Paterson vs Jobo for 120 Processing

gphoto120 · Jan 30, 2017

I have been using Paterson tanks and reels.....is there any advantage in using Jobo tanks and reels? Price of Jobo seems quite high for similar equipment. Am I missing something here other than cost?

locutus · Jan 30, 2017

The real reason to go Jobo (imho) is if you also use a Jobo processor for rotary processing.

macfred · Jan 30, 2017

locutus said:
The real reason to go Jobo (imho) is if you also use a Jobo processor for rotary processing.

I agree !

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I'm happy with my Paterson tanks and AP reels.

Sirius Glass · Jan 30, 2017

Jobo provides consistency, ease of use, temperature control for color processing, temperature stability for black & white development.

MattKing · Jan 30, 2017

And if you figure out the correct numbers for all the different combinations of JOBO reels and tanks you might want or need, you will have a sense of "reel" accomplishment .

JOBO stuff is good, but you need a JOBO processor with a lift to make a substantial difference.

rthollenbeck · Jan 30, 2017

I agree that I never would have bought the Jobo over the Cibachrome drumbs if I did not own a jobo processor. A friend gave me a lot of jobo drumbs and they do seal better and fill/dump faster.

freecitizen · Jan 30, 2017

I have had Paterson but now only use Jobo. I have only used manual inversion agitation for the last 10 years.

I find the Jobo reels easier to load and less prone to jamming. Also, all my Paterson tanks at some time, have leaked.

I know others might have different experience, but I am very happy with Jobo, and I can use them for rotary processing in my CPE2 if I ever go back to that.

Soeren · Jan 31, 2017

Well my jobo's leaks as well, no difference there.

R.Gould · Jan 31, 2017

I have both Jobo and Paterson tanks and TBH I can't see any difference between the 2, both of them leak sometimes if you don't put the top on properly, each
one as easy to load as the other, the only very slight difference is that it is easier to start the film in Paterson in that in the dark it is much easier to find the start point in the reel, and maybe pouring in the chemicals is very slightly faster in the Jobo, but it is so slight as to make no difference to the results, it is just a case of you pays your money and takes you choice, I will say I am more comfortable with the locking of the Paterson lid, I have had a Jobo tank in which the lid was lose and in the first inversion I lost the the developer,lid and film because the lid was not locked properly, I have learnt to check that the lid of the Jobo's are tight before I start, but the Paterson clicks into place so you know it is on properly, this is a very minor point, I personally use whatever one I chose, and if I have ,say, 4 films I will develop 2 in the jobo and 2 in a paterson with out problems

klownshed · Jan 31, 2017

I started with Paterson reels and later acquired a Jobo processor so now primarily use the Jobo 1520tanks.

I prefer the Paterson reels though and unlike many around here I actually like the little ball bearings that allow you to spool the film without touching the film with your thumbs. If the lids are warmed up a bit before use (I run them under the hot tap) they go on and off much better and I've not had leaks.

As for jamming, I find I have more issues with the Jobo reels than the Paterson reels. But I always trim the corners of the film that helps regardless of which system you use.

The moral of the story is they are both adequate and neither is significantly superior. As others have pointed out, the Jobo tanks come into their own when used in the Jobo rotary processors. Not only do you get more consistent results with the temperature controlled water bath and consistent rotation, but you also only need about half the chemicals compared to manual inversions with the same film/tank.

I would not have switched to Jobo if I hadn't acquired my CPE2+. But I process virtually all my film, both colour and black and white, in the Jobo now due to the benefits of the CPE2+.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 31, 2017

locutus said:
The real reason to go Jobo (imho) is if you also use a Jobo processor for rotary processing.

that's exactly right

howardpan · Jan 31, 2017

Jobo reels have a clip which allow you to safely load two rolls of 120 film without fear of having the rolls overlap during your processing.

TheFlyingCamera · Jan 31, 2017

I use Jobo 25xx series tanks and reels for my 120. It does a brilliant job when used on the Jobo CPP2 processor. My films come out incredibly consistent roll to roll, and they're super-efficient with chemistry (I can run 8 rolls of 120 on 1 liter of Pyrocat HD). IMHO, that's why you use a Jobo processor with Jobo tanks.

Sirius Glass · Jan 31, 2017

MattKing said:
And if you figure out the correct numbers for all the different combinations of JOBO reels and tanks you might want or need, you will have a sense of "reel" accomplishment .

JOBO stuff is good, but you need a JOBO processor with a lift to make a substantial difference.

rthollenbeck said:
I agree that I never would have bought the Jobo over the Cibachrome drumbs if I did not own a jobo processor. A friend gave me a lot of jobo drumbs and they do seal better and fill/dump faster.

Yes and yes, you need the tanks, drums, processor and the lift. And yes, some of the tanks leaks a little, but that is a tank problem.

Patrick Robert James · Jan 31, 2017

I push the film onto my JOBO reels. Makes it go really fast. Those ball things on Paterson drove me nuts.

I mostly fixed my JOBO leak problems by cleaning any burrs off of the lips of the tanks and cleaning the lids. In case you don't know this, if you push the lid down in the center after you put it on the tank it helps to seal it. I have never had a JOBO tank leak at the seams, so I assume you guys are talking about lid leaks.

AgX · Jan 31, 2017

klownshed said:
As others have pointed out, the Jobo tanks come into their own when used in the Jobo rotary processors.

There is no need for a Jobo processor to employ rotary processing with a Jobo tank.

A ring around the tank and a table top should do. Or a board on a table top.
In case leaking should be an issue then a tray with a homebuilt rollers-stand should offer an alternative.

Sirius Glass · Jan 31, 2017

AgX said:
There is no need for a Jobo processor to employ rotary processing with a Jobo tank.

A ring around the tank and a table top should do.
In case leaking should be an issue then a tray with a homebuilt rollers-stand should offer an alternative.

Yes, but how is one to maintain the temperature accurately.

AgX · Jan 31, 2017

Not all rotary processes need tempering or that precise temperature control.
You can rotary process b&w film.

rthollenbeck · Jan 31, 2017

AgX said:
Not all rotary processes need tempering or that precise temperature control.
You can rotary process b&w film.

Yep, greatest thing ever for b&w 8x10 film.....IMHO.

Ai Print · Jan 31, 2017

I use Jobo tanks with my CPP3, Paterson and SS tanks with Hewes reels depending on what I desire or how big the run is. Depending on several factors, rotary processing is not always the right answer for roll film.

Sirius Glass · Jan 31, 2017

AgX said:
Not all rotary processes need tempering or that precise temperature control.
You can rotary process b&w film.

rthollenbeck said:
Yep, greatest thing ever for b&w 8x10 film.....IMHO.

I use my Jobo for processing black & white film, 35mm, 120, and 4"x5"

ruilourosa · Feb 1, 2017

Hello

Paterson has the fastest filling time... and the longest lid closing time...

i can see no difference if you learn to use the tanks... i like the old jobo better 1000 i think i have some from the 70´s: the highest quality!!

AgX · Feb 1, 2017

The 1000 has no gasket. But then it got the old style, clear reels.

gphoto120 · Feb 3, 2017

Thanks for all the replies ! I had some issues with a couple Paterson reels a couple years ago....Looks like I'll stick with my Paterson tanks and reels as I really haven't had any problems recently. ( I had some streaking at some areas on the outside edge of the film...intermittently ....Even though I used the same dev procedures every time. ) Bought some new reels and haven't had this happen since......

Paterson vs Jobo for 120 Processing

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Paterson vs Jobo for 120 Processing

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