KONICA`S GREAT - - - and the price is right!

Ron Knowles (Area 11 Co-ordinator

A revolution has been raging amongst, and between, the World`s major film manufactururs. The battles have been raging from Berlin to Tokyo - then across the Atlantic to New York: and the winners are, without doubt, you and I ... amongst the thousands of other consumers` of the photographic emulsion.

Yes it is us, my friends who will benifit as a result of the frantic in-fighting between Agfa in Germany, Fuji and Konica in Japan and the eastman Kodak conglomerate in the U. S. of A. For all those companies, the big boys of the picture taking world, had to do something drastic in order to try to control the expanding take-oevr of the magnetic tape. The result is that we now have the choice of the existing arrey of new emulsions to try out and, I wager, subsequently enthuse about. What is more we of the Colour Reversal Club are in the forefront when the "prizes" are assessed and distributed. Why is this? The answer is simple but definitive. We are the fortunate position of being able to buy one of these manufacturers` products - Konica - at truely worth-while discounts. This is now even greater value for the Konica reversal film - new emulsion - bears comparison with any of the others ... and at near half the price is an exeptinal triumph both for the manufacturers and the CRC officials who successfully negotiated the deal.

What then are the qualities of this new film? Well it is bright, clean and has first class colour saturation and will record those colours with remarkable accuracy. Yes even the subtle pastel shades will not be missed. A first class emulsion. Definition too is of the highest. As is grain, particularily for a 100 ISO film speed.

My own tests are not alone in confirming all these qualities. Indeed I have seen samples from Secretary, Ron Croad, whose slides are always outstanding, but these on the new Konica are truely exceeding even Ron`s own highest standard.

Then too, Tony Chuter of Southampton is equally enthusiastic and I understand his freezer is already bulging with 30ft tins.

In Yorkshire Dr. Neill tells me he is really impressed with the film and, in particular with its recording of the greens - and here I can also confirm the fact that greens do, in truth, look both bright and neatural.

r. Neill, incidentally, is still active with his photography, enjoys his home processing sessions though he does admit to having abandoned the weighing & mixing in favour of the commercial kit: and who can blame him? Dr. Neill is approaching nonagenarian status! And with a lifetime of photographic interest and experience his is a voice to be respected.

So I commend to you New Konica from Ron Croad in combination with the CRC Formulae... a combination which should ensure your most successful summer season ever... photographically speaking.

Oh you might as what of Agfa and Ektachrome? Well I confess I haven`t yet tried out these for myself. I have seen examples from other members and, yes, they are excellent - again using the CRC Formulae! - but of course they`ll cost you!

Since submitting this piece I have received even more evidence of the films undoubted excellence from Tony. Tony is an enthusiastic 'weigher & mixer' and is ever anxious and willing to try out and examine variations and/or wholesale changes in procedure of chemical make-up of the various solutions. He has, in fact, now incorporated a first trial, for him, of the new liquid bleaching agent, EDTA Fe Nh4. The New liquid bleach you may ask. Well yes it is to us CRC members. For it is now available from both Ron Croad and our advertiser, A.R. Photo Chemicals. But let me put you in the picture.

Tony says:- "Processing with the latest Konica film and substituting the liquid EDTA Fe Nh4 in place of of our former EDTA NaFe. Excellent! But it doesn't stop there!" He continues, "I mixed 300ml solutions, as I had exposed three rolls - two Konica and one Velvia and, taking a leaf from your book I omitted the P. Aminophenol from the Reversal Bath. (I have long doubted the need for this chemical) and I cannot detect any deficiency by so doing."

Also I have always questioned whether the two-minute wash following the First Developer was sufficient to clear the film completely before pouring in the Reversal Bath. The very slight pinkish cast that I have experienced in the past had led me to conclude that the initial two-minute was was not long enough to be completely efficient. Consequetly, and against the advice of other members, I have amended this washing time to at least four minutes. The pink cast - never very evident - has gone completely."

Tony goes on the say that Ron Croad advises an added amount of Acetic Acid may well be needed, when using the EDTA Fe Nh4. in order to bring down the pH value. The new Bleach formula is:- 

Potassium Bromide......................112gms. EDTA Fe Nh4.(50% sol)..............191mls. EDTA Acid.....................................4gms. Acetic Acid. Glacial.....................16.5mls. Water to.........................................1Litre.

"Anyway", Tony concludes, "The New Konica has turned out to be as good for me as it has for you and Ron (Croad) so I'm well satisfied".

So there you are, the evidence is surely becoming overwhelming. There can surely no longer be doubt that the New Konica, in concert with the C.R.C. formulae, is the goods - and then some!!.

COMMENT:-

I found that it took at least 3 'fills' of the tank before the wash water became 'clear' of the solutions, and I start my timing after the third swill. (3 x 30 secs). Since using the CRC Formula I have never had any 'cast' problems. The 'tobacco' problem is something quite different.

Having purchased 1 litre of the EDTA Fe Nh4 from Albert Raymond at the A.G.M. and, will be giving it a try any time now, these reports give me great hope for a successful processing session.

Ed.