Love/Hate Relationship with E-6

[etn]

E6 8X10. No projection needed

You guys are dangerous! I purposely limited my equipment to 6x6 because I did not want to spend thousands on a 6x7 (or larger) projector... Now I absolutely *have* to try large format... or at least 6x17. Thank you.
(Note from my bank: quit reading Photrio )

 

[md_photo]

I stand corrected Transparency projector would be a cool idea for an 8X10, or for that matter 4X5 or 5x7 slides too.

 

[MattKing]

Yep - they work well.
There are much more expensive options that will be usable in a large lecture hall, but those overhead projectors work fine for a classroom sized room or smaller.

 

[Ariston]

Man, I totally forgot about overhead projectors! You used to see those things everywhere a presentation was being made.

 

[MattKing]

Most schools probably still have one gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere ......

 

[JWMster]

Okay, just wanted to report that yesterday I ran 3 tanks of E6 chemistry, developing mostly Kodak's E100 in 16 shots off 4X5 and 5 rolls of E100 in 35mm. Used a Cinestill stick for keeping the rinse baths at temp in a separate bucket from my Jobo. And though I have yet to scan these puppies, it's like you said - almost a drug. Wow! And I've only done "test shots" so far. Nothing much beyond "hey, let's see if this works."
And it did. Ooops!

 

[Ariston]

Okay, just wanted to report that yesterday I ran 3 tanks of E6 chemistry, developing mostly Kodak's E100 in 16 shots off 4X5 and 5 rolls of E100 in 35mm. Used a Cinestill stick for keeping the rinse baths at temp in a separate bucket from my Jobo. And though I have yet to scan these puppies, it's like you said - almost a drug. Wow! And I've only done "test shots" so far. Nothing much beyond "hey, let's see if this works."
And it did. Ooops!

Oh man - I've never seen 4x5 slides. I probably shouldn't, unless I want to go bankrupt!

 

[MattKing]

Oh man - I've never seen 4x5 slides. I probably shouldn't, unless I want to go bankrupt!

What you really don't want to see is a 4x5 projector!
Although you can get pleasing results in a smaller room with an old style overhead projector.
We won't even talk about 8x10 transparencies.

 

[Ariston]

That would truly make me bankrupt. I've seen one guy on YouTube who tends to shoot a lot of Velvia 8x10, and I knew I better keep my distance!

Not to mention, I'm not sure my knees could handle carrying 8x10 gear around.

 

[JWMster]

I don't think of E6 film and development as driving anyone bankrupt. Sure... not cheap. But developed in your Jobo? Not the worst thing I could do by any means. I think I find E100 in 35mm gives me pause, but less so in 4X5 because you tend to be more sparse in shooting it? My estimate is close to 3X B&W in 4X5.

FWIW, 4X5 is far easier to get into development without having to fuss around with wrapping, threading, and wrestling it onto reels. One thing kind of weird (using Arista E6 chem) is that the initial water bath with 35mm is green/blue while with 4X5 it runs pink. Freaked me out a bit at first, but it came out. Since this was my first time doing slides, I have to say I wasn't prepared for the way the films dries. Initially, you get images on one side and cloudy "mud" on the other. But after an hour or so, the "mud" dries clear and you're fine. Having seen this and been put off each time - three times in a row, I'm getting used to it. If you go this route, just be forewarned and man up.

 

[md_photo]

35mm E6 development. This was Ektachrome E100 developed in the Arista Rapid E-6 kit.

EktachromeE100Scans020s by Maryland Photos, on Flickr

When I was first doing E-6 I was getting messed up rolls (most of the roll would be smeared terribly), until I started to really thoroughly wash the tray/tank after each development. The spindle in the tank (I use the Lab box) or some other part was holding on to the blix or something, from the previous (and successful development), maybe.

JW, I developed a 4X5 Ektachrome sheet this morning and your post reminded me, indeed, one side seems almost opaque while the sheet is still wet (although holding against light from the other side you still see the image clearly). Once it dries out both sides are clear.