Hands down.... you are the most supportive group I've ever had the pleasure of bumping into !!!
I've spent the past hour (it's a slow day at work) keeping an eye on this thread, as well as searching others for information about Pyrocat HD in a Jobo processor. Wow, have I ever learned a lot. My attitude has definitely swung back around to being positive. I'll be ordering some Pyrocat HD in Glycol soon (I learned in one of the threads that P-cat HD in Glycol has a longer shelf life and b/c I work a day job, I don't shoot/process enough film to utilize the P-cat HD in water before it dies).
I'm also considering pulling out the plastic to purchase a new CPP processor while they're still available. My theory being: 1) I don't have the time to babysit an eBay auction, and 2) I want a processor that's going to last, not one that's had half it's useful life burned up by someone who may not have taken good care of it. I hate credit card debt but, at 35 years old, I have plenty of working years ahead of me to pay it off. Now, if the Oriental light head on my enlarger doesn't die, I'll be set... otherwise, I'm looking at $2500 for an Aristo light head.
I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Another thread that caught my interest was Zero Image 2000 pinhole cameras. Gorgeous cameras and very interesting images that come out of them. I've enjoyed reading everyone's opinion on the change in creative perspective that pinholes can offer.
One quick question on the Pyrocat HD in a Jobo.... from what I've read, I gather that I'm looking at processing dilution/times/temps for FP4+ (EI-100) of:
2:2:100 (I use 500ml of developer),
68 degrees,
5 min. rotary prewash,
9 min. develop (-20% if I do a long exposure at EI-64),
30 second water wash,
5 min. Ilford rapid fix,
NO rebath,
20 min. water wash
This is how I've processed FP4+ w/ PMK. If I'm wrong, please correct me. I'll shoot a few rolls in my backyard and process them before busting my butt to get a composition that I'd like to put on my website and then potentially screw it up in processing.
My heartfelt thanks to all of you ! Yesterday I was ready to dump everything and say, 'To heck with it!' Deep down that's not at all what I want to do. I enjoy my time in the field and in the darkroom.... the learning curve.... the frustration of figuring out why a print isn't working out the way I envisioned.... and the 'No one can touch this!' feeling when the same print finally does come together. There's a sense of pride in the effort that analog photography requires, pride that no one w/ a digital point-and-shoot camera will ever comprehend.
SusanK