E6 processing machines?

[joachim]

Hi,

this afternoon I went into a local lab, which used to do E6 processing - not any more. Their machine broke some time ago and they stated spare parts were not available and hence had to discontinue it.

Can anyone comment on this? Even for labs which still have the volume, if their machine breaks, is that the end to their E6 line?

My present workflow is based on E6 materials. I am most of the time happy to use mail order developing. I assumed there would be enough E6 business in the UK to run a few labs for some time to go. However if failing (and unfixable) processing machines is pushing them out of business ...

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

As and when local labs' E6 and C41 machines need repair they will often not pay a big repair bill if they get just a handful of films throughput.

There will still be color processing, but it will likely be mail order.

 

[Roger Hicks]

There are two possibilities:

It's an old machine, so parts are not available at any price, and it's not worth buying a new (or even second-hand) replacement machine, given the small volume of E6 they do.

Or, there are no parts available at a reasonable price, etc.

So no, it's unlikely that all E6 machines will fail, and I suspect (though I don't know) that there are still some pro hand lines gping.

Cheers,

R.

 

[agianelo]

I recommend buying your own machine such as this one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/PHOTO-THERM-SIDE-KICK-film-processor-developer-works_W0QQitemZ150309439634QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item150309439634&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

If my numbers come up in the EuroMillions lottery this week I'll be buying a Fuji Frontier for sure.

 

[Svitantti]

Just buy a E-6 kit (for example Tetenal) and develop them in your kitchen sink (or if you have a darkroom) in a normal "B&W" tank.

It is not that hard and at least my & my friends have achieved great results.

 

[agianelo]

If my numbers come up in the EuroMillions lottery this week I'll be buying a Fuji Frontier for sure.

Phototherm machines are going for $500 to $1000 on ebay (new cost over $6000). I got mine for under $300 and plan on using it as long as I can buy chemicals (or film for that matter)

 

[joachim]

Just buy a E-6 kit (for example Tetenal) and develop them in your kitchen sink (or if you have a darkroom) in a normal "B&W" tank.

It is not that hard and at least my & my friends have achieved great results.

The problem with the kitchen sink is the waste. Putting photographic chemicals down the drain is illegal in many countries. That is perhaps the service I most appreciate when using a commercial lab: They deal with the waste in a professional manner for you.

 

[sooner]

Agianelo, tell us more about buying and using these machines. How much do the chemicals cost, and is it tricky to run them? Seems like the hardest part would be getting one off Evay that actually has all the parts and works.

 

[joachim]

There are two possibilities:

It's an old machine, so parts are not available at any price, and it's not worth buying a new (or even second-hand) replacement machine, given the small volume of E6 they do.

Or, there are no parts available at a reasonable price, etc.

So no, it's unlikely that all E6 machines will fail, and I suspect (though I don't know) that there are still some pro hand lines gping.

Cheers,

R.

Roger,

so you think, if they really wanted one, they could get one and that there are still people which sell E6 processors. So E6 will not die just because of processors not being available, which to me is good news.

It is actually quite interesting. I presently anticipate that in a few years there will be about a handful labs in all of the UK who do E6. That was how it was when I got into photography. If you were using Kodachrome or AGFAchrome CT18, there were between one and three labs in entire Western Germany and you had to sent your film there.

What was news to me, was the E6 processors are more complex than C41 processors. So far I thought you just fill them up with different chemistry. You never stop learning.

Joachim

 

[bcostin]

The problem with the kitchen sink is the waste. Putting photographic chemicals down the drain is illegal in many countries. That is perhaps the service I most appreciate when using a commercial lab: They deal with the waste in a professional manner for you.

I've seen some folks set up a sink so that it drains into a separate container. You can then drop off contents at your local waste disposal center.

FWIW, the amount of chemicals likely to be generated by a home darkroom is pretty trivial, compared to a commercial operation, and probably no worse for the planet than a lot of other unrestricted substances. But I realize that the law doesn't always grasp those sorts of distinctions. I have a private septic tank myself, so I do watch my disposal habits pretty closely.