SP-445 film developing tank for 4x5

Mike Bates · Apr 25, 2017

I love mine. The new style film holders work great for me. I get very even development.

I get no leakage at all on inversion. Just remember to give the sides a bit of a squeeze while you are screwing on the second cap. You don't have to get all he-man death grip, just enough to flex the sides in slightly to create a bit of negative air pressure inside with the cap sealed.

Arklatexian · Apr 26, 2017

filmamigo said:
As I say, I never actually used a Yankee tank. But this is a typical thread about them -- folks suggesting they get uneven development being the biggest problem, and secondly taking quite a volume of developer.

http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-film-processing-forum/00F5ss

When I developed 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 films in the Yankee or FR (sheet film tanks), every thing was fine. However with 4x5 in either tank, I too got uneven development. I don't believe in "skimping" on developer so filled the tank up for both film sizes. Still got uneven developing with 4x5. This new tank looks good......Regards!

petersandford · May 3, 2017

Well I'm one happy bunny. My Sp-445 arrived 10 minutes ago, can't wait to try it out

Just some random information for people in the UK, my custom fee was £16.04 VAT and then £8.00 RM handling charge so £24.04 @ £1.28 - $1.

Troy Grilli · May 28, 2017

I'm just going to join the choir in preaching about how great this tank is! It truly is awesome. Easy to load in my changing bag and leak free when you squeeze the air out. I was developing using the Taco method in a Patterson tank and even though I got even development, it would mess up one corner of every negative. These negatives are flawless and I couldn't be happier!

toulcaz31 · Jun 12, 2017

Glad to see the positive feedbacks on the 4x5 version, I have just backed their project to release an 8x10 version.

Dead Link Removed

spencerzidarich · Dec 4, 2017

Would like to reopen this thread up with a question—

Has anyone had an experience where the polyester base of the film (non-emulsion side) shows a ghosting of the shape of the holder? I have the second iteration of the film holders which are essentially one giant, open rectangle with a single bar down the middle. I've attached pictures for reference. Obviously this is really irritating and I'm hoping it doesn't show up during digitization.

Is there any way for me to clean this off? It seems to have a bit of dimensionality, so I am mostly curious if a simple Edwal film cleaner would do the trick or not. Hopefully I don't have to rewash it. Any thoughts?

Thanks a million!

Fraunhofer · Dec 4, 2017

Yes, I do see these "ghosts" too, on a regular basis. They do however not show using traditional dark room printing, that is neither in contact printing nor in enlarged silver gelatins prints. I have never scanned them, so I can't really say what happens there.

spencerzidarich · Dec 4, 2017

@Fraunhofer here's a theory...do you do a pre-wet on your film? I wonder if this is causing too much swelling prior to development which therefore causes the film to make more contact with the holder during development.

John Earley · Dec 5, 2017

Back when I was shooting 4x5 I used a Yankee tank. It's one of the reasons I quit shooting B&W 4x5 since it used huge quantities of developer for just a few sheets of film. A Beseler enlarger that's needs some structural integrity is the other reason. I've been exposing paper negs in my 9x12 cameras but they are tray developed, scanned and inverted. Now that I've retired and have time to get back into using sheet film I decided to try an different way of developing sheet. I just ordered an SP-445 and for the near future I'll develop and scan them. Rebuilding my old 4x5 enlarger is farther in the future but possible.

Pioneer · Dec 5, 2017

I have been using mine to develop paper as well. Seems to work just fine.

Fraunhofer · Dec 5, 2017

spencerzidarich said:
@Fraunhofer here's a theory...do you do a pre-wet on your film? I wonder if this is causing too much swelling prior to development which therefore causes the film to make more contact with the holder during development.

I sometimes do a pre soak and sometimes not. I have not noticed a correlation.

Troy Grilli · Dec 10, 2017

Are you doing a sufficient enough pre-wash? I've never had these show up, but I wash until the water runs clear. Perhaps this is just some of the backing that was not washed off thoroughly?

peter k. · Dec 17, 2017

Purchased this developing tank, and it just arrived yesterday, excited in using it, and searching the web noticed today that there is a new film holder design.
With the older type, second type, not solid plastic, but with the single center support as in post #34, has anyone had any trouble with these, or have notice any warping of their film holders?
Or had one break?
It looks like the newer ones with three center supports would be less fragile and stronger,.
It seems that this is a relatively new addition to the SP-445, as the one we received as the single center support, so would like some feedback before we use it.
thanks.. p

eric antonio · Jan 3, 2018

I've processed B&W film professionally (with "inspection" too!). All formats, in tanks, small tanks, jobo, yankee, welder's tubes, etc. The sp445 is THE BEST DARN 4X5 FILM PROCESSING I've ever used! Sure it can only do 4 sheets but I don't do anymore than that anyway. I'll get another one if I know I have to do more.

SP-445 film developing tank for 4x5

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