Mitsubishi color paper and film

Paul Howell · May 12, 2020

I have not printed color in quite a while, I've been browsing and found that Photo Warehouse is selling Mitsubishi R4 paper, I checked the Mitsubishi imaging website, appears to be current updated 2020. There is listing for R4 paper and ISO 200 color film. The Photo Warehouse advises not to use Fuji R4 chemistry, to clean any machinery, drums if had been used with Fuji chemistry. Anyone have any experience with Mitsubishi papers and films?

koraks · May 13, 2020

Paul Howell said:
Anyone have an

Yes. Together with another forum member I purchased some of this paper last year. I have not been able to make a decent print on it. Horribly fogged in a tan/yellow hue. I took the statement seriously (after an initial attempt) to clean everything, mix new chemistry etc so that previously processed fuji paper wouldn't spoil the broth, but to no avail. Either my cleaning job was not thorough enough, or there's another problem. I put it aside and it's still waiting for me to give it another go, but I haven't had the time yet to look into it.

Agulliver · May 13, 2020

Those MX200 films were around with that box design in the early 2000s. I doubt they are a current product.

btaylor · May 13, 2020

I had the same experience as koraks. I have never used Fuji chemistry. Threw it out- what a waste of time!

pentaxuser · May 13, 2020

Perhaps someone can explain why Fuji RA4 chemistry should be a problem with another maker's RA4 paper? What reason does the Photo Warehouse give for cleaning out all Fuji chemistry? If it gives no reason at all then this would make me very suspicious

pentaxuser

koraks · May 13, 2020

pentaxuser said:
Perhaps someone can explain why Fuji RA4 chemistry should be a problem with another maker's RA4 paper?

I wrecked my brain about it, but can't think of a reason to be honest.
My first impression was that I was dealing with heavily outdated paper because that's exactly what it looked like, but the seller allegedly said that they have many customers making thousands of prints on the paper with great success. I just left it at that and went back to fuji and kodak paper, which just works.

Paul Howell · May 13, 2020

Yeah thanks, just isn't worth the effort to make it work.

koraks · May 13, 2020

I'm cautious in blaming the material itself. I can only share my limited experiences with this paper. There might be a problem elsewhere, such as radiation damage due to xraying of cargo in the shipping process.

pentaxuser · May 13, 2020

I have seen prints from Mitsubishi RA4 paper in the past and unsurprisingly it produced proper colour RA4 prints. When you think about it it has to be proper RA4 paper doesn't it?. So if it is in date stuff then I see no reason not to buy it. I have no knowledge of the reputation of Photo Warehouse but it has to be kamakazi D) action to sell Japanese paper that isn't fit for use unless it has specified that this is expired with date specified and thus the buyer buys at his own risk. However it doesn't appear to have said this or even hinted at this I am scratching my head

If it's a good price then I'd contact Photo Warehouse and ask for its expiry date and why Fuji RA4 chemicals should not be used

Something is admittedly not adding up here but it may not be anything to do with the quality of the paper or Fuji chemistry

pentaxuser

Paul Howell · May 13, 2020

I noticed that they sell a house brand, my guess is that it is Mitsubishi as well, for that matter I think their house brand B&W paper is also made by Mitsubishi . I bought Mitsubishi paper when it was on the market, seems to be a match. But there is no caution concerning using Fuji chemistry with it. I was told years ago not mix Kodak and Fuji chemesitry, such as using Kodak developer and Fuji bleach fix. At this point my plan is Fuji Paper with Unicolor chemistry, mix at home with distilled water. .

Wallendo · May 13, 2020

I haven't used their paper, but did shoot 10 rolls of their 35mm film. The rebates from that film were indistinguishable from those of Fuji film, and likely were relabels.

My experience with Photo Warehouse is that they sell very good house brand films (UltraFine Xtreme), but also some very old film which I avoid. To their credit, do do generally specify when film is expired.

Paul Howell · May 13, 2020

They carry a lot of odd lot film, some well out of date, other loaded from short rolls, when I make an order I usually include one out of the park roll to mess with.

Jim Blodgett · May 13, 2020

I use Fuji RA4 chemicals in my processor and I am very happy with the prints I've done on Mitsubishi paper.

I got into the habit of buying/using Fuji paper many years ago but when a local college closed it's color darkroom a buddy gave me lots of odds and ends of paper that had been sitting around so over the past couple years I have printed on my standard Fuji, some beautiful gloss Mitsubishi and even some Kodak paper.

I don't know anything about Photo Warehouse but I am going to check them out. Thanks for mentioning them. It's getting harder and harder to get chemicals, and shipping is really expensive.

Paul Howell · May 13, 2020

If you like Mitsubishi PW has 300 sheets of 8X10 luster for less than $50.00. They also sell Fuji that they box which is what I'll buy.

btaylor · May 13, 2020

Paul Howell said:
If you like Mitsubishi PW has 300 sheets of 8X10 luster for less than $50.00. They also sell Fuji that they box which is what I'll buy.

I’m sure Mitsubishi makes great paper, but the box I got from Photo Warehouse was not great- the yellowed whites looked like it was long expired. I am going to caution you about the reboxed Fuji- I bought some from Freestyle (there were discussions and most came to the conclusion it was reboxed Fuji) and sheets were randomly fogged on the edges. From then on I have stuck with Fuji boxed in date paper and all my problems went away. YMMV

newcan1 · May 19, 2020

I have used the Mitsubishi paper from Photo Warehouse. I believe the yellowish base fog can be controlled with benzotriazole, but it is a while since I tested this paper. Fresh RA4 paper is cheap enough; I wouldn't myself bother to buy any more of this old Mitsubishi stuff.

AgX · May 19, 2020

Paul Howell said:
There is listing for R4 paper and ISO 200 color film.

Mitsubishi never manufactured photographic film. And currently such only shows up at the site of Mitsubishi USA.

foc · May 20, 2020

If I remember correctly back in the 1990s, Mitsubishi film and paper was rebadged Fuji ( I stand to be corrected).

randyB · Jun 1, 2020

My only experience with Mitsubishi color paper is back in the 90's on a quick photo shoot I did for some head shots of a blonde lady. I took the film to the local hot-shot photo store that advertised "The best in town". They never could get the color correct even after 10 tries, her hair was always green and other colors were very poor. They used Mitsubishi paper. The lab lady, whom I knew well, was very experienced. I then took the negs down to the local Walgreens that had an automated Kodak lab setup, they made a perfect print using Kodak paper on the second try ( 2 buttons darker on the exposure). I then vowed to never use Mitsubishi color paper in my own darkroom. Perhaps now, decades later they have improved. Try it you might like it.

Mitsubishi color paper and film

Paul Howell

koraks

Moderator

Agulliver

btaylor

pentaxuser

koraks

Moderator

Paul Howell

koraks

Moderator

pentaxuser

Paul Howell

Wallendo

Paul Howell

Jim Blodgett

Paul Howell

btaylor

newcan1

AgX

foc

randyB

Mitsubishi color paper and film

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency