re: slide film

[David Barry <daba@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Martin wrote:
>does anybody know how difficult it is to develop your own slide film.
>I have no experience developing my own film (of any type), I am simply
>interested in the practicallity of doing it myself for slides because there
>is no messing around with paper etc. ie. less to mess up. and less
>equipment.
>Are the chemicals as easily available as those for b&w film?
>What's the deal?
>any comments welcome.
>thankyou,
>Martin.

Martin,
To answer your questions in reverse:

* depending on where you shop, some places may have the necessary chemicals
for E-6 slide process.  Look for the genuine Kodak E-6 kit which (I
believe) is available in either a 3.8 litre and also a new 5 litre kit.;
or,   Agfa's  AP-44 2.5 litre kit, which I think may be better for
experimenting with as a beginner - if you must start your darkroom
experience in colour.
* The main hassle with most colour work is the temperatures required, and
the need for very close tolerances  of those temperatures: the Kodak
process has no less than 6 chemicals plus 2 wash steps to maintain at or
close to 38 degrees Celsius. The Agfa version isn't much better, but (I
think) only requires 30 degrees C, but this still demands close attention
and accuracy.
* On the point of "less to mess up", well any mistake in colour (in my
opinion) is more painful and expensive than the same degree of messing up
in black & white.  And you can't undo or salvage the results of a botched
roll of colour slide film. If you make a slight mistake in b& w, or colour
neg films, you MIGHT be able to salvage a useable print from the neg.
* My philosophy is that if you don't do enough of it, say, at least 3 to 4
rolls of 35mm a week, then it's probably not worth it, because the
chemicals  go off  fairly quickly.

Draw your own conclusions.

Hope this helps

D. Barry
dab@xxxxxxxxxxx