but is it worth paying twice the price as the 3 bath? i'm getting great results with the tetenal kit so would like to hear from someone who has tried both.
Haven't tried both, but given that the capacity is listed as 40 (135) rolls at $214.98 (after shipping), that works out to $26.87 for a 5 roll set. And push/pull processing is free. I must do the work, but then it's also same day processing. Might even be one-hour, if it's important and I hustle my butt a bit.
At a high-quality and well-respected mail-order E-6 processor in Kansas, it currently runs $51.25 for those same 5 rolls. Push/pull processing for all 5 nudges that cost up to $76.25. I don't have to do the work, but I must wait approximately 4-6 days to see the results.
That makes out-of-pocket standard (non-push/pull) processing costs for true six-step E-6 processing a 47.6% discount in my favor over commercial processing.*
I don't factor in the cost of my time because it's a hobby activity, making that time spent a net plus to me anyway.
So it all depends on one's needs and budget and darkroom/equipment availability. Autumn is coming and is my favorite color transparency season. I just now placed a pre-order for one kit through Freestyle.
As always, YMMV...
Ken
* The abbreviated three-step processing would not be an apples-to-apples cost comparison, as there is a fair amount of opinion by those in a position to know that the three-step process is a less-than-optimal alternative over the long run. Again, YMMV.