Better alternative to Tetenal/Jobo C-41 press kit, compared to Rollei Digibase?

moodlover

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I'm looking for a Rollei Digibase C-41 1L kit in the US for my 120 film but can't seem to find where it's sold (does anyone have any recommendations?). I've heard that kits that separate their blix intro two parts usually yield a higher-quality, cleaner negative. Is there any truth to this statement and have any of you actually tested this for visible improvements? Anyways, what kit are you guys using at home to get the best color negatives? I find that the Jobo one is alright I guess. Nothing wrong with them but if I can get better scans using another kit I'm all for it.
 
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Pasto

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I just ordered the Unicolor C41 2L kit from Freestyle. I always used the Tetenal C-41 kit with great success but as pointed out B&H has changed their rules. I hope the Unicolor is just as good....
 

Pasto

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Regarding Blix vs separate bleach and fix, I've never tested the difference. However, I always run a control strip before developing film in a new batch of chemistry (using blix) and my process is always under control. As far as longevity, however, I have no clue...
 

pentaxuser

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moodlover, the Fuji-Hunt 1L kit has separate bleach and fix but I have no idea if it is available in the U.S. assuming you are U.S. based. Whenever anyone on APUG asks about materials I'd recommend he states where he is based otherwise he may get sources suggested to him that are not in the U.S. or material that is not readily available

There seems to be different opinions about blix v bleach and fix. I have to date only used kits that had blix. They were fine but my oldest "blixed" films are only about 10 years old and it may be too soon to judge if there will be long term issues

pentaxuser
 
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moodlover

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Hi, I've heard good things about the Fuji-Hunt 1L kit though if theres no visible difference I see no reason to change what works. Also I stated I was in the US in the first few words of my original post
 

pentaxuser

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moodlover said:
Hi, I've heard good things about the Fuji-Hunt 1L kit though if theres no visible difference I see no reason to change what works. Also I stated I was in the US in the first few words of my original post
Click to expand...

Yes sorry for that. You did mention it as I have since noticed. Best of luck with your search for a suitable 1L kit

pentaxuser
 
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moodlover

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What is maco? Also, still wondering if anyone found any visible differences in quality between blix vs separate bleach + fix.
 

RPC

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moodlover said:
Also, still wondering if anyone found any visible differences in quality between blix vs separate bleach + fix.
Click to expand...

Yes. Those process manufacturers (Kodak, Fuji, e.g.) who only produced a separate bleach and fix and never a blix for C-41.
 

mklw1954

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I started with Unicolor 4 years ago and got great results. Then I tried Rollei Digibase when Freestyle sold the bleach and fix kits (about 3 years ago) and got great results as well. I then went back to Unicolor after Freestyle sold the Digibase blix kits. I cannot see a difference in print quality between negatives from the Unicolor blix and Digibase bleach and fix kits.

As far as longevity, I can only say that I just made a print from a 4 year old blix negative that was originally printed 4 years ago and there was no change in enlarger settings and processing to get the same excellent print. Likewise, I got the same result printing from a 3 year old bleach fix negative.
 

RPC

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Film blixes degrade much more rapidly than separate bleach and fixes. Used freshly mixed, one might get comparable results to a separate bleach and fixer. But use it aged, or after having been used, and compare the results with aged or used bleach and fix and there is a likelihood there will be a difference. A blix may perform well under some circumstances but not all that a separate bleach and fix would, and users should beware of that. The main process manufacturers do not want to take a chance on this.
 
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Sirius Glass

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I have used the Unicolor C41 one liter kit for years. I get it from FreeStyle an APUG sponsor.
 

davedm

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moodlover said:
What is maco?
Click to expand...

Mahn GMBH / macophoto are the people behind Rollei Digibase chemistry. They source chemicals from compard and repack under Rollei. (BTW, They are now naming it compard only)

They have a website (http://macodirect.de/) where they offer their products along with numerous other brands of photo supplies. They offer international shipping at decent rate.

Another good thing is that you can later on buy individual components (dev, bleach, fix, stab) if you just need one/two components as some solutions have better capacity than others. HTH
 
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