should i go to some professional place, or are 1 hour places good? is there really much difference?

 

If you are shooting color film and C-41 process b&w take it to a good 1 hour place. Ask what machine they are using though, I seem to have better luck when they are using the Noritsu machines.

If it is true b&w then you wil have to take it to either a specialty lab or you will have to wait up to a week while your one hour lab sends it out to be processed.

 

what's considered a "good" 1 hour place?

 

Main thing to look at is the type of machine they are using to process the film as well as the paper they are using.

If they are using thin paper then go somewhere else. Some places use a paper that is literally the cheapest stuff out there and is almost transparent at times. Best bet is a place that uses Kodak, Fuji or some other well known brand.

The other thing to look at is some samples of their prints and processed work. If they don't have any go out and burn off a roll of film randomly and send it through. Since you don't really care about the shots its no big loss if they come out crappy.

As I said before check the machine they are using to process the film. Many places use the Noritsu machines which are the better of the auto processing machines and achieve good to excellent results for a speed processor.