Encouraging news from Jobo

[Henning Serger]

Hello,

the Photokina is coming (September), and the first companies are already out with new products or statements concerning future developments.
This is the case with Jobo, too:
Besides their new CPE-3 film processor they have also just introduced three new lab-kits for (mainly) BW film development. Main part of the kits is a Jobo developing tank (type 1510, 1520, 1540). These kits are offered in three sizes (S=small=1510, M=medium=1520, L=large=1540) plus lots of accessoires, and you get a price advantage of about 40% compared to buying the parts of the kit alone. Attractive for beginners and also those who want to "upgrade" to a bigger development tank.

The new CPE-3 is less than half the cost compared to the CPP-3, but you can develop all film formats up to 4x5" sheet film and even paper up to 30x40cm.
E6, C41, RA-4, BW negative, BW reversal: All possible at highest precision.

And Jobo has renewed their commitment to film. I quote: "......There is a film-photography revival. And we from Jobo are convinced that film will not only have a safe future, but furthermore will gain greater importance in the coming years. We have made our decision: We invest in the photographic medium film!"
You will find all the details here:
http://www.jobo.com/pressemitteilungen
https://www.facebook.com/JOBOanalog/

I had the possibility to visit the factory some months ago (in my function as an author of the film photography print magazine PhotoKlassik): I was very impressed by the commitment of the staff and the quality of the production process. They are producing in a manufactury style with both very high skilled hand work and high precision modern machinery.
It's a family owned business in the third generation, and the current owner is very proud to continue the work of his grandfather and father. He wants to continue the heritage of Jobo. And he is also an enthusiast film photographer, too.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[davidcopephotography]

Thank you for this news. I will try and support JOBO whenever I can.

 

[Soeren]

Checking date. Nope it not april 1'st That's really great news. Im tempted to buy that CPE3 just to support jobo.

 

[RattyMouse]

I am always amazed at how expensive a home based JOBO set is. $1700 for a film developing apparatus is huge money. Their volume must be absolutely tiny to drive up prices this high.

 

[cmacd123]

my film processing lately is almost always in the combination of a 1520 and 1530. 5 35mm reels or 3 (Double) 120 reels, or some combination (1X120 plus 3X35 is common.) IF I hold my Mouth just right I can even sometimes squeeze in 2 X120 Plus 2X35 although with that combo I use a touch extra chemistry.

 

[MartinP]

Their stuff lasts well too. I am using tanks and things with "Made in Federal Republic of Germany"** written on them!

** Meaning they were manufactured pre-reunification, which occurred in 1990.

 

[cmacd123]

"Made in Federal Republic of Germany"**
** Meaning they were manufactured pre-reunification, which occurred in 1990.

MOST of mine are thus marked. and there are at least 3 different versions of the JOBO logo on my set of tanks. I have aquired most of them off e-bay and so they were originally sold in a half dozen different countries. Yet that all fit perfectly.

My only complaint is that the locking tab on the Bottom of the reel sometimes breaks and so I have a few reels set aside which could be used in a pinch, but are unstable. that and the latch at the top of the core which also Sometimes cracks and does not hold as well as I would like.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Jobo has always been expensive because it was the only significant advanced amateur brand intended for retail distribution. Most other comparable companies marketed direct or via small dealer commissions. But this is all relative. Most commercial lab gear was far more expensive. And plenty of
idiots spend more money than this every month on booze, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Depends on your priorities.

 

[RattyMouse]

Do you have to buy Jobo chemicals or can you supply your own?

 

[pentaxuser]

Do you have to buy Jobo chemicals or can you supply your own?

As far as I know there are no such things as Jobo chemicals. It is simply a processing unit so yes you can supply your own by which I take it you mean Kodak, Fuji, Ilford or independent chemicals necessary for B&W, C41 or E6

pentaxuser

 

[cmacd123]

Jobo did sell colour kits in some markets, but the rottary processors take more or less standard colour chemicals.

(this kit for example has the JOBO logo on it https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/109267-REG/Tetenal_T109306_C_41_Press_Kit_for.html )


I use my Jobo tanks for inversion aditaion and B&W, so I have to fill them up but for rotation the required solution is slightly less than halfway up. (as it just has to touch the core it does not have to be halfway up the core.) and many colour kits have rotation instructions.

 

[Henning Serger]

I am always amazed at how expensive a home based JOBO set is. $1700 for a film developing apparatus is huge money. Their volume must be absolutely tiny to drive up prices this high.

Well, yes, they are producing small series of their processors (the bigger model CPP-3 is available since 2012). These machines are not a mass market product. Therefore they cannot be offered at mass market price levels. And they have the focus on quality.
But:
The price has always to be considered in relation to the value you get. And you get really great value with these processors. It is excellent, solid, long term quality. The design of the CPE / CPP processers is very well-proven for decades. You can use them for 30, 40 or even more years if you take a little care.
So 1590€ (with lift; 1190€ without lift) for lets say 35 years: That's only about 45€ per year. That is next to nothing. Because for that you get
- the possibility to develop E6, C41, RA-4, BW negative and BW positive; film and paper
- development at highest precision and quality
- total quality control over the development of your materials
- the possibility to develop and get results immediately
- reduced development costs
- the possibility to develop even in small flats (the CPE-3 is very compact and can be used in a bathroom or kitchen)
- no special chemistry is needed, all current chemistry from all manufacturers can be used (that as an answer of your question in the other post).

Best regards,
Henning

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Well, yes, they are producing small series of their processors (the bigger model CPP-3 is available since 2012). These machines are not a mass market product. Therefore they cannot be offered at mass market price levels. And they have the focus on quality.
But:
The price has always to be considered in relation to the value you get. And you get really great value with these processors. It is excellent, solid, long term quality. The design of the CPE / CPP processers is very well-proven for decades. You can use them for 30, 40 or even more years if you take a little care.
So 1590€ (with lift; 1190€ without lift) for lets say 35 years: That's only about 45€ per year. That is next to nothing. Because for that you get
- the possibility to develop E6, C41, RA-4, BW negative and BW positive; film and paper
- development at highest precision and quality
- total quality control over the development of your materials
- the possibility to develop and get results immediately
- reduced development costs
- the possibility to develop even in small flats (the CPE-3 is very compact and can be used in a bathroom or kitchen)
- no special chemistry is needed, all current chemistry from all manufacturers can be used (that as an answer of your question in the other post).

Best regards,
Henning

And don't forget how much you save on lab fees. If you do any significant volume of film in a year, the machine pays for itself in lab fees in less than 4 years. For example, my local custom lab charges $11/roll for C-41, 35mm or 120, no prints, no scans. B/W is even worse, at $12/roll. If I buy press kits and develop my C-41 in small batches, it's $3/roll. If I can put together large batches, and get 5L chemistry kits, and re-use my chems just once, it drops to about $1.50/roll. Saving between $8-10/roll, 100 rolls a year of either b/w or C-41, in four years a CPP-3 is paid for. And I know on a good year I'll burn north of 100 rolls, maybe closer to 150. And as mentioned, the machines last over 30 years if well cared for and not used commercially.

 

[Ai Print]

If I did not already have the CPP3 and prefer expert drums for 4x5, I might have considered the CPE-3. The price is certainly right!

 

[Bob Carnie]

The CPP3 is a great device and has paid for itself over a couple of years as Scott points out , if you shoot film and are into processing there is no simpler way.

I have stainless reels , hangers for all sizes and have not broken them out except when doing my neg solarizations, the Jobo saves me a lot of space in comparison and is very consistent.

 

[LJH]

2016 - New midrange digital DSLR = $1,700.
2017 - Same camera value = $400.

2016 - New Jobo CPE3 = $1,700.
2017 - Same Jobo CPE3 value = $1,700.

Perspective is everything.

 

[Ai Print]

2016 - New midrange digital DSLR = $1,700.
2017 - Same camera value = $400.

2016 - New Jobo CPE3 = $1,700.
2017 - Same Jobo CPE3 value = $1,700.

Perspective is everything.

I was kind of thinking along the same lines except that your depreciation metrics are prrrrrretty aggressive.

I typically find that most 1-2 year out models of at least my Nikons shed about 25-30% on the used market if in great shape with low actuation counts. But I usually sell mine after about 4 years and they have at least 100K if not 200K actuations on them which in that case, net about 50% of what I paid new.

And I am not sure there is even a way to gauge a CPP3 on the used market, I have never seen one used, let alone a brand new just announced CPE3.

 

[williaty]

Huh, I'm really surprised they're bundling 1500-series kits.

I've had a BUNCH of 1500-series tanks, reels, cores, and extensions I've been trying to find a buyer for for way too long now. It's interesting that I can't sell the things yet Jobo thinks they're the ones to bundle. Wonder if they can't sell them either!

 

[RattyMouse]

2016 - New midrange digital DSLR = $1,700.
2017 - Same camera value = $400.

2016 - New Jobo CPE3 = $1,700.
2017 - Same Jobo CPE3 value = $1,700.

Perspective is everything.

Your depreciation numbers are waaaaay off.

 

[RattyMouse]

Well, yes, they are producing small series of their processors (the bigger model CPP-3 is available since 2012). These machines are not a mass market product. Therefore they cannot be offered at mass market price levels. And they have the focus on quality.
But:
The price has always to be considered in relation to the value you get. And you get really great value with these processors. It is excellent, solid, long term quality. The design of the CPE / CPP processers is very well-proven for decades. You can use them for 30, 40 or even more years if you take a little care.
So 1590€ (with lift; 1190€ without lift) for lets say 35 years: That's only about 45€ per year. That is next to nothing. Because for that you get
- the possibility to develop E6, C41, RA-4, BW negative and BW positive; film and paper
- development at highest precision and quality
- total quality control over the development of your materials
- the possibility to develop and get results immediately
- reduced development costs
- the possibility to develop even in small flats (the CPE-3 is very compact and can be used in a bathroom or kitchen)
- no special chemistry is needed, all current chemistry from all manufacturers can be used (that as an answer of your question in the other post).

Best regards,
Henning

I dont doubt that they are great machines. I just am amazed at how expensive they are. I can buy huge appliances for my home for less than the cost of this device. Of course, those are mass produced and I know that lowers cost immensely.

I guess it's amazing that they make machines like this at all, considering how little they sell.

I'm having a rough time getting good C-41 results from labs so I'm thinking about doing it myself. Either in the basement sink or with one of these machines. Not sure yet.

 

[LJH]

Your depreciation numbers are waaaaay off.

Sorry; Jobo next year =$1,695.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Sorry; Jobo next year =$1,695.

Try $1,200.

 

[RattyMouse]

Sorry; Jobo next year =$1,695.

I was referring to your depreciated digital camera. Pure fantasy.

 

[LJH]

I was referring to your depreciated digital camera. Pure fantasy.

Good sense of humour you've got there, Ace.

Lucky you're on this site to correct those of us who slip out of line.

Pity that, in doing so, you miss the point that I was making.

 

[Ai Print]

Good sense of humour you've got there, Ace.

Lucky you're on this site to correct those of us who slip out of line.

Pity that, in doing so, you miss the point that I was making.

I got the point..;-) I just thought it was a little inflated to no real benefit.