were checked on Oct 26, 2025 via each lab's public price menus and service pages. Always confirm current rates and turnaround with the lab before ordering.
- If you run a lab and want corrections or additions, email me and I'll update this post.