4 x 5 Sheet Film Developing

[JBrunner]

You can go for any other method later, but for larger sheets there are less options for tanks. So IMO it helps to learn the tray development...

I agree, for instance if you are someplace without your tank, etc. you can still develop- even in tupperware....

 

[raucousimages]

BTW. I am not talking about the closed tanks, I am talking about the open top Yankee/Kodak style. Work in the dark, just be sure to hit the developer first not the fixer. Tupperware works great to. I have wondered what hotel maids have thought with my "trays" drying on the toilet tank and negs on the little clothes line in the shower.

 

[timothygurney]

Dip and dunk in tanks gives easy control for dev compensations and you can do 8 films per batch. Tanks and holders are cheap on ebay. Hang the negs to dry in the holders eliminates manipulations with wet/delicat emulsions.

 

[cinderic]

I have been processing (and shuffling) 4 x 5 sheet film in trays for years. I keep hearing about tube processing. I guess you'll just have to hit me over the head, because I don;t get it. How is the film "secured" in the tubes? Any more info.?

 

[Konical]

Good Afternoon, Cinderic,

The common 8 x 10 drums originally meant for processing color prints typically have some kind of arrangement which allows 4 x 5 prints to be fitted without coming loose. The same feature allows 4 x 5 negatives to be processed in a virtually foolproof manner. On the Chromega, which I use, this is accomplished with three plastic removeable dividers which run lengthwise in grooves molded into the interior wall; a simple sliding spacer on one divider completes the arrangement. Other tubes on the market, such as BTZS, are sized to hold just one sheet of film.

Konical

 

[Lachlan Young]

is ortho film still available?

Ilford Ortho-plus is your best bet. It is a normal contrast minus red film only available in 5x4 and 10x8 sizes.

Hope this helps,

Lachlan