production of analog jobo in question

[trudee yama]

rumor has it that the main company in Germany may stop production on Jobo, analog, in the near future. Omega Satter is their current distributor and has asked Jobo to continue production. My question: Is there another large format film developing equipment out there? I may be jumping the gun here, but I love my Jobo and can't imagine developing negs. in a tray. Suggestions would be apprectiated. Thanks everyone.

 

[Fotohuis]

It's not a rumor, it's a fact.
The amount of ATL and CPA/CPE/CPP developing machines is in the new sales rather low and the European Union had decided the necessary half 2006, for production units to solder lead free and use an alternative silver compound.
So almost all companies needed new higher temperature soldering machines for their production of PCB's.
Also higher prices on the int. silver market due to all new regulations in Europe.
Under these new regulations, Jobo decided to stop further production of their analogue developing machine line.
But looking at the second hand market, too much Jobo equipment is offered so I think without these new guidelines it also was a problem in the near future.....

best regards,

Robert (With a much shorter Jobo int. price list)

 

[Dave Parker]

Sidekick here in America makes a machine that will do up to 4x5 negs, B&W, C41 and E6...I have one, although expensive, it is a very nice machine.

Dave

 

[Fotohuis]

For film development up from 35mm, 120/220 roll film or 4x5" sheet film the new Heiland TAS processor (Wetzlar, Germany). In the near future also equipped with a heating device for C41 development.
Standard in the same price level like a Jobo CPE2+.

http://www.fotohuisrovo.nl/documentatie/TAS_Flyer_D.pdf

Developing tanks: Jobo 15xx, 25xx, Paterson, Kindermann.

 

[Mick Fagan]

The Model SSK-4V processes up to 4 rolls of 35mm (2 rolls of 120/220 or 4 sheets of 4x5) at a time. It can also dry up to 4 rolls of 35mm. Two chemical from any process can be saved for reuse or silver recovery. It is only 20" wide by 13" high by 14" deep. Price is only $4,990, which converts to $6,306 AUD

Pricey is not the word.

Whilst I realise that it is a comparable price with the middle of the road and higher end Jobo products, it is almost out of the question for a home based hobby user. I also don't know of any way to do large colour prints using this system.

Jobo really had a well thought out system designed for the advanced hobby right through to the top end of the professional market.

Their ability to mix and match different drums, reels and stuff is almost legendary.

I feel really sad about the demise of Jobo.

Mick.

 

[Dave Parker]

Actually Mick,

The sidekick I own I purchased as a used refurbished by the factory for a little over $1500 US and that was a couple of years ago, one of the things I like about the Sidekick is the ability to have all your chems hooked to the machine, and based on the program you run, it will pull the correct chems and wash itself between runs, I can run 4 rolls of 35mm b&w and then run 4 rolls of E6 without any fuss muss or cleaning, the sidekick is designed for the photo processing shop to be sure and it is a commercial product, but at the price I paid for it, with a 1 year warranty, I am very happy with it, and anytime I need a new program, I can either do a custom program, or I can contact the factory and tell them my needs and they will program a new control card for me, for a pretty reasonable price..

I guess it is just what you get used to. as far as prints, the Sidekick is not designed for that, I use a Hope paper processor that I got from a shop that was closing down, and it will handle up to 24 x 30 prints.

Dave

 

[Mick Fagan]

Robert, I have seen the Heiland brochure before, interesting concept.

There are some differences to the Jobo, you don't have a waterbath for retaining high temperature. You don't have the ability to do paper processing, unless I'm missing something.

Mick.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Dave, That is interesting and good for you. I understand that the cleaning or purge part of the processor must be good, otherwise contamination would be a problem.

Yes it is obviously designed for a commercial operation, but the Jobo system could with one machine, do film, roll or sheet, prints, colour, B&W, Duratrans, R3, EP2, RA4 and almost any other kind of processing one could imagine. That was it's strength.

I have a LASER machine in my business, it was purchased to basically do one process, however it can and does do, seven different manufacturing processes. That makes it a far more valuable assett from a business proposition. The Jobo was in the same class.

I'm afraid it will be about 5 or 6 years down the road when the secondhand Jobo market starts to dry up, before we may see someone else manufacturing something to replace it. maybe even another form of Jobo may start again?

Mick.

 

[Dave Parker]

Mick,

It was just information that is all, take it or leave it, he asked a question, I provided information on the system I use...that is all, I as well have many machines that do many different jobs, making them quite valuable, so understand fully. The sidekick works for me, due to the fact, I process a lot of E6 and C41 for my photography business, in addition to ground glass, I do also work as a photographer, what ever works for the individual involved is the best tool available.

Cheers.

Dave

 

[Mick Fagan]

Dave, I wasn't having a go at you, I was just surmising on the relative strengths and weaknesses of different things.

Mick.

 

[Fotohuis]

There are some differences to the Jobo, you don't have a waterbath for retaining high temperature. You don't have the ability to do paper processing, unless I'm missing something

Correct, it's working with a Peltier semiconductor element for heating.
So no waterbath.

It's a TAS FILM processor so for film development only but a small (color ?) paper size would be possible but not very practical.
CPE2+ is going till 30X40cm sizes, CPA/CPP+ is for the largest Jobo tanks till 50X60cm incl. the professional 3000 tanks.

Price indication for the basic Heiland TAS unit: Euro 750-800 depending where you buy it. (This is without heating device so for B&W only).
24 months warranty but concerning the construction of this film processor I expect more over lifetime. An automatic temperature correction for the actual temperature and the conversion to the right developing time is also build in.

Robert

 

[Dave Parker]

Dave, I wasn't having a go at you, I was just surmising on the relative strengths and weaknesses of different things.

Mick.

Mick,

No worries, didn't think you were...

Dave