Advise on the Agfa Rondinax

[atefano.giannuzzi]

Hi,
there's somebody that use the Agfa Rondinax 35U?
Respect to the usual paterson tank how I should modify the time of development?

Thanks a lot!

Ps. sorry for my bad english...

 

[aligndont]

Developing time should be the same. As far as agitation is concerned, try one full rotation as equivalentto one inversion. Make sure tank is fully filled if doing 36 exposures.

 

[julio1fer]

Just saw this old thread, want to comment for the benefit of other members because I use a Rondinax sometimes and the previous post may be misleading.

Normally you do *not* fill a Rondinax, it uses just 200 cc of solution, which gives a liquid level just below the axis of the spool. The film in the spool is kept wet by rotation, so you have to rotate the spool continuosly, which is good exercise for the hand. If you do not rotate the spool, the upper part of the spool loses solution because it flows down.

The rotation movement is similar to the way you would wind an old clock, turn a bit, stop a bit, turn again. But do not stop for more than a few seconds.

I have never tried to see what happens if you do not rotate continuously, but my guess is that you may get uneven development.

As for development time with continuous rotation, reduce by about 15% as compared to the classic procedure (1 minute initial agitation, then 1 inversion each minute). Most manufacturers will give recommended times for continuous agitation in their film data sheets: use them, or compare with other agitation methods given and do your own estimate.

The Rondinax system works perfectly with 36-exposure-rolls with the standard manufacturer's procedure. I am talking from actual experience with quite a few rolls.

If you do want to cover the spool with solution so you do not have to agitate so much, you would have to fill the tank until the liquid level is seen in the outlet pool. This might not be a good idea IMHO, as the liquid may easily flow over to the area where the cassette is loaded and you may be in for a full disassembly and cleaning after each roll, not to mention a soaked film cassette.

 

[jochen]

Hello,
the Rondinax 35 has 4 problems:
1) If you rotate very even and uniform it has a tendency to make stripes due to laminar flow.
2) The seals may have deteriorated and the tank may leak.
3) The rubber band from the clip may heve deteriorated.
4) The little knife for cutting the film may be not sharp.

 

[NickLimegrove]

5) Daddy may forget it at home when loading the trailer for the holiday. Two weeks of fun will be ruined; with no Rondinax on the table, the family will be the laughing stock of the whole camping site.

 

[Xmas]

Hello,
the Rondinax 35 has 4 problems:
1) If you rotate very even and uniform it has a tendency to make stripes due to laminar flow.
2) The seals may have deteriorated and the tank may leak.
3) The rubber band from the clip may have deteriorated.
4) The little knife for cutting the film may be not sharp.

By product of bull

1) Read the manual, a problem with an 'if' is conditional...
2) The liquid level does not reach the seal area, and drainage seems to stay off the shaft, it is not like an inversion cap where liquid goes everywhere.
3) It it has you need to replace and glue/bond
4) sharpen the knife if it is blunt, but not had that

The only disadvantage is you may feel you get more obvious grain and different edge effects, but I like grain so am prejudiced.

200 mls of developer is not a lot single shot

Ive not tried a film with bad reverse curl yet...

 

[railwayman3]

I used a Rondinax 120 many years ago, when I first started processing my own films. It worked fine, the only problem being that the 120 film needed to be left a day or so after it had been removed from the camera, to get a back spring into the film itself, otherwise it could scrunch up in the transfer chamber(?), rather than make a nice curled roll of film ready to be drawn into the developing spool.

Can't recall any problems with the tank being half-filled or in standard developing times, though it was best to have your room around 20 deg. C to avoid any problems in tempering the solutions.

I've been tempted to try the 35mm version, but not seen a good example at a sensible price as yet.