2024 Fuji RA-4 chemistry

[synhare]

Posting this here as a reference on what/how much to order if you are looking for RA-4 chemistry. I had a really difficult time getting this information from anyone so I hope it helps someone else looking to get RA-4 chemistry.

This used to be called Fuij Hunt CP-RA. That does not appear the case anymore. It is now referred to as "Digital RA Pro". The item numbers have changed as well.

Developer:
You will need Developer Replenisher and Developer Starter. The Developer Replenisher comes in 2 parts that will be mixed together, they are sold together. Despite its name, if you are doing a one-shot process in a rotary processor or tray, you will not be replenishing anything, thus there is no base chemistry.

Old Part Number	New Part Number	Name	Minimum Order Quantity	Price
600006061	600022512	DIGITAL RA PRO DEV REP	2 X 20L This is confusing because in reality this is 4.2L of Part A concentrate and 4.0L of Part B concentrate. Packaged in 4 separate bottles.	$149 USD
600005430	600022660	COLORPRINT RA DEV STARTER	1G (3.785L)	$35 USD

Bleach Fix:
Also comes in 2 parts under the same item number

Old Part Number	New Part Number	Name	Minimum Order Quantity	Price
600005297	600022606	COLORPRINT RA BL/FX	2X10L This is also confusing because in reality this is 2.4L of Part A concentrate and 2.4L of Part B concentrate. Packaged in 4 separate bottles.	$28 USD

I was able to purchase this from Southpoint Photo Imaging supplies and they were very helpful.

What this looks like in reality when you get the minimum amount Fuji sells to get a complete set of chemistry to do an RA-4 print:

 

[koraks]

I'm sure this will be helpful to some, at least in the US!

Note that Fuji item no's, product names and packaging changes on a whim and can (will) vary locally. For instance, the chemistry you've got there is US-made, and it's different from what we get here in Europe. What also doesn't help is that there's chemistry being made under the Fujifilm name and under the Fuji Hunt name (Europe/Belgium) and the products will indeed be different.

In the end, it doesn't matter much (at all) as long as you get developer, starter and blix. Anything will work, really. Replenishment rates do vary, so consult with the appropriate Technical Bulletins to determine the rates for the products you get.

 

[synhare]

I'm sure this will be helpful to some, at least in the US!

Note that Fuji item no's, product names and packaging changes on a whim and can (will) vary locally. For instance, the chemistry you've got there is US-made, and it's different from what we get here in Europe. What also doesn't help is that there's chemistry being made under the Fujifilm name and under the Fuji Hunt name (Europe/Belgium) and the products will indeed be different.

In the end, it doesn't matter much (at all) as long as you get developer, starter and blix. Anything will work, really. Replenishment rates do vary, so consult with the appropriate Technical Bulletins to determine the rates for the products you get.

If the labels on the bottles are to be believed, this particular batch was also manufactured in Belgium from chemistry from Italy, Netherlands, China.
I wonder how much difference there is between the stuff we get in North America vs rest of the world.

 

[koraks]

If the labels on the bottles are to be believed, this particular batch was also manufactured in Belgium from chemistry from Italy, Netherlands, China.

Ah, right, I see one of the labels on a bottle now. One of your cardboard boxes says it's manufactured in the US. I do know that the Belgian plant that manufactures the RA4 (and C41, E6) chemistry does quite a lot of business for the US in other fields, so it's sensible the US-sold RA4 chemistry is also (partly) sourced from here.

I wonder how much difference there is between the stuff we get in North America vs rest of the world.

That's something you never quite find out, and when you do, it has changed again...
One of the things I hope will improve soon is that Fuji themselves will provide clear information on which products are the most sensible choice for home & small scale darkroom users like ourselves. They've promised to work on this, but that's still a step away from actually getting it done.

 

[halfaman]

AFAIK color developers (CD-X) are produced in Asia, mainly in China. So the part of the developer coming from China is most probably the base of CD-3 and the one you should care the most.