Developing BW 120 - about to start with

Since the enlarger to out of the question, I guess you will use a changing bag to load the spiral? Practice loading with the bag, not just blind. 120 film is quite delicate due to its width when compared with 35 mm. If you use a Paterson spiral try applying a slight outward pull as you load the film. And if it doesn’t want to ‘play’ don’t force it, getting a kink in the film is rather easy.

- Tim -

thanks - I understood. I have in mind 120 film only by now.

But if I would plug in my JOBO drum TWO (2) spools with either 2 (one on each) or 4 (two on each) 120 films - how much developer would be needed ? Twice as much ?

- Prarry -

yes , no enlarger by now - PhD first, but I do hope for one in the future.
I have the chance of making complete darkness in our kitchen (should I better say; "I can cook in my darkroom") so a changing bag is not necessary. And as I mentioned - I will be using JOBO 1520 drum with jobo spool.

slnce-z-gsi said:

- Tim -

thanks - I understood. I have in mind 120 film only by now.

But if I would plug in my JOBO drum TWO (2) spools with either 2 (one on each) or 4 (two on each) 120 films - how much developer would be needed ? Twice as much ?

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If you could put two 120 spools in, you'd need twice as much developer - but I don't think your tank will take two 120 spools (I've gone and hit reply and now I can't see which tank it was you bought, but I think it was a 1520 which will IIRC take two 35mm spools (one roll on each) or one 120 spool (two rolls on it.))

If you're going to be processing loadsafilm and worrying about chemical volume, then I'd suggest you look at buying a rotary processor (say a Jobo CPE2) - the drum you've bought will work with it.

In a rotary processor, the drum goes on its side but is continously revolving. That means you only need enough chems to fill it up half way (to the axis around which the drum rotates) - at any one time only half the film is in developer, but the continual rotation ensures the whole film does get wetted by the developer. That basically means you need half as much developer for rotary dev.


I think Jobo also do a 'hand' rotary processor - basically just a couple of rollers you sit the drum on and the rotating-the-drum bit you do by hand. I've not used/had any experience of these though, someone else can comment!

Stever said:

I have the same goal in mind as (there was a url link here which no longer exists), but I cannot find a good trade study on scanners either here or at hybrid photo. I need to know which scanners are good for black and white [which the Nikon does not seem to be] and what is the actual dpi for 6x6 negatives?

Did I cross into the nether-world? My bad! I am just frustrated that I have spent four months researching this and there are no straight answers anywhere.

Steve

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I realize that this might belong on Hybrid, but just to offer an opinion ... I use a Nikon 8000 with Vuescan on both 6 x 7 and 35mm B&W negs ... I don't find the grain over the top, nor have I had any other problems. I don't use the little plastic bracket on the 120 format holder which never held the film flat, instead I use a sheet of thin, frosted glass which rests upon the neg and holds it flat. The point? If you're scanning, don't assume the Nikons can't do a decent job.