Choosing the right film lab is one of the most important decisions you can make as a film photographer. Whether you're a casual shooter or a professional working on high-end editorial work, your lab will influence everything from your scan quality to your workflow speed. In this expanded guide, we'll dive into a detailed side-by-side comparison of three of the most respected and widely used film labs in the U.S. right now: Nice Film Club, The Darkroom, and Richard Photo Lab.

Overview of Each Lab

Nice Film Club (NFC)

Location: New York City
Vibe: Modern, community-oriented, digitally fluent
Strengths: High-res TIFF scans, ECN-2 processing, member pricing
Best For: Artists, experimenters, and shooters who want control over file type and delivery

The Darkroom

Location: Southern California
Vibe: Classic, consistent, reliable
Strengths: All-format support, reliable color correction, built-in negative return
Best For: Beginners, hobbyists, and those who prefer simplicity

Richard Photo Lab

Location: Valencia, California
Vibe: Boutique, pro-grade, white-glove service
Strengths: Personalized color profiles, exceptional print quality, professional scanning
Best For: Professional photographers, especially portrait, wedding, and fine art shooters

Services Offered (Processing Types)

  
      Processing Type
      Nice Film Club
      The Darkroom
      Richard Photo Lab
    

  
      C-41 (Color Negative)
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    

      Black & White
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    

      E-6 (Slide Film)
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    

      ECN-2 (Motion Picture Film)
      ✅
      ❌
      ❌
    

      Push/Pull Processing
      ✅ (Flexible)
      ✅ (Standard)
      ✅ (Standard)
    

      Cross Processing
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    

Accepted Film Formats

  
      Film Format
      Nice Film Club
      The Darkroom
      Richard Photo Lab
    

  
      35mm
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    

      120 (Medium Format)
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    

      220
      Not listed
      ✅
      ✅
    

      Large Format (4x5)
      Not listed
      ✅
      ✅
    

      Disposable Cameras
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    

      APS
      Not listed
      ✅
      Not listed
    

Scan Quality and File Sizes (Estimated)

  
      Scan Level
      Nice Film Club
      The Darkroom
      Richard Photo Lab
    

  
      Standard
      ✅ (~6MP JPEG)
      ✅ (1024x1536px JPEG)
      ✅ (Small JPEG)
    

      Enhanced
      ✅ (~16MP JPEG)
      ✅ (2048x3072px JPEG)
      ✅ (Medium JPEG)
    

      High-Res / Super
      ✅ (4492x6774px TIFF)
      ✅ (4492x6774px JPEG)
      ✅ (Large TIFF)
    

      Selectable High-Res Scans
      ✅ Yes
      ❌ No
      ✅ Customizable
    

High-res scans are suitable for printing up to 16x20" or larger.
Nice Film Club allows selective high-res scanning to save on cost.
Richard Photo Lab includes custom color-matching for pro consistency.

Color Correction and Custom Profiles

  
      Color Correction Feature
      Nice Film Club
      The Darkroom
      Richard Photo Lab
    

  
      Standard Color Correction
      ✅ (Calibrated Scanner)
      ✅ (Auto Correction)
      ✅ (Film-Specific Correction)
    

      Custom Color Profiles
      ❌ Not Available
      ❌ Not Available
      ✅ (Personalized, Photographer-Specific)
    

Pricing

  
      Pricing Feature
      Nice Film Club
(Non-Member)
      Nice Film Club
(Member)
      The Darkroom
      Richard Photo Lab
    

  
      Develop + Scan (C-41)
      $14.99/roll
      $9.99/roll
      $13.00/roll
      $22.98+/roll
    

      Membership Cost
      ❌ None
      $199/year
      ❌ None
      ❌ None
    

      High-Res TIFF Files
      ✅ Selectable
      ✅ Selectable
      ❌ Not Available
      ✅ Included
    

      Negative Return Fee
      $9.99/order
      $9.99/order
      ✅ Included
      ✅ Included
    

Turnaround and Shipping

  
      Shipping & Turnaround Feature
      Nice Film Club
      The Darkroom
      Richard Photo Lab
    

  
      Turnaround Time (after film arrival)
      3–5 business days
      4–7 business days
      7–10 business days
    

      Shipping TO Lab
      ✅ Free (Members Only)
      ❌ Customer Pays
      ❌ Customer Pays
    

      Shipping FROM Lab (Negatives)
      $9.99/order (Optional)
      ✅ Included
      ✅ Included
    

      International Shipping
      Not listed
      ✅ Available
      ✅ Available
    

File Delivery Method

  
      File Delivery Feature
      Nice Film Club
      The Darkroom
      Richard Photo Lab
    

  
      Delivery Method
      ✅ Customer Portal
      ✅ WeTransfer
      ✅ Secure Login or Drive
    

      File Availability Duration
      ✅ Long-term Access
      ⏳ Limited-time Download
      ✅ Long-term or Custom
    

Use Cases: Which Lab is Right for You?

Beginner or Casual Shooter

You shoot a couple rolls a month, mostly 35mm.
You want good color correction and basic JPEGs.
You don’t need TIFFs or custom profiles.

Recommendation: The Darkroom

Creative/Experimental Photographer

You shoot ECN-2 or enjoy film soup/push/pull techniques.
You want the option to choose high-res scans per frame.
You might join a membership if the savings make sense.

Recommendation: Nice Film Club

Professional Photographer (Weddings, Portraits, Fine Art)

You want repeatable, customized color across jobs.
You print large and need full-res TIFFs.
You need top-tier customer service.

Recommendation: Richard Photo Lab

Final Thoughts

All three labs offer excellent services. The best choice depends on what you shoot, how often you shoot, and what kind of scans and support you need. If you're looking for creative freedom and control, Nice Film Club shines. If you want dependable, budget-friendly processing, The Darkroom delivers. And if you're a working professional with high expectations, Richard Photo Lab offers world-class service worth the premium.

Choose the lab that supports your vision—literally.