C-41 Chemistry in Canada

I want to process colour negative film at home, but am having trouble finding a

source of chemistry here in Canada. Ideally I'd like to "roll my own" chemistry

and can easily get all the chemicals except Kodak CD4. The only on-line source

I've found is Photographer's Formulary in the US, which won't ship the chemical

to Canada. Can anyone out there suggest a Canadian source for this chemical?

 

Failing that, any suggestions for a Canadian on-line/mail order supplier of

Kodak C-41 chemistry (in a format friendly to the home user)?

 

Paul

Is it actually illegal for these chemicals to be shipped to Canada or is this an issue of liability which a business doesn't want to accept? If it's not illegal then maybe you can get a fellow photo.netter to ship it to you.

You can roll your own chemicals that will process C-41 films, but they won't be the C-41 chemistry, which is proprietary to Fuji and Kodak (cross-licensed patents). The color fidelity will be compromised, and the edge and inter-layer effects will not be optimal.

 

Call Kodak and ask where you can buy C-41 in Canada.

In my experience here in Toronto, the few C-41 kits on the shelves at major stores are old and dusty (and probably past expiration).

 

My suggestion would be to look at www.jdphotochem.com (kind of a Canadian Photographer's Formulary, based in Montreal). They can probably sell you CD4, or tell you where to get it.

 

Another suggestion is to look up Nick Zentena, a Canadian who does a lot of his own C-41. I don't think he posts here on PN but he is active in a number of other forums.

What about Tetenal in Canada?

 

We can sent you a C41 home development kit from Amaloco Photochemicals, the Netherlands.

Blix and 4 seperate glass bottles C41 developer all in monoconcentrates. Very convenient for 4x6 C41 films.

http://shop.fotohuisrovo.nl/product_info.php?cPath=31_46&products_id=166

 

But must be sent by sea-post due to all int. regulations. 2 months!

 

Best regards,

 

Robert

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out. Jeff, I don't know if it is a question of legality or liability. I do know that even to have the chemical shipped within the US, something called the "DEA Buyers Form" must be filled out. Robert, I haven't found any sources for Tetenal products here in Canada (perhaps I haven't looked hard enough...)

I asked a Canadian retailer about the Tetenal kits some time last year, and was told they were pretty much impossible to get a hold of.

 

From what I understand liquid chemistry (either colour or b&w) is designated "hazardous materials" for shipping purposes and requires special permits to ship across the border (no idea if it's a DEA form as mentioned above - can the chems to be used to make crystal meth or something equally nasty?). All the US retailers I've seen (Freestyle, Adorama, B&H, etc) won't do it, and in fact most of them have special instructions (at least for the colour stuff) indicating it will only ship ground in the contiguous 48 states.

 

So, I'd be surpised if a shipment of liquid chems actually makes it across the border if an individual just sent a package with them (but stranger things have happened).

The folks at www.jdphotochem.com cannot supply all the chems for their c-41 kits anymore. Too bad, as it was a good price point. I don't think B&H will even agree to ship anything across. Powders can make it across the border, but the folks at freestyle double the cost with shipping charges. I sucked it up and bought 4 unicolor 1l kits anyway, to buy me some time to locate a Canadian supplier. For the record, I have gotten some R3 devs in liquid shipped from them.

<p>Updating a very old thread. <br>

jdphotochem does not seem to be around any longer, but there is now http://www.argentix.ca/ to take its place.<br>

Valid as of January 2016.</p>