C-41/ 8x10"/ equipment?

[Michael Nagl]

Dear Colleagues,

as no lab in Vienna is able to properly develop my 8x10" color negatives (crazy, isn't it?) I guess I'll have to do it myself. My question: What equipment is required? I'd process no more than 10 to 20 sheets per week in a small bathroom and I don't want to poison the kids.

Thanks for advice,
Michael

[CG]

There might be other locations where you could mail your film. I mail out E-6 regularly and have had no issues I could trace to the postal service. There must be a bunch of labs within reasonable distance.

However, if you do wish to do your own C-41, a set of stainless or hard rubber 8x10 tanks and some 8x10 hangers would work fine. Lots of 8x10 size darkroom equipment is available to purchase. The process itself is not too difficult if you can follow directions and don't try to cut corners. A sheet of plywood over the tub and some care might make a workable 8x10 film developing setup.

Developing times might need a teeny bit of adjustment from those for roll film, but other than that, it's straightforward.

Best,

C

[Michael Nagl]

Yes, maybe I should mail them to - where? Can anyone recommend a lab in middle Europe?

[BennehBoy]

Is it economical to develop color films at home? Presumably an 8x10 tank takes a lot of chemicals to fill it... (sorry to piggyback the question)

[Gudmundur Ingolfsson]

Send your film to some decent lab in Berlin or Dusseldorf
8x10 " C-41 is a very critical process to do.

http://WWW.pixelgrain.de or http://www.hsldigital.de/

[Ole Tjugen]

I do my own E6 is all sizes in a JOBO machine with print drums for the larger sizes. So far I have a lower "damage percentage" than the last "pro" lab I used.

[robert lyons]

hi michael, use LPG (Pixel Grain Lab) in Berlin......i have used them this year for 8x10 and they do good c-41. you could also try Jakobs and Schultz in Berlin ....both are fine. btw my friend jeff loved the camera,
ciao, robert lyons

[Michael Nagl]

Glad to hear that, Robert.
Thanks for your advice; I'll tell you about my experiences!

[CG]

Is it economical to develop color films at home? Presumably an 8x10 tank takes a lot of chemicals to fill it... (sorry to piggyback the question)

Aside from Jobo processors, which many people are very pleased with, there is another choice, the thinner 1 gallon size stainless 8x10 tanks. I don't have one right by the computer, but they are something like 2" x 9" x 10", just big enough to fit several hangers into a thin one gallon slice of chemicals.

They are much more economical with chemicals than the better known 3 1/2 gallon tanks. You use the same 8x10 hangers, and can also use 5x7 "two up" and 4x5 "four up" hangers as well.

C

[Jim Ewins]

Freestylephoto.biz sells kits for both C41(#20411) & E6 (#1181). You may download instructions from their website. Temp control is the biggest factor.