Using Cinestill E6 first developer with Tetenal 2nd Developer & Blix

kahlheins · Jan 21, 2022

I still have a good bit left in a tetenal E6 kit, but was thinking about trying out the Cinestill D9 first developer with apparently extended dynamic range. Is there a good reason why I couldn't combine it with the remaining chemistry of the Tetenal Kit from the 2nd Developer onwards?

Donald Qualls · Jan 21, 2022

I'd think it would work fine -- E-6 chemicals are made to a standard, like C-41 chemicals are, so one brand ought to work the same as another.

Raghu Kuvempunagar · Jan 21, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
I'd think it would work fine -- E-6 chemicals are made to a standard, like C-41 chemicals are, so one brand ought to work the same as another.

Cinestill CS6 is not a standard E6 process.

Donald Qualls · Jan 21, 2022

Raghu Kuvempunagar said:
Cinestill CS6 is not a standard E6 process.

That kind of statement deserves some support. It produces correct-seeming results with both Kodak and Fuji E-6 films, at least with the "standard" first developer (the others are intentionally "off" to produce a blue cast for the "tungsten" and reduced contrast for the "high dynamic range").

Raghu Kuvempunagar · Jan 21, 2022

Read up. CS6 has three different first developers. And it's a three bath process unlike E6 which is a six step process.

AgX · Jan 21, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
I'd think it would work fine -- E-6 chemicals are made to a standard, like C-41 chemicals are, so one brand ought to work the same as another.

E and C processes are intended to yield same results with respective films. As whole process. Their composition though basically may vary.
In the past we had ingredients of E-6 processes that were located at different stages between different kits. Exhangeing these stages between manufacturers thus would not have worked.

kahlheins · Jan 21, 2022

The Tetenal Kit is also marketed as a "3-Step" kit though, with the exception that it adds a 4th Stabilizer bath in reality. I might just give it a go and find out if it works. Was hoping someone had tried it though. The Cinestill E9 kit intrigues me, especially to warm up some slide film which can be a little cool and which I would usually shoot with an 81B filter.

Donald Qualls · Jan 21, 2022

As I understand it (haven't tried it, I'm not much of a chrome shooter), Cinestill's standard first dev gives whatever color balance is baked into the film, while the "tungsten" gives a blue cast that offsets the effect of tungsten (or other low color temperature) light. There doesn't seem to be an option to "warm up" the film (in the usual, confusing meaning of red/orange/yellow being "warm" colors even though they're "cooler" color temperature), other than shooting with a filter as you usually would.

mshchem · Jan 21, 2022

kahlheins said:
The Tetenal Kit is also marketed as a "3-Step" kit though, with the exception that it adds a 4th Stabilizer bath in reality. I might just give it a go and find out if it works. Was hoping someone had tried it though. The Cinestill E9 kit intrigues me, especially to warm up some slide film which can be a little cool and which I would usually shoot with an 81B filter.

I've used the Tetenal 1st developer in place of Fuji first developer, the rest of the process being Fuji Pro6. It worked fine.

kahlheins · Jan 21, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
As I understand it (haven't tried it, I'm not much of a chrome shooter), Cinestill's standard first dev gives whatever color balance is baked into the film, while the "tungsten" gives a blue cast that offsets the effect of tungsten (or other low color temperature) light. There doesn't seem to be an option to "warm up" the film (in the usual, confusing meaning of red/orange/yellow being "warm" colors even though they're "cooler" color temperature), other than shooting with a filter as you usually would.

The cinestill d9 dynamic chrome is meant to be warming

Using Cinestill E6 first developer with Tetenal 2nd Developer & Blix

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