Trying home-developed C41 - any tips

[Austerby]

I've been processing b&w at home for years now but have never tried colour. I have a couple of rolls of Ektar that I'm planning on developing in the Tetenal 3-bath kit.

I feel strangely anxious about this process as I'm reverting back to a newbie: this is quite exciting!

Any tips?

 

[JeffL]

Like you I've been doing B+W for years but, just started doing C41 myself and am quite pleased. Follow instructions exactly and make sure your times and temps are accurate and stable. Easier than you think.

 

[Austerby]

I needn't have worried - developed my first couple of Ektar rolls today and couldn't be more pleased. I used the Tetenal 3-bath kit which was really easy to use and I'm very happy with the results. Recommended to any home-processors who've not given it a go themselves.

 

[damien.murphy]

Hi Austerby,

Thinking of chancing my arm at developing my own C41 too, and wonder how you found the temperature control/ timing aspect of it, or maybe what you used to keep the temperature ok.

The Tetanal kit seems like a good one, I know a few people using the Rollei Digibase kit, but that is a 4 bath kit, so 1 less bath would be more than welcome 🙂

 

[Austerby]

The temperature control aspect is the only bit where you need to concentrate on accuracy but it's not that difficult. I used a water-bath (big old plastic crate) filled with water straight from the hot tap. That was above the 100degF/37.8degC required amount so I immersed the dev, blix and stabiliser bottles in the water and monitored the temperature. I soaked the film in warm water whilst this was happening. When the dev got to the right temp I poured out the water and poured in the dev. I kept the tank in the waterbath apart from when I was agitating it. As you only dev for 3min15s it's not going to cool down that much.

 

[River Dog]

Tetenal is the way to go... 8 mins @ 30 degrees with a white vinegar stop bath is easy to control in a washing up bowl.

Leica CL, ZM50/2 Ektar/Tetenal

 

[damien.murphy]

The temperature control aspect is the only bit where you need to concentrate on accuracy but it's not that difficult. I used a water-bath (big old plastic crate) filled with water straight from the hot tap. That was above the 100degF/37.8degC required amount so I immersed the dev, blix and stabiliser bottles in the water and monitored the temperature. I soaked the film in warm water whilst this was happening. When the dev got to the right temp I poured out the water and poured in the dev. I kept the tank in the waterbath apart from when I was agitating it. As you only dev for 3min15s it's not going to cool down that much.

Cheers for the feedback, may give it a lash one day soon, as I expose some colour negative & with RiverDogs thumbs up, another vote for the Tetanal kit.

What sort of mileage or longevity do you guys get out of the kit, and would the chemicals last a few weeks between batches, or is that an optimistic expectation..