Not warming up to the SP45

[Steven Lee]

@koraks sorry to hear you're getting edge marks with the Jobo 2521. If it helps, my routine is to use 500ml of developer for 6 sheets. The rotation speed is 20rpm.

 

[koraks]

Thanks Steven, I should give it another go, soon. I'll try your parameters!

 

[Chuck_P]

@koraks sorry to hear you're getting edge marks with the Jobo 2521. If it helps, my routine is to use 500ml of developer for 6 sheets. The rotation speed is 20rpm.

Have you ever used inversion agitation with it, that's what I would be doing if I get the Multitank2.

 

[Don_ih]

Have you ever used inversion agitation with it, that's what I would be doing if I get the Multitank2.

The reel takes up the entirety of the inside of the tank, unless you add an extension. So, you'd need a lot of developer to fill the tank - there would be almost no air space. It's really made for rotation.

@Steven Lee -- I've never used those paddles, but I have had some uneven development (particularly in blank sky) a couple of times. Maybe the paddles are to add some extra agitation? I couldn't see them serving any purpose.

 

[Chuck_P]

It's really made for rotation.

But Jobo's advertising claim is that it can also be used as an inversion tank........is that not to be believed? Maybe there's someone that is using it with inversion agitation that can speak on it. Thanks.

 

[Don_ih]

But Jobo's advertising claim is that it can also be used as an inversion tank........is that not to be believed? Maybe there's someone that is using it with inversion agitation that can speak on it. Thanks.

You need a litre of developer and then you need a litre of fixer. It would work just like any other inversion tank, except it would require two hands. I was only saying it's not practical.

 

[Chuck_P]

You need a litre of developer and then you need a litre of fixer. It would work just like any other inversion tank, except it would require two hands. I was only saying it's not practical.

The Multitank2 - 2520 holds 270 ml or 9 ounces.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I was only saying it's not practical.

I use a liter for two rolls of 120 in my Paterson tank. That, too, takes two hands for inversions...

 

[Don_ih]

The Multitank2 - 2520 holds 270 ml or 9 ounces.

That's the minimum:

 

[MattKing]

You need a litre of developer and then you need a litre of fixer. It would work just like any other inversion tank, except it would require two hands. I was only saying it's not practical.

I use a liter for two rolls of 120 in my Paterson tank. That, too, takes two hands for inversions...

Clearly, people here need to work on their wrist strength!
One litre in a two 120 roll Paterson tank - and one hand for inversion with a twisting action for agitation!
Admittedly, I do almost everything with my left hand, so it probably is fairly strong

 

[Donald Qualls]

people here need to work on their wrist strength!

Well, in fairness, I try to invert gently, and insert around a quarter twist as the tank comes back to upright, so a different sector of the film is on the bottom next time over. Not to mention that lets me have some fingers to keep the inversion cap from getting ideas.

 

[Chuck_P]

That's the minimum:

View attachment 329149

Oh sorry, I see what you mean there, I did not pay close enough attention on that.....thank you.

 

[Chuck_P]

That's the minimum:

View attachment 329149

I may have apologised for myself too quickly......the description I read from B&H does not differentiate between volumes from with rotary versus inversion agitation. But glad to see your description as well.

 

[Steven Lee]

Have you ever used inversion agitation with it, that's what I would be doing if I get the Multitank2.

I tried and concluded that it is not a good idea in my case.

Yes it's possible but requires a massive volume of chemistry: about 1.2L per 6 sheets. Putting cost aside, it simply takes too long to pour so much liquid in and out of a tank. For C-41 work when you only have 3:15 for everything this is not great. But it will work fine for B&W when you have 8+ minutes.

Another option is to use manual rotary agitation. This is what I started with before I bought a processor. Pour 500ml of chemistry into Multi Tank 2, place it in a bucket of water of the right temperature, let it float, and simply keep rotating it with your fingers. Worked pretty well for me.

 

[Steven Lee]

@Steven Lee -- I've never used those paddles, but I have had some uneven development (particularly in blank sky) a couple of times. Maybe the paddles are to add some extra agitation? I couldn't see them serving any purpose.

Don, I wouldn't know. As I said, I only started with 4x5 this fall and I only tried this one development method which happened to work perfectly for me, so I did not have an opportunity to tinker and compare. Thinking from the first principles, looks like there are 3 tweakable variables that can cause uneven development:

1. Usage of paddles
2. Rotation speed
3. Chemistry amount

 

[BrianShaw]

The new Stearman Press tank for 4x5 now does six sheets. I like my SP-445 because it's easy to load. It's compact so it doesn't take up much space on long trips.


Kent in SD

I saw the SP-645 recently discussed but not seeing it for sale yet. Have I missed something?

 

[faberryman]

I saw the SP-645 recently discussed but not seeing it for sale yet. Have I missed something?

Yes and no.

What's next: SP-645, SP-8x20, Bigger and Better...

SP-645 The original SP-445 wasn't even in production and people were asking for a higher capacity version! We had requests for systems that could process six, eight, ten and even a few asking for twelve sheets. Anything past eight gets really complicated, really fast. Even an eight sheet version...

shop.stearmanpress.com

 

[Chuck_P]

That's the minimum

Thanks Don, I understand it's the minimum now.....B&Hs description makes it sound like that's the maximum. I corrected my earlier statement about a typo.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Yes and no.

I looked all around the Stearman Press site and didn't see it on sale yet. I may get one when they're available, if the price isn't too much higher than the SP-445. Lots more convenient for a single Grafmatic load than my Agitank. Not to mention it doesn't push me away from one-shot developers the way a 1.6 L fill tends to...

 

[Chuck_P]

I looked all around the Stearman Press site and didn't see it on sale yet. I may get one when they're available, if the price isn't too much higher than the SP-445. Lots more convenient for a single Grafmatic load than my Agitank. Not to mention it doesn't push me away from one-shot developers the way a 1.6 L fill tends to...

What I saw said price would be in the $120-$130 range.

 

[BCM]

Yes, I appreciate that.



I will await that video. I will not engage in my ZS testing for personal EI and development times until I settle on a tank. I may even give tray processing a try, but it seems wrought with potential problems, even though I know people do it successfully.......and I never really knew what to think of constant agitation of a negative.

If you are testing, use the BTZS tubes. There is no other way to get consistent results as the tubes guarantee the developer volume/sheet and are individually rotated.

 

[Steven Lee]

@BCM how can you use BTZS tubes with C-41? Specifically, how do you maintain 3:15 development time when you have more than one tube?

 

[BCM]

@BCM how can you use BTZS tubes with C-41? Specifically, how do you maintain 3:15 development time when you have more than one tube?

You can have multiple caps and stagger the bottom that holds the film. You can also stagger the tubes so that you have time between developer changes.

 

[Don_ih]

Clearly, people here need to work on their wrist strength!
One litre in a two 120 roll Paterson tank

One litre of developer plus the tank is less than 4 pounds - not heavy at all. The reason you'd need two hands for the Jobo tank is its diameter is much larger than a longer, narrow tank.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

You could also look into the Nikkor tank. I think there is a Chinese knockoff called King? now too.

There is also the Patterson with the custom insert which I've forgotten the name of which does 6 sheets I think. If I didn't have my JOBO I think I'd try that first.

I don't like pfaffing around in the dark, so daylight developing it is for me.