Combi-plan for 4X5 sheet film

John Wiegerink · 2025-07-28T20:36:01-0400

I'm just curious about the Combi-Plan system for 4X5 sheet film. I thought about getting one of the tank setups for 4X5 sheet film, but never did. I now use a Searman SP-445 and really like it. I probably won't change and was just curious as to the pro's and con's of the Combi-Plan system. I sure don't hear of many, it any, folks on these forums using the Combi-Plan tanks for developing.

DREW WILEY · 2025-07-28T21:13:30-0400

There was apparently more than one generation of them. I never could get mine to work properly, without streaking the negatives.

John Wiegerink · 2025-07-28T21:41:01-0400

DREW WILEY said:
There was apparently more than one generation of them. I never could get mine to work properly, without streaking the negatives.

That's one of the things I wondered about Drew, agitation and issues associated with it. It's one reason I went with the SP-445. I have numbness in the ends of all my digits, which makes tray development with shuffling nearly impossible for me. Had to find something that worked better than my big, old Yankee 12 sheet tank.

btaylor · 2025-07-29T03:31:10-0400

I have used my CombiPlan tank for 4x5 for years. It’s compact and easy to use, IMO. I have a Yankee tank as well as hangers but always end up using the CombiPlan. No issues with streaks or anything else.

BobUK · 2025-07-29T07:00:52-0400

I use a Combiplan "T" .

Due to the small inlet, it takes around 20 seconds to fill.
Therefore I start the timer when full, and start to empty 15 seconds before the end of development.
As I do my own tests for exposure and development times, I have no problems as long as I stick to my own routine.

Two important things.
The instructions say to fit the film in the curved slots with the emulsion facing out, this ensures the emulsion will be pressed away from the curved slots when the film retaining clip is pressed down in position. One fellow on Youtube tells you the wrong way.

Secondly.
The instructions read "When processing very valuable films it is advisable to insert only two films on each side of the carrier with no film in the centre slots."

The only problem I ever had was when using it for the first couple of times. Over enthusiast with the agitation.
A couple of sheets went askew in the holding frame. Gently inversions are the answer.

Nokton48 · 2025-07-29T09:58:26-0400

I have set up a small Combiplan Basket Line and I like it very much. The gentle inversion agitation works well for me. Most recently I have been running a Liter Brown Glass Bottle with HC-110 B Replenished, which is a robust long lasting big tank developer. This produces what I would call "Beefy" looking negatives that are clean with no processing defects. I need to use it more!

My plans for Combiplan Dev Tanks 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

I also like the Combiplan because I can process my metric sized film stocks, from my European cameras. Even glass plates metric sized with great ease. Delicate XRay Films cut down to metric also.

DREW WILEY · 2025-07-29T14:11:10-0400

Fill and drain time becomes more significant in relation to shorter development times. What some people did with the Combi was not using it as a "daylight processing" tank, but as an already full liquid tank for sake of plunging the whole sheet holding device into quickly, in the dark, then capping it off for sake of inversion.

I can't chime in too much, because I apparently own the second generation, but not the last version, of the Combi system. I had all this explained to me by the national sales Rep involved, who had many years of experience with it. I switched over to tray development long ago. But I still use the Combi inner component to keep 4X5 sheets efficiently spaced apart when in the final film washing tank.

John Wiegerink · 2025-07-29T16:14:02-0400

The main reason I was a little curious about the Combi-Plan system was that I do, on occasion, use 9X12cm cameras and it would be an easier way for me to develop the sheets. I know there's a hack for converting 4X5 SP-445 sheet film holders to 9X12cm size. I might just do that instead of messing around with another system and where to store it.

DREW WILEY · 2025-07-29T16:21:51-0400

You can accommodate for actual film width (like 9X12) simply by adjusting the little red knob on the side.

BobUK · 2025-07-29T17:24:18-0400

DREW WILEY said:
What some people did with the Combi was not using it as a "daylight processing" tank, but as an already full liquid tank for sake of plunging the whole sheet holding device into quickly, in the dark, then capping it off for sake of inversion.

I wish I had known that years ago when I was testing my own film speeds, and developing times.

I think I may change over to instant dunking into the developer, capping and agitation. Followed by the usual stop bath and fix.
A few more tests may be required.

Thanks for the idea.

Nokton48 · 2025-07-29T19:39:02-0400

Dip N Dunk Combiplan set up for Panchro Work by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is my present Combiplan three tank setup, getting ready to run six sheets of 4x5 Shanghai. Will use my liter of Replenished D23. Middle tank is Wash Tank, for presoaking (haven't been doing that), water stop, and final washing too. Raising the tanks on a plastic box puts them at a good working height. Picked up two more tanks (one given to me), I load dry film in the dark and seal it in a dry tank, when ready I then drop the rack into the dev tank and cap the tank, lights on for inverting gently. Then lights out, into the running wash tank, then into the fix. Lights on again, then back into the wash tank. Works smoothly and perfectly for me.

Voila, Mini Daylight Inversion Basket Line

Combi-plan for 4X5 sheet film

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