Kodak Chemistry Alternatives

[Did I do that?]

I'm looking for a process Ektachrome 100 (the new stuff) and finding a real E-6 process has been difficult. I'd like to stay away from buying the E-6 Kits for a few reasons. So to that goal, I've purchased bulk chemistry for a VNF-1 process and will be attempting that soon, though I'm not 100% confident it will give me great results so I'm also pursuing the E-7 process detailed below. If anyone has done VNF-1 for Ektachrome I'd love to hear how that went for you.

I have the Kodak Recipe for E-7 which states that it's pretty much interchangeable with E-6. I'm stumped on a few of the ingredients. I can't find SDS sheets that might have clued me in on the composition of the components and thought some of you talented professionals might be able to decode them. Or show me where to look.

Here are the roadblocks I'm trying to decode.

Developer

1. Anti-calcium #4 (1mL) and #8 (4.8mL) - Whats the difference? EDTA right? Omit and use distilled?​

​

2. Kodak developing agent, DA-1 (22g)​

Reversal Bath

1. Kodak reversal agent, RA-4 (contains Stannous Chloride) (1.6g)​

Color Dev

1.Kodak Silver Halide Solvent, HS-104 (1g)​

Conditioner

1. Kodak Conditioner Agent CA-2 (.4mL)

Bleach

1. Kodak Bleaching Agent, BL-1

Stabilizer
(I presume I won't need the stabilizer But ill ask about this anyways)

1. Kodak Stabilizer additive (014mL) Photoflow 200?
   • this is to be mixed with Formalin 37% (6mL)

-Thanks in advance for any info!

 

[Steven Lee]

I am in the same boat. Looking to start processing E-6 at home and I do not want to use 1L kits. You are based in LA though. You guys are lucky to have the biggest film processing ecosystem in the country. Have you thought of reaching out to a few local labs and asking where they get their E-6 chemistry from?

 

[Did I do that?]

I am in the same boat. Looking to start processing E-6 at home and I do not want to use 1L kits. You are based in LA though. You guys are lucky to have the biggest film processing ecosystem in the country. Have you thought of reaching out to a few local labs and asking where they get their E-6 chemistry from?

I know they use packaged chemistry for the most part. But that's a good idea to call some of the chemists there and see if they have the answers to my questions. If so, I'll post

 

[NB23]

Why not use the e-6 chemistry?

 

[Steven Lee]

Why not use the e-6 chemistry?

It's not available in the US. The only E-6 option is various "kits" that trade quality and efficiency for convenience.

 

[Did I do that?]

Why not use the e-6 chemistry?

I do like the Tetonol kit. It's Excellent. But a little expensive. Alternatively, I've had a terrible experience with the Cinestill Kits. I could pay about 1/10th the price if I could find out what these branded chemicals are. I also get pleasure and fun from mixing up my own chemistry. I've been doing my own ECN-2 very successfully for a few years and now want to include Ektachrome. (I enjoy putting on a good slide show)

These Slides were expired 64T developed with a Tetonol Kit...

 

[Did I do that?]

I've found one.

Kodak developing agent, DA-1 (22g)

=Potassium hydroquinone monosulfate

 

[Did I do that?]

Anti Calcium #4	1ml	=Pentasodium salt, 40% solution
Anti Calcium #8	4.8ml	=Pentetic Acid, Pentasodium Salt, 40% solution

 

[tiberiuromanti]

Sorry I can't help, actually here to piggy back on your question, looking all places, still with no results and asking everyone for a ECN-1 formula for Kodak 5251 or good alternative process, any help would be appreciated, thank you

 

[Rudeofus]

You can find some chemical trade names in an article here. Kodak Anti Calcium #4 is a 40% solution of AMTP-Na5, which is a very powerful sequestering agent. If you leave it out, your soups won't last months like the commercial soups do.

BTW Stefan Lange posted very capable E-6 processing formulas here many years ago. These formulas avoid all the "complicated stuff". If you have access to "complicated stuff", then Kodak has published the complete formulas to their 5 liter home processing kit.

 

[Did I do that?]

Good to know Rudeofus. Thanks for the link to the "EZ-6" Recipe. I've located most of the needed chemistry. Now I need to get them to sell it to me.

 

[Rudeofus]

I believe, that Artcraft and Formulary should together offer all the chems you need for Stefan's C-41 and his E-6 chemistries. I can give you formulas and/or procedures to make reexposure bath, prebleach, bleach and fixer for these two processes.