First time user....so, what do YOU suggest?

Recently, I bought a "used" Jobo CPE-2 Plus with lift and a Jobo tempering tray with several
tubes (that will accommodate my films below) off eBay.

What the seller meant by "used" was he no longer had the original boxes that they came in.
This processor had NEVER been used except with plain water to "test it out" by the previous
owner. Why he didn't use it I don't know, but I'm the lucky one here. Yes, I have the manual.
For now, I plan to just do BW with it.

So..............I want to use it and I would like some expert suggestions from you experts with the
Jobo processor.

I want to shoot some pictures either with my Mamiya RB67 or my 4 x 5 Graflex.

I have the following films and chemicals:

Ilford:

FP4 Plus 125-fresh (4x5)
PanF Plus 50-fresh (120)

Kodak:

TMAX 400-fresh (4x5)

1 Verichrome Pan (120) (exp. 12-1975) - will be interesting
20 Verichrome Pan (120) (exp. 1990) - which I plan to save for "special" projects

Chemicals:

Rodinal
HC-110 (that I've had for some years)
Kodak Fixer (non hardening, non-rapid)
Kodak Indicator Stop Bath
Kodak Hypo clearing agent

I want to use fresh film for the first run, probably the TMAX
or the PanF Plus.

I plan to scan the negatives for now because my enlarger is still
packed away and is a pain to get out right now (lack of space for it).
Once I "get it down", I want to use the other films.

I want to get the best negatives that will have detail in the shadows, so
I plan to meter the shot and try and put the shadows in Zone IV. That
way if I want to increase the contrast, I would possibly still have some
detail in the shadows.

What do you suggest regarding developing?

Try:

http://web.archive.org/web/20041010002117/http://www.jobo-usa.com/index1.html

This is their old site (prior to going out of business) that can answer your questions

As to developing with a rotary processor, I have found as a general rule that the times for "small tank, inversion" are OK starting points but for me they seem 20% to 30% too long.

I have been using Rodinal (R09 and Parodinal actually) and D76 (full strength). Depending on what I'm trying to accomplish with the grain of the film. Still on the list is to use Rollo-Pyro or similar staining.

Anyway, my point is to make some test negatives and try your current time/temp combo as a starting point.

And one other thing to remember, you need to factor in the chemistry per square inch of film. With the tanks on the processor, you don't fill them full. They would be too heavy. From memory, I think it is 240ml for the 2500 tank. So when computing dilutions, you need to make sure there is enough chemistry to get the job done or else compensate with more time for the exhaustion.

Bruce (Camclicker) said:

.....This is their old site (prior to going out of business) that can answer your questions

Click to expand...

Sorry, but who has gone out of business?

From your link, I can only assume that you mean Jobo. If so, then that must be very recent and secret. Until very recently, they where very much alive and kicking and AFAIK, still are.

Spreading unsubstantiated rumours is one of the greatest sins of the internet and gives lists like this a bad name.

Steve

keffs said:

Sorry, but who has gone out of business?

From your link, I can only assume that you mean Jobo. If so, then that must be very recent and secret. Until very recently, they where very much alive and kicking and AFAIK, still are.

Spreading unsubstantiated rumours is one of the greatest sins of the internet and gives lists like this a bad name.

Steve

Click to expand...

I could simply be wrong couldn't I? I thought they were bought out or taken over by Omega Satter who lists 13 pages of Jobo parts and products on their web site. Maybe they are just distributors.

I will check in to rehab tomorrow and never sin again.

If I understand it correctly, it would be correct to say that JOBO USA has gone out of business. Prior to that happening, I understand that they were a great source of information and products.

JOBO itself has not gone out of business, but if I understand it correctly, they have either extremely limited or gone out of a lot of the types of business that tends to be of most interest to us here at APUG.

Matt

Bruce (Camclicker) said:

Try:

http://web.archive.org/web/20041010002117/http://www.jobo-usa.com/index1.html

This is their old site (prior to going out of business) that can answer your questions

Click to expand...

It may be of value to somehow archive the information here in a library of sorts, if the proper agreements could be made. Information such as on this website will be increasingly valuable, and hard to find as time goes on.

www.jobo.com still exists, and lists all their current products. Sadly the CPP is the only processor being made.

Omega Satter is the U.S. Importer/distributer of Jobo products. They also handle parts and service.

Jobo USA got out of the film business. I think they still handle the Jobo digital products. What ever those are.

Omega copied most of the Jobo website over to their own. So you don't even need the archive. OTOH it's not that hard to just save the pages you're interested in to your local hard drive and view them that way. But it now seems missing? The jobo.com site has manuals etc. :confused:

Nick Zentena said:

Jobo USA got out of the film business. I think they still handle the Jobo digital products. What ever those are.....

Click to expand...

I assume that Jobo USA is/was just a distributor. I also assume that there is now a replacement distibutor for the US. As Jobo is a German company, it is obviously wrong and misleading to suggest that Jobo has gone down the pan, just because there has been some changes in the distibution of their products in just one particular country.

Here in Europe, Jobo products are available from a considerable number of retailers. Whilst they have rationalised their film products, they still produce and sell a considerable number of them, and have recently re-introduced the CPP processor. I think one of the reasons why it was withdrawn was due to legislation regarding the manufacture of it.

Steve

Bruce (Camclicker) said:

I could simply be wrong couldn't I? ....

Click to expand...

Obviously, yes.

Steve

keffs said:

I assume that Jobo USA is/was just a distributor. I also assume that there is now a replacement distibutor for the US. As Jobo is a German company, it is obviously wrong and misleading to suggest that Jobo has gone down the pan, just because there has been some changes in the distibution of their products in just one particular country.

Click to expand...

On the surface yes. OTOH in the US Jobo USA provided great service. It had already started dropping off before Jobo USA stopped dealing with film but I think many remember the high service they received from Jobo USA and miss it.

Bruce (Camclicker) said:

Try:

http://web.archive.org/web/20041010002117/http://www.jobo-usa.com/index1.html

This is their old site (prior to going out of business) that can answer your questions

Click to expand...

Thanks for posting the link Bruce. I found it very useful.The old site had more information on the other processors and drums.

I looked at the new site Jobo USA, and I could not find any information on the old stuff. Like JBrunner said, this information should be archived. I have not checked the Omega site.

--John