The best film labs in California
12 shortlisted from 106 reviewed developers in California — film labs, camera stores that develop and community darkrooms, each labelled for what it actually is.
How this ranking works
- Score = rating × log₁₀(review count). A 5.0 from nine people does not outrank a 4.7 from nine hundred, but one huge lab can't bury everyone either.
- 25 reviews minimum. Below that a rating is noise.
- One entry per chain. Multi-location labs get a single slot, so the list stays a list of businesses rather than of branches.
- Museums and attractions are excluded — this is a directory of places you can actually hand a roll of film to.
- Nothing is paid. No business can buy a position here, and quotes are pulled verbatim from public customer reviews.
#1 PostNet
4.9 ★★★★★ 734 reviews · San Jose, CA
I come here for I-9 verification. The staff is friendly, the verification process only takes a few minutes.
#2 Mike's Camera
4.6 ★★★★★ 851 reviews · Sacramento, CA
love them! they are always so helpful and stupendously friendly! they try to answer any questions I may have and develop film with quality. yet to try getting prints! love to go here to stock up on…
#3 Samy's Camera
4.6 ★★★★★ 690 reviews · Pasadena, CA
They are amazing!! The best employee’s and have the best quality film!! If you ever were questioning where to go Sammy’s in the all stop shop.
#4 George's Camera
4.7 ★★★★★ 553 reviews · San Diego, CA
Super helpful staff in a store with a huge selection. I went in to get film developed, and they had a super quick turn around time giving it back to me in a few days! I appreciated that they had the…
#5 The Darkroom
4.7 ★★★★★ 552 reviews · San Clemente, CA
So excited to get my first photos back from The Darkroom, they are officially my new go-to! I was looking for an alternative since my local Walgreens where I used to send in my film went out of…
#6 San Jose Camera & Video
4.5 ★★★★★ 629 reviews · Campbell, CA
They had a nice set of film rolls to choose from and this nice guy taught me a little bit more about photography which I found very helpful since I'm still somewhat a beginner. Will definitely visit…
#7 Legacy Film Lab
5 ★★★★★ 325 reviews · Tustin, CA
Amazing film lab! They treat your work with care and have comparable prices. The turn around time for scans is great and the quality is wonderful! Their team is always friendly and helpful! I don’t go…
#8 Saigon Photo Lab
4.9 ★★★★★ 363 reviews · Garden Grove, CA
I had a wonderful experience with Saigon Photo Lab. The couple who runs it is not only professional but also incredibly kind, warm, and attentive. From the very beginning, I felt genuinely cared for.
#9 OK 1 HR Photo
4.9 ★★★★★ 289 reviews · La Puente, CA
I’m so happy this place exists! I used to go all the way to Pasadena to get photos developed and scanned from disposable cameras. Now that I’ve found OK 1 HR Photo, I can just drop off my film rolls…
#10 Foto Express
4.8 ★★★★★ 320 reviews · San Jose, CA
Dropped off 5 rolls of film on late Friday afternoon, and Henry stayed back late to have them ready for me the next day since I live out of town. I am impressed with how the pictures turned out.…
#11 Action Camera
4.8 ★★★★★ 263 reviews · Rocklin, CA
Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Film development services are consistently simple and high-quality. A bit pricy (~$25/roll with scans), but understandable. I only wish they could start…
#12 J&F Photo Lab Inc.
4.6 ★★★★★ 332 reviews · Los Angeles, CA
To the people saying they're pricey - film has gotten expensive everywhere lately but I have noticed that they're scans have gotten a lot better lately! You can tell they're investing that money back…