Home colour film processing.

soupdragon

soupdragon

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Tony
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Hello all.

I am now interested in how others process colour film at home, regardless of format.

My personal preference is to use thermostatically controlled tempering baths for the chemicals and the tank coupled with a pre-soak of the tank at the required processing temp.
This for me yields good results each time AKA consistent.

Admittedly, agitation and tank drainage times vary accordingly with the film format and tank used.

I'd love to have my film lab processed but do find it more economical to use one litre kits in a batch process manner.

I'll post some pictures of my set up next time I have film to soup.
 
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I use the Jobo CPE2 with lift.

I've added a submersible pump and temperature probe, but TBH that's overkill - it works well enough on its own.

I use this with colour and mono film in 35mm, 120 & 4x5.
 
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I used to use a Jobo CPE2 with lift, but bit by bit it stopped working - first the lift and then the heater - as old things do. As the quantity of colour film I was processing was declining I “downgraded” to using tempered baths and rolling the Jobo drum manually. Less convenient than the Jobo but I didn’t notice a drop on quality.

I haven’t processed E6 for a long time, since then it has been C41 or ECN2. Currently my ECN2 processing is done with DIY chemistry, mixed from the raw chemicals. This avoids the problems of having to stockpile exposed films to use up a 1 litre kit, as I can mix just 250ml of chemistry and process 4 35mm films with that amount. I describe how to mix ECN2 chemicals here - https://kevinthephotographer.wordpress.com/2023/06/11/ecn2-making-your-own-developer-and-bleach/

When my stock of Vision 3 film runs out I will probably revert to using black and white film only.

At one time I used a Cinestill TCS 1000 to heat a bucket of water, but that stopped working too - and it's temperature measurement never quite matched my thermometer.
 
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Used Jobo for years but recently changed to Filmomat.

Tried water baths etc and found them useless for consistent colour developing!

Tony, have you got a link to an album for us? ( A link to that would be far more useful than a pics of your set up!)

As I said in the other thread, if you are not getting colour casts correct with Silverfast 9, an itc8 calibrated scanner and Negfix then your processing is at fault and definitely not consistent!

I am trying to help you but you seem more stubborn than Clint Eastwood's mule!

A jobo costs a very small fraction of what you've spent yet will make a massive difference for you.
 
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Jammy Dodger said:
Used Jobo for years but recently changed to Filmomat.
Click to expand...

Ooh! Nice. :cool:

I'd love one of those, that would make things easier than the Jobo. Mind you, I thought that was expensive enough for the relatively small amount of film I get through. :eek:

Anyone want to buy a kidney? Only fifty years of alcohol abuse - going cheap . . .
 
Sky said:
Ooh! Nice. :cool:

I'd love one of those, that would make things easier than the Jobo. Mind you, I thought that was expensive enough for the relatively small amount of film I get through. :eek:

Anyone want to buy a kidney? Only fifty years of alcohol abuse - going cheap . . .
Click to expand...
It was a retirement treat to myself, after having a stroke I found it really difficult to pour the Chemicals into and out of the Jobo without spilling them, I considered a Jobo lift and a Dev a Tank but went with the Filmomat
 
Kevin Allan said:
If colour film was my primary interest, I would definitely buy another Jobo - possibly even a new one.
Click to expand...
I have been researching Jobo but, even second hand, the prices are eye watering,
I was wondering if a long Paterson tank could take a curled sheet of 8x10?
 
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Just off to research Filmomat, whatever that is,
 
Jammy Dodger said:
It was a retirement treat to myself, after having a stroke I found it really difficult to pour the Chemicals into and out of the Jobo without spilling them, I considered a Jobo lift and a Dev a Tank but went with the Filmomat
Click to expand...
I too have retired due to heart problems and treated myself a Tachihara 8x10 and Nikon 360 lens.
That said, whilst the 8x10 is impressive I much prefer to use my Toyo 45A
 
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OK, the filmomat looks awesome however, the cost is outrageous and it does not appear to accommodate 8x10 film.

I could not afford one right now (ever).
 
soupdragon said:
I have been researching Jobo but, even second hand, the prices are eye watering,
I was wondering if a long Paterson tank could take a curled sheet of 8x10?
Click to expand...
Jobo CPE2-
www.ebay.co.uk

JOBO CPE 2 Darkroom Color Film Processor CPE2 With 2840 1520 for sale online | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for JOBO CPE 2 Darkroom Color Film Processor CPE2 With 2840 1520 at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk www.ebay.co.uk

A tenth of the price of one of your cameras??
 
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The filmomat I looked was 3300 euros.
That's close to the value of both my LF cameras.
 
The CPE2 that Fraser linked to plus this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31566172.../LIF9u1ytwa08TLyw4cJSnGg==|tkp:Bk9SR8qs8_vaZA will give you develop and printing of 5x7 & 8x10 apparently. I've never used this, so can't comment on it from experience - I'm sure someone on here will have used or seen it in action though . . .

FWIW, the 'lift' really makes it for me, but that's mainly because I'm disabled and have to do everything from a wheelchair - my hands are pretty useless too.
 
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