C-41 with 4x5

[Amund]

Not mentioned here often is doing color C-41 with 4x5.. Lately I found the developing C-41 is just as easy as B&W, if not easier, it`s not that hard keeping 100 F for 3m15s...
I bought the Tetenal Press Kit from B&H and some Kodak 160VC and I`m quite pleased with the results so far. Anyone else using color negative film?

I have developed E-6 at home with J&C developing tubes and also happy with the results, but I have to admit it`s quite a stressing experience keeping the temeratures right.... I need a Jobo...

 

[Nick Zentena]

Na you don't need a Jobo machine. Now the tanks are nice. They hold the temp pretty steady all on thier own. Plastic being an insulator.

 

[Ian Grant]

I've done a lot of C41 over the years mainly uprated XP-1 or XP-2 but also colour negatives with total sucess. And at the same time a lot more E-6 films and many uprated as I used to shoot Rock concerts.

With larger formats (5"x4" +) I've only processed E6, but C41 is far easier.

Unlike the Ferrania process I started with in the late 60's, and E-2/E-3/E-4 and C-22 life's so much simpler.

Ian

 

[Claire Senft]

On page 2 of C-41 sheet film develoment woes I made a rather long posting about a very inexpensive 75ºF method for processing C-41 film.

 

[bobfowler]

I also use the Tetenal C-41 soup. I do my C-41 and E6 large format stuff in a Unidrum with no problems at all. When I think of how many times I spent $5 a sheet to have a local lab just process the negs... argh!

 

[Amund]

Thanks, here in Norway it`s $8 a sheet!

 

[bobfowler]

Thanks, here in Norway it`s $8 a sheet!

As a cost comparison:

The Tetenal Press Kit (1 litre) costs $19.95 here (New Jersey, USA). I use the chemistry as a one shot using 125ml for 4 4x5 sheets in an 8X10 Unidrum. I can do 32 sheets with that $19.95 Press Kit which works out to about $.62 per sheet - an eightfold difference!

Unicolor specifies 60ml of solution as a minimum for 8X10 paper in the Unidrum, but they suggest doubling that amount if multiple smaller prints are processed. 125ml works out fine for 4 sheets of 4X5, and since technically the kit is capable of 12 to 16 36exp rolls of 35mm (or 48 to 64 4X5 sheets), that 125ml works out well within any reasonable limit of solution exhaustion.

To me though, the biggest plus is KNOWING that the solutions are fresh. It doesn't hurt one bit that I can also have confidence that if a negative gets scratched or damaged in any way, it was my own damn fault. My film goes straight from holder to drum and I never have to worry about a careless lab worker fogging my film (that has happened more than once).

Now, I wouldn't do it any other way...

 

[Ole]

To me though, the biggest plus is KNOWING that the solutions are fresh. It doesn't hurt one bit that I can also have confidence that if a negative gets scratched or damaged in any way, it was my own damn fault. My film goes straight from holder to drum and I never have to worry about a careless lab worker fogging my film (that has happened more than once).

Now, I wouldn't do it any other way...

Bob, that is precisely the reason I just bought a second-hand JOBO cpp-2. The seller had used it a couple of times a decade ago, it had been in storage since then.

I have had 5x7" slides returned from a "professional" lab with spots, stains, incomplete develoment, and footprints (!) on. From now on that will all be my own foot.

 

[bobfowler]

Bob, that is precisely the reason I just bought a second-hand JOBO cpp-2. The seller had used it a couple of times a decade ago, it had been in storage since then.

I have had 5x7" slides returned from a "professional" lab with spots, stains, incomplete develoment, and footprints (!) on. From now on that will all be my own foot.

About 15 years ago (living in a small, darkroomless apartment), I had a client drive from Washington DC to New Jersey for a portrait session. He wanted me because he knew my work and knew I would be willing to shoot the session in 5X7.

In a 2 hour session, I shot 40 sheets of T-Max 100. He paid his tab, and drove back home (about 4 hours) to Washington. The next morning, I took the 20 5X7 holders to a "professional" lab, along with 3 more holders (clearly marked) that were nothing but shots of a Macbeth color checker and Kodak gray scale so they could dial in the development. I figured, "How could they screw up? They've got 6 sheets to use as test material before running the actual job. I've done my part."

BZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTT!!!!!!!! Wrong, buzzard breath!

Not only did they NOT run the test sheets first (as they promised), the schmuck that was running my film left a safelight on when he opened my holders to extract the film! He fogged every friggin' sheet - NOTHING was usable.

I had to save face, so I paid for my clients transportation back to New Jersey, reshot the session, and did what I should have done in the first place - souped the film in my bathroom.

Needless to say, I lost money on that job, but at least I still have the client (to this day!).

 

[jperkinson]

blix, you're exactly right. I think the J&C tubes are very good, and I've had very good results in b&w and now c41 (now that I've actually learned how to load a holder with color film!).

You're braver than I am doing E-6... How important is it to stay with in ~1F of 100 when you soup transparencies anway?