High Volume 4x5? Advice needed.

[Rolleiflexible]

Sanders - Do you find any issues with uneven development with that system? Seems that the constant agitation and the edges of the film frames (there's some sort of bar type retaining clip - isn't there?) might cause something less than perfectly smooth development... in theory anyway. That's why I never used them.

Jonathan, I've not seen any irregularities in development turning 4x5 sheets in the 2500-series tanks. I have a lot of my 4x5s scanned and displayed online at www.mcnew.net/portraits (nude content) -- go see for yourself, to the extent that scans might capture what you fear. Sanders

 

[eclarke]

I should first warn you that I'm kind of a home-brew solution type person, so you may not get much from my suggestions, but I'll tell you how I do it and you can take what you will from it. I tend to carry a boat-load of holders - up to 24, I like to have a selection of films on hand - when going places I really want to work on, and I keep them in a small canvas bag over my shoulder. The camera rides around on the tripod once I get setup, and then the bag goes over the shoulder for working the location.

When it comes time to developing, I use ye olde Kodak hard rubber tanks and 8 hangers at a go. I can process quite a few films in a short time with these, but it's all in the dark. Just line 'em up and work down the line. They're small enough to pack around and work in a hotel bathroom most of the time, if you don't mind working off the floor on occasion. The only drawback is the volume needed to fill them, which is a bit much for small batches but just fine for large runs.

For reloading in the field, I can say the option of last resort is a changing bag. Even the big ones don't have enough room to work, but if you get the biggest you can find, you can prop up the insides and make a sort of changing tent out of it.

- Randy

You can use the 4 up hangers in 2 gallon tanks and do a ton of film. All these can be found pretty cheaply at the auction. People argue that it is too much volume/price for chemicals but a sheet uses up just so much chemistry. You group enough film to exhaust the lot of chemicals...EC

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Developing 40 sheets of 4x5 on 4-up hangars in a 3.5 gallon tank is really easy. You need 4 tanks. 1. prewet, 2. developer, 3. stop bath, 4. fix. The key to getting flaw-free negatives is a nice long water presoak (4 min.) and then very, very gentle agitation (after initial agitation) every minute in the developer. Like one raise, tilt and lower, and then back off, don't even jar the sink. The pre-wet tank can be dumped of pre-wet water (which may be full of anti-haliation dye) and filled with a constant flow hose for final wash. Then photo-flo in a 5x7 tray before hanging up. (take films off hangars put into photo-flo in tray). You guys that go out with 24 sheets are lightweights. I go out with 100.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

Just a note on Grafmatics. The septums can become loose. They need to grip the edge of the film just a little to keep it from sliding out. If they are loose, during a bumpy ride in the car or jeep, the film can slide out a bit, and then when you try to use the grafmatic, it will jam because the film will buckle. The very end of the long sides of the holders have a tiny crimp in the ends of the channels the film slides under, and you can take a needle-nose plier and apply a tiny bit more crimp. (test with old piece of film). You need to feel some resistance just as your are sliding the film completely in. Not a lot, but a tiny bit.

 

[Sparky]

Hmmm... you really got me scratching my head on this.. very interesting possibility! Especially after last night's perceptol run (I couldn't find my other hangers and was doing sets of five negs at 22 mins EACH set of five!!! arggh!!!). I'll check out the 2500 system.

thanks.

Jonathan, I've not seen any irregularities in development turning 4x5 sheets in the 2500-series tanks. I have a lot of my 4x5s scanned and displayed online at www.mcnew.net/portraits (nude content) -- go see for yourself, to the extent that scans might capture what you fear. Sanders

 

[Sparky]

Well - there are times when I HAVE a ton of film to DO! I'll consider it also.

You can use the 4 up hangers in 2 gallon tanks and do a ton of film. All these can be found pretty cheaply at the auction. People argue that it is too much volume/price for chemicals but a sheet uses up just so much chemistry. You group enough film to exhaust the lot of chemicals...EC

 

[Kilgallb]

I have the same problem with only 5 holders available. I have made a changing box I keep in the truck. I have tried the tents, but they always seem to give me a dust problem. You could even make a temporary one with a cardboard box and blankets.

As a last resort, try buying a 6x7 120 film adaptor for your 4x5. I know it is not as versatile as 4x5 sheets because every shot on a roll is developed the same. However, it certainly beats carrying a 35 mm camera and the quality approaches 4x5.

I have shot as little as 2-3 shots on a roll of TMX and then rewound and loaded a new roll because I wanted a different development. TMX 100 in 120 rolls is way cheaper than TMX ready loads.