B&W reversal day. some FP4 and Xtreme 100

Wow, distilled water cost THAT much in the UK?

I knew it wasn't as inexpensive other places as here but wow...

It's eighty-eight cents a gallon in the least expensive grocery store here. More expensive places are about a dollar. The price for distilled water is pretty much inconsequential for mixing darkroom solutions.

Roger Cole said:

Wow, distilled water cost THAT much in the UK?

I knew it wasn't as inexpensive other places as here but wow...

It's eighty-eight cents a gallon in the least expensive grocery store here. More expensive places are about a dollar. The price for distilled water is pretty much inconsequential for mixing darkroom solutions.

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Yes, it's extortionate. A lot cheaper if you buy 50 litres etc. but then you either have to pay huge delivery costs or drive miles to source it.

Hopefully my (currently cooling) pan of boiled water will do the trick.

Roger: Other than sugar and milk, possibly everything else is expensive in UK.

I've done reverse processing of B&W films in the past and had some great results so can confirm it is worth trying. I started off using a product called "Speedibrews Celer-Reverser" and T-Max 400, but ended up using FP4+ using the ilford instructions here: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/20061291034093.pdf.

It has been ages now but the two things I remember are that you have to be very consistent with processing and do lots of testing to get the right ISO for they way you process. I've lost my notes but i'm sure I was shooting FP4+ at ISO 64. And a bright projector is also beneficial.

There was a T-Max reversal kit made by Kodak that was popular (though expensive) which I think may still be available if you don't fancy mixing up your own chemicals.

Ashfaque said:

Roger: Other than sugar and milk, possibly everything else is expensive in UK.

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Even "Strong" Pickled Onions?
(I so miss the ones that used to be readily available in Canada)

MattKing said:

Even "Strong" Pickled Onions?
(I so miss the ones that used to be readily available in Canada)

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Actually, those pickled onions are still super-cheap over here. The only thing that is.

I think it's time for me to (once again) have a gripe about how Ilford are a few miles up the road from here, but manage to sell everything much cheaper thousands of miles away. I love to support them, but they are really taking the p**s.

Matt: Even though I was born in a family from Indian subcontinent. I was never a fan too much onion or garlic. I like them but never too much.

FujiLove said:

Actually, those pickled onions are still super-cheap over here. The only thing that is.

I think it's time for me to (once again) have a gripe about how Ilford are a few miles up the road from here, but manage to sell everything much cheaper thousands of miles away. I love to support them, but they are really taking the p**s.

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Re the high Ilford price in UK: The only logical 'speculation' I can think of is the large buying power and thus the upper hand in price negotiation of NA big players like BHPhoto, Adorama, and Amazon with Harman/Ilford. In other words, Ilford cannot afford to lose their NA customers that they get through these major players. So perhaps, Ilford is making up some of the 'lost' revenues by charging more in the local market. If that were true, I can see why Harman/Ilford would never admit to it (a least won't say anything about it).

Bests,
Ashfaque

Ashfaque said:

Matt: Even though I was born in a family from Indian subcontinent. I was never a fan too much onion or garlic. I like them but never too much.



Re the high Ilford price in UK: The only logical 'speculation' I can think of is the large buying power and thus the upper hand in price negotiation of NA big players like BHPhoto, Adorama, and Amazon with Harman/Ilford. In other words, Ilford cannot afford to lose their NA customers that they get through these major players. So perhaps, Ilford is making up some of the 'lost' revenues by charging more in the local market. If that were true, I can see why Harman/Ilford would never admit to it (a least won't say anything about it).

Bests,
Ashfaque

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That may be part of the reason, but it doesn't explain why small retailers in the US are still able to charge less than the big retailers in the UK, such as Amazon. When I've mentioned this before some people have pointed to tax rates, but Ilford products are much cheaper in mainland Europe where the VAT rate is roughly the same.

Another explanation is that ALL the UK retailers are marking up Ilford products much more than ALL the retailers overseas. This seems unlikely as it's across the board and other countries such as Germany also have high labour and other business costs.

I still think Ilford are simply gouging us and charging what they believe we will pay. The fact that we keep buying the product means they have the right business strategy!

Ashfaque said:

Re the high Ilford price in UK: The only logical 'speculation' I can think of is the large buying power and thus the upper hand in price negotiation of NA big players like BHPhoto, Adorama, and Amazon with Harman/Ilford. In other words, Ilford cannot afford to lose their NA customers that they get through these major players. So perhaps, Ilford is making up some of the 'lost' revenues by charging more in the local market. If that were true, I can see why Harman/Ilford would never admit to it (a least won't say anything about it).

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There is an independent distributor between Harman and the US retailers. That is the entity with the "large buying power", although that is no doubt fueled by the orders from B & H et al.

Is it time for some Kodachrome trichrome black and white positives? Washing soda + bleach + clearing bath remjet be gone.

Ashfaque said:

Roger: Other than sugar and milk, possibly everything else is expensive in UK.

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I knew distilled water, in particular, was considerably more expensive in most other places than the US. I have read that this is largely a function of energy cost as distillation is energy expensive. But I didn't realize it was THAT much. Heck, I use 50% distilled and 50% tap for water changes in my aquarium (mainly because my tap water ph is rather high. The fish I have, courtesy of ex-wife, prefer a slightly higher than neutral ph but I get it about where I want it this way.) I use 2.5 gallons a week for that for a 50% change in a 10 gallon tank. Roughly two dollars and twenty cents worth.

Regarding Ilford prices, I don't know the reason any more than anyone else but I don't blame you for being irritated. OTOH if I can complain about Kodak, their prices on sheet film are insane and leading me to change from TMY-2 to HP5+ for my 4x5. But I think that Kodak is charging exorbitant prices for sheet film in all markets. I could still shoot TMY-2 as I just don't use that much 4x5 but it isn't worth the difference to me compared to HP5+.

Does anyone know if there's a difference between 'Iron Out' and 'Super Iron Out'? Amazon UK sells the former but not the latter. Just wondering if it's a less potent version.

I don't know. my last bottle of super iron out is finished so i had to buy the plain iron out. Seems lowes no longer sells it in the stores and its now home depot, who carries the plain bottled iron out. I haven't used it yet but will post when I do and let you know the results. the bottle does say it contains the same ingredients, for whatever that's worth.

john

FujiLove said:

Does anyone know if there's a difference between 'Iron Out' and 'Super Iron Out'? Amazon UK sells the former but not the latter. Just wondering if it's a less potent version.

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Check the MSDS's on-line. If there are any significant differences they should differ in some respect.

FujiLove said:

Does anyone know if there's a difference between 'Iron Out' and 'Super Iron Out'? Amazon UK sells the former but not the latter. Just wondering if it's a less potent version.

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sorry for bumping an old thread, but i was asked this question recently.

I can confirm, both from usage and an email to the maker of iron out, that it is the same formula, they just changed the bottle. did 10 rolls a month ago with no issues.

john

destroya said:

sorry for bumping an old thread, but i was asked this question recently.

I can confirm, both from usage and an email to the maker of iron out, that it is the same formula, they just changed the bottle. did 10 rolls a month ago with no issues.

john

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Thanks John. And thanks for bumping. You reminded me I must get some B&W slides done

destroya said:

sorry for bumping an old thread, but i was asked this question recently.

I can confirm, both from usage and an email to the maker of iron out, that it is the same formula, they just changed the bottle. did 10 rolls a month ago with no issues.

john

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John...Thanks for finding this and PM-ing this thread in response to my question. The chemo reversal reminds me of E4...as E3 required light reversal. Both were B&W negative film before the color developer.

In ancient times I processed both E3 and E4 at home (bathtub temp stabilized) and in studio with nitrogen burst tank line (both on reels) but it never occurred to me to stop the process and see if the negative looked printable, OR to take color developer out of the process...I wonder if Ektachrome film would have produced B&W slides (which would have been sharper due to silver than color which depends on dye clouds)?

AND now that I think about it, I wonder how an edited professional (not kit) E6 process would produce B&W slides....??????????????