Home E6 Developing

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Mark Poole writes:

#	PS: Does anyone do their own E-6 developing? Is it a lot cheaper? Is
#	it worth the time/trouble? I used to do a lot of B&W while in high
#	school & college, but have never done color. Aren't there stringent
#	(+- 1 degree) temperature limits, or am I thinking of color print
#	developing?

I do! I've been doing my own E6 for over a year now, and like it. It _is_ cheaper, but worth the time and trouble? You'll have to decide that for yourself. I started doing my own E6 to help save costs... The local "pro lab" I use charges $5.70 for a roll of 120 film, and $5.70/$6.70 for unmounted/mounted 35mm film. 

I could use the local "drug store/grocery store" route, but find that the quality is too variable, and they take usually 1.5-2 weeks, sometimes more. The prices are good, though!

I started using the Kodak "E6 Hobby Kit", but that has now been discontinued. It would do 6 rolls of 135-36 or 120 film, and cost $12.95 at B&H. I usually pushed it to 8 rolls, so my costs were about $1.60 per roll (not counting shipping costs from B&H). Of course that does not take the value of my time into account ;) 

I have just bought the Kodak "Gallon kit", which, if you buy extra developers, comes out to about $1.25 per roll. Haven't used it yet. 

BTW - one "processing run" takes about 45 minutes. Temp control should be +/- 0.5 deg F, which isn't too hard in a water bath situation - it sounds much worse than it is in practice. Once I get the faucets tweaked, it will usually keep within that range with no fiddling for an hour or more (unless your wife decides to take a BATH in the middle of your processing run!!)

I still use the "pro" lab for some developing. I tend to do my own when: 

1. I want a fast turn.
2. I need to "push" or "pull" the film - my lab charges an extra $5 
for that. And I mis-set the ISO dials annoyingly frequently. :( 3. I'm doing a special format that I don't want mounts (i.e. 3D 
or panoramic)
4. I have an "oops" roll - like I have in the fridge right now - 
where I opened the camera back in the middle of the roll. I hate to pay the regular price for things like that, but I _will_ do them myself.

Mark - since this is really tangential to 3D, if you have questions, let's take them off-line...


Joel Alpers
Rocky Mountain Memories - Equipment and Supplies for the 3D Photographer rkymtmem@xxxxxxxx
http://www.frii.com/~rkymtmem




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