Re: Developing EIR at home using E-6 processing?

[GMA <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

ROLLAND ELLIOTT (Quality Assurance Co-Op) wrote:
> 
> Well, I just finished shooting my first roll of EIR E-6 color IR slide film las
> t week and sent it to my local "pro-lab" to get developed.  I spoke to the mach
> ine operator and she said that it shouldn't be a problem because her   machine
> uses all mechanical sensors and not IR ones.  Unfortunately, when I got my slid
> es back the, entire strip was fogged with a red/magenta cast, starting from bef
> ore the first frame to past the last frame.  I guess their machine uses IR sens
> ors after all?  The moral of this story is BE VERY CAREFUL where you send this
> film to get processed.
> 
> I called Kodak and asked them where I could send EIR film to get developed, the
> only place they could recommend was Rocky Mountain Film Developing.  At Rocky
> you can get either AR-5 or E-6 developing, both cost $15.50 per roll plus $4 is
> shiping and handling.  The other place that develops this film has already been
> mentioned on this list; Foto Works in NJ 732 530 5955 will develop it for $10 a
> roll plus $5 shipping and handling.  It looks like developing EIR (at least for
> now) is going to be expensive. If any one knows of other labs that are develop
> ing this new film please post their address and phone# on this list.
> 
> Which brings me to my questions:  I want to try developing EIR at home with som
> e E-6 processing equipment, but know next to nothing about E-6 developing.  I'd
> like to spend less than $100 USA dollars on equipment, and definietely less th
> an $200.  What kind of equipment would you recommend?  Any developing tips for
> processing EIR would also be welcomed.
> ******************************************************
Roland;

All you really need is a Jobo or Patterson or metal film drum and a
couple of film reels.  Any good photo store with a darkroom dept should
have them.  Cost << $100.  Then get a pack of E-6 chemicals.  Kodak used
to make a "Hobby Pak"  But I think it's been dropped in the last few
years.  There are other options for small jobs.  Tetanal makes, I think,
a one liter pack.  This will do, if memory serves, about 10 or so rolls
of E-6 for about $30 or 40.

One problem is that E-6 is very fussy about time/temp.  Best temp to use
is 100 degrees F. Water bath in an old cooler helps keep the temp close.

It's cheap but tedious.  I now do my E-6 in a used Jobo CPA which I got
for $450 several years ago. (And have put at least that into keeping it
running.)  Major difference is with the Jobo I can also do printing
(Cibachrome) and I don't have to babysit the drum so I can be sure to
agitate every 30 or 60 seconds.  You do get what you pay for.

But, try the manual method.  It works.

george
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End of Infrared-Digest V0 #78
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