CINESTILL TCS1000 Review | Film Developing Made Easier

[@krissjacobsen9434]

I use the cheapest Sous Vide heater I could find at a local electronics store. Works great, and is essencially the same as this. My guess is that the TCS1000 is actually made by a sous vide manufacturer.

[@Justin-hn9uv]

Yep, it is literally a sous vide water heater. Good on them for finding another use for these things, but I imagine theirs comes with extra margin factored in (i.e. it's more expensive".

[@TheKyleealy]

Yeah after the shit Cinestill is trying to pull with its 800t trademark, I’m convinced their claims of having a completely original product with the TCS are bogus.

[@landonfulgham]

I've been developing my own (color) film for almost a year now and I've just been using my bath tub, a plastic bin, and a thermometer (with a thermistor probe attachment). I know these types of units (or a sous vide cooker) can be very handy, but if you are just getting into developing, I would personally recommend holding off until you are sure you it's something you want to continue doing. You really don't need much special equipment to get started. Great video Noah!

[@13squier]

It's great, I've been using one frequently for a year now. I get the water bath with chemical bottles up to temp while I load the film in the tank. Then I measure out the developer into the pitcher and actually put the TCS into the pitcher with the developer to get it to exactly the right temp. Rinse it off pretty well and use it again. Makes mixing the chemicals super easy too.

[@buyaport]

Keeping track of the right temperature and the timing when developing color film has always been a hassle for me. But I had done it successfully -- finally I got the TCS-1000 (no idea why 1000?!), and to call it a life saver would be an exaggeration, but having a heater plus a timer preset to the Cinestill developing kit is making life easier. Certainly worth the money, considering today's film prices. Good job, Cinestill marketing department, got me hooked to your C-41 kit. Using the TCs with other kits isn't so easy, and when developing slide film it is still very(!) helpful, but the timer then is completely useless, and one could use any similar heating system.

[@neptunimas4736]

I would have to agree with you that the TCS does help a tad bit in maintaining water temps. I have use it when I mix my Cine-still C-41 kits and it does a fantastic job!!

[@willstith1]

I use an old Anova that I bought for cooking steaks. I wouldn't worry too much about cross contamination since when you cook food or develop film nothing really comes in contact with anything since it's all in containers.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Mmmmmmm -- I could go for a CineSirloin 800 right now!

[@thatrecord5313]

Can't get enough of your videos, Noah. Might I offer video ideas? Flashbulb photography, the Lomokino motion picture camera, and developing ancient, undeveloped film rolls.

[@JamieMPhoto]

I got this thing when it first came out, and I've read a fair share of people making fun of it, but I'll tell you now that in the years since, I have developed exponentially MORE color film since getting this than ever before. It makes heating drastically easier and more consistent. I even stick the thing on my Jobo because it's a lot faster than using the built-in heating elements. I don't use it for chemical mixing anymore, but it did a fine job of that.

[@tomjanowski8584]

Multitasking....film development and making dinner at the same time.

[@donaldlampert331]

Nice review, and possibly a needed piece of equipment!? Thank for showing off the Pathex cine camera! You know that they were originally hand wind cameras…. So if you loosen the two thumb screws on the top, then unscrew the screw on the bottom, that actually goes into the tripod socket, the clockwork mechanism comes off and you will see the hand wind mechanism ( minus it’s winder bracket ) I believe the leather covering is still on that unit, that says two windings per second. I think the camera looks better with the winder off it, but I doubt that any of us are really up to hand winding for a couple minutes. Have fun!

[@christopherrasmussen8718]

I got one last year. It’s not bad. I started out developing film and slides in the 70s. Big on digital, but went back to film for my press camera and my 120 pano camera

[@DustinBKerensky97]

Cool that it has it's little branding and timer but it's just a sous vide cooker. But Sous Vide cookers are awesome for maintaining water temp so it's a good option.

[@ripemangosmdm7997]

There's a supposed difference between the cinestill and the other soup heaters. The cinestill has ceramic coils rather than metal. Which I guess they say works better with not reacting and being consistent and better for mixing chemicals with then the soup heaters. I don't mix my chems with it tho. Sooo...I could just use a different deal-e-o. But I found mine on a 2nd hand sight for $65. So I scooped it. This is a great channel, thanks for making duh vids. I always look forward to anything new!

[@b6983832]

There is one big design flaw in this system - the light can´t be turned off. If you are doing RA-4 in a darkroom, you must cover the light somehow, or your papers get exposed. Same thing goes with more recent digital enlarger timers. Yes, the light is red, but this is a problem with color printing.

[@llobato]

The Anova one is on sale at Canadian Tire now and it is actually cheaper than the CineStill one... definitely going to grab that one xD

[@randallstewart1224]

I know that Cinestill claims that you can warm chemicals by putting this unit directly in the chemical solutions. I cannot imagine a faster way to cross-contaminate your chemicals, since you have no way to directly clean those chemicals off the inside of the neater. This thing uses a 1000 watt heater coil inside, so you would have some deposits forming inside. Why is Cinestill so cavalier about this use? I suppose for the same reason they claim they make the thing, or that it is materially different that the cooking version shown in the video. Cinestill is like the lilies of the field, in that they neither reap nor do they sow. They just rebrand other producers' stuff and add a mark-up. Since they are just a marketing operation, being loose with the sales solicitations is just a normal tool of the trade. Tip: When I started doing home color, both slides and color negative, more than 45 years ago, my darkroom chemical heater has been an insulated plastic six-pack cooler and a fish tank heater from a pet store. Just fill with hot water, plug in the heater, load the chem bottles a couple of hours before starting (or the night before). It will hold 103 degrees F forever, and operates on 40 watts, not a 1000. As a bonus, it has a hinged, insulated lid and carrying handle.

[@joeyleclaire]

Thoughts about doing a Silberra review? Might not be able to get the film anymore, depending on the state of the world

[@SinaFarhat]

I got a sous-vide cooker that was on sale, it workes great for my colour development!

[@fuglong]

Be warned, I got one with the jobo duo kit and it quit working after mixing my chemicals (One use). Got a less expensive Amazon one and it's been a million times better

[@alirezaahari3434]

Even you can make yourself a proper heat bath! it is easy if you are familiar with kind of geeky and engineering things!

[@b6983832]

Unless you are using CineStill´s non standard chemistry, C.41 is 37.8°C, not 39°C.

[@brineb58]

I have the Flick Film thing and love it ... have the Cibestill thing, but use it less than i do the Flick!!!

[@carlmcneill1139]

It sounds like this is programmed more for film developing than a sous vide. It's not substantially more than most sous vide. I've been checking prices lately.

[@crismitchell]

What is the water bath unit you showed?

[@AnalogResurgence]

The Flic Film water bath! downtowncamera.com/shop/flic-film-precision-temperature-water-bath/0c674440-ff73-0139-5bf9-00163ecd2826?variation=3071591

[@carltanner9065]

I'd buy two...one to cook my film and the other to cook my casserole :) :P Wonder what the "developing time" is for a lamb casserole?? :P

[@adamstreetboyzz]

Well on their page they recommend heat up your chemicals directly

[@xedalpha1]

But can you cook steak with it?

[@deadslug]

I've found a three-gallon bucket is perfect for the TCS-1000 That bottle holder sucks, don't use it I just use my phone for timing

[@Yosser70]

Got a Sous Vide off Amazon returns for £12.50 the other day :)

[@JCNY718]

mmmmm might have to develop some film and make a steak tonight.

[@goldenhourkodak]

I found the cheapest Sous Vide on Amazon and it works great

[@slippytiger]

Yeah, that's just a home Sous Vide machine.

[@jakubmarszaek8330]

That's literally a sousvide. Ithink for that price it's better to buy a cheap from Lidl or second hand

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Celsius?!?!?!? Where do you live, Canada? Oh, right. 🙂

[@goldenhourkodak]

Or anywhere in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa. Fahrenheit is only used by 5 countries, the US being the only major country. The rest of the world uses the much better system, Celsius.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

@@goldenhourkodak -- Yes, but I know that Noah lives in Canada. And who says that it is better?!? Just because 0 degrees = freezing and 100 degrees = boiling point of water! That's way too easy to remember! 🙂