Jobo 3005 8x10 with D-76

[FL at CC]

Hi everyone -

Can anyone suggest a very solid starting point for solution quantity and how much stock solution per sheet for 1:1 D76 solution for a fully loaded Jobo 3005 tank? I’m hand rolling on a homemade base and and using both Delta 400 and particularly 320 TXP. Just wanting to avoid my developer exhausting prematurely.

Thanks!!

 

[Sal Santamaura]

You don't say what size film you're going to develop in the 3005 or whether you intend to go one-shot or reused/replenished developer. In order to ensure complete development regardless of scene content one-shot (the only way I work), 250ml of D-76 stock solution is required per 80 square inches of film.

Here's one example for 8x10 film. In that case, given hand rolling and no motor to overload, the drum can hold up to 1500ml of solution. Thus, with D-76 1+1, you can process up to three sheets at a time using 750ml of D-76 stock plus 750ml of water. For smaller sheets in the same drum, you'd need to calculate film area and compare it to the 240 square inch maximum that your developer can handle.

Others will likely comment that they use less than 250ml of D-76 stock solution per 80 square inches of film and "it works fine." Note that the distribution of scene brightness in your images affects development completeness. One might "get away with" less, but you won't know in advance. Confidence or crap shoot. The choice is yours.

 

[FL at CC]

Hi Sal, thanks for the detailed response - I’ll be using 8x10 in the 3005 and one shot for the developer (I’ve only ever done one shot). Is it worth having the temp a couple of degrees warmer to compensate when hand rolling on a bench?

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...I’ll be using 8x10 in the 3005 and one shot for the developer (I’ve only ever done one shot). Is it worth having the temp a couple of degrees warmer to compensate when hand rolling on a bench?

The key to agitation is consistency. No matter how fast you roll that drum, as long as you do so evenly and at the same rate each run, you'll get repeatable results.

How long to develop and at what temperature must be determined by trial and error. Yes, those are some expensive sheets of film, but there's really no reliable alternative. Manufacturers' data sheets and the Massive Development Chart provide starting points, but they're nothing more than that.

 

[ic-racer]

I have been using Tmax developer for all my rotary processing since it came out in the 1980s. I have only used it as one-shot and have never had to waste any of the concentrate.

 

[mshchem]

According to my (one of many) Kodak Master Darkroom Dataguide (minor revision 10-1972) capacity of diluted (1:1) D-76 is 8-120 rolls or 8-8×10 sheets per gallon of diluted developer. This seems hyper conservative to me, but who am I to question the greatest photographic research institution that ever was.

When I use my Jobo I use XTOL STOCK and I would use at least 600 mL for 5 sheets of 8x10 film. (I would probably use something like 700mL). Developer is cheap film crazy expensive in 8x10.

If I was using fresh D-76 I think I would use straight (stock solution) and use something like 240mL per sheet of stock solution (Kodak says 16 sheets/ US gallon undiluted stock D-76)

So 1200mL straight D-76. Develop for recommended time. I usually give a little xtra time but you shouldn't need much.
Good luck. PS those lovely expert tanks work great with paper too

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...When I use my Jobo I use XTOL STOCK and I would use at least 600 mL for 5 sheets of 8x10 film. (I would probably use something like 700mL). Developer is cheap film crazy expensive in 8x10...

XTOL's a different animal than D-76. It only requires 100ml of stock solution per 80 square inches of film.

...If I was using fresh D-76 I think I would use straight (stock solution) and use something like 240mL per sheet of stock solution (Kodak says 16 sheets/ US gallon undiluted stock D-76)...

Nearly perfect correlation with the 250ml of D-76 stock per 80 square inches of film I reported in post #2.

 

[Craig]

XTOL's a different animal than D-76. It only requires 100ml of stock solution per 80 square inches of film.

The tech sheet says 15 8x10's per litre of full strength solution (67ml per film), or 70ml per film in a replenished workflow.

 

[MattKing]

The tech sheet says 15 8x10's per litre of full strength solution (67ml per film), or 70ml per film in a replenished workflow.

Actually, the tech sheet (J-109) says:
" We recommend always starting with at least 100 mL (3.5 fluidounces) of full-strength developer to prepare the diluted solution for each 135-36 or 120 roll (or the equivalent of 80 square inches [516 square centimetres]). For example, when processing 4 rolls of film with developer diluted 1:1, use at least 800 mL even if the processing equipment will allow the use of less solution. "
I do, however, use the numbers you refer to when using replenished X-Tol.

 

[Craig]

Ah, yes, for diluted Xtol the sheet says that . I was reading the full strength recommendations.

 

[mshchem]

XTOL's a different animal than D-76. It only requires 100ml of stock solution per 80 square inches of film.Nearly perfect correlation with the 250ml of D-76 stock per 80 square inches of film I reported in post #2.

I agree on the 100mL minimum XTOL per 80 sqin, I use a little more just to be sure. The D-76 spec is 16 sheets per US gallon or 1 per 8 fl. oz. (1 cup) 236.6mL . God I hate English measurements

 

[Craig]

. God I hate English measurements

Shouldn't that be US measures? An English gallon is not the same as a US gallon. Ounces are different too.

 

[mshchem]

Shouldn't that be US measures? An English gallon is not the same as a US gallon. Ounces are different too.

Yes but english small e in general. US vs Imperial measures. Bottom line you get more beer in an Imperial pint than a skimpy US pint.

 

[mshchem]

Is the Imperial gallon still in use in commerce ??

 

[Craig]

Not legally, no. You can still buy a pint at the pub, it just happens to be 568ml. The Imperial gallon is 20% larger than a US gallon.