Oscar’s Photo Lab

Was in town last week on business and had some film I needed to get developed before my flight back home to Canada… I hate when I have to go through multiple connecting flights and bringing my undeveloped film through airport x-​ray scanners a million times — getting my rolls of film developed on-​time was CRUCIAL.
I was hard pressed for time on my last day and I called in to see if there was any way to get my film developed sooner and they were able to do it! LIFESAVERS.
I would definitely recommend these guys. My pictures turned out amazing. I will most likely use this spot for all my future film processing needs in SF.

Great service. Called me to get clarification on my 20hr turn around print job (I emailed and uploaded a file for print). Discussed what could and could not be done within the short time frame. Good price! And it came in an envelope with cardboard to keep it pristine. The girl at counter went above and beyond to ring me up since I could not turn off my car due to the fact I just had my battery jumped… Awesome! I like year mom and pop shops. Will be back for other photo present items (like canvas prints)!

This place was great for printing from files. Vartan helped me decide what process and finish would be best for my setting, and he didn’t just recommend the most expensive option. And the photos came out great!

I’m only giving two stars because the girl who works the front is very nice and professional. So, first run with processing film here, I received back 3 out of 4 35 mm rolls (Process only) that were cut short and thus the last frames were cut halfway through. When I told the owner/​processor, Vartan, about this careless mistake, he responded with «Our policy is we cut off the grip marks where the film is held and it looks like that is what you are losing the grip marks. On all of the images you have exposed film that goes beyond where the DX coding ends. Thanks.» When I responded to this BS policy excuse with ideas of why I felt that it wasn’t a policy issue and more of a careless mistake on Nov. 21, I was not met with any resolution. I tried to resolve outside of Unilocal,but maybe leaving a bad review will do a better job, as I would not wish this to happen to anyone else in the future. This was a careless mistake, and while mistakes happen, like equipment failure, and honest human error I was treated like an ignorant customer, I even explained to him my previous experience as a lab employee who has handled thousands of people’s film and prints in the bay area for the last 3 years. NOT RECOMMENDED.

Took a pair of those classic plastic disposable cameras in today to be processed. The owner, Vartan, is a class act, and was very patient with all of his customers in the store requesting a thousand different things. I’ve used Oscar’s before and would not hesitate to come back.

I support the other review about BAD quality 35 mm prints: I recently had a couple of 35 mm rolls developed here, one color and one black and white. The negatives are properly processed, but the prints look really bad. The resolution is poor, which is pretty amazing coming from FILM (I suspect there must be some problem with the scanning?). In addition, some of my pictures have weird lines on the borders, as if printing/​scanning errors (these lines are definitely not in the negatives). It looks like a cheap job, but the place is not cheap (it may be reasonable in SF, but it definitely is not if you move around). Overall a pretty bad experience, and I am definitely not coming back.

I’ve been going to them since about 2003. I won’t take my images anywhere else for processing. Great paper quality, great turnaround time, great selection of services and best of all, great people that work here! Thank you Oscar!

I have processed 4 rolls (2 Velvia 50, 2 Velvia 100) from Oscar’s Photo Lab and every roll is amazing. The quality of service is top notch and I recommend them for everything photo related.

Quality is good but pretty pricey. $ 10 for each scan is a little too much.
Next time I scan it and just bring a file over. It was a little unexpected.
Otherwise the quality is pretty decent.

A great place for the artist and photographer!

I’ve came here to get really small prints done as decorations for my card and some 5×7’s to be framed. I would email them my photos and I would get notice that they are ready the same day!
Photos are really great quality. I like their matte print because it hides fingerprints and dust really well.
The staff is very friendly! There’s a parking spot right outside for quick drop offs and pick-​ups.
*Note: Bring cash for under $ 10!

I needed a hi-​res scan of a 35 mm slide. I needed it ASAP — I had overnighted the wrong slide! Oscar’s cane through with what I needed — fast service at super-​hi res. Thanks guys!

Just picked up some prints. They look like I printed them at Walgreens. I’m not satisfied at all with my prints:/ They aren’t clear like I usually get them. I’m really upset too because all the reviews seemed like this was a legit place. Maybe they are good on digital prints but not my 35 mm film prints. I’d rather go to Walgreens or back to Photoworks where they charge just as much as they do here. Very sad. Kinda want a refund.
Update:
They did contact me ONCE (not three times as the owner has exaggerated) but honestly the lack of photo quality is whats keeping me away from this place. I will continue to get my film printed at Photoworks who always have high quality prints:)

I have particular needs for the kinda film I shoot. 120 in 6×7 is easy, but 6×17 is not easy to work with. They rose to the occasion, when I walked in with a bunch of 120 rolls shoot in a panoramic camera. Great scanning job, and dustless originals. Prints are truly amazing! Metallic, matte, watercolor or glossy are all great. Vartan and crew are excellent. Service dependable. Prices are reasonable, of course that depends on what you want. I am not going anywhere else.

Oscar’s came through with a perfect 11×14 print of a digital file that another vendor had attempted three times and failed. He turned it around in practically no time, and even emailed me about it on Saturday night. Fantastic

I am new to printing photos and started using Oscar’s Photo Lab about 4 weeks ago. I have enjoyed meeting the people who work there and most of my contacts have been with Jared who besides being a knowledgeable photographer and printer is a pleasure to work with. He has offered some very well informed and much appreciated advice, suggestions and tips about how to improve my printed images.

I’ve been going to Oscar’s for 20 plus years. They do it all from B&W printing to Digital scans. They offer great rates and even have a couple of reserved parking spaces in front of their shop.
They accept photo files for my projects so all I need to do is pickup finished products from them.
Supporting Oscar’s is like supporting a long running San Francisco family.

I tried light waves, so I figured I give this place a try too! So far not a problem, I really do love that they email you when your order is done!
Will drop off more rolls next time to give a better critique!

I have been to Oscar’s for my E-​6 and black and white processing. Quality was good — my slides and negatives were devoid of dust and scratches.
Prices are great for black and white developing — $ 6 for a roll of 36 exposures. Slide processing were a bit expensive — $ 12/​roll. I suppose that the price is competitive within S.F., but I am typically not in a rush and would rather spend $ 8 for processing through A&I’s mail order services in LA.
Contrary to other people’s experiences, I find it tough to get parking nearby; the 5 minute parking in front has always been occupied when I have been there, and I usually have to scavenge for parking ~ a block away.
Although the company accepts major credit cards, there is a minimum order of $ 10. I didn’t have enough cash the last time I was there to pay for my $ 6 order, but they were nice enough to make an exception for me.

I’ve gotten a few rolls of 120 film developed here, along with 3 8“x12″ prints. They are very reasonably priced, fast, and understanding.
I was promised my prints by Saturday (placed the day before, on Friday), when i spoke to someone else, they asked for a rush charge. I told him I didn’t want the prints done. About a minute later I received a call back, and all fees were waived. Nice people, great quality work, at fair prices.