Cinestill Cs-41 Color Film Developing Kit

Intrigued by an e-newsletter from Freestyle Photographic Supplies, I ordered this color film processing kit, which promised to be just as straightforward as developing B&W film.

Mixing the Chemicals

Developer = 20 oz of distilled water heated to 120° F + Parts A, B & C to make 1 quart

Blix (Bleach/Fixer) = 18 oz of distilled water heated to 125° F + Parts A, B & C to make 1 quart

Preparation

As suggested by the Cs41 website, I got a $25 foot spa from Walmart as a tempering bath for the chemicals and the developing tank.

Temperature is most critical with the developer. Since the foot spa is just a tempering bath and does not heat up water, I filled it up with hot water from the tap, which was between 105-110°F.

Meanwhile, I filled up a pot with hot water from the tap and heated up the developer in this water bath on the stove to my chosen 102° F developing temperature.

Pre-wash

 I did a pre-wash to stabilize developing tank temperature at 102°F.

Developing

The developer is ready.

I dumped the pre-wash and poured the developer into the tank. I developed for 3.5 minutes doing 4 inversions every 30 seconds. Tank is submerged in the bath in between inversions.

Developer is poured back into the container. I turned off the foot spa since the Blix stage is not as temperature sensitive.

Blixing

Blix can be used anywhere between 75°F-102°F,  so 90.9°F is perfect.

I filled up the developing tank with Blix and did 4 inversions every 30 seconds for the next 8 minutes. After 8 minutes, the temperature inside the developing tank would be just about equivalent to room temperature tap water, which will be used for the wash/rinse cycle.

Blix is poured back into the container.

Wash and Rinse 

I filled up the tank with room temperature tap water, did 5-10 inversions and then dumped the water. Repeated this at least 7 times.

Photo-flo

Filled up the tank with fresh tap water (or distilled) and added two drops of photo-flo or the stabilizer from the kit. Left it standing for at least a minute.

Hang to dry

I let the film dry for at least an hour.

Developing at other temperatures

As shown in the above chart, processing can also be done anywhere from 72°-102° F, but developing time can take as long as 50 minutes at colder temperatures.

The Cinestill Cs41 color film developing kit is just as fool-proof as B&W film processing. The only difference is that they are at both ends of the temperature spectrum. Since I've relegated taking color pictures to my trusty Fuji X-E1, I've seriously been considering an upgrade to a full frame digital body. However, this recent experience processing color film has taken the upgrade itch away...😊

Sample pics

Rollei 35 + Kodak Gold 200

Rollei 35 + Kodak Gold 200 

Rollei 35 + Kodak Gold 200

Rollei 35 + Kodak Gold 200

Rollei 35 + Kodak Gold 200

Nikon FG20 + Nikkor E series 50mm f1.8
Expired Fuji Color 100 

Leica M6 + Summicron 35mm f2
Kodak Portra 160

Darwin D. Martin House
by Frank Lloyd Wright
Buffalo, NY

more pics

Camera Life in Tokyo

Armed with tips from Japan Camera Hunter and Tokyo Camera Style, here's my camera tour of Tokyo. Our trip was interspersed with sight-seeing, visiting museums and attending classical music concerts.

Camera Box in Shinjuku

While some friends and I were looking for a bar in Shinjuku, I stumbled upon Camera Box but it was already closed. I made sure to go back the following morning.

Got this refurbished Super Fujica 6 medium format 6x6 rangefinder camera from Camera Box. It wasn't a bargain but I've wanted a coupled RF medium format camera for so long ;)

Super Fujica 6 + Fuji Pro160NS colorfilm

Kitamura Camera in Shinjuku

Map Camera - very upscale atmosphere, lots of Leicas, clones and lenses but no bargains here.

Katsumido Camera in Ginza

Happy with the loot ;)

Olympusflex and Ricohflex TLRs + Canon 7s unearthed from the junk camera bin at Katsumido - all for less than $100. The shutters on all three cameras work. Viewfinders in the TLRs need cleaning and I was told by a salesman that the only problem with the Canon 7s was the broken light-meter. Just developed a test roll from the Canon 7s and the negatives look fine. 

Lemonsha is found on the 7th floor of this building. Aside from cameras there were also vintage watches and model trains for sale. I saw a Semflex TLR which has been on my wish list for a while now but I decided to pass.

Sukiya in Ginza was closed

Sankyo in Ginza - collector quality Leicas, Rolleiflexes and Hasselblads
One flight above was Japan Camera which had a lot of Japanese Leica copies - Canon, Leotax, Nicca, Tanack, Yashica, etc.

Found the twin brother of my Super Fujica 6 in the Fujifilm Museum in Tokyo Midtown.

Very rare Fujinon 50mm f1.2 and 35mm f2 lenses in LTM mount

Fujifilm Museum

She doesn't seem to be impressed by the Lartigue exhibit at the Fujifilm museum. ;)

Fujifilm headquarters in Tokyo Midtown

Camera Ichiba is above the ABC shoe store in Shinjuku.

Entrance to the stairwell to Camera Ichiba

Just like Camera Box, this place is cramped and filled to the rafters with cameras and accessories.

Classical music being played through their PA system was a definite plus ;)

Got a clean glass user grade Japanese Summicron at Camera Ichiba - the Canon 35mm f2 LTM for less than $200 ;) Good thing I had enough yen because they don't take credit cards.

Akihabara Radio Center - while shopping for my Audio/DIY hobby, I found vintage Japanese folders, Nicca and Canon rangefinders in the 2nd floor flea market.

BIC Camera and...

...Yodobashi Camera are large chain stores that sell digital cameras, camera accessories, bags, audio electronics, cellphones, tablets, household appliances and all sorts of electronic gadgets. They also had a nice selection of reasonably priced Japanese Whiskies and Single Malts from Suntory, Yamazaki, Hibiki, Nikka, etc.

BIC and Yodobashi still carry film as well as darkroom chemicals and equipment. But the selection of film is getting smaller. I was there when they began stocking Japan Camera Hunter's film cases for 35mm and 120 film.

I found a camera repair tool kit and some leatherette at Yodobashi. If you're looking for Japanese magazines which contain really nice pictures that speak for themselves, BIC and Yodobashi have better stock than the bookstores I visited.

There are some bargains to be found in the junk bins for the DIY inclined, especially if you limit your choice to vintage Japanese manufactured cameras and lenses. I just wish I had more time and energy to dig through those bins ;)

I also wanted to visit Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography which was closed for renovation and some galleries including Totem Pole Gallery. That will have to wait till our next visit!