Developing color film home

[hth]

Is anyone using a film processor to develop color and/or slide film at home?

Any advice or experiences?

I have seen a couple of Jobo ATL-1000 for sale for recently and have considered picking one up...

/Håkan

 

[Ronald M]

Works fine. I did E6 in my Jobo and also in open tanks with a lift rod. You need 6 tanks and 1/2 hr in the dark.

Lately been doing C41 in stainless closed tanks or the Jobo. If you go with stainless, keep a jug of 125 deg water to keep the water bath up to temp and prewarm the reel and film in an empty tank so you don`t change the developer temp when it is added.

Buy extra developer and use one shot.


I am divorced from film labs.

 

[Carlos Cruz]

I bought cpe2 jobo processor, and it turned out it's much easier not to use any kind of processor, now I just fill washbasin with hot water, put bottles with chemistry to heat, throw in a thermometer, now you just need waterproof tank,(jobo is good for me) so you can keep it in water when developing and it's ready, since the whole process is usually shorter then regular BW I think any kind of processor is obsolete, that's for negative process, for slide it will take more time and to be honest I only did BW slides, it took 40 minutes and 4 different baths per film, I don't know what kind of chemistry you use for slides.

 

[Finder]

Not film, but I print color with a Jobo CPP-2. Very easy.

The ATL-1000 is an excellent processor. You should get excellent results with it.

If you want to do prints as well, then go to a CPP-2 which can do both prints and film. I would recommend that over the CPA-2 and CPE-2 as the CPP-2 automatically keeps the tempering bath in control. Also make sure the CPP-2 come with a lift.

 

[peterc]

Is anyone using a film processor to develop color and/or slide film at home?

I've done both E6 and C41 at home. However, I think it's cheaper now to have a lab do it for you ... C41 in particular.

Peter

 

[trittium]

I use the jobo cpp-2 to developed color slide film. I suggest getting a big tank. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to complete the whole process. After doing it two times you feel drained, so the more rolls you do at once, the more enjoyable it will be. I use se chems for e6 ( http://www.adorama.com/KKE6SU5L.html?searchinfo=kodak e6 kit&item_no=2 ). The first developer last about 2 weeks before it goes bad. I believe you can make 4 batches of chem out of this kit. These chems seem to last until they expire. You will also need access to a lot of hot water. The whole process has to be at 38 degrees C +/- 1 degree. The cpp-2 has an automatic temperature regulator which is very nice (I am not sure whether or not the other jobos have this). Lastly, THE JOBO TANKS ARE AMAZING. They never leak and are extremely durable. You might want to buy the tops for normal hand held developing. The reels are also different. They are plastic, but do not have the ball bearing to pull the film on. Believe it or not, this makes them much easier to use. You can just push the film on the reel. If done right it takes less than 10 seconds to load a reel.

E6 is much much much cheeper to do at home, and the chemical are less harsh than c-41. I don't think c-41 is worth doing at home.

 

[hth]

Cheaper to have the lab do it? What do you think about SEK 59, which corresponds to $8.50 (including sales tax) for a single roll of C41? Add another $1 for E6. That is just development.

I estimate around $2 per roll in chemicals and (guessing cost for) shipping. After some 80-100 rolls I will save $6-$7 per roll. 80-100 rolls of color should take 2 years for me (rough estimate).

/Håkan

I've done both E6 and C41 at home. Ho$wever, I think it's cheaper now to have a lab do it for you ... C41 in particular.

Peter

 

[peterc]

Cheaper to have the lab do it? What do you think about SEK 59, which corresponds to $8.50 (including sales tax) for a single roll of C41? Add another $1 for E6.

Point taken. I'm basing that on what I pay at the lab. $2.30CDN to develop C41, $3.50 with a CD. E6 is about $5-$6 if I buy the film with processing included.

Peter

 

[hth]

$2.30CDN for a roll of C41!!?!? I am being ripped off! :bang:

/Håkan

Point taken. I'm basing that on what I pay at the lab. $2.30CDN to develop C41, $3.50 with a CD. E6 is about $5-$6 if I buy the film with processing included.

Peter

 

[MadMan2k]

The place I use is $1.50 for develop only, or $4.50 with a CD for c41, but the scans of color print are nothing to write home about (B&W, or slide, looks better)

It's not a 'real' lab though, just a Sam's Club 1hr photo lab.

 

[hth]

Many thanks for the replies and suggestions. I think I will try and go for a CPP2 as I have some fears about old electronics and too much automation.

My local lab that hiked the price recently are moving to the same address as the other lab here, I guess they are merging in some way. The other lab has even higher prices for film processing... I think I will be in to more bad news soon regarding prices for film processing around here.. 🙁

/Håkan

 

[Xmas]

Wear thick rubber gloves, the chemicals are iffy.

Noel

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

I have been processing E6 at home for several years,both by hand and with a Jobo CPE.Both methods worked perfectly well,but the Processor was a little easier.
The only problem here in the UK is that whereas 2 years ago there were several kits available to process 6 or even 8 films,on my last enquiry only the Tetenal kit is available here,and the price is such that it is no cheaper than the reputable Labs,which charge around 3.50GBP per roll for Dev only.🙁

Brian.

 

[wdenies]

Cheap?
It depends.
In Belgium 35mm develop. prices are reasonable. From MF on it becomes more and more expensive. One is considered as a pro and has to pay more.
B&W is catastrophic.
After receiving these extra bonus from the lab:
-despite warnings not to cut, Xpan shots reduced to normal 24x36 size
- several 4x5" sheet holders damaged
I decided to do the development at home with Jobo processor(s).
Now at least when something goes wrong I know the guy to blame.

And... how to tell a lab to due C41 contrast fine tuning with small temp. variations?

Wim