Getting back into E-6/C-41

GDI · Sep 19, 2022

I have a small stash of E200 in 120 and some 35mm c-41 that I should start shooting, in addition to my usual B&W.

I used to use the Kodak E-6 kits and Flexicolor C-41 and I have no experience with other chemistry. Any recommendations on the most cost effective (with quality ) kits available out there ? I process with a Jobo CPP-2 in my basement and prefer not to use a kit with terribly hazardous components.

Thx!

Sirius Glass · Sep 19, 2022

I use the UniColor 1 liter kit with my Jobo CPP-2. Can get up to 16 rolls processed from the kit. I run batch after batch so that I have finished all 16 rolls in 2 to 3 days. I have never process more rolls per kit and have never used the chemicals after three days, but I have never had a color shift problem with the kit.

GDI · Sep 19, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I use the UniColor 1 liter kit with my Jobo CPP-2. Can get up to 16 rolls processed from the kit. I run batch after batch so that I have finished all 16 rolls in 2 to 3 days. I have never process more rolls per kit and have never used the chemicals after three days, but I have never had a color shift problem with the kit.

The unicolor C-41 1 Liter kit indicates that it will process 8 35mm rolls. Are you saying that the Jobo is so efficient that you get twice as many rolls?

If so that is pretty impressive and cheap!

Duceman · Sep 19, 2022

I once did 28 rolls with the a Unicolor C-41 kit, over a week and a half. But the last two rolls were showing signs of degradation. However... I tend to store up my rolls over time until I get a good number to develop.

GDI · Sep 19, 2022

Duceman said:
I once did 28 rolls with the a Unicolor C-41 kit, over a week and a half. But the last two rolls were showing signs of degradation. However... I tend to store up my rolls over time until I get a good number to develop.

Wow 28 rolls - so you were reusing the chemicals rather than developing one-shot then ? That is pretty bold!

GDI · Sep 19, 2022

One thing I have noticed is the significant price difference between E-6 and C-41. So I may be shooting more of the later.

Joel_L · Sep 19, 2022

Most of these kits state their "normal" capacity, then will talk about reuse of chemical to extend the number of rolls. Some say reuse until you don't like the results and have a chart to extend the time vs number of extra rolls.

I tend to do my rolls 1 or 2 at a time, so I prefer liquid chemistry and mix for one shot use. I have also played with different dilutions to extend one shot use with good results. For liquid chemistry I purge the bottles after use and have had them last up to a year.

Will all come down to what results are acceptable to you. I have developed rolls at normal dilution and then my extra dilution and visually could not tell a difference.

For best results, I would recommend batch processing or put up with fewer rolls per kit.

Sirius Glass · Sep 19, 2022

GDI said:
The unicolor C-41 1 Liter kit indicates that it will process 8 35mm rolls. Are you saying that the Jobo is so efficient that you get twice as many rolls?

If so that is pretty impressive and cheap!

My Unicolor paper work states 12 rolls. The people a FreeStyle said that up to 16 rolls safely with not color shift. After that the color may stay stable or it may shift. I have never had a problem with 16 rolls.

Bish0v · Sep 19, 2022

Flic Film has some good options, they can sell you just the E-6, ECN-2 and C-41 developers in bulk respectively (80 Rolls). They also offer low-toxic and alternative kits. You can find the following here

Information : https://flicfilm.ca/

For Purchase : https://filmexperiencecamerastore.com/product-category/chemistry/color-chemistry/

Duceman · Sep 19, 2022

GDI said:
Wow 28 rolls - so you were reusing the chemicals rather than developing one-shot then ? That is pretty bold!

AFAIK, Unicolor C-41 kits are not "one shot," and as you pointed out earlier, the directions say that they are good for 8 rolls of 36-exposure 135 or 120. After 8 rolls, general rule of thumb is to add 2% to the development time for each additional roll. So, for example, on those last two rolls, I was adding 84 seconds of time beyond what the instruction indicated for the initial development time.

Sirius Glass · Sep 19, 2022

Duceman said:
AFAIK, Unicolor C-41 kits are not "one shot," and as you pointed out earlier, the directions say that they are good for 8 rolls of 36-exposure 135 or 120. After 8 rolls, general rule of thumb is to add 2% to the development time for each additional roll. So, for example, on those last two rolls, I was adding 84 seconds of time beyond what the instruction indicated for the initial development time.

I just followed the instructions.

koraks · Sep 20, 2022

Duceman said:
AFAIK, Unicolor C-41 kits are not "one shot,

"One shot" is a decision the user makes.
I doubt the Unicolor kit is intended for replenishment, which makes the whole capacity question a grey area. How safe is it to process 100% of the stated capacity? Or 110? 150? 200? At what point do the differences that start to build at the first reuse become visible? This depends on how you process the film further, and/or how you evaluate it.
At this time I find it impossible to say for someone else what the safe overcapacity of chemistry might be. One shot is a safe approach in a very conservative sense as it's the most consistent in a home lab environment. When it comes to any method that relies on reuse and recycle of chemistry - it just depends on do many factors. I'm not even going to take a stab at what's feasible.
I do know that the per roll cost of my one shot approach with Fuji minilab chemistry is so low I don't bother calculating it. It's less than €0.50 if memory serves. Low enough not to bother with questions like how can I stretch this developer a little more...just use once, chuck it and be happy.
Bleach is another story of course.

GDI · Sep 20, 2022

Thanks for the tips - I have ordered both an E-6 and a C-41 kit.

Duceman · Sep 20, 2022

koraks said:
At this time I find it impossible to say for someone else what the safe overcapacity of chemistry might be.

Who here was saying what the safe overcapacity of the chemistry may be? I surely wasn't. All I said is that I got 28 rolls developed out of a single batch. Obviously, YMMV.

koraks said:
One shot is a safe approach in a very conservative sense as it's the most consistent in a home lab environment.

With a 1L C-41 kit, that means two rolls of 120, or four rolls of 135. Not at all what I would consider to be "cost effective," which is something the OP inquired about.

GDI · Sep 20, 2022

Another question - I have the Tetenol Colortec E6 and a Rollei C-41 kit on the way.

I used to do a lot of color with a Phototherm processor in my barn, but in Connecticut that severely limits my winter processing. So I moved to the basement and have been limiting my film shooting to B&W.

Now that I want to do some color I am thinking about the ventilation in the basement, which is pretty large but I have no exhaust system. I can open the hatchway doors and the small slider ground level windows and keep the air flowing with a small portable fan.

Does it sound like I’ll be ok in a setup like this ? I get the strong feeling that I am over thinking this - so I wanted to get some other opionions on the safety of doing small batch developing in my house

MattKing · Sep 20, 2022

GDI said:
I get the strong feeling that I am over thinking this

You are.
With a Phototherm processor, the chemicals spend most of their time in bottles, hoses, developing tanks or bottles again. If the air moves enough to keep you comfortable, you should be fine.
I might be more concerned if you were tray processing sheet film and standing for extended times over the trays.

koraks · Sep 21, 2022

Duceman said:
I surely wasn't

I didn't imply you were.

Duceman said:
With a 1L C-41 kit, that means two rolls of 120, or four rolls of 135.

Or 6x 135 with a Jobo 1510 on a roller/CPE.
Besides, there are other options than the smaller kits. As I said before, I use the smaller minilab quantities that are highly economical even when used 1 shot.

GDI · Sep 21, 2022

MattKing said:
You are.
With a Phototherm processor, the chemicals spend most of their time in bottles, hoses, developing tanks or bottles again. If the air moves enough to keep you comfortable, you should be fine.
I might be more concerned if you were tray processing sheet film and standing for extended times over the trays.

Thanks - as I suspected, I am a bit overly cautious.

Though I no longer use a Phototherm and have switched to a Jobo w/lift for the flexibility. Still I would not be hovering over trays of in a small enclosed darkroom. I only load the film in an old Nova darkroom tent, and plan to do a bit of enlarging in it soon, but never process there.

Zawinul*Lava · Sep 30, 2022

Do you still own the phototherm? is that for sell

GDI · Oct 1, 2022

Zawinul*Lava said:
Do you still own the phototherm? is that for sell

Sorry, I sold it last summer. I only have some processing drums left over for it.

GDI · Oct 1, 2022

Ok so please give me your advice on this strategy for conservatively getting the most out of a 1liter kit of C-41 chemicals.

It is a Rollei kit and they say it can develop 12-16 rolls. So if I am conservative and shoot for 12 rolls and use my jobo 2500 tank it will do 2 rolls of 120 or 35mm with a minimum of 270ml. So I am thinking I can do 3 runs of two rolls each and save the chemicals. I would have 190ml of fresh developer still untouched.

If I dump 190 from my once used developer and replace it with the fresh I figure I should easily be good for 3 more jobo runs of 2 rolls each. That would give me another 6 rolls developed and result in a cost of about $3.66 a roll. (I guess I could do an extra run with the last mix and probably be safe to get 14 rolls out of the kit but I may not push it. )

Is my reasoning sound here? I usually do one shot, but given the quantities and the processing drum capacities, I don’t think is should be too worried. Next up is trying to source more cost effective larger quantities like I did with the old Kodak e-6 kit.

Thanks!

Getting back into E-6/C-41

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Getting back into E-6/C-41

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