SP-257A: 5x7 adapter for the SP-445

[tim48v]

We're working on an adapter to process 5x7 film in our SP-445 tank. Details here: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/...urvey.html?soid=1126828614668&aid=MHogxOJW-HI

We'd appreciate it if you'd take our survey in the link.

 

[ic-racer]

Looks good. Film photography thrives with innovations like that.

It does seem to me that 8x10 users outnumber 5x7 by, perhaps 5 to 1 or more. One thing to consider might be a system for 8x10 that can be scaled down with adapters for 5x7 and 4x5. I'll bet than the majority of 8x10 users started with 4x5 and moved up.

 

[tim48v]

We've tried, here's the summary: https://shop.stearmanpress.com/blogs/news/what-about-8x10-or-5x7

However, we are looking into new options for the 8x10 market. However, the SP-257A is a much simpler project to undertake, the 8x10 system might follow later.

Frankly, some of the motivation to revisit the 5x7 was my accidental purchase of a 5x7 camera (details in the newsletter). I suppose I need to accidentally purchase an 8x10...

 

[williaty]

Two ways I look at this:

1) I'd love an affordable way to process 5x7 because the price of Jobo Expert Drums is out of control
2) Processing just two sheets of film at a time is a deal breaker for me. Way too much time investment for way too little finished film

While I am sure you'd like to keep the whole system in-house, have you considered piggybacking off the work of Jobo and creating a 5x7-sized reel to fit their 2500-system tanks? Basically, it'd be like a 2509n reel on steroids. The tanks are affordable, can be processed with or without a Jobo machine, and many people already have them for 35mm/120/4x5. I would HAPPILY pay you $60 per reel if it'd hold 4 or more (preferably 6!) sheets of 5x7 per reel to fit tanks I already own.