Home developing Colour Negative

MrDrizz

MrDrizz

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So I'm thinking of having a go at home developing Colour negative.

Any recommendations on which chemical kit to use?
Or are they pretty much of a muchness?
 
Bellini kit from Nik & Trick, it's a brilliant kit. Really easy.

Main thing is getting temperature right, a sink full of water at the right temperature will keep developer at the right temperature for long enough, next step up is a plastic box water bath and a sous vide
 
Like sirch I’ve used the tetenal kit and had very good results.
Presuming it’s the same make up that it was as it’s been years since I devd colour, then I can recommend it.
The others I’ve never used so can’t comment.
 
Karl.t1965 said:
Bellini kit from Nik & Trick, it's a brilliant kit. Really easy.

Main thing is getting temperature right, a sink full of water at the right temperature will keep developer at the right temperature for long enough, next step up is a plastic box water bath and a sous vide
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Yes, I have a Sous Vibe arriving tomorrow for that very reason. Only £40 which I though was a bargain.

I looked at the Cinestill and FPP stuff, expensive compared Bellini.

Off to YT for some videos 9n Bellini C41
 
I used a kit by PhotoTechnology Ltd but that was long ago so they probably closed down years ago. I did have difficulty for the first year as temperature was hard to maintain However, I then used a Patterson bath but discovered a tropical fish tank heater and thermostat would maintain the temperature at 40 degrees +/- about half degree and then had consistent results. Later versions of the chemicals could be used at 20 degrees but I continued working at 40 because I could and it was faster. One of the problems is that the chemicals did not last long once opened so I had to have several evenings working in this dark hot room for many hours and was so glad when this all ended. Interestingly, we have a Sous Vide but it is for cooking.

Dave
 
I generally use the 2.5l tetenal kits, mixed as 750ml batches (enough to cover 2x 35mm or 1x 120 films at a time, plus a little extra as i tend to find less developer comes out that went in!). I've also used the bellini kit but found the seperate bleach has a strong odour which im not keen on so put me off a bit. Both are easy enough to do at home with basic kit.
 
Simon Tickle said:
I generally use the 2.5l tetenal kits, mixed as 750ml batches (enough to cover 2x 35mm or 1x 120 films at a time, plus a little extra as i tend to find less developer comes out that went in!). I've also used the bellini kit but found the seperate bleach has a strong odour which im not keen on so put me off a bit. Both are easy enough to do at home with basic kit.
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Does the kit come with instructions on how to mix smaller batches?
 
one thing to consider... the chemicals "go off" far quicker than B&W chemistry in my experience, so, be sure that you're shooting enough to justify buying the chemicals kit - especially in the larger sizes.
 
MrDrizz said:
Does the kit come with instructions on how to mix smaller batches?
Click to expand...

No, but the tetenal kit is very easy to mix as all the concentrates are used in equal amounts. For example, to make the full 2.5l of developer you would use 500ml (the full bottle) of Part1, 500ml part 2, 500ml part 3, 1000ml water so you can just divide that ratio down to any quantity you like. Stored in the original bottles, the concentrates last me about 6 months before they go bad once opened, and the working solutions about 4-6 weeks. I can process roughly 10-15 films from a 750ml batch before i noticed drop off in quality, so need to shoot about 30-45 rolls in 6 months ish to make full use of the chemistry.
 
Simon Tickle said:
No, but the tetenal kit is very easy to mix as all the concentrates are used in equal amounts. For example, to make the full 2.5l of developer you would use 500ml (the full bottle) of Part1, 500ml part 2, 500ml part 3, 1000ml water so you can just divide that ratio down to any quantity you like. Stored in the original bottles, the concentrates last me about 6 months before they go bad once opened, and the working solutions about 4-6 weeks. I can process roughly 10-15 films from a 750ml batch before i noticed drop off in quality, so need to shoot about 30-45 rolls in 6 months ish to make full use of the chemistry.
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Brilliant, thanks. 30-45 roll seems an awful lot
Maybe I'll just shoot a bunch first, might take a year though
 
MrDrizz said:
Brilliant, thanks. 30-45 roll seems an awful lot
Maybe I'll just shoot a bunch first, might take a year though
Click to expand...

The kits have gone up a fair bit in price recently after the collapse and buy out of tetenal, so unless you shoot a fair deal regularly i'm not sure they're that cost effective. The 2.5l kits were £36 each about 2 years ago, and about £50 nowadays.
 
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