my (35mm) negatives sent for processing got cut in bits & pieces - strange or not?

[superbeng]

Hi guys (hope this is the right category)

just wanted to ask what you guys think before I make an enquiry.

I recently sent a roll of film to a shop to be processed and scanned to CD.

The negatives came back in bits and pieces (usually they're cut every 6 frames?), but some strips came back in 2's and 3's. Is this normal? What could have prompted the machine or cutter to do this?

Note: no questionable content or exposure in the frames/pics I took.

I only noticed this when I got home and took out my negatives for archiving.

Should I be alarmed?

Thanks in advance!

[night86mare]

might be because of the type of scanner they use.

[adamadam]

Doesn't sound normal to me

ask them why

[maddyks]

Is definitely not normal and is not a good practice too. ask them why

[daletan]

nope, doesn't sound normal. Even my rather basic scanner takes strips of up to 6 frames. Might want to stay away from this guy, because for auto-fed scanners at mini-labs, you'll need anything between 2-4 frames to feed it.

[superbeng]

I couldn't make it down at the shop yesterday, so I called on the phone to ask.

The guy seemed in a hurry and insisting that as long as no frames were missing, it was ok. I repeated my question about why the frames were in bits and pieces but he didn't seem to understand (maybe?). Quite frustrated and left it at that.

Yah, will stay away from unfamiliar shops in future...

[t190r]

Originally Posted by superbeng I couldn't make it down at the shop yesterday, so I called on the phone to ask. ...... Yah, will stay away from unfamiliar shops in future...

Could you share shop's name / location? for us to be alert too. Thanks.

[superbeng]

Sorry - I threw the receipt away already so ... forgot the exact name and unit no. of the shop. It's not a shop I usually go to - I only went in cos I was in the area.

Anyone who wishes to know the rough location can PM me for details.

[Nenjia]

one thing mat need to pay attention -- are you noticing they grouped the some exposure/color tone in the strip cut?

[superbeng]

No they are not.

The bits and pieces are not ALL cut according to the exposure which was the reason I wondered why after thinking about it.

Anyway, the lesson for me is to check the negatives even if for a brief time, after I go to a shop for processing, especially if it's not my usual shop.

[Yatlapball]

Uhm.. you should anyway. To ensure that the negs that come back are indeed yours.

[superbeng]

I usually do but only briefly.

Next time I better scan the rest of the negs to see how they've been cut.

[exhoml]

All i can say is they guy is using a budget scanner with a small film window such as HP scanjet 39** like tt. better keep away from there