Kodak C41 chemicals and availability

[wildbill]

I've read through several threads regarding c41 chemicals and their availability and I'm having a hard time getting them here in los angeles. I tried Chang's photo who has c41 stuff but they weren't very helpful. The film guy at Calumet in hollywood couldn't help either. He said kodak has cut the smaller quantity containers and only sells large ones. I'd like to call/go to a place, tell them I need c41 stuff, and have them put an order together for me. So far, no luck. I'll try calumet's headquarters tomorrow.

I'd like to keep it simple w/o starters/replenishers (like kodak SM, right?) if possible since I'll be using a Jobo and one-shot processing. I'd like quantities similar to the kodak 5L E-6 kit. I'm not interested in powder kits or the Arista liquid kit.

Where in L.A. can I get what I need? Can someone give me a source who's still open and the kodak catalog #'s they know still exist? $hipping is out of the question. Kodak or Trebla chemicals would be fine.

 

[DanielStone]

try samy's. have catalog #'s ready. if you're in the neighborhood, go to the Pasadena store. I'll PM you someone that I'd recommend talking to/dealing with. He's a great guy, and a former co-worker of mine(when I worked at Samy's, we were in the film dept. together)

PM on the way to you. PCC orders their C-41 stuff through them. but have Kodak part #'s, makes things much easier.

-Dan

 

[Bruce Watson]

Photographers' Formulary has been rumoring for a while now that they are going to repackage the Kodak C-41 stuff into smaller packages for the home user. I'm guessing 1 liter kits. A couple of months ago I heard they had finished everything but the instructions.

Call them and ask -- release of the kits might be imminent. But you never really know until you get it into your hands.

I'm hoping they'll being selling by May -- what color film I shoot, I tend to shoot in spring.

 

[Tim Gray]

Photographers' Formulary has been rumoring for a while now that they are going to repackage the Kodak C-41 stuff into smaller packages for the home user. I'm guessing 1 liter kits. A couple of months ago I heard they had finished everything but the instructions.

I wrote them a couple weeks ago and was told it would be out in a 'short bit.' Working on 'packaging and pricing and such.'

I was also told it will be Kodak chemistry (yay!) I can't wait.

 

[nickandre]

I buy developer and fix from Adorama in NYC. The shipping is expensive, but it gets you the chemistry. I usually hunt ebay for bleach. Buying 10 liter packages is not a problem for me. I mix up 4 liters of developer, decant it into glass bottles, and use it as I need it. It lasts for many months in glass.

 

[wildbill]

I figure it's available in los angeles somewhere so I'm hoping to buy it locally, this is one of the largest cities in the world with probably one of the largest image making markets as well. The formulary thing sounds great but would have to be shipped as well and it's not available. I'm not really interested in shipping.

 

[MikeSeb]

I have to order all mine, since no one locally sells it. Attempts to have the local color lab (the only one for probably 100 miles) order if for me when they order their own were a failure for a mix of reasons. I get fixer from B&H (I get free shipping for my NAPP membership, which is the best reason to join; I've made my membership dues many times over in shipping charges saved.) B&H won't ship bleach or developer for "hazmat" reasons, so I get them from Southpoint Photo Imaging out of Nashville. (ZZ is your man there.)

Bleach and fixer keep forever, and C-41 fixer is perfect for B&W also; cheap as sand and highly effective. (I use it diluted 1+1 for B&W, so it's even more economical.) I buy these both in the large "cubes". Bleach is pricey, but there's no reason not to buy a year's worth at a time; at least that way you get your money's worth for the hazmat and shipping charges. The bleach is the Trebla "universal", and is a concentrate in the cubes, which make about a zillion gallons of the stuff.

C-41 developer is the harder problem since it's perishable. I've been buying the 2-L Flexicolor SM kits, which as you say don't require starters. Southpoint's minimum order is a case of six kits (12L of developer), which is enough for about 80 rolls of 120, give or take. This is about 6 months' worth for me. I mix up half of each kit at a time (not hard to do), and use that liter usually within two weeks. The opened concentrates for the second liter of each kit keep just fine for as long as a month or six weeks. Unopened, the kits are dated out more than a year.

It's tough to imagine, though, vinny, that you couldn't get all this stuff in LA. If I had a non-shipping choice I'd be all over it, but alas, I don't.

 

[Jedidiah Smith]

Did you talk to the guys at Freestyle? They've always been helpful when I was there, and may be able to point you in the right direction. Samy's was already recommended, and I think they're the other "big one" in L.A. area.

Jed

 

[kompressor]

Freestyle i think will be the best place. Call them and ask for getting you some kits from Rollei. They are sold in Europe by macodirect.de. I use this Rollei Digibase C41 chemistry. I process a lot of film pr. litre and it gives ´me the most beautiful C-41 negs i ever have seen. Since Maco is selling products in big amount trough Freestyle in US, i think its just a matter of asking, if freestyle isnt having it already

 

[mtjade2007]

Bill, starter + replenisher is the best for you. Chang's Photo is a wholesale supplier for labs. All labs use replenisher and occasionally starter. You first mix replenisher concentrate with water to make replenisher. Then you add starter and water again to make working developer. It's very easy.

Chang's Photo is owned by koreans. I know their service sucks. It's not they don't want to help. It's they don't know how to do business with the general public. There is another wholesale supplier in LA (LA is so large, I don't mean in down town LA). It is owned by a Chinese guy. I would go to this Chinese guy but I don't remember the name of the company. A lab owner friend once took me to his warehouse. He has everything you need. He is much much friendlier and easier to deal with.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Try contacting the Formulary. It might help. IDK.

PE

 

[guyjr]

I wrote them a couple weeks ago and was told it would be out in a 'short bit.' Working on 'packaging and pricing and such.'

I was also told it will be Kodak chemistry (yay!) I can't wait.

WOW - that is great news to hear! I did my homework by searching here late last year on the feasibility of using Kodak C-41 chems at home one-shot too, and came to the conclusion that, at least to start, it was best to go with the liquid Tetenal 5L kit. I couldn't determine how one would go about using the SM chemicals (yes read through all of the Kodak tech pubs too) one-shot... the E-6 kit is much more straightforward in this respect.

I will be keeping my eyes peeled for info about the PF kit - any idea on who would be selling it? (Freestyle, B&H, or perhaps just direct from the source?)

 

[wildbill]

Freestyle i think will be the best place. Call them and ask for getting you some kits from Rollei. They are sold in Europe by macodirect.de. I use this Rollei Digibase C41 chemistry. I process a lot of film pr. litre and it gives ´me the most beautiful C-41 negs i ever have seen. Since Maco is selling products in big amount trough Freestyle in US, i think its just a matter of asking, if freestyle isnt having it already

Freestyle won't touch kodak chemicals.
I made an inquiry about the digibase c41 and they're checking into a special order for me.

If you guys have kodak/trebla catalog numbers for items you've mentioned, please pm me with details as there are so many different chemicals and the prices are all over the place. I've looked up stuff like the trebla universal bleach mentioned earlier but can't find it. I don't understand all the lingo surrounding the various options.

 

[Tim Gray]

This just in from Photo Forumulary:
C-41 kits

 

[Photo Engineer]

I have tested this kit and it works perfectly!

PE

 

[jglass]

Oh yeah! Let's here for the Formulary! Now that's what I call listening to your customer base!

 

[fotch]

What is the capacity of the kit, how many rolls of film can you do?

 

[Photo Engineer]

Guys, the capacity is exactly what a Kodak kit would get.

And, so, the price is too high? Then go buy a 10 liter kit yourself and divide it up! Is that cost effective for you considering any loss or spoilage?

PE

 

[fotch]

Guys, the capacity is exactly what a Kodak kit would get.

And, so, the price is too high? Then go buy a 10 liter kit yourself and divide it up! Is that cost effective for you considering any loss or spoilage?

PE

A simple answer to the question would be nice.

It might be cheaper to buy the 10 liter kit and throw away 2/3 of it.

I don't know, that is why I asked.

So shoot me.:rolleyes:

 

[Bruce Watson]

I have tested this kit and it works perfectly!

PE

What's the developer replenisher for? Do they expect us to replenish (I was hoping to use one-shot because I'm using a Jobo rotary processor)? Or is it perhaps to "season" the developer?

And the capacity of the kit -- about 800 sqin? That's about 10 rolls of 135-36, or 10 8x10 sheets?

With your endorsement, I'm in.

 

[Photo Engineer]

A simple answer to the question would be nice.

It might be cheaper to buy the 10 liter kit and throw away 2/3 of it.

I don't know, that is why I asked.

So shoot me.:rolleyes:

Everyone complains.

This is a repackaged Kodak kit and so works the same as a Kodak kit. The data you want is on the Kodak web site. So, shoot me!

PE

 

[Photo Engineer]

What's the developer replenisher for? Do they expect us to replenish (I was hoping to use one-shot because I'm using a Jobo rotary processor)? Or is it perhaps to "season" the developer?

And the capacity of the kit -- about 800 sqin? That's about 10 rolls of 135-36, or 10 8x10 sheets?

With your endorsement, I'm in.

The replenisher is all Kodak now sells. Included with the replenisher is the starter so that you have a regular unseasoned developer when mixed according to instructions.

A lot of work and searching went into this small kit. Among other things, I find that it is repackaged under nitrogen to keep the concentrates fresh for you.

So, don't knock it. Seems to me you all got what you wanted. If you want 4 liter (~1 gallon) size, then you will have to go to the Formulary and ask.

PE

 

[Tim Gray]

I'd love to be able to buy a 1 gallon or 10 liter kit too, but heck, I've not been able to find the bleach online anywhere in reasonable quantities. I'm going to order one of these and try it out.

 

[Tom Taylor]

The SM kit says it is designed for the mini-lab not for a Jobo or hand processing in a small tank.

The 10 Liter Developer Replinsher Kit makes about 12.5 gallons of working tank solution. You first make the replenisher and then add water and starter to make the working solution.

 

[guyjr]

I e-mailed the Formulary earlier today with some questions about the kit, and received a reply with an attachment containing the Kodak data sheet that is included with the kit:

http://www.photoformulary.com/uploads/Flexicolor C-41 developer instructions.pdf

(this link is on their MSDS page, and mentioned on the C-41 kit page as well)

I read through it and this info comes from 2005, and contains details on Small Tank, Sink Line, Batch, and Rotary Tube processing.

EDITED
Right in the beginning, on the third page, for small tank processing, it lists various film sizes and the number of rolls of each that can be processed per quart / liter. For 120 film (what I shoot primarily), it is 10 rolls / liter.

My mistake on the above - that table is only for the bleach, fixer, and final rinse capacities.


My only remaining question is about the contents of the kit, which differs somewhat to what the instructions say... it lists Dev and Dev Replenisher. Is the idea that you mix the two to create a concentrated developer, and then further dilute that for one-shot use? Or do you mix both when you do the dilution. (i.e., mix once, or mix 10 times for 10 rolls of 120?)

I also got a shipping estimate of $11.95 for one kit to NJ, $14.95 for two kits, so it is worth it to buy multiple kits to save on shipping.