5x7 developing tanks

Marcus · Apr 27, 2008

Is there such a thing as a 5x7 developing tank?

I have recently bought a 1/2 plate tank (made by Dallan), and have already got 5x4 (Johnson of Hendon). Just need the one in between - 5x7.

Any thoughts anybody??

Marcus

frotog · Apr 27, 2008

Combi-plan used to make a 5x7 version of their popular 4x5 model. Unfortunately they're long gone. Your only options are tanks with hanger racks like the old kodak ones, tubes like the jobo or btzs, or a slosher. I wish someone made an inversion style tank.

Nathan Smith · Apr 28, 2008

I've occasionally seen the old "hard rubber" 5x7 tanks on ebay. I highly recommend the Unicolor Uniroller and print tanks though - cheap and very easy to use. It'll do 5x7 and 4x5 for sure. I guess you can do 8x10 as well, it's certainly made to do 8x10 prints. Plenty of early threads on the topic.

Nathan

Marcus said:
Is there such a thing as a 5x7 developing tank?

I have recently bought a 1/2 plate tank (made by Dallan), and have already got 5x4 (Johnson of Hendon). Just need the one in between - 5x7.

Any thoughts anybody??

Marcus

greybeard · Apr 29, 2008

To answer your question as stated: yes, there are 5x7 tanks. Plastic ones are available from Cesco (try B&H Photo Video; they were listed last week, anyway) and stainless ones can be had from W. W. Grainger (but they will run you over $100 each). But if you are looking for a 5x7 sized "daylight" tank that you only have to load in the dark, I think you are out of luck.

BradS · Apr 29, 2008

Jobo expert 3006 is a daylight tank pretty much intended for 5x7 (or, 4x5). The 3010 will also work for 5x7.

P C Headland · Apr 30, 2008

You can process two 5x7 sheets in a Paterson Orbital (daylight processor). It's only two sheets at a time, but you only need 100-150ml of developing solution, so it is still economical.

Marcus · May 18, 2008

Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated!

Marcus

PHOTOTONE · May 18, 2008

It hasn't been mentioned, but the common 8x10 hard rubber, and/or plastic deep tanks (3.5 gallon) from Kodak and Cesco-Lite also work for 5x7 hangers by just turning the hangers sideways from the position you would use for 8x10 hangers. The single-sheet 5x7 hangers will sit on the ledges of the narrower sides of the tank. Also the 2-sheet 5x7 hangers, and the 4-sheet 4x5 hangers are 8x10 in form factor and work just fine in 8x10 tanks. So...with one set of 8x10, 3.5 gallon tanks, and the appropriate stainless-steel film hangers you can process just about all popular sheet film sizes. All these items are available on the used market and show up on popular auction sites.

Tom Hoskinson · May 18, 2008

Marcus said:
Is there such a thing as a 5x7 developing tank?

I have recently bought a 1/2 plate tank (made by Dallan), and have already got 5x4 (Johnson of Hendon). Just need the one in between - 5x7.

Any thoughts anybody??

Marcus

Very easy to make BTZS type tanks for processing 5x7 sheet film from Black ABS plumbing pipe.

edtbjon · May 19, 2008

Just to chime in: The Jobo Expert 3006 is the best there is. You can roll it manually or get some kind of motorized roller bed. It's very economical with chemicals too.

//Björn

Whiteymorange · May 19, 2008

The Unicolor roller system works great for 5x7 and can often be had for cheap. Two sheet at a time in the can and it's small enough to be loaded in a changing bag.

Les · Nov 28, 2008

Bjorn,
Is there a top for the 3006 that will seal like some of the print drums or only the cog lid? I assume all one needs to do is get a stopper for the cog and roll it on a flat surface. Is that correct?

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 28, 2008

I have several 5 quart and 4 quart hard rubber tanks for single 5x7" hangers and use them for 5x7", 4x5", and 2x3". They are cheap and plentiful on eBay when I've looked for them, but they are heavy, so can be costly to ship, and some will be cracked (test overnight with water before filling with chemicals!), so you need to buy more than you need, and the cracked ones can be used to hold the hangers as you load them or as wash tanks.

edtbjon · Nov 29, 2008

Les said:
Bjorn,
Is there a top for the 3006 that will seal like some of the print drums or only the cog lid? I assume all one needs to do is get a stopper for the cog and roll it on a flat surface. Is that correct?

You can have a look at a little thingy called "roller base", which have four wheels. Before I found a CPA2 with a lift I used a home built one with success. Just a piece of board with four cheap furniture wheels screwed on top of of it.
You can put a plug of some kind into the hole, as there are no versions of the Expert lids without cogs. But I didn't experience any fluid spashing out of the drum. The lid also blocks any light from coming into the drum, so there's no need to worry.

//Björn

5x7 developing tanks

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