Fotohuis said:
Fotospeed RA-4 is an OEM product of Amaloco Photochemicals.
Both the Rapidocolor and their RA-4 room temperature kits are more than excelent.
But also their RA-4 roomtemp can be used in an e.g. ACP processor on 27 degrees C. and run in 2X30 seconds (dev. + blix).
The lifetime of this Amaloco RA-4 roomtemp. is far superior over the Tetenal kit. Even Color specialists in Germany (like Wallner/FEM-Kunze) can confirm this statement.
Best regards,
Robert
I have chosen Robert for my reply but this is really a thanks to all the replies. I had given up any hope of getting any replies. I had thought that if there were no replies in about 3/4 days then there wouldn't be any. I should have had more faith in APUG members.
I had to take the plunge as they say and order before these replies arrived. I went for Paterson and used it last night. It appears to be as good as Tetenal and of course much cheaper. I had spoken to Nova Darkroom about Paterson and Stewart Band, Nova's darkroom colour expert said that the feedback from Paterson users was good.
Incidentally for anyone thinking of using Paterson, finding instructions on using the correct amount of starter for the initial batch is difficult. There is only a confusing reference o the website to the amount required and the bottle itself has no instructions.Replenisher instructions on the Paterson website are however clear. It is 1:9 Printmaster to water for replenisher at 35 degrees C which is what I process at in a Jobo. It seems that use at a lower temperature (so called room temperature) is also possible at 1:4. So you use the Printmaster at almost twice the rate but at the lower temperature no starter is required.
For anyone thinking of using Paterson at 35 degrees C the initial batch is 2% starter added to a 1:9 Printmaster to water. Nova's recommendation is 880ml water, 100ml printmaster and 20ml starter for 1 litre. Provided the initial batch is replenished often enough then no more starter is required and the ratio is 1:9 Printmaster developer to water. Presumably after a certain time of non use a fresh batch including starter would be needed. That is once the initial batch is made up it has a limited shelf life unless it is used. There is no indication of how often it needs replenishing to keep it in usable condition
The strange thing is that despite the low percentage of starter required, it come in 500ml bottles which is the same as the Printmaster developer. In fact the biggest amount of RA4 Printmaster developer you can buy is 1000ml. However Nova says that the starter does not deteriorate like developer so having to buy a 500ml bottle is not wasteful.
I intend writing to Paterson to ask that they include more information on their website including the developer's "use life" and replenishment rates and recommend that they include an instruction leaflet with each bottle of starter.
It appears Paterson has a good product which is badly marketed. This is a pity because no less an expert than Geoffrey Crawley who still tests for Amateur Photographer magazine in the U.K. was long associated with Paterson. Paterson has some really enthusiastic supporters in the photographic community.
In fact one person who calls himself Michael Scarpitti, I think, is almost evangelical about Paterson FX39, a B&W developer. He seems to be a regular contributor to Cafe Ilfopro which from my browsing is a site for users of Ilford products.
Interesting to hear that Fotospeed has longer life than Tetenal. In the U.K. Fotospeed is not quite as cheap as Paterson but of course a better "use life" and better replenishment rates than Paterson could make it a better buy.
If I get anything useful from Paterson then I'll pass it on.
Pentaxuser