Re: E-4 processing

[David Josephson <david@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A response to a recent question, and a progress report on a project.

E-4 process is no longer available, period. There were DIY kits (I have
a part of one) that were apparently discontinued in the early 1980's.
There are two compatible processes for E-4 that are in use today: ME-4,
which is a motion picture film process no longer available from Kodak
(this is older info, and it may be gone too) and EA-5, which is the
Kodak-recommended process for the aerial Ektachromes including Aerochrome
IR (which is similar if not identical to 35mm IR Ektachrome).  EA-5 is 
available in 15 gallon (I think) size. Rocky Mountain film labs (Denver
area) "process E-4" but if you call them up they will tell you it's really 
EA-5. They charge $20 a roll and process in deep tubes, up to 5 feet at 
a time (if you are  shooting 70mm, keep this in mind). 

There have been several recommendations about home processing of E-4
films, and unfortunately a lot of suggestions from people working on 
hearsay. Hopefully I can add to the experience base here with some
results I've obtained. 

E-4 process chemistry is similar to E-6, except that E-6 emulsions are 
prehardened and E-4 films aren't; a hardener and neutralizer
are the first steps in the E-4 process, which then proceeds at 100-110F. 
One published suggestion was to run regular E-6 chemistry at a very low