AGO film processor

[blee1996]

Just got an email from freestyle photo that AGO film processor is available for preorder. I wonder if our European friends here have already tried it?

Vintage Visual

We are making photographic film developing equipment and accessories to simplify your film processing needs. Film developing made easy!

vintagevisual.eu

 

[mshchem]

Looks like fun

 

[abruzzi]

looks potentially interesting. A bit pricey, but probably worth it.

 

[blee1996]

Some of the attractions for me:

1) Quite compact for small darkroom (I mean bathroom), compared to old Jobo equipment or even Unicolor roller/motor
2) Re-use Paterson Super system 4 drums and reels, which I already have plenty
3) Modern electronics that could be firmware updated, or phone controlled?
4) Use less chemical compared to my usual Paterson 1L solution

Therefore I think the price is quite reasonable. I can still do everything by hand (B&W, C41, E6, ECN-2), but I can imagine this will help in some cases.

 

[abruzzi]

I know cost is a very personal thing, but if it was $300 I'd probably jump, but at $500 I'm borderline. I'm also not sure about the "adjust time based on falling temp" as opposed to maintaining temp.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Very interesting idea, I haven't heard of this before this thread.

The time temperature alteration on the fly, is more or less how high tech professional film processing machines works. Maintaining a constant temperature without a water bath isn't going to happen, this alternative looks to be a brilliant feature.

Another machine that works on a similar arrangement, is exposing paper for enlarging. As your light(s) age they change, and another issue is power fluctuations that change the intensity of light emitting during an exposure. The receptor on the baseboard monitors how many units of light is required for a certain paper and automatically micro adjusts the length of exposure.

 

[prado333]

438,99€ , sincerely i think it is pricey.

 

[pentaxuser]

Wasn't this the subject of a thread several months ago? When I looked at the video link and what it does for the price charged and the comments that follow it all seems to ring a bell

pentaxuser

 

[logan2z]

Wasn't this the subject of a thread several months ago?

This one?

AGO Film Processor- Paterson tank compatible processor for home users

Hello everyone, I am thrilled to introduce you to the AGO Film Processor, a product born out of over two years of development and my master's thesis. I embarked on this project because I noticed a gap between regular development tanks and the larger, more expensive processors like JOBO, leaving...

www.photrio.com

 

[bags27]

 

[fs999]

Smart Alarms: Be altered when it is time to change chemicals

But I don't want to be altered !

 

[Romanko]

Any thoughts on a similar device from Pira.mx?

Pira.mx – Darkroom Helper

darkroomhelper.pira.mx

 

[radialMelt]

I would love it you could run Flexicolor chemistry with this. Sadly Kodak don't published dev time vs temp charts so probably unlikely...

 

[bags27]

Any thoughts on a similar device from Pira.mx?

Pira.mx – Darkroom Helper

darkroomhelper.pira.mx

Thanks for that. Since it works upright, I imagine that it would have to be 100% filled. Horizontal units need less chemicals right?
And because it rotates continuously with full chemicals, I'd imagine we'd have to work out the timing, which will be different than either machine horizontal rotation with ~ 50% chemicals or occasional hand inversions with 100% chemicals.

 

[ChrisGalway]

I think altering the time as the temperature decreases is not going to work for E6, where the recommended time is 38deg +/- 0.5deg. Assuming each solution starts at 38deg, over the first development time of 6-8 mins (more if pushing) that temperature is going to drop a lot, perhaps 5deg or more depending on the room temperature.

I would be very interested in hearing any feedback about using this for E6, because it does have a lot of attractive features.

 

[ChrisGalway]

Any thoughts on a similar device from Pira.mx?

Pira.mx – Darkroom Helper

darkroomhelper.pira.mx

Looks very nice for E6 ... can be adjusted to keep temperatures at 38deg. Clever idea to use magnets.

 

[koraks]

And because it rotates continuously with full chemicals, I'd imagine we'd have to work out the timing, which will be different than either machine horizontal rotation with ~ 50% chemicals or occasional hand inversions with 100% chemicals.

No, won't matter enough to bother with adjusting times. Just use the times for rotary development/constant agitation.

I would love it you could run Flexicolor chemistry with this. Sadly Kodak don't published dev time vs temp charts so probably unlikely...

Just run it at the suggested process temperature, or otherwise use the approximations published once upon a time by e.g. Rollei for their Digibase kits. It'll be close enough especially for color negative film.

 

[Romanko]

Thanks for that. Since it works upright, I imagine that it would have to be 100% filled. Horizontal units need less chemicals right?

Apparently, you can put the unit on its side and use it in a horizontal configuration. I saw it somewhere on the website.

And because it rotates continuously with full chemicals, I'd imagine we'd have to work out the timing, which will be different than either machine horizontal rotation with ~ 50% chemicals or occasional hand inversions with 100% chemicals.

I would experiment and adjust development times every time I change my process.

As for chemistry, I use cheap single-shot BW developers so I usually use the full tank. There are two strategies to extend capacity of color chemistry: (1) load 4 type 120 films into 1 L tank and use 1 L of the solutions for up to 4 batches, ideally in one session; (2) use smaller volumes single-shot.

 

[Vintage Visual]

Hello, writing you from Vintage Visual, creators of AGO Film Processor. We had in October successful Indiegogo campaign and just now in June we delivered our firs machines to market.
If you have some questions regarding AGO, feel free to ask.

I would love it you could run Flexicolor chemistry with this. Sadly Kodak don't published dev time vs temp charts so probably unlikely...

Flexicolor is definitely possible, but as you say Kodak doesn't publish his dev times at different temperatures. So this needs bit of densitometry to figure out. But as AGO is more of a consumer product we are at a moment concentrating on dev kits which are meant for the same consumer base. Like Bellini RA-4, ECN-2 or Jobo C-41 and ECN-2.
Further more, you can make your own programs in AGO using stored compensation cures, while different manufactures developers can work differently at lower temperatures there is still good chance that it is similar to some another.

I think altering the time as the temperature decreases is not going to work for E6, where the recommended time is 38deg +/- 0.5deg. Assuming each solution starts at 38deg, over the first development time of 6-8 mins (more if pushing) that temperature is going to drop a lot, perhaps 5deg or more depending on the room temperature.

I would be very interested in hearing any feedback about using this for E6, because it does have a lot of attractive features.

Essentially what we have done so far is that we have taken different datasheets which specify development times at lower temperatures and turned it into a compensation curve so it can compensate during a development run. At a moment we have Cinestill and Arista E6 programs.
Some of you probably know that developing at lower temperatures can create color shifts. While it is true it becomes a problem when you get lower then 30C. At 30C you get with every color film slight color shift usually on green color. That is why we say you should stay in the temperature range and preferably at a higher temperature. On any color film -5C degrees wont make any visible difference.

 

[foc]

On any color film -5C degrees wont make any visible difference.

Could you clarify this please?

 

[Vintage Visual]

Could you clarify this please?

Here in one chapter about ECN-2 film you can read it:
https://vintagevisual.eu/getting-ready-for-production-testing-ecn-2/

 

[bags27]

I'm bumping this, because I just ordered one today. The video reviews are so overwhelmingly positive, and my basement darkroom has way too many undeveloped rolls piling up. I have been using a rotary (an old Beseler, non-immersible) for B&W and just letting the temp drift down a bit. But with color, it's been a lot of attentive work with sous vide and agitation and BLIX that threatens to blow the top, etc. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but I also ordered the largest Paterson tank, figuring it'll save enough time, chemicals, and water, not to pay for itself, but at least to compensate some. I know there are other "reasonably priced" (compared to the big Jobo's) options now, but this is the one that really appealed to me.

 

[ChrisGalway]

I'm bumping this, because I just ordered one today. The video reviews are so overwhelmingly positive, and my basement darkroom has way too many undeveloped rolls piling up. I have been using a rotary (an old Beseler, non-immersible) for B&W and just letting the temp drift down a bit. But with color, it's been a lot of attentive work with sous vide and agitation and BLIX that threatens to blow the top, etc. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but I also ordered the largest Paterson tank, figuring it'll save enough time, chemicals, and water, not to pay for itself, but at least to compensate some. I know there are other "reasonably priced" (compared to the big Jobo's) options now, but this is the one that really appealed to me.

I would be very interested to hear your feedback.

Indeed I would be interested to hear from any independent person who has actually used the AGO, or the Pira, processor for colour film! A problem nowadays is that manufacturers of new products send a few units to "influencers" most of whom inevitably give upbeat reviews, barely (if at all) mentioning the downsides of the product (like liquid leaking or spills, noise, etc). The Jobo processors have been around for so long that people are quite open to discussing all the downsides as well as the upsides, despite (or because of) their high cost. Both the AGO and Pira do look attractive on the surface.

Good luck!

 

[Hunter_Compton]

This video seems to go into the deficiencies of the system:



IMO, If you just need a system that can rotate a Paterson tank on its side without the touch screen or temperature compensation, I could probably design something that would cost about 10% as much.

 

[ChrisGalway]

This video seems to go into the deficiencies of the system:



IMO, If you just need a system that can rotate a Paterson tank on its side without the touch screen or temperature compensation, I could probably design something that would cost about 10% as much.

Thanks for posting this review ... a breath of fresh air! The comments on YouTube suggest that others did not have the leakage problems.