Tetenal magic box, single film E6 process kit.

[Anon Ymous]

I never thought I'd ever see something like that, but I did. Tetenal released an E6 kit for a single 135, or 120 film. It seems to be available:

https://www.nordfoto.de/analoge-fot...al-magic-box-e6-entwickler-kit-1-farb-diafilm

 

[twelvetone12]

I saw this yesterday, and sincerely I'm quite baffled to what they are trying to achieve here? Not only the impressive waste of one box + six glass bottles inside, but 15 euros for ONE film? My expensive local lab is cheaper... And I'm also not sure why only 1 film with 250ml of chemistry, with the 2.5L kit IIRC you could do 6 films with 500ml, so why not 3 films with 250ml? Sincerely I was hoping to get back the 1L kit.

 

[AgX]

There even are three of them!

1 film C-41
1 film E-6
25 sheets RA-4

 

[dmtnkl]

My expensive local labs (yes, plural) repeatedly mess up rolls, and sometimes they won't even apologise

Well let's see:

- i shoot only a few rolls, at most 1-2/month.
- i haven't developed any roll myself the last 10+ years.
- prompt usage of bigger e6 kits before the chemistry goes bad has really put me off from purchasing any of them, since my volume is low.

Considering the above, this small kit would be ideal to get me started again with development since i only shoot e6 anyway. Once i feel comfortable with the results i get i could consider whether it makes to continue or not. But frankly, i would prefer to pay a bit more and be fully responsible for my results than for bad service. Plus if i want to push/pull, the extra cost is always too much, whereas with a kit like this i can do whatever i like.

For people who shoot more rolls on a consistent basis it probably does not make much sense.

 

[twelvetone12]

In the current market you can choose between a kit that does 60 films and one thad does 1, I mean, there has to be a middle ground here...

 

[Anon Ymous]

In the current market you can choose between a kit that does 60 films and one thad does 1, I mean, there has to be a middle ground here...

The one film figure is debatable. It probably means it covers one film considering the volume of chemicals you get, but reusing it only once makes it much more economical. I scratch mixed 500ml of E6 chemicals few days ago and have already processed 4 135-36 films. I can probably do 6 and I'll soon find out. Obviously, times need to be extended.

 

[twelvetone12]

Slightly OT: what recipes do you use? I want to scratch mix e6 too, it makes much more sense for my volumes than a kit.

I hope too you can push more films out of the magic-box, using it just for one makes it seem to me so wasteful

 

[Anon Ymous]

Slightly OT: what recipes do you use? I want to scratch mix e6 too, it makes much more sense for my volumes than a kit.

I hope too you can push more films out of the magic-box, using it just for one makes it seem to me so wasteful

I use formulae by @stefan4u from this thread. More specifically, I use the FD formula from post #14 and CD from post #1. The only reason I don't use the CD formula from post #14 is that I don't have any ethylenediamine. There are also others from a Fuji patent which you may find interesting, or useful. I used to mix my own bleach, EDTA based and even mixed a pre-bleach solution with a bleach accelerator (mercaptotriazole), but I got some C41 bleach cheaply and forgot about it. The fixer I use is basically from Fuji's patent. Theoretically, you can add some ammonium thiocyanate in it and make it even more potent, but I haven't bothered. BTW, a pH meter is a must if you're going to scratch mix any colour chemicals.

 

[John51]

I'll be trying the E6 kit at some point.

Ideal for a low volume user like me. I'm guessing that 3 rolls per kit is doable and that 4 might be possible.

 

[Anon Ymous]

I'll be trying the E6 kit at some point.

Ideal for a low volume user like me. I'm guessing that 3 rolls per kit is doable and that 4 might be possible.

Assuming that the chemicals are the same as in their other, larger kits, then 3 films are doable, but 4 might be a bit too far. You will get an image, but casts, or crossover might get very obvious.

BTW, this seems to be a 250ml kit, so a 120 film can't be processed with inversion agitation.

 

[John51]

What are we supposed to process it in then?

 

[Anon Ymous]

I suppose rotation agitation in a processor, or a roller base?

 

[Agulliver]

I can see that this is a useful entry for people who are inexperienced in home processing and who want to try. Perhaps even for those who have done B&W but have never tried colour. It offers an easy, and relatively cheap way to give it a try.

Of course it's no good for people who want to process multiple rolls or who are already experienced.

But I have friends who have never used a dark room or who have used one 20 years ago, and who want to try developing all sorts of film. This kit would be a good start for someone who doesn't have a friend to guide them through their first couple of rolls. I can see this kit might also be useful for someone who does a lot of C41 and B&W film and just wants to try E6, or who shoots E6 infrequently.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Slightly OT: what recipes do you use? I want to scratch mix e6 too, it makes much more sense for my volumes than a kit.

I hope too you can push more films out of the magic-box, using it just for one makes it seem to me so wasteful

Hello again. As I had mentioned previously, I tried 6 135-36 films in the same 500ml of E6 FD and CD solutions, following formulae by @stefan4u. I didn't try to correct pH between uses, but used them as they were. The photo below is from a colour checker shot with a film from the third, last batch of films processed in these chemicals. It was Agfaphoto CT Precisa 100, few months out of date. The film was placed on a mobile phone, to be used as a backlight. The raw file from the camera was opened in Adobe camera raw and white balance was set by clicking on the screen itself, on the left.

After processing the the third pair of filmns, I checked CD pH and found it to be 11,63, obviously off specs. Had it been closer to 11,95 where it started when mixed, the colour balance would be less magenta and shifted towards green. Contrast is perfectly reasonable, as is Dmax. Higher densities lean towards green, so there's probably a light crossover. In practice, when projected, the slides look fine and whatever faults they have go unnoticed.

 

[AgX]

New Tetenal is not a relaunch of the old Tetenal in the proper sense, as with their branded products they only aim at the amateur market, skipping all the many products aimed at other markets. (To what extent they do toll-production is not clear.)

 

[AgX]

To give it just a try it is still cheaper (and maybe more economic) than a full size kit.

 

[Anon Ymous]

It's cheaper (and better) to have the film processed at a professional lab that works well.

This is not an option for many out there. Yes, you can obviously mail your film to a lab and have them send it back to you, but it makes it more expensive. There's also no fun factor in this. Again, this kit can probably be reused and it gets cheaper this way.

 

[AgX]

It's cheaper (and better) to have the film processed at a professional lab that works well.

Then it is even more cheap to use a telephone to take ones pictures.

Over here one can get ones E6 films processed for about 2€ at an industrial lab. But would that be the same as trying it out oneself? Apples and Oranges.

 

[dmr]

It does not appear to be available in the States yet. I might be interested if it becomes available here and the pricing is not too extortive.

I usually use the Arista kits, mixing one-shot and two-shot. I carefully use Bloxygen and store the liquids in the fridge between uses. For the number of rolls I do, it will probably make sense.

I also like the fact that it's all liquid. Much more convenient for me to mix.

 

[AgX]

No, it's not cheaper because if you live in a rural areal you have to get the kit sent by mail too, which costs exactly as get the film from a lab.

Here in Germany you do not even have to pay for shipping the film to the industrial lab... Instead you have to bring in and take back your film from a drugstore. Typically this can be done by foot or by bike.

Concerning comparing employing a industrial or small commercial lab with processing first time a slide, or negative, colour film oneself by means of such 1-film kit from Tetenal, I still think you are comparing apples to oranges.

Maybe you fear that a bad result from colout homeprocessing E-6 films may lead to a beginner to divert from filmphotography alltogether.

 

[AgX]

You do not get my point... I see the 1-film E-6 kit as a means to get a beginner into trying himself out in colour film processing, yieldinf a direct result, not as means for a beginner to yield results compatible to a commercial Kodak-approved lab. In this context I see the Tetenal kit as better altenative to a big E-6 kit.

 

[Anon Ymous]

No, it's not cheaper because if you live in a rural areal you have to get the kit sent by mail too, which costs exactly as get the film from a lab.
It's definetly better and cheaper (quality-wise), imho, to send the film to a lab.
@AgX: there's no play room when it gets to E6 processing, that is no fun involved, unlike b&w negative processing.

If you live in a rural area, or one that doesn't have an E6 lab nearby, nor any shops selling any darkroom supplies and films, then you have to order more or less everything. You just include one of these E6 kits with your order. Obviously, these kits aren't for those who process lots of films, nor for those who don't enjoy processing their films. They're specifically for those who'd like to give E6 processing a try, but wouldn't like to shell out the cash for a large kit. The idea behind it isn't bad, the volume is rather limiting though.

 

[Raphael]

No, it's not cheaper because if you live in a rural areal you have to get the kit sent by mail too, which costs exactly as get the film from a lab.
It's definetly better and cheaper (quality-wise), imho, to send the film to a lab.
@AgX: there's no play room when it gets to E6 processing, that is no fun involved, unlike b&w negative processing.

Alessandro, I respectfully disagree, as my experience (and I routinely home process E6 !) is totally the opposite !
I stop sending my film to so-called "pro" labs, years ago. I was charged when sending my film by mail (as a parcel, not a letter ), was charged for the processing, and charged again for having my slides back (again as a small packet, not a letter). And the resulting slides was.... just ugly ! Badly mounted slides, dust and specks (after drying, obviously...), and sometime muddy colors... My home processed slides, with 5L and now 2,5L Tetenal kits, are a lot better, and in all case, if any rare defect, I'm the only one to blame. All of this with my 30 years+ Jobo ATL 1 processor (carefully self repaired and grossely calibrated...)

I now use for the first time 2,5L kit, after using 5L kits for long, and it yields 30x 135 films. This 2,5L kit is now 65€ (see nordfoto webshop), so a little more than 2€ a 135 or 120 roll. Of course, this is not going cheaper, as not so long ago, 65/70€ was the price of the 5L kit (can process 60 films...)

I am agree that this one-shot kit is rather a steal, and probably not a smart move from Tetenal, unless they want to sparkle interest to the young and unexperienced with a one-try E6 processing. Re-Introducing the 1L kit would be a lot more interesting for us.

I should talk also about MF and LF films : I can process 120 sheets of 4x5" large format slides with one kit ! Last time I checked (years ago), pro labs asked 5€ for processing.... ONE sheet !

BTW I just begin a "batch" of E6 dev, yesterday night, and here is a glance at the result from the first film (Provia 100F)

Slides are IRL a lot more nicer, vivid and accurate on the light table than this quick digicam shot (quick WB adjustement).
Best regards,
Raphael

 

[dmtnkl]

Guys don't overthink, this kit is a great move.

It's really a great starting point for people like me who shoot few rolls and want to get into e6 processing slowly. It solves a decade-long problem for me and probably many other people.

 

[cmacd123]

Yes, for Tetenal's finance!

this is a market "extender" rather than something that competes in the existing market.

Back in the 60s Ansco made a 16oz Anscochome developing kit. with the ad that AnscoChrome was easy to develop at home. Just having it on the market was proably good for sales, even though few folks might buy the kit repeatedly. At the time one could send in a roll of anscochrome at the place I worked at and get it back mounted the next day. so time and shipping back and forth might even make the magic kit even more enticing than the Ansco kit of Yore.