Some question about RA4 chemistry

[koraks]

I've yet to see my replenished developer die. It keeps going strong even if I out it away fro many weeks, unused, in an appropriate bottle.

RA4 developer tends to slow down as it ages beyond the point of usability. At this oointz the prints will not show a convincing black and instead only render a very dark shade of blue. It's been a long time since I've had an RA4 developer do this, since replenishment and proper storage avoid this from happening.

 

[Blue Glass]

I've yet to see my replenished developer die. It keeps going strong even if I out it away fro many weeks, unused, in an appropriate bottle.

RA4 developer tends to slow down as it ages beyond the point of usability. At this oointz the prints will not show a convincing black and instead only render a very dark shade of blue. It's been a long time since I've had an RA4 developer do this, since replenishment and proper storage avoid this from happening.

Nice info, Thanks!

 

[arespencer]

Are you based in LA? I recently bought a box of the Kodak starter. Could probably sell you a single bottle.

 

[Blue Glass]

Are you based in LA? I recently bought a box of the Kodak starter. Could probably sell you a single bottle.

Could you ship a bottle to VA? do you have starter for bleach fix by any chance?

 

[arespencer]

Could you ship a bottle to VA? do you have starter for bleach fix by any chance?

I suppose I could. There shouldn’t be any restrictions I would assume. Might need to figure out how to package it the best so it doesn’t get damaged.

I don’t have bleach fix starter (or honestly know what that is). I just use the Kodak SP Blix and it’s worked great for me.

 

[Blue Glass]

I suppose I could. There shouldn’t be any restrictions I would assume. Might need to figure out how to package it the best so it doesn’t get damaged.

I don’t have bleach fix starter (or honestly know what that is). I just use the Kodak SP Blix and it’s worked great for me.

Sounds good, I will PM you

 

[MattKing]

Sounds good, I will PM you

I'll treat this as a request to the Moderation team for access to the Private Conversation function
Check your Inbox for a message.

 

[mshchem]

UPS will ship liquids, by ground. Developer starter isn't hazardous. Probably should have a SDS. USPS won't ship liquids, IIRC.

 

[Blue Glass]

I'll treat this as a request to the Moderation team for access to the Private Conversation function
Check your Inbox for a message.

Thanks!

 

[Blue Glass]

BTW, is it possible to directly order those chemical from Kodak?

 

[MattKing]

BTW, is it possible to directly order those chemical from Kodak?

The new licensee and manufacturer is Photo Systems, in the USA.
This is the relevant page on their website, but they don't yet show anything for RA4 starter: https://kodak.photosys.com/collections/color-pr

 

[Blue Glass]

The new licensee and manufacturer is Photo Systems, in the USA.
This is the relevant page on their website, but they don't yet show anything for RA4 starter: https://kodak.photosys.com/collections/color-pr

Yea, they seems to have the exact same inventory and price with cinestill. That starter prices is just outrageous, hope they can sell them with smaller batch tbh

 

[MattKing]

Yea, they seems to have the exact same inventory and price with cinestill. That starter prices is just outrageous, hope they can sell them with smaller batch tbh

Cinestill is their international distributor, and that is who operates their web store and supplies international customer service.
And yes, there is a listing there for the Starter - I missed it.

 

[Blue Glass]

Cinestill is their international distributor, and that is who operates their web store and supplies international customer service.
And yes, there is a listing there for the Starter - I missed it.

It is out of stock on both website so you are all good

 

[Blue Glass]

also, I don’t see any starter for the bleach fix, does it not need any starter to get it mix?

 

[halfaman]

also, I don’t see any starter for the bleach fix, does it not need any starter to get it mix?

Only unusual single concentrate beach-fixes need a starter. The usual two concentrates presentation does not.

 

[Blue Glass]

Only unusual single concentrate beach-fixes need a starter. The usual two concentrates presentation does not.

thanks!

 

[mshchem]

also, I don’t see any starter for the bleach fix, does it not need any starter to get it mix?

Yeah, the starter is for C-41 Flexicolor BLEACH not for RA-4 BLIX.

Once you get to replenishing developer it should quickly reach a reasonably steady state (Br- wise) .

 

[mshchem]

This is the exact same thing as the Kodak version. Looks like you'd need to pick it up.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1916299-REG/fujifilm_600022660_ra_universal_p1s_developer.html

 

[lamerko]

I have always wondered why manufacturers have such a policy regarding starter chemistry. For example, with the Fujifilm Hunt C-41 kits, the starter comes in a box containing six one-liter bottles, which is many times more than the amount of color developer included in the kits. In fact, even just one of those bottles would practically last forever if replenishment is used.

 

[brbo]

In fact, even just one of those bottles would practically last forever if replenishment is used.

And considerably less when one-shot regime is used.

In fact, if you use RA-4 chemistry one-shot, 6L starter kit will be barely sufficient for the smallest Fuji RA-4 kit you can buy. For example, mixing RA-4 MP60AC replenisher requires 120ml of starter for 80ml of RA-4 developer concentrate to make 1L of RA-4 working (tank) developer. Sure, kits with higher replenisher rates will have a slightly higher developer to starter rate, but you will still go through a lot of starter.

So, at least in Fujiland, 6L starter is not some arbitrary excessive "lets scam the customer" quantity. It's about the amount of starter that you need to prepare the tank solution from the smallest kit they sell. Do labs still have tanks as large as that so that they would use up 6L of starter when preparing tank solution from scratch? I have no idea...

 

[lamerko]

If 120 ml per liter were required, then I would agree, but with C-41 only 15 ml is required. And these kits are, in principle, intended for replenishment. Even without using replenishment, that amount of starter would be enough for 400 liters of developer. With replenishment, perhaps around 10 times more...

 

[brbo]

I think you should re-read what I wrote and also the title of the thread.

It's not if 120ml of RA-4 starter was required. It IS required.

 

[Blue Glass]

This is the exact same thing as the Kodak version. Looks like you'd need to pick it up.

http://[URL]https://www.bhphotovide...ilm_600022660_ra_universal_p1s_developer.html

[/URL]

Thanks! So the starter could be mixed with both Kodak and Fuji developer replenisher? I was originally looking to purchase Fuji's RA4 Developer, but they did jack up the prices in recent years.

 

[koraks]

they did jack up the prices in recent years.

Yes, due to several factors, but this is correct especially presently in the US.

Whether the starter is compatible across brands is an open question, but since RA4 developed is nowhere near as critical as C41, you could give it a go. As I recall someone posted a positive experience with this last year here on the forum, but I don't recall with certainty.