Exactly how hard and tempermental is E-6 to process yourself?

[ataim]

I've processed all of my b&w for four or five years now using HC-110 and Pyrocat HD. I just back from Kauai and shot some 8x10 and 4x5 Velvia. Normally I send it off to get processed, but I have about 350 dollars worth of processing costs for all of the film that I took. I was looking into doing it at home in my darkroom, but I'm afraid of messing things up. How more economical is it to process at home and how difficult is it?

Thanks,

Paul

[Pete Watkins]

I did it years ago and the tempratures are really critical. If you can maintain the chemical temps go ahead.
Pete.

[dave_whatever]

I started developing E6 film with no background at all in darkroom work or monochrome but I've had no problems with it. Have done 200 odd sheets over the last few years. If you can get hold of a Jobo like a cpe2 or better and can do a bit of background reading then its not hard at all. No harder than b&w to be honest. If I can do it anyone can.

[Leigh]

I have used a Jobo machine to process hundreds of rolls of E-6.

It does seem to want a very stable temperature. The Jobo tempered waterbath works fine.

- Leigh

[gleaf]

Back in my 35mm bulk load days did it for years. Water bath ( sink ) and keep the bottles in the water bath until it's their turn. Keep the daylight tank in the bath between agitation cycles.. (I used Nikor and or Kindermann) One step of mixing is very critical as to temp pour rate and mixing or you get little flaky participates. Pour it in slowly and stir well. ( -: per directions of course.
Time starts on full and time stops on next full. Be per directions on temperature. The Omega, Kindermann plastic top daylight tanks fill and drain much better than the all stainless Nikors.

[mdarnton]

I used to do the same as gleaf, but used plastic dish basins. Never a bit of problem. You just need to keep a thermometer in the water bath and add hot water as needed. The first developer step is the critical one. After that the temperature window widens considerably.

[dsphotog]

8x10 E6 in a Jobo 3005, and
4x5 in a 3010, easy and economical.

[Leigh]

8x10 E6 in a Jobo 3005, and
4x5 in a 3010, easy and economical.

Economical?

Perhaps... if you disregard the $3000 for the CPP processor, or many more bux for the higher models.

- Leigh

[IanG]

I began with Ferrania reversal processing in the late1960's that was truly awful so critical and finicky. Later I switched to E3 (E4 films) and that was easy, E6 is even easier and really only the first developer is critical with regards to time and temperature.

So the reality is home processing E^ films is very practical and relatively straight forward, I had very consistent results all the years I was still using transparency films.

Ian

[Bill_1856]

It's easy to do, but the time to start is NOT with a large number of sheets from a major trip.
Bite the bullet, and pay to have it done professionally.