So which is it? Tetenal Colortec vs. Compard Digibase C-41

sperera · Oct 23, 2018

Hi all, as a current TETENAL Colortec C-41 user the only thing that I don't like is the fact I have to mix up 2.5 litres of it and I can't buy anything other than that size from Spain that I know.....feel free to correct me with links! I buy from fotocasion.es in Spain as they are excellent in service.....now I'm hearing a lot about the COMPARD DIGIBASE C-41 option that is a lot more 'flexible' for people like me who develop films with fairly large(ish) time gaps as I also shoot BW and develop those......smaller volumes available etc

So.....what's the general consensus on THE C-41 kit to get into......I develop with Paterson tanks and don't like to do more than 2-4 rolls at a time in my tanks.....I have all sizes......I do hand inversions etc and nothing motorised.....I heat up liquids manually and when it gets to 38 degrees off I go....so its not very scientific yet so far so great with Tetenal......

eatfrog · Oct 23, 2018

You can get the 1l tetenal kit from maco: https://www.macodirect.de/en/chemistry/color-chemistry/c-41/4537/tetenal-colortecc-c-41-kit-for-1l

I use compard because it has separated bleach and fix instead of blix, that can go bad pretty quickly. I have had good results with a 5 month old mixed batch of compard, topped off with some protectan gas after each use.

sperera · Oct 23, 2018

eatfrog said:
You can get the 1l tetenal kit from maco: https://www.macodirect.de/en/chemistry/color-chemistry/c-41/4537/tetenal-colortecc-c-41-kit-for-1l

I use compard because it has separated bleach and fix instead of blix, that can go bad pretty quickly. I have had good results with a 5 month old mixed batch of compard, topped off with some protectan gas after each use.

so ur vote goes for the Compard Digibase? hahah thanks for the link....

Fin · Oct 23, 2018

+1 for the Compard kit. Personally, I've had only good results using this kit, plus it allegedly works well and has altered timings for lower temps than 38°C; I've never tried this as I use a sous vide.

I did try the BelliniFoto Monopart C41 kit when I couldn't get hold of a Compard kit, but that got binned off after I found that I got random streaks (link here) on certain shots of my film. I also managed to cause 8 pages of arguing just by asking if the kit was any good before I bought it!

I haven't used the Tetenal C41 kit, but their E6 is great. I was tempted to try it, but after the Bellini, I think I'll stick to what I know!

sperera · Oct 23, 2018

TETANAL is great, no doubt about it....the Digibase alternative is just me trying to find a better workflow for myself with the assurance smaller quantities being mixed up gives for my pro jobs.....knowin the chemicals will be fine etc etc......it kills me to mix up 2.5 litres and have it sit there at times in between jobs......interestingly though TETENAL UK told me you can freeze mixed up C-41 with no problems at all...split it into 500ml bottles they told me and freeze it....

I literally have 4 rolls of Kodak Portra to develop for a job and am wondering whether to buy fresh chemicals or use the Tetanal I have frozen since i mixed it the first week in June!

sperera · Oct 23, 2018

As regards my frozen TETENAL C-41 - have just consulted Tetenal UK about my 4 month old frozen Tetenal.......and they told me as long as it looks like its just been mixed after de-freezing its gonna be perfect......told me to look for sediments or crystallisation as signs of problems......its defrosting at home as we speak so will see if it all looks perfect......

trendland · Oct 23, 2018

sperera said:
As regards my frozen TETENAL C-41 - have just consulted Tetenal UK about my 4 month old frozen Tetenal.......and they told me as long as it looks like its just been mixed after de-freezing its gonna be perfect......told me to look for sediments or crystallisation as signs of problems......its defrosting at home as we speak so will see if it all looks perfect......

Hi there .... Rollei Digibase (Rollei stated in the past) seams to be identical with Fuji C41 developer.
There might be a difference of the part conception. In regard of long time storage you might have an advantage with Rollei. Because Part A + Part B (developer bath) is real stable you just have to replace part C after long time storage.
Some say this is a disadvantage of Rollei Digibase because their Part C (yellow cast) is expired.
Because the maximum time of storage they have reached.

...

with regards

trendland · Oct 23, 2018

Aha my friend : You have frozen your developer (I've read it just at last) .....so if you want to change from the Tetenal Kit to Digibase you have a chance to become a great champion.

with regards

PS : From frozen Part C..., that seams to be the longer run in comparison to frozen Tetenal kits.

trendland · Oct 23, 2018

I froze my Films and now you guys begann to froze your developers ? I've to think about ? Is it because Tetenal went into bankropcy?

But if it is possible with bw developers ? Perhaps I should also inform about.....I could freeze my
Rodinal (also from Tetenal) and it would last......about...........?

with regards

sperera · Oct 23, 2018

my friend trendland great to hear from you.....Tetenal UK told me to mix up the 2.5 litres and freeze what I'm not using into 500ml bottles......I quote:

"As with all ‘hand’ processing people experiment and adapt to what the think is the ‘perfect’ result’. Fortunately the exposure latitude on negative film is large so small variation in processing makes no obvious difference.
As you may not want use 2.5L all in one go you can make up 5 x 500ml of each bath and then freeze it! Our test show no change to results – doesn’t work with E6."

Rudeofus · Oct 24, 2018

From what I have seen, 1l kits are disproportionately more expensive than larger kits. How quickly would you go through this 2.5l kit? If you process enough film to go through a kit in 6 months, then just do partial mixing. Wait for a few rolls of film to be processed at once and mix 1/4 or 1/2 l of process liquid at a time. If you would go through such a kit within as year, then get some inert gas (Tetenal's Protectan comes to mind) and protect opened concentrate bottles (at least CD-1, CD-2, CD-3 and BX-2), this will get you through a year. If you don't process more than one or two dozen rolls of film per year, then these 1l kits may be feasible.

wyofilm · Oct 24, 2018

Freestyle photo's website reports that Digibase C-41 is no longer manufactured. Is this correct?

Sirius Glass · Oct 24, 2018

I only us the 1 liter Unicolor kit.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/10123-Unicolor-Powder-C-41-Film-Negative-Processing-Kit-1-Liter

There is also the 2 liter kit.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/101241-Unicolor-Powder-C-41-Film-Negative-Processing-Kit-2-Liters

So which is it? Tetenal Colortec vs. Compard Digibase C-41

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