Other ways besides tray development of 4x5 film ideas

snay1345 · Jun 15, 2010

Hello everyone, I recently moved to Japan and I will begin to start taking some 4x5 photos with my speed graphic once it arrives from the states. Usually I would tray develop all of the film, but I will be going to Mount Fuji and other places and will not be able to set up a dark room to use trays. I was wondering if there was some other method out there I could use to develop my film. I am thinking if I got a steel tank that would hold 2 120 rolls I might be able to kind of bend two sheets of 4x5 in there and develop that way. I was wondering if this is recommended as I can set up my little changing tent thing to be able to work with the film to get it in the tanks. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Ian Grant · Jun 15, 2010

Try and buy a second hand Jobo 2000 series tank that takes two spirals each of 6 sheets of 5x4, I've had mine since 1976 and bought a second through a wanted advert here on APUG to bring to Turkey. (You must be a Subscriber to advertise here)

The Jobo tank is just slightly larger in diameter than a Paterson and the early 200 series are inversion tanks, later Jobo Rotary film tanks can also be used without a motor base and are widely available.

Ian

haziz · Jun 15, 2010

Combi-Plan tank. I do fill and empty via the spouts with no issues whatsoever. Very happy with it.

Rick A · Jun 15, 2010

You can get by with a Paterson Super Systen 4, two reel plastic tank, and use the "taco" method. Take the reels out, but leave the center column in place, carefully bend(but dont crease) the film with the emulsion in, and put a rubber band around it (4 inch dimension verticle) set in tank. You can get at least four films in a tank at one time. Once you have them in and the lid in place, use in room light as you normally would do with roll film. BTW, I use the Arista brand generic plastic version from Freestyle, its less money, and IMO works better(has more vert, space) than the Paterson.
I also have an FP brand daylight 4x5 developing tank, holds a lot more than I shoot at one time, so I've only used it once, works ok, a little sloppy, its not an inversion tank.

altair · Jun 15, 2010

Great info here, thanks for asking. I've been thinking about getting onto the LF wagon but have always wondered how the film are processed. It's good to know 4x5 can be processed in my Paterson Super System 4 tank.

FiatluX · Jun 15, 2010

The Combi-Plan is so easy to use and produces great results!

gordrob · Jun 15, 2010

Another option is the Nikor 4x5 adjustable Stainless Steel tank that will take up to 12 sheets of 4x5 film or smaller at a time. It's compact for the amount of film that it will process at one time. The downside is that used they are pricey.
Gord

rmann · Jun 15, 2010

Try the "taco" folding method for doing a few sheets in standard roll tanks -

frobozz · Jun 15, 2010

gordrob said:
Another option is the Nikor 4x5 adjustable Stainless Steel tank that will take up to 12 sheets of 4x5 film or smaller at a time. It's compact for the amount of film that it will process at one time. The downside is that used they are pricey.
Gord

I'm a huge fan of this piece of equipment. With enough stalking you can eventually find one for less than the cost of an arm *and* a leg. The only downside is how much chemistry it takes, especially if you're only developing a sheet or two (same amount whether it's one sheet or 12.) But I find it very straightforward to load and use, just like any Nikor tank for smaller film.

Duncan

David William White · Jun 15, 2010

Tray is most versatile for any sheet size, but for the last year or so I've been using plastic milk pitchers (for milk bags sold here) for 4x5. See stolen photo attached. Obviously similar juice containers would work equally well.

Advantages include being cheap, easy to load, wide mouth for filling, just the right height and width for 4x5, bowed so film doesn't touch/stick to the sides, easy to pour chems out for reuse, takes far less space than trays, three can go into a flat-bottomed sink or paper tray for drips, etc.

I use 3, and load up to 6 or 8 sheets (one at a time), and then shuffle from back to front. Shuffling is much more gentle and easier to do than shuffling horizontally in a tray. I've done maybe 300 sheets this way, and have never had a mishap with either incomplete development or scratches or suchlike.

This may not work on Mt. Fuji, however!

M.A.Longmore · Jun 15, 2010

David,

If I did not see it with my own eyes, I would not believe that you could buy a bag of milk.

David William White · Jun 15, 2010

We've had plastic 1 litre bags of milk here since the seventies. We also have the waxed cardboard cartons as well. I believe they were popular in some other countries, but never caught on in The States.

sly · Jun 19, 2010

Ron LarFor4X5 said:
David,

If I did not see it with my own eyes, I would not believe that you could buy a bag of milk.

My sister coined the term "milk bag let-down" for those times you reach for the pitcher only to find it's been put back in the fridge with an empty milk bag in it. She had 3 teen boys. (Anybody else remember CBC's "Wanted Words"?)

Mike Wilde · Jul 7, 2010

Actually they turned metric mid way though the eighties, and now you buy 3 bags in one larger bag that is rated as 4L of milk. So actually about 1.33L.

Before that I think it was three bags to a US gallon, I seem to recall, because it has always been 3 inner bags to my knowledge.

Other ways besides tray development of 4x5 film ideas

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