CINESTILL TCS-1000 REVEIW - Worthwhile or Gimmick?!

[@b6983832]

The thermometer in TCS-1000 seems to be quite accurate. Also, you can adjust the temperature by 0.1°C. Most sous vide sticks for cooking have an accuracy of about one degree. Also, the motor for moving the water around is quite powerful. This means the water bath will be the same temperature throughout the vessel. One minus is that the light can´t be switched off, and the appliance must be covered somehow if using it when printing RA-4. One good solution is putting a small Paterson tank on it. It will block the light completely.

[@larrywilliams5708]

Hi, just came across this vid and wanted add a little something. I noticed you didn’t mention that the water in the bath does not indicate the temp of your chemistry, which in my experience takes Much longer. I agree that a beep to invert would be helpful. Lastly we either both got lemons or the TCS has electrical issues as my first one stopped working soon after purchasing. It was replaced no problem though. Thanks for the review! 👍

[@Goughie]

I actually now set my temperature on the machine like 5 degrees higher in the water bath, then when it beeps it’s there then turn it back down to the right temp. I find this gets me where I need to be quicker! Interesting to know! It scared the life outta me when it went bang!

[@robertchestnut3331]

I just purchased one of these and got it in the mail this week. I have not yet tried (will this afternoon) it but like you said even if just reduces some stress I am happy. additionally it gets cold in my house and my black and white chemicals get too cold sometimes so I am hoping this well help with that too.

[@Goughie]

Let me know how you get on! I hadn’t thought about cold houses. It would be handy for stand development actually! If your house can get too cold sometimes!

[@peterduris8314]

When I have 25 degrees Celsius in the bathroom and I want to reduce temp. to 19C, can you even cool it? I only make a black and white film. ThankYou

[@Goughie]

This is only a heater, only heats water can’t cool it. I really only use it for colour film

[@randallstewart175]

Advise: CS says you can put the heater base directly into chemicals to heat them, rather than into a water bath. It's stainless steel, which is resistant to most color chemicals, but not all, so this is a poor idea. You would not be able examine to verify that the unit is fully clean after such use. I cannot think of a legitimate reason to use this heater as directly in your chemistry. Finally, do not use this heater to warm water baths from room temp to process temp. if possible, as it puts a great strain on the heater unit. If you have access to hot water, fill your "bath" with warm water and let the heater just regulate the temperature of the bath.

[@Goughie]

Another reason I wouldn’t use it directly in chemicals is I’m worried id spill them as the fan is pretty powerful. Not too sure about the advice on not heating from room temp which here is only from 20 degrees to 37. The device goes all the way up to 95 degrees just off boiling Pretty sure it is actually a repurposed immersion circulator that you get for a kitchen to cook food, and bring sauces from fridge temps to cooked, weird can cook meats and stuff too. They seem to be called “sous vide cookers”

[@b6983832]

@@Goughie Another possible problem is carryover. You don´t want any fixer or bleach-fix in your developer. This would mean cleaning with water many times, and also changing it.

[@PatrickGregoryDaniels]

Good Job Bro. Ihavent used mine yet.

[@Goughie]

Once you do! I’d be curious to know your thoughts!

[@PatrickGregoryDaniels]

@@Goughie sure bro. honestly i'v been nervous to do development...a little scared myself that I'll mess up really

[@Goughie]

@@PatrickGregoryDaniels have you ever done black and white before? Colour really is no harder, especially when you have this worrying about the temps for you! You’ll ace it!! 💪🏻

[@PatrickGregoryDaniels]

@@Goughie I own the mono bath for black and white but I haven't opened the bottle yet..lil nervous ...I'm also unsure how to turn the negative into a positive after development

[@Goughie]

@@PatrickGregoryDaniels I do have a video, although quite old now on how you can do it using a scanner. I’m hoping in the next few weeks I’ll be able to release a newer video on how I do it now!

[@GavinLowndes]

Mine was a USA plug and I used a USA to Irish plug adapter but it destroyed my fuse. How did you power yours?

[@Goughie]

I had the same! I think I mentioned it in the video! It blew the fuse and the device the first time! I then got sent another that I used the same adapter with and it was fine

[@Goughie]

I think maybe I didn’t realise that there is a right and wrong way around to plug it into the adapter

[@pilzchenlp1234567893]

Hey, I purchased one too. I am a bit confused about the temperature. The water bath gets up to 39.4 / 39.6 Celsius (measured with a second precise thermometer). Maybe this is normal because the bath needs to be a bit warmer in order to heat up the chemicals 🤷‍♂️ What is your experience? How accurate is your TCS?

[@Goughie]

Mine sits at a pretty solid 39.0 degrees. How much water are you using in the bath? The good thing is that 38.5 to 39.5 is the acceptable range for the chemicals so you’re still pretty much within that so you should get consistent results

[@b6983832]

@@Goughie You are probably referring to some nonstandard chemistry, as the prescribed temperature for standard C-41 process is 37.8°C, not 39.0°C. CineStill home kit seema a bit weird because of its higher required temperature with a slightly longer developing time. Blix is never standard in C-41, as it exists only in so-called press kits, which are more or less copies of the Tetenal press kit from the 1980´s. Some are better than others, but using proper chemistry (with separate bleach and fix) is always recommended. I found this system being quite accurate. It doesn´t deviate more than 0.1°C from the reading it shows. This is not the case with cooking appliances (sous vide sticks).