C-41 kit options

[srtiwari]

I have some color film in 120 and 35mm that I would like to try and process at home.
There are some choices to be made between the Unicolor and Rollei/Compard digibase kits from FreeStyle, and the Tetenal kit from B&H.
Any experience that might help one to choose between them, with regards to their differences in price, yield, shelf life, ease of use etc. ?

 

[goffer]

I have only used the Unicolor kit from FreeStyle and have had great results with both 35 and 120 Ektar 100.







120

 

[srtiwari]

I have only used the Unicolor kit from FreeStyle and have had great results with both 35 and 120 Ektar 100.

These look great- very true to life colors ! How difficult/PITA did you find the process ?

 

[goffer]

It's not too bad at all... just as easy as developing with Tmax B&W is (at least for me). I do everything in the kitchen sink with this digital thermometer. I typically overexpose by half a stop but still develop at around 3:15 as it gives the colors a bit more pop.

 

[Pirate]

Just got my Unicolor kit last week. It's simple. You just have to follow the directions, and the water needs to be heated to the right temp. It says 102 degrees for the Pre-Soak and Developer= I used my tap water on hot, tested it's about 120, so I let the bottles of developer and Blix heat up in a sink full of the hot water till they're warm which I know is over 100 degrees, then run the film through. No problems at all.

When you've actually got the instructions in front of you, it's easier than I made it sound.

Tetenal is the best - just ask any German photographer/developer. I use their developing stuff and it's great. Wish I could get it in the States but I havn't found any place that sells it yet.

The Unicolor kit is just easy and the results are great. I've only looked at my negatives and scanned them - have not made any prints from developing with it, but I will in a few months.