Is BLIX all there is now? (in USA)

albada · Apr 8, 2013

Now that the Rollei kit has vanished, I see no way of getting a hobbyist' kit with a separate bleach and fix. All use a Blix.

* Freestyle's three brands (Arista, Unicolor, Tetenal) are all Blix-based.
* B&H has one kit, and it uses a Blix.
* PhotoFormulary.com appears to have dropped their repackaged Flexicolor kit.

I want the assurance of top quality that a separate bleach and fix provide. Please tell me I missed it some place.

Mark Overton

Julian Russell · Apr 8, 2013

'Been looking for separate bleach and fix kit, too...no luck yet.
A guy at Freestyle said that the Rollei kit is being reformulated and will return but when I asked when he replied: "don't hold your breath".

Roger Cole · Apr 8, 2013

C41 or E6?

C41:

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E6:

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They aren't "kits" but they are available, and fairly cheap.

Nuff · Apr 8, 2013

Julian Russell said:
'Been looking for separate bleach and fix kit, too...no luck yet.
A guy at Freestyle said that the Rollei kit is being reformulated and will return but when I asked when he replied: "don't hold your breath".

I don't think it's being reformulated since you can order it from macodirect.de without any issues. I just had the 5litre kit delivered couple of weeks ago.

David Grenet · Apr 8, 2013

Roger Cole said:
C41 or E6?

C41:

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E6:

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They aren't "kits" but they are available, and fairly cheap.

Also only the Bleach starters. You need the replenishers as well.

wildbill · Apr 8, 2013

you can get the fuji 5L E6 kits in the us if you don't mind the $$$. there are members here using it.

edit: now I see you're speaking of C41. nevermind.

destroya · Apr 8, 2013

I've bought c41 components locally but with e-6, unless you want to pay just as much for shipping as the chems, you are stuck with BLIX. now ive used BLIX, and the results are great but I have no idea about longevity.

Roger Cole · Apr 8, 2013

David Grenet said:
Also only the Bleach starters. You need the replenishers as well.

Are you sure? The description doesn't sound like it. For developer you only need the replenisher if you're doing replenishment. All you need for one shot is the starter. Bleach might be the same way (don't know, just asking.)

David Grenet · Apr 8, 2013

You might be able to use just the replenisher, but the starter doesn't contain the active ingredients, it just 'seasons' the solution so it behaves the same as if you've already run film through it. That's why the starter is so cheap compared to the replenisher...

albada · Apr 9, 2013

Well, you've all answered my question about only Blix being available.
Yes, this is for C-41; sorry that I didn't mention that.
Blix it is. Sigh.

Mark Overton

mike-o · Apr 13, 2013

I've been using the press kit for years with decent results. Just put together the flexicolor chemicals, and the results blow me away. it can be really confusing trying to figure out what's needed, but I had someone show me the way, and it's really simple.

albada · Apr 16, 2013

mike-o said:
I've been using the press kit for years with decent results. Just put together the flexicolor chemicals, and the results blow me away. it can be really confusing trying to figure out what's needed, but I had someone show me the way, and it's really simple.

Likewise, AM radio sounds okay ... until you hear FM.

Blix versus separate bleach+fixer. I guess I'll try a blix-kit and compare results with Costco's minilab, which does good work. Maybe it'll be like AM versus FM, but I'd like to see the difference.

Mark Overton

EdSawyer · Apr 16, 2013

Look in the "Color Processing Bleach" thread here in this forum. There's several places that sell the separate bleach and fix (Flexicolor). No reason to settle for Blix.

-Ed

albada · Apr 17, 2013

EdSawyer said:
Look in the "Color Processing Bleach" thread here in this forum. There's several places that sell the separate bleach and fix (Flexicolor). No reason to settle for Blix. -Ed

Thanks for the pointer, but they're selling large sizes. I could not use 5 litres of each chemical before it goes off.
Maybe I'll call the Formulary and encourage them to resume repackaging Flexicolor.

Mark Overton

tnabbott · Apr 17, 2013

Roger Cole said:
Are you sure? The description doesn't sound like it. For developer you only need the replenisher if you're doing replenishment. All you need for one shot is the starter. Bleach might be the same way (don't know, just asking.)

What is the measurement to use for developer one shot using starter?

EdSawyer · Apr 17, 2013

no need to worry

Mark, the bleach and fix last forever. The bleach literally DOES last forever, mixed or not. I have been using the same 5L batch with regeneration for at least 2 years and it's still fine.

The fix is uber-cheap, and also lasts nearly forever. I have yet to have a problem with it, even a couple years old, mixed. Mainly i store the concentrate and mix and use it one-shot.

Anyway, just an FYI.

-Ed

albada said:
Thanks for the pointer, but they're selling large sizes. I could not use 5 litres of each chemical before it goes off.
Maybe I'll call the Formulary and encourage them to resume repackaging Flexicolor.

Mark Overton

Roger Cole · Apr 17, 2013

tnabbott said:
What is the measurement to use for developer one shot using starter?

Sorry, my mistake, you are right - it's the replenisher you can use one shot by itself.

chrisaisenbrey · Apr 17, 2013

In Europe the Rollei kit and its components seem to be still available:

http://www.macodirect.de/digibase-single-units-c-416_404_534_405.html

(thats actually the online-shop of the producer of Rollei films and chemistry)

But of cause the shipping costs are quite high for the US.

Perhaps if many people ask them for a reseller in the US

Chris

Roger Cole · Apr 17, 2013

albada said:
Likewise, AM radio sounds okay ... until you hear FM.

Blix versus separate bleach+fixer. I guess I'll try a blix-kit and compare results with Costco's minilab, which does good work. Maybe it'll be like AM versus FM, but I'd like to see the difference.

Mark Overton

While the point is fair, I made a side by side comparison between six step and three step E6 back when the three step E6 kits came out, and found I slightly preferred the results from the three step. The difference was small and wouldn't have been noticed if not looking for it. I know the lack of stabilizer is bad from a longevity standpoint, but you can buy that separately and cheaply. Theory is one thing, and I respect it a lot, but many people who aren't all too naive to know better do get results they re happy with from blix.

RPC · Apr 17, 2013

Roger Cole said:
Sorry, my mistake, you are right - it's the replenisher you can use one shot by itself.

The replenisher should not be used by itself to develop film. It must be mixed with water and starter to make a developer working solution as per directions.

StoneNYC · Apr 18, 2013

chrisaisenbrey said:
In Europe the Rollei kit and its components seem to be still available:

http://www.macodirect.de/digibase-single-units-c-416_404_534_405.html

(thats actually the online-shop of the producer of Rollei films and chemistry)

But of cause the shipping costs are quite high for the US.

Perhaps if many people ask them for a reseller in the US

Chris

What confuses me is, they say the E-6 kit on the site does 40 rolls, but is that 40 rolls as a ONE SHOT?

So if you reuse it extending the first developer times, it would increase the usable roll's developed?

Am I wrong? It ends up being about $160 with the shipping and I'm not sure about what "VAT" means but I assume that's some kind of pollution charge which puts the price at a total of $185 (roughly) to order one kit to the US.

So if you buy an Arista kit that does 20+ rolls of E-6 for $35 why spend so much more for a 5L 6 bath kit unless I can get significantly more than 40 rolls out of it?

also I thought the reason the Arista kit doesn't come with stabilizer was it was in the blix or something? Does this mean I have to re-wash everything in a stabilizer or I'll loose my film? Or is stabilizer only for C-41? I've asked this before but now that I have more understanding of it all, I'm asking again.

I also thought the color bleach and fix (both E-6 and C-41) were done to exhaustion so you can just leave them in a bit longer to be sure?

~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

StoneNYC · Apr 18, 2013

EdSawyer said:
...I have been using the same 5L batch with regeneration for at least 2 years and it's still fine....

Is regeneration different than replenisher? If so what's the process? Thanks!

~Stone

Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1, 5DmkII / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

MattKing · Apr 18, 2013

VAT is a value added (sales) tax - as I understand it VAT shouldn't be charged on purchases that are from out of the EU.

Canadian GST or (in the provinces who use it) HST is a form of value added tax.

Roger Cole · Apr 18, 2013

RPC said:
The replenisher should not be used by itself to develop film. It must be mixed with water and starter to make a developer working solution as per directions.

I don't know about film and C41, but paper can be developed just fine using just the RA4 replinisher.

Ok, diluted with water of course. Anyone who didn't already know that doesn't have any business jumping into color. Or black and white for that matter.

Mr Bill · Apr 18, 2013

StoneNYC said:
Is regeneration different than replenisher? If so what's the process? Thanks!

Yes, they are different.

Briefly: you process in what is called a "tank solution." During the processing, the tank solution becomes "used up," in some manner. To counteract this, you can add quantities of an extra-strength solution, called "replenisher." These additions allow the tank solution to remain at its normal operating strength.

The addition of replenisher tends to produce a surplus of solution in the processing tanks. Normally, this surplus would be considered as waste. However, it is sometimes possible to collect this surplus then add a "regenerator" mix which converts it back into a replenisher. (I know it seems confusing.)

Nowdays, the only things worth regenerating are probably bleach and, for paper, bleach-fix. In the case of bleach-fix, it's necessary to desilver it first, then aerate prior to regenerating.

Is BLIX all there is now? (in USA)

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