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How much do you use your JOBO CPE?

MattKrull

Member
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Sep 2, 2013
Messages
311
Location
Ottawa, Onta
Format
Multi Format
A Jobo CPE2 has coem up for sale locally for a very reasonable price. This is very tempting.

My issue is lack of space. It looks fairly big (roughly 18"x24"x12"?), and my storage space is all used up. Any place I store this will be less than ideal.

I already process & print in B&W with no real issues. This would make my B&W negatives more consistent, and it would allow me to process C41 at home. The only thing it will allow me to do that I can't do right now (given that I don't mind handing over my c41 negatives to the local lab) is make colour prints; but I only have a B&W head on my enlarger, so...

For those of you who have a manual film processor ala the CPE2, did it radically alter you photography? Is it a game changer or just a nice to have?

Also, fairly important, is that I go through no more than a roll of film a week.
 
I have a CPP2+. I don't think I'd have it if I didn't have a dedicated darkroom, but, that said, I love it and if anything, I would say it has encouraged me to shoot more (certainly more color, as I can process it at home much cheaper and faster than I could taking it to a lab).
 
I would say, the real value of CPP2+/CPE2 is if you shoot slide film. B/W,as you have indicated, can be done manually very nicely and C41, for me, goes to Miller's Lab @ 2.something, a 120 roll, and 4.something, a 135 roll, including postage. And best of all, they do not push cheap quality scans down my throat. Cheaper for me if you consider that I do not go through more than one roll a week and also chemicals are perishable, well not perishable, but you get the idea.
 
I use it when I process either color or black & white film. I leave it set up in the kitchen on the counter all the time because I have the space.

Soon I expect to use it for printing C-41 negatives.
 
Sirius Glass said:
I use it when I process either color or black & white film. I leave it set up in the kitchen on the counter all the time because I have the space.

Soon I expect to use it for printing C-41 negatives.
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It is the only way I can get consistent results processing 4"x5". I use the 3010 Expert Tank. I also use it for 135 and 120 film.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Use it for everything, B&W, Slides, Color Negs, 135mm, 120, 4x5....
 
I have one, including a lift, but I haven't actually used it to develop anything yet. My Phototherm is, in most respects, a much better instrument for developing film, but Phototherm doesn't do prints, so in that respect is less versatile.
 
My lift handle broke off so I live by hand. No problem.
 
eclarke said:
I have three and use one daily..Couldn't live without them
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You only need one then, and I could help you tidy up the place by taking one of them somewhere else.
 
I use the CPE2 for 4x5 and 120 b&w film. I never had the courage to do colour. I am possibly going to upgrade to a CPP so I can use my Expert Drums. Right now, I hand-roll Expert Drums for 5x7 and 8x10. It would be nice to have a little more control over temperature with the drums.

ANd yes, it did change things. It made temperature control a LOT easier. A LOT!

I am also in Ottawa. Send me a message if you like. We can have a beer and talk photography and darkroom.
 
Any idea of what one ought to pay for a JOBO CPE-2 + lift, keeping in mind EU prices? We've a Jobo ATL at my photo club, but it's not working (keyboard is busted), and I'm starting to think that replacing it with a CPE might be cheaper than replacing the keyboard.
 
I have a JOBO CPA which is larger, I think its a must have for color negatives, prints, or slides, & not needed for B&W.
 
Dear MattKrull,

Build a table to hide it under if you have to but get it. It frees you from the challenges of temperature control and consistent agitation. It's great for fixing and washing. Of course I consider film developing to be a chore.

Neal Wydra
 
MattKrull said:
And here I'd figured I was going to pass on the CPE, but with all these comments... And I think I've found a spot for it... This one might get me in trouble with the Missus...
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Remember the immortal words of Admiral Grace Hopper - "It is always easier to get forgiveness than permission".
 
Have one, love it, wouldn't be without it. Currently only B&W but did both C41 and E6 in the past.

BTW while I personally hate processing color prints in drums the B&W head is not a limitation for color, at least a condenser is not (cold light, specialized VC etc is.) I made a lot of color prints using filters in the footer drawer and it works fine.


Sent from my iPhone via Tapatalk using 100% recycled electrons. Because I care.
 
Not intending to derail this thread but a related question:

@Roger;
Like you I do not like processing prints in a tube, to the point I don't do color C41 any more. There used to be developing kits called "Room Temperature" that were designed to do just that... tray process at room temp.

What are you doing now or do you use the tube in spite of your dislike's?
 

Well I found a cpa for $50.00 with lift and a cpp without lift for $100.I kept checking Craigslist.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
 
MattKrull said:
Why don't you guys like tube processing for colour paper? Having never done it, I don't know the process. Is it just that you don't like loading the drums, or something else?
Click to expand...

My preference to tray processing is simply being able to watch a print come up and decide when it is complete.
 
TheFlyingCamera said:
Bruce-

you can't tray process to visual inspection with color paper. Color has to be done in complete darkness.
Click to expand...

I guess that's why I gave up on it entirely. If I were to print ink I'd use digital capture.
 
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