Online Version of Mail-Order Film
Written: Oct 17 '01
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The Bottom Line
If you've got film to develop and have the time they'll give you a free try. Digital users look elsewhere. You're not going to find your online brag book here!
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| Full Review |
This is basically an online mail-order film developer that's expanding their horizons so I applaud them for that. They are strategic partners with Distric Photo Nation's (50 years of experience) leader. Their investors include Kodak (so they use Kodak paper), BellSouth, Compaq, etc. so you can see where they're going with this.
Website Ease Of Use
This website is easier to use than other sites that offer the same features. You don't need to download a program to upload your photos which is a plus in my book. The minus is that they don't offer the software to upload quickly should you choose to. You do not have to click any links or hunt to figure out what to do here. It's very straight forward. Anyone could use this site.
Appearance
The appearance is OK -- it isn't bad and it isn't terrific. It is good enough for me to use but NO, I'm not going to show my friends my albums in this program.
There is a lot of advertising on this site for both their product and banner ads for others. It is understandable but it does take away from the site.
Lets Talk Price
Lets jump right into price because that's where I go first before I get all excited about a site. These prices will probably change someday but for now they're:
PRINTING
First 3 rolls: (3.5 x 5" or 4 x 6") Free
After First 3 rolls: $2.99
(3.5 x 5" or 4 x 6")
(5 x 7") $3.99
Double prints (up to 27 exposures) $1.99
Double prints (over 27 exposures) $2.99
Shipping & Handling $1.99
Scanning and placement of digital images in your online
account FREE
REPRINTS
4 x 6" .59
5 x 7" .99
8 x 10" $3.99
Wallets (4) $1.99
And they offer all kinds of features that cost money that you can check out on their website.
OK, they have my attention. If they are going to give me some free prints, I'm going to have to take them up on their offer. The prices are competitive with other sites. They don't overpocket on the shipping either which is rare on the web!
Uploading Photos
Must be in .jpg format. You can upload by selecting up to 12 files and then uploading. This fine unless you're uploading a years worth of pictures. The benefit is that you can do this regardless of what operating system or version you are running. I am happy about this because most websites don't write Linux software.
What they don't market on the website is that they put your images online from the film you mail in. They should be marketing that, I don't know what gives there.
Rotating Photo
This feature is above average compared to other sites. In general, if you want to rotate a photo, you have to pay or download a special photo package.
After trying to figure out how to rotate a photo in different graphics packages, I give them an applause for their method. It has an impression of a head and indicates what your picture is going to look like if you choose it.
Captions
It will allow you to type a brief description of the photo. My advice is to be consistent to how you are saving your file with the date and description.
For example: 05_01_01_Kids_Grandma_.jpg / 10_01_01_Fall_Leaves.jpg
This information on the file will help arranging the photos, archiving it, and you won't have to type in a caption on the website.
Moving Photos
You can move your photo to a different album on the website. For example, if you start off with uploading your pictures into one album because you only have a few and then after a few months you have a bunch of photos you can move some of the photos to a new album.
* You may want an album for vacation, and album for holiday, an album for .jpg you've received, etc.
* if you want your co-worker to see pictures of your baby...but not all of your other business, you can move (or copy) the photos you want them to see into a separate album and only give them access to that album.
Sharing Your Photos (Complaint Section)
You can invite all of your friends to view your albums through a message that Snapfish mails from their website. When your friends visit, they are asked their email and to pick a password. Their album looks just like the one you use presentation wise. This is what I don't like. I have seen other websites that clean it up and make it more of a presentation for visitors. This site loads all of the pictures at one time and then you can click on the one you want to see bigger. When you're presenting pictures at home, you don't lay them all over the table and let them pick up the ones that interest them, you display them. Putting this on one page also means your captions wrap around which looks bad.
I also feel like snapfish is pushing the sell in their e-mail. They require you to sign up with their service, they have your basket ready for you to buy -- they'll even throw in a free picture to seal the deal.
What They Do Offer That Others Don't
One of the things that they offer is desktop wallpaper and screensavers which can be found under the hi-res button. You get to try one for free if you're curious. I can do this myself so didn't try this particular feature.
What They Do Not Offer That Other's Do
What they don't offer is photo frames or borders for the pictures. They don't offer ways to tweak your photos such as softening, removing red eyes, zooming, and that sort of thing that you may want done prior to printing.
They don't offer resources to be a better photographer like some sites. I'll take all the advice I can get to get better photos and they're not giving me any. Do they not realize that the better my photos come out the more I'm going to buy?
Prints
This site was established for mailing your film to be developed. I have a digital camera, so I don't use that service so can't tell you how they did for me in that area. Obviously you're not going to get your pictures back in an hour like you can at the drugstore (1 or 2 weeks) so don't send something you need immediately. They do guarantee their work but it's not by picture like the store where you go and look and you don't pay for ones because you took pictures of the ground. If you need this oh it's a ground/sky type of service check out ofoto.com.
I do make copies of some of my prize digital prints but not very often. I don't need them fast so I'm okay with all of that.
When you go to order, it lets you know if the quality if good enough to print. They all look good to me online for viewing but if they say it's not going to print well, I believe them and I'm not going to waste my money having it printed. You're going to need 900 x 600 pixels to get a decent print.
Nutshell
Basically I tried this site, I'd use this site if I had film to develop, but unless they keep offering free prints they're not going to keep my digital printing business. There are better websites for digital users.
I'm going to wait for this company to blossom. They have a good start but they're not the best.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Location: Nashville, TN
Reviews written: 723
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