E-4 Processing

[XAos]

Ok, this is a looong shot, but an exposed roll of E-4 slide film turned up today at mom's. Got pictures of now deceased family members, kids in diapers who now have teenagers, etc... A cursory search of the internet turned up only Rocky Mountain, even Kodak's website says basically "we dont even MAKE the chemistry any more. Here's what's in it." (I had heard that Kodak would develop anything they ever sold).

1) What kind of options do I have to get this developed? (I haven't done any slides, only B&W, and theres no blinking way I wanna touch this one.) Should be looking some place non obvious (I read that slide IR was E-4 until recently, maybe the aerial guys can still do it.)

2) Does anyone have any experience with Rocky Mountain? They seem expensive, I dont mind paying if they're good, but I hate to find out after the fact that it was the last place on earth I should send it.

3) Just how long a shot is getting viewable images off this roll?

 

[dmr]

If it's way out of date, Rocky Mountain is probably the way to go since they specialize in film that has been sitting around past exposure.

Yeah, yeah, I know, they are ex$pen$ive and they take forever and a day.

I know for a fact that film that sits for a long time between exposing and processing can be a challenge to deal with.

 

[x-ray]

Unlikely you will get any image. E-4 has to be fifteen to twenty years old and exposed film just won't last that long particularly color. If the film was mine I would do a short clip of a few frames and process it as B&W. Color is made up of 3 or more B&W emulsions and the first developer in the color process is to develope the B&W image. I would test my favorite developer and add some orthozite to reduce fog. Thsi might atleast get something that could be printed or scanned and enhanced in photoshop.

if you need additionakl info email @ yls11648@hotmail.com


http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=5045


www.x-rayarts.com

 

[oftheherd]

All good advice above, but I wouldn't be too sure there is little or no image. It certainly will be degraded, however. A lot of it will depend on how the film has been stored. I think you just have some decisions to make. I would try to contact Rocky Mountain and get their advice too, before making any decision. Depending on what they tell you, x-ray's advice may be best after all.