Has anyone have this? - eTone Automatic Darkroom Film Processor Machine

johnwwyatt

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These things are all over eBay, this one ships from TX (link). I started using something similar, B's Processor, and find it works great and you can do other things while processing films. Certainly cheaper than Jobo systems.
 

MattKing

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Thread title updated - because it really, really helps if a title gives some clue about what the thread is about!
Hope you get the info you seek.
 

gone

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Interesting how they show one price, a photo of the whole thing, and advertise it as a processor machine. Except the photo shows one part is a little less contrasty than the other. Then you click on "select" and the price rockets up to 6 times that price and you get a different picture. PLUS it appears you still might want that original low priced do dad. Sound idea on the contraption, pretty sneaky way to do business.
 

MattKing

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I'm not so sure it is sneaky. I am sure that it is awkward and confusing!
It would be better to have three options - the total package main listing, then the machine without the extension rollers, and then the extension rollers alone.
 

koraks

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momus said:
Interesting how they show one price, a photo of the whole thing, and advertise it as a processor machine.
Click to expand...

This is the common way of advertising products these days especially on platforms like AliExpress, but apparently now eBay too. It's a somewhat more benevolent spin on the old bait & switch tactic. Put up a product with a couple of accessories, put the cheapest accessory on the front page so that's the price that shows up in listings & searches, and then only show the real product price upon selecting it. It's annoying since it makes price comparisons more cumbersome/time-consuming. I'm sure many people have already ended up with only cheap accessories to products they actually intended to buy.
 
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campy51

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Do you think it would work for a couple of 5x7 sheet film at a time or maybe an 8x10?
 

Don_ih

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campy51 said:
Do you think it would work for a couple of 5x7 sheet film at a time or maybe an 8x10?
Click to expand...

It rotates and then reverses, which is a good feature. It may not be able to handle the weight of more than 500ml of developer (it may struggle with that, actually). If you put an 8x10 sheet of film directly in a developing tank, the tank can't have smooth walls (the big Jobo tank is not smooth inside) or the back of the film doesn't get cleared (and it's a pain to clear it after - think 15 minutes shaking a tray).

momus said:
pretty sneaky way to do business
Click to expand...

It's a bit of psychology, also. You show someone a picture of something with a low price on it, they start to think of how easy it would be to buy it and immediately start seeing it in their hands. Then, even though they're disappointed the price is actually much higher, they are still more likely to buy it - because they more firmly want it. Now, if you're selling something, is that sneaky or smart? Maybe both?
 

Tel

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An interesting idea. Functionally similar to the Unicolor drum and motor base but with a timer built in. so you can go have a beer or a short nap while the tank is rotating. Still, I'm not going to throw my Unidrum in the trash just yet. It's still chugging away and it has a beefier motor than this one appears to have. And I can do anything up to (and including) 8x10 with 300ml of fluid.
 

Robert Ley

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Since it has been a couple of years, I'm hoping that someone has some experience with this piece of kit. I used a uniroller and drum for many years and it worked well. I'm getting back into developing B&W film to start and just picked up some new Paterson tanks and this eTone processor looks like it could replace my long gone uniroller.
 

blee1996

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Is it compatible with Paterson tanks? I thought it was designed for Jobo tanks.
 

logan2z

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Robert Ley

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I saw the reviews on Amazon and they give me pause, but I'd still like to hear from anyone who has used this particular piece if gear.
 
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