Cheap Dev tank

razocaine_07 · Jul 24, 2010

hi everyone, wondering if you could help.
Its the end of the academic year and I finally have some time to use my 5x4 pinhole camera.
I was wondering if anyone could direct me towards a cheap 5x4 developing tank and stockists if possible (not eBay)
Im based in the UK so a UK dealer would certainly be preferrable.

Thanks guys

Ian Grant · Jul 24, 2010

Best bet is subscribe here and post a wanted advert. That's how I got my 2nd Jobo 2000

There's no cheap LF tanks new, there a guy on ebay making an adaptor for larger Paterson tanks, in the UK but that's the only way he sells them. The first went for just under £20.

Try a camera fair, sometimes you see Dallan stainless steel 5x4 tanks quite cheap, you need to be there early though.

Ian

bdial · Jul 24, 2010

The cheapest way to do 4x5 processing is in a tray, and it woudn't even need to be something from a camera store.
Second hand 8x10 print trays should be available cheaply, and new Paterson trays aren't terribly expensive.

seobserver · Jul 24, 2010

To think outside the lines sometimes makes tasks easier solved. A sandwitch box in plastic, in my cupboard happens it to be 5 1/2 by 7, seems right, and worked great for my 9x12cm plates, from my grandmothers estate. Her handed over Contaxes from the 50s are still a joy and 35 mm is so much easier to work with. The travelcamera of about 1910 has a happy f 11 as lagest hole, at after 32 sharpens, almost set in......

Rick A · Jul 24, 2010

I have a FR brand developing tank you can have for postage. I'm in the USA.

dtheld · Jul 26, 2010

I've just purchased the 5x4 Processor from the "guy on e-bay" (Morgan O'Donovan). It is well thought out and constructed. He uses a laser cutter to make the parts. Fit and finish is excellent. He is very helpful with respect to questions and answers questions very fast.

Dave

John Kasaian · Jul 26, 2010

Are you looking for daylight tanks, or the dip & dunk ones?

For dip & dunks check out what is available at automotive parts houses---battery boxes for auto, marine, and motorcyle batteries come in all sizes and are chemically resistant.

For a daylight tank the Patterson Orbital looks delightfully Rube Goldberg-esque. I'd get one if they were more common here in the US. I don't know how much Unicolor processors go for in the UK but they are cheap on this side of the Atlantic. Greywolf Phillips has an excellent article on their use on the Large Format Homepage.

Trays are the cheapest route of course!

Cheap Dev tank

razocaine_07

Ian Grant

bdial

seobserver

Rick A

dtheld

John Kasaian

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