Keith: Thanks! I'm pretty much "done" with everything Jobo. My perspective is that the gearing on their tanks as the means of rotation is their best attribute, and a close second lies in utilizing a (heated) water bath to control temp a close 2nd... and putting all this in a package - even if it's not a complete package of ALL you'll pour - is a handy virtue. Over priced by a good deal, it's still prized... and I'm not letting go just yet... until I see whether my replacement process can deliver as well on C41 as it does with B&W.
But I'm generally managing a similar, "inspired by" approach with my new gear.
So with that, I'm pretty happy so far with the results I'm getting from the B's processor for $ 165 which offers a variety of pulsed, "wobbled" and speed options for rotation my CPE2+ cannot crank (CPE2's are 1-speed). Yes, it's a friction run rotation dependent on rubber bands to keep it on track, and I'm still working out some of the kinks, but it took longer with the Jobo to get good results when I was first at this game... which fairly was my fault not Jobo's.
In my mind the B's processor fairly mimicks and integrates with manual inversion doggone nicely. Could I have done this with the Jobo, too? Probably, buut I didn't. In part, that's because the point of the Jobo is keeping the tank on the machine (if you have a lift - which mine does). But the B's processor - like the Uniroller base - does rotation from outside the tank by contact, and in effect is something different. Yes, it has its defects, and you can't just walk away... which is hard to do with the Jobo as well, but at least the Jobo keeps rolling more reliably.... I'm still watching my tanks here 'cause they're NOT geared and instead kept in place with rubber bands. But equally, I think friction-rotation also offers an "opportunity" for a fruitful mix of approaches, and for this, I utilize some manual inversions initially with each step after loading the major new chems (Pre-Wash, Developer, Stop, Fix and WashAid) and then putting the tank on the processor for rotation for the rest of the time just seems to assure a more complete and even process. I do rinse baths along the way and usually add a couple of quick manual inversions with the 1st rinse as well. I might back those inversions off as I get more confidence in the processor, but for now it's working fine, and I think most of us tend to be fairly conservative in keeping things that haven't gone wrong (as opposed to testing a simpler step to be certain that the step really has the effect we think it has).
Also I absolutely believe the B's 4X5 reel ($60) gives a Mike Tyson smack down to the Jobo 2509 and loader... with the only problem the fact that it wasn't designed to run in a Jobo tank.... but instead meant for Patterson 3's... which work absolutely fine and leak no more than a Jobo tank does... which is to say it can leak zero if you're careful, or a few drops if you're not. So oddly to come full circle, Jobo has great geared tanks, but inferior reels in my experience from the perspective of being persnicketty in their loading attributes, and it's the reels that have me reeling (sic, pun intended), and keeping it real. And once you make that "how do I manage the negatives while processing?" question answered, then your options for assisting hardware follows. I think the ultimate process remains dip 'n dunk with air bubbled agitation... but that tends to be a commercial scale operation (not exclusively though) and a bit beyond what I earmark for my pocketbook to bear. I'm not Mr. Rock BottomDollar by any means.... but if "better for my needs" runs less costly, that's such an unlikely experience that it's worth a little celebration. Everywhere else in photography and film, "better" tends to cost more. And realistically, if I'm going to keep with film (and yes, that IS an IF) I've got to manage both the time AND some of the cost... even it means unloading what I'm not using... at a loss.
