Just tried developing film (4x5) for the first time

OP
OP

trondsi

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
454
Format
35mm

Dang again! Nobody warned me about this, and I even asked in the store.

So to follow up; what's your favorite developer for sheet film? I think I like the fact that it's fluid, as it makes things just a little easier.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,468
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,468
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
wiltw said:
Huh?...the link I provided goes to 2017 data sheet, too.
Click to expand...
Yes, but as Kodak Alaris no longer owns that business, I would expect your link to soon become defunct.
The sale to Sino Promise Holdings of the Kodak chemistry and Kodak colour paper business completed late in 2020.
 

wiltw

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
6,420
Location
SF Bay area
Format
Multi Format
MattKing said:
Yes, but as Kodak Alaris no longer owns that business, I would expect your link to soon become defunct.
The sale to Sino Promise Holdings of the Kodak chemistry and Kodak colour paper business completed late in 2020.
Click to expand...

Oh, then thx for a link which hopefully does not go obsolete too soon! I was unaware of the change in corporate parentage.

The Google search engine seems to be similarly in the dark, as it provides no 'Sino Promise' hits in the first 10 pages of hits, when searching for "HC-110 data sheet", but Alaris link comes out first! You have to search 'HC-110 data sheet Sino' to get any hit via Sino Promise!
 
Last edited:

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,468
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
I expect that they (Sino Promise) are working harder at optimizing their new "Kodak Professional Imaging" branding then the anything to do with black and white photo chemicals.
They remain perhaps the largest volume middle level distributor in the world of Kodak still photography products, but their sales are all wholesale ones.
Here is their main link: https://kodak.sinopromise.com/
 

MTGseattle

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
1,368
Location
Seattle
Format
Multi Format
There's a lot going on in this thread. I almost spit out my beverage when I read the line about shaking the sheet dry.
Do you have other things going on while you process your film? It can be pretty easy to grab the wrong beaker or whatever if you are not working in some vast educational facility sink.
Any chance(regarding the small scratches) of some grit on the dark slides?
Not to derail the OP's thread, but when using a Paterson tank and the mod54, does one need the central tube? I've been fiddling with mine dry to get used to the motions, and it seems like with the central tube installed, the film holder moves around a lot less, and the funnel still "locks" into place properly. Without the central tube, the funnel still locks properly, but the holder can rattle around quite a bit. (maybe 3/16" up and down). I'm intrigued by the sparse chemical usage of the Stearman Press 45 tank, but the Paterson and mod54 is what I have in hand right now.
it seems like a very gentle agitation is key with the mod54 reel.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,468
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
I don't think a Paterson tube is light tight without the central tube.
And when I see the reference to shaking the sheet dry, I always think of Outkast:
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,246
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
trondsi said:
still it’s weird if it went from good to completely unusable in a couple of days, it worked twice and then not at all?
Click to expand...

Not that weird, if you're storing the working solution and trying to reuse it. The preservative that works so well in stock strength is diluted and the developer can oxidize much more rapidly. I'd suggest finding a developer that you're comfortable one-shotting, or else starting to replenish with Xtol or EcoPro (XT-3 is probably a step up and has been reported to replenish well, but it's still hard to get outside EU).
 
OP
OP

trondsi

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
454
Format
35mm
Follow-up question: if I expose Ilford Delta 100 at iso 400, would you recommend pushing the processing?
Does this involve anything more than longer time in the developer?
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,246
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
trondsi said:
Follow-up question: if I expose Ilford Delta 100 at iso 400, would you recommend pushing the processing?
Does this involve anything more than longer time in the developer?
Click to expand...

If you underexpose two stops, you'll need to develop as "N+2" or "push +2" to get normal-looking midtones. There's nothing else needed other than selecting a suitable developer (some developers work better for a push than others, or even boost shadow speed a little) and developing for the longer time. Don't be surprised if, in addition to empty shadows, you wind up with blocked/unprintable highlights, though it's likely they still be scannable.

FWIW, conventional cubic grain films (like FP4+) tend to push better than tabular grain, in my experience, barring the "3200" films that are designed to push well.
 
OP
OP

trondsi

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
454
Format
35mm
The Photo Flo feels a bit soapy and bubbly even after diluting it according to instructions. I suppose this is ok? Can I dilute it even further?
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
52,468
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
trondsi said:
The Photo Flo feels a bit soapy and bubbly even after diluting it according to instructions. I suppose this is ok? Can I dilute it even further?
Click to expand...
Depends on your water. I don't.
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,246
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
trondsi said:
The Photo Flo feels a bit soapy and bubbly even after diluting it according to instructions. I suppose this is ok? Can I dilute it even further?
Click to expand...

In my experience it isn't very critical, but it's canonical dilution is about a tablespoon in a gallon and in my experience most photographers use less. Bubbly is probably indicative you have more than your water requires. If it doesn't feel a little soapy, however, it's not doing its job.
 
OP
OP

trondsi

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
454
Format
35mm
By the way I’d be very interested to know more about it tanks that use less fluid than this one. I only shoot occasionally and sometimes I want to develop just 2-4 sheets. The Paterson tank is wasting a lot of developer
 

greg zinselmeier

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2016
Messages
542
Location
milwaukee
Format
Multi Format
I use 1 liter to develop 4 sheets of 4x5. I made an acrylic box that will hold four individual hangers that when you pour in the L. Of developer It covers the height of the film. I tried to make the acrylic box for four hangers and a half liter but could not make it work comfortably for me, if I remember correctly, the volume of developer did not cover the entire sheet. But I could be wrong on that
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,246
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
trondsi said:
By the way I’d be very interested to know more about it tanks that use less fluid than this one. I only shoot occasionally and sometimes I want to develop just 2-4 sheets. The Paterson tank is wasting a lot of developer
Click to expand...

Photrio Partner Stearman Press makes their SP-445, a compact inversion tank that holds up to four sheets of 4x5 and uses only 16 ounces (about 475 ml) of solution. A little slower to fill and drain than a Paterson, but not excessively so (from reports). Needs a little care in loading and sealing to prevent liquid leaks (same is true of stainless and even Paterson tanks). Alternative film carriers available (some from third parties) for 9x12 cm and both 9x12 and 4x5 glass plates (and carriers can be 3D printed for other formats like 3x4/eighth plate, 2x3 or 6.5x9 8-sheet, etc.). Compact and lightweight enough to take along when traveling (assuming you have a local source of chemicals or can carry dry packets).

If I didn't use replenished Xtol, and hence mostly don't care about developer volume requirements for my 12-sheet Yankee Agitank, I'd certainly spring for one; costs barely more than a Mod54 carrier for a Paterson and uses less than half the solution.
 

Jay Schrotenboer

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Messages
147
Format
Multi Format
I use the Stearman Press SP-445. I have settled on 450 ml with it and find it works very well. I have not used anything else so I can not comparing them. At 450 ml I have plenty of room for the “squeeze play” and generally have very little leakage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…