- Joined
- Mar 4, 2015
- Messages
- 52
- Format
- 35mm
Hey all,
Just wanted to share. I have been processing my own B&W for a year now and finally worked up the courage to try the Arista E-6 kit I got about 6 months ago! Because most of my photos are of my daughter, I don't like risking them, but finally decided that $30 for developing 1 roll of Provia 220 or $17 for a 120 roll of Velvia was too much to keep swallowing.
I just want to say -- for any that are also in the same boat as me -- don't hesitate to try it. It is very easy and basically only requires maintaining a tight reign on the temperature during processing. Basically just have a few tubs/buckets/pots/and/or sink basins filled with (in my case) 105 degree F water and keep everything in there. Check the temp periodically throughout processing with your thermometer and add hot or cold water as necessary. Some people use fish tank heaters but I found this unnecessary.
I love transparency film in general (shooting Provia and Velvia -- are there even any others anymore?). There is just something magical to me about looking at the slide with either a loupe or, even better, projected on a screen. It is a totally different (I didn't say "better"...) experience than looking at a print. Plus, for projection on screen, think of it this way: State of the art TV (4K) has about 9.4 Megapixels. Even 35mm transparency film has the equivalent of 20 or so megapixels (depending on who you talk to), Medium format (645, 6x6) more like 40-60. Needless to say, with a good screen and projector (and both are relatively cheap nowadays) (well, not the Hasselblad projector, but the Rollei med format one is), it is a very cool experience to look at a projected slide.
I would hate to see all E-6 transparency film go the way of Kodachrome but maybe if enough people know how easy it is to home process, maybe more will buy some and give it a try. Obviously, Fuji will stop making it if not enough people buy it.
Thanks!
Just wanted to share. I have been processing my own B&W for a year now and finally worked up the courage to try the Arista E-6 kit I got about 6 months ago! Because most of my photos are of my daughter, I don't like risking them, but finally decided that $30 for developing 1 roll of Provia 220 or $17 for a 120 roll of Velvia was too much to keep swallowing.
I just want to say -- for any that are also in the same boat as me -- don't hesitate to try it. It is very easy and basically only requires maintaining a tight reign on the temperature during processing. Basically just have a few tubs/buckets/pots/and/or sink basins filled with (in my case) 105 degree F water and keep everything in there. Check the temp periodically throughout processing with your thermometer and add hot or cold water as necessary. Some people use fish tank heaters but I found this unnecessary.
I love transparency film in general (shooting Provia and Velvia -- are there even any others anymore?). There is just something magical to me about looking at the slide with either a loupe or, even better, projected on a screen. It is a totally different (I didn't say "better"...) experience than looking at a print. Plus, for projection on screen, think of it this way: State of the art TV (4K) has about 9.4 Megapixels. Even 35mm transparency film has the equivalent of 20 or so megapixels (depending on who you talk to), Medium format (645, 6x6) more like 40-60. Needless to say, with a good screen and projector (and both are relatively cheap nowadays) (well, not the Hasselblad projector, but the Rollei med format one is), it is a very cool experience to look at a projected slide.
I would hate to see all E-6 transparency film go the way of Kodachrome but maybe if enough people know how easy it is to home process, maybe more will buy some and give it a try. Obviously, Fuji will stop making it if not enough people buy it.
Thanks!
