Nova Slot Processor - Go/No Go?

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 15, 2007

Mark Carstens said:
I am indebted to all of you. This is great information! Thank you!

Based on what I'm learning here, I'm reconsidering this method. I've heard of the single tray method, but haven't looked into it yet.

Also, I have a JOBO CPP2 that I process my film in, and had considered that option (I'd need to buy a print drum) because I would then only need to set up the darkroom for the enlarger, and to load the drum, but I've had trouble finding feedback about the method in the archives. There's actually more to be found about the slot processors. The downside for me is that, back when I last processed prints in a darkroom (high school -- many moons ago), watching the print come up was one of the hooks for being there in the first place. That said, there are trade-offs for every option.

Also, Matt, you're way ahead of my wife on the storage of the chemistry. I would likely be draining and washing the processor every time I use it, so there goes the convenience. Thanks for bringing that up.

~Mark

I've never actually heard of anyone doing fiber paper in a print drum. I once tried doing it in a Unicolor drum, but the rotation speed was such I guess that my prints came out REALLY blown out from the contrast boost you get from the continuous agitation. I think you'd have to adjust the developer dilution down. Also, I think the Jobo would run slower at its minimum than the unicolor base did, which would help.

Bob F. · Aug 15, 2007

I have no real issues with 12x16 fibre, but using two clips can be helpful sometimes. As observed by Jerold, it will leave two puncture marks about 1.5 mm from the edge that you may want to trim off. During agitation, I lift the paper up out of the chemicals periodically so making a note of emergence time is not a problem.

Mottling from the waffle pattern seems to be one of those things that does not happen to me and I have not cleaned the slots in over 2 years other than a quick rinse and wipe between developers - this is possibly because I give almost constant agitation.

The single-tray idea is certainly a lot cheaper and if you need to empty the slots between sessions, a lot of the utility of the Nova is lost, leaving its built-in heaters as the only real advantage.

Cheers, Bob.

dancqu · Aug 15, 2007

TheFlyingCamera said:
I think you'd have to adjust the developer dilution down.

IIRC Dektol at 1:7 and 1:9 for rotary processing have been
mentioned this NG. I work with combinations of Beer's at the
1:7 dilution. That's for one-shot single tray use. My 8x10 trays
need about 320ml for easy one sheet processing. Pre-wetting
the paper prior to pouring in the developer helps. Dan

Roger Hicks · Aug 15, 2007

TheFlyingCamera said:
I've never actually heard of anyone doing fiber paper in a print drum. I once tried doing it in a Unicolor drum, but the rotation speed was such I guess that my prints came out REALLY blown out from the contrast boost you get from the continuous agitation. I think you'd have to adjust the developer dilution down. Also, I think the Jobo would run slower at its minimum than the unicolor base did, which would help.

Paper development is normally to completion, so neither agitation nor concentration should matter at all. Did you try less contrasty paper or a less contrasty negative? And without wishing to be funny, when was this? We've all got bad prints we made when we knew less about printing. If it was some tima ago, maybe you've been blaming equipment for something that was actually down to you knowing less than you do now.

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 15, 2007

Roger- this was quite some time ago - I was printing the same paper I always used (Bergger VCCB) at the normal contrast grade I always used (abt grade 2 1/2) for contact sheets from 35mm negs. Negs I subsequently printed via enlargement and tray processed at said grade 2 1/2. It could have been any number of causes that made the prints get ultra-contrasty; thinking I was running diluted dektol when I was using it neat by accident, the drum rotating too fast, the developer too hot. All I know is that at the time the one change in my process that I was aware of was using the Unicolor drum.

Now it is a neither here nor there for me as I either tray or Nova the prints, and I don't use rotary processing for fiber paper.

I think the biggest reason why nobody rotary processes fiber paper is the increased chemical volume required, since the fiber paper is much more absorbent than RC paper.

Roger- on a separate note, I don't know why you are claiming that agitation and concentration have no effect on contrast. Perhaps they have less influence on contrast with paper than they do with film, but they do have an impact. As do temperature and time.

Mark Carstens · Aug 15, 2007

Thanks again to all contributors. Most helpful insights on Nova, single tray and rotary processing too. A veritable feast of information.

Now to digest all of it.

Best regards,
Mark

Dave Miller · Aug 15, 2007

Just a further note on rotary processing and fibre paper. I process all my work, fibre and r/c, larger than 8x10 in drums. For 12x16 I use Jobo 2840 units, and for larger a Sima (sp?) drum. Since I always develop paper to completion, and I require complete consistancy between prints, I do not need to see the development process, in fact I would rather not.

tim rudman · Aug 17, 2007

I've just come across this thread a bit late after our exchange has been out for a day or more.
I have a quad, very little used, lurking in the recesses of my (south east UK)darkroom - if anyone wants to offer me a reasonable price and collect (postage would be costly) then send me a PM.
Tim

Tracey Jones · Jun 21, 2008

Hi Tim
Would you consider shipping to southern Tasmania (Australia)? If so, can you (or anyone else) give an indication of shipping price?
Cheers
Tracey

Dave Miller · Jun 22, 2008

Tracey Jones said:
Hi Tim
Would you consider shipping to southern Tasmania (Australia)? If so, can you (or anyone else) give an indication of shipping price?
Cheers
Tracey

Welcome to the forum Tracy.
Did you realise that Tim's post was 10 months old? That's not to say that the processor is no longer available though.

Tracey Jones · Jun 23, 2008

Dave Miller said:
Welcome to the forum Tracy.
Did you realise that Tim's post was 10 months old? That's not to say that the processor is no longer available though.

Hi Dave
Sincere apologies because I didn't realise. Maybe our distance from the rest of the world contributed to the lack of realisation
Cheers

Dave Miller · Jun 24, 2008

Don't worry, it's something most of us have done at some stage.

Henry Milner · Jun 11, 2009

Nova Slot processor

Mark,

I notice you didn't mention the reason for not buying the processors. Wasn't it because you had to replace your yard sprinkler system?

Mark Carstens · Jun 15, 2009

Hey, Henry!

Fortunately, that ship has sailed...we sold the house late last summer, and upgraded to larger home with the space to accommodate a "real" darkroom in the third bay of the garage. I will soon have my first darkroom -- more than two years delayed, but it's finally here.

As it turned out, replacing the sprinkler system was all the momentum my better half needed to kill the bathroom/darkroom idea entirely. I still thought it was a great idea, but had to capitulate to maintain domestic tranquility.

If you haven't done so already, you might consider listing the processors here, at APUG, or over at Large Format Photographers Forum. I sent you a link for LFPF.

Hope you're well,

~Mark

Chazzy · Jun 16, 2009

Mark Carstens said:
If you haven't done so already, you might consider listing the processors here, at APUG, or over at Large Format Photographers Forum. I sent you a link for LFPF.

Could someone update me as to what processors are available and what the asking price is?

bdial · Jun 16, 2009

Info on the current products are on Nova's website, http://www.novadarkroom.com/

Used 12x16 Quads are around 200 - 250 USD on ebay when they show up, and various 8x10 models are in the 100+ USD neighborhood, as I recall. To get a new one you'll probably need to order it direct from Nova, as I don't think they have a U.S. distributor. They've not been terribly common on ebay lately.

Mark Carstens · Jun 16, 2009

Chazzy said:
Could someone update me as to what processors are available and what the asking price is?

Charles, the previous poster, Henry Milner, had a couple of them he was selling. I don't know if he still does (but I noticed that he posted to the thread, so you might get lucky), so you may want to contact him and find out.

At the time, he had both an 8x10 and a 12x16 for sale.

Best of luck!
~Mark

Nova Slot Processor - Go/No Go?

TheFlyingCamera

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Bob F.

dancqu

Roger Hicks

TheFlyingCamera

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Mark Carstens

Dave Miller

tim rudman

Tracey Jones

Dave Miller

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Dave Miller

Henry Milner

Mark Carstens

Chazzy

bdial

Mark Carstens

Nova Slot Processor - Go/No Go?

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