JOBO CPE-3 substitute

yya

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I'm a color developing and printing newbie, obviously I can't afford cpe2 or cpe3, but I don't want to accept the inconsistency of hand-developing via sous vide, so I found this imitation from a Chinese company, which only costs 600AUD, and has almost the same functions as cpe3. PID temperature control, but don't know if they have an overseas sales team.
 

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MattKing

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I've tweaked the thread title by replacing "dupe" with substitute - "dupe" being a term that historically referred to slide or movie duplicates.
And I've moved the thread to the Darkroom Equipment sub-forum, because it is about darkroom equipment.
 

Sirius Glass

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Look at a CPE or CPP for a possible lower price. On the other hand, the sooner you buy a Jobo, the sooner you get to use it and price will be amortized. Then when you are dead you can sell it for more than you paid for it.
 
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yya

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MattKing said:
I've tweaked the thread title by replacing "dupe" with substitute - "dupe" being a term that historically referred to slide or movie duplicates.
And I've moved the thread to the Darkroom Equipment sub-forum, because it is about darkroom equipment.
Click to expand...
thanks
 
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yya

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4season said:
Cool, can you provide a link to the sale page? I don't understand the language, but it looks to me like the work of two guys equipped with a 3D printer:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1C94y147ow/
Click to expand...

THDarkroom CP-Pro film processor developing kit Darkroom Film Processing | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for THDarkroom CP-Pro film processor developing kit Darkroom Film Processing at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
Please contact this seller, I ask him and get a eBay store, but I didn’t find this lift model
 

4season

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I guess USA still has punitive tariffs with PRC in effect, because when shipping is added, USA cost for that processor is nearly 1500 AUD.

The Bilibili.com video I linked to was posted just a few days ago, maybe not yet available to purchase?
 
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yya

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4season said:
I guess USA still has punitive tariffs with PRC in effect, because when shipping is added, USA cost for that processor is nearly 1500 AUD.

The Bilibili.com video I linked to was posted just a few days ago, maybe not yet available to purchase?
Click to expand...

Hi
I already ask the seller, pre order right now and ready to ship after 2months
If you really interested, you can ask via eBay, I’m not sure, I assume the cpe3 is better for me
 

Henning Serger

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yya said:
Hi
I already ask the seller, pre order right now and ready to ship after 2months
If you really interested, you can ask via eBay, I’m not sure, I assume the cpe3 is better for me
Click to expand...

There have been several attempts so far from Chinese companies to copy certain types of JOBO processors. So far all failed, the quality was crap.
As a very satiesfied user of a CPE-3 for years I can report that I get perfect quality with it, surpassing even the best prof. labs with their dip-and-dunk machines. They must use replenishment systems, I can always use fresh chemistry, and I can develop each film type with its perfect developing time (e.g. with E6 and the original 7-bath process you can make a perfect finetuning of different films types, and for pull- and push processes).
And I have much lower developing costs. My CPE-3 has been amortized very quickly.

Best regards,
Henning
 

4season

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yya said:
If you really interested, you can ask via eBay, I’m not sure, I assume the cpe3 is better for me
Click to expand...

In the 1990s, I purchased a Jobo CPE2+ and lift from my neighborhood dealer. I think the combo cost me 500-600 USD. But of course that was a different era, when film wasn't the specialty market it is today. Had excellent results with b&w and color film processing, RA4 prints not so much. My lack of color printing success wasn't the fault of the processor per se, but bear in mind that print processing drums need to be properly dry before use, which I found frustrating as I could generate test prints a lot quicker than I could dry those drums!
 

Sirius Glass

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The CPP2 or CPP2+ would be less expensive than CPE3 or CPP3.
 

mshchem

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I have a CPP3 and a couple older Jobo units, even an old Duolab unit. Everything Jobo has ever made is seriously well made. If you want something that you want to last get a Jobo.
 

halfaman

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I agree that CPP2/CPA2 and CPP3 processors are well made products. CPE2/CPE2+.... well, I would say just "good enough".

One thing to consider is that version 2 machines are very old today, some plastics are brittle and prone to unexpected breaks.

A good thing about CPP2/CPA2/CPE2 is that all have a simple mechanical and electrical design that can be easily repaired or at least find a workaround with off-the-shelf parts.
 
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yya

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I will buy CPE3
Thanks!
 
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yya

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mshchem said:
I have a CPP3 and a couple older Jobo units, even an old Duolab unit. Everything Jobo has ever made is seriously well made. If you want something that you want to last get a Jobo.
Click to expand...
Thanks!
 

Qianhao

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Sorry to dig up the old Thread. I checked whether this Chinese equipment is sold in the UK, and the answer is no. They are still not selling the equipment worldwide. But I checked on the Chinese shopping app (Because I am Chinese), and it is still listing. Emmmm, to be honest, I think cpe2 or cpe3 is quiet expensive. I am thinking whether I could buy one form china and send it to UK.
 

benderscameracorner

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For some reason the Jobo CPP/CPE processors are quite rare and very expensive - new or secondhand - in Australia.
The whole 'you can pick up one of these for a few hundred dollars/pounds/pesos secondhand' line mooted by every other Youtuber really does not apply here.
I've given up, will just make my own, following the Filmomat Light design as a guide... https://www.filmomat.eu/
 

BMbikerider

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I bought a Jobo CPE2 around 1990 and thrashed it for 10 years (I was doing weddings then). When the opportunity to buy another used one, but far better condition than my original. I bought that one as well and more or less retired the original, partly because the electric safety was compromised with water finding it's way into the motor housing but kept the main tank and motor for spares.
My later one is still going strong despite now being over 25 years old and survived 2 house moves and still haven't have to plunder the older one for spares. Expensive as they are, they will last for seemingly evermore.
 

halfaman

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I bought one CPE2+ around 15 years ago and it died due to a water leakage, then I bought a CPE2 and I sealed it with silicone after having a couple of broken screw threads.

10 years more or less have passed and my CPE2 remains strong, I use it as backup for my CPP2 or when I develop low quantities.
 

Sirius Glass

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Unfortunately the AntiPodes are in a used photographic and darkroom equipment desert. When I started my darkroom in 2007, it was easy for find source for Jobo processors new and used at FreeStyle in Los Angeles and on websites such as Craig's list. However now, even in Los Angeles with many custom darkrooms and suppliers, the used market is becoming more like a desert especially when compared to twenty years ago.
 
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yya

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I'm develop by hand, because I remeber the Chinese one dosen't fit for 4x5, I give up 4x5 color film.
 

mshchem

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yya said:
I'm develop by hand, because I remeber the Chinese one dosen't fit for 4x5, I give up 4x5 color film.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's pretty hard to justify the costs of large format color. I have equipment for processing color large format but haven't for a few years.
 
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