Help, Anyone using Arista E-6 kits, any comments or tips?

Rick A · Jun 27, 2011

My old Kodak E-6 kit was no good, seems like the Arista E-6 three step kit appears to be the only one left in my price range. Is (or has) anyone been using it? Any comments, or tips, would be helpful. I have some Fuji Velvia 100f 4x5 and several rolls of RVP 135, plus some assorted rolls of 120 E-6 film that I plan on processing in it.

jermaineB · Jun 28, 2011

Haven't used it yet myself but plan to get the kit and try it this weekend!

Rick A · Jun 28, 2011

Please post your results and comments here, if you would, I'm anxious to see how it works.

bblhed · Jun 28, 2011

I have used it, and it works great, but be sure to use it up quickly after you mix it up. Unlike B&W developer this stuff will go bad quite quickly once it is mixed.

lightwisps · Jun 28, 2011

Being an ex Navy Aviator, I too salute your son. Don

Rick A · Jun 28, 2011

lightwisps said:
Being an ex Navy Aviator, I too salute your son. Don

Thank you Don. Though I am proud of ALL my kids, he is the apple of my eye.

rco3 · Jun 29, 2011

Seemed straightforward to me.

Ran my first two rolls through the Arista E6 kit on Sunday. Mixed it up using 105 degree water, put the newly mixed chems in my GE countertop roaster - excuse me, temperature-controlled water bath - and processed in a Paterson 3-reel per directions. Both rolls of Astia 100F (220) came out looking fine, at least to my untrained eye.

Rick A · Jun 29, 2011

very good! Now, how about any quirks with mixing? Do you think it will stay fresh between uses for any length of time? I would like to know if I have to shoot a pile of color all at once or if I can spread it out at whim.

rco3 · Jun 29, 2011

Mixing was simple, I just followed the directions. No quirks I can think of. I will say that it was fun watching the various solutions change colors as they were mixed.

As for how long they'll keep, I don't know. I put them in PETE bottles compressed down to eliminate airspace. Next time I use 'em and have the bottles emptied temporarily, I'll pop 'em back into shape and fill the extra volume with the marbles my wife brought home for me. But I've got enough film to process that I'm worried more about exhausting them than keeping them. And I don't have any previous experience with the kit to rely upon.

brucemuir · Jun 29, 2011

I used it my first time doing home E6 about 18 months back maybe.

It was quite good with Provia and I ended up pushing capacities a bit.
I didn't use it up all that fast either. I'd have to consult the chromes to get the data recorded but I think I used it over a good 4 months in tightly FULL plastic bottles ( pet 1 I think)

I think I had the 1 litre kit and broke it down into 2x 16 ouncers.
I don't want to post capacities until I find my notes.
I'll see if I have any digital manifestations of the actual chromes also.

I think you'll like it and it was straightforward.
We don't have much choice now anyway.

Rick A · Jun 30, 2011

Thank you Bruce, That's the kind of info I needed. I have a good bit of 4x5 and 135 chrome film and dont want to shoot it all at once, or have it sit for months until I have enough shot to make it worthwhile.

Puma · Jul 6, 2011

How many rolls of 36 exposures can I process with one of these kits?

Tony-S · Jul 7, 2011

Puma said:
How many rolls of 36 exposures can I process with one of these kits?

The data sheet says 8.

Edit: I should say that's for the 1 quart kit.

AlbertZeroK · Jul 8, 2011

I used the Artisan kit, now I have cubes of E-6 Fuji chemistry I got when Richmond Camera stopped developing film. I don't see much difference quality wise. Some reuse the Aristan stuff, I never did. Worked great in my Jobo, less steps. I mixed it up in smaller quantities, the longest I left it in the jobo bottles was about 2-3 weeks with no issue after mixing. Of course, I have a nitrogen tank so I give my developers a little shot before closing them up.

Help, Anyone using Arista E-6 kits, any comments or tips?

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