SP-645? What's the interest level in processing more than four sheets of 4x5.

[Donald Qualls]

What I would be in the market for is a 7"X5" version that holds 4 sheets at a time , or even just 2 sheets .

The SP-810 will process two sheets of 5x7 (or 7x5, if that's what you have) -- or four sheets of 4x5, or a single 8x10. Because of the way it loads, it's also easier to use for things like prints -- it essentially replaces the Paterson Orbital with a simpler, less costly device that does the same job.

 

[neilt3]

The SP-810 will process two sheets of 5x7 (or 7x5, if that's what you have) -- or four sheets of 4x5, or a single 8x10. Because of the way it loads, it's also easier to use for things like prints -- it essentially replaces the Paterson Orbital with a simpler, less costly device that does the same job.

I already have the Patterson Orbital developer with both the standard base and the motorised one , I payed about third of the price for the whole setup than the retail price of the SP-810 , that was a few years ago though .
Likewise that will do one 10x8 , two 7x5 or four 5x4 sheets of film .
There's times when I want to develop more than two sheets at a time of 7x5 as having free time is my problem .
That's where one that holds more would be handy for me .
I'll most likely be buying one of the B&W King 7x5 developing tanks that holds six sheets at a time , so the options are their .

 

[grat]

Likewise that will do one 10x8 , two 7x5 or four 5x4 sheets of film .
There's times when I want to develop more than two sheets at a time of 7x5 as having free time is my problem .

I'd think you'd be more interested in an SP-108 or SP-454, anyway.

 

[neilt3]

I'd think you'd be more interested in an SP-108 or SP-454, anyway.

Why ?

I have a Patterson Orbital developer which does everything the SP-108 does , without having to spend another £180 .
If I hadn't already got the Patterson years ago , I would definitely have bought the SP-108 when it came out though .

I have several HP Combi-Plan's and a Jobo 2509N ,( I prefer the combi-Plan ) both of which will develop up to 6 sheets of 5x4 at a time .


Please explain how either the SP-108 or SP-454 will enable me to develop 4 or 6 sheets of 7x5 film in each session .
Cheers .

I'm considering getting the SP-454 to develop my Rollei Infrared , as I often have only a few sheets of that to do where 1 litre of developer is a bit of a waste , it might hold the film a bit better ( than the combi-plan) as the sheets are slightly undersized .

With my normal B&W film I always have quite a few to develop , so the combi-plans are ideal .

 

[grat]

Sorry, was making a joke about all your film references being WxH (common in Europe, especially England) vs HxW (more common in the US).

Apparently my humor-fu was weak.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

@tim48v I have just received the SP-445, solid all around so am happy already.

Looking at the holders, how about making holders for 6.5x9 cm? It seems total of 8 sheets would fit in, 4 per holder, 2 on each side with horizontal divider to keep one sheet over another.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Low volume holders like 6.5x9, 2x3, or 3x4 would probably be best done by 3D printing rather than creating another mold. Printed in ABS and acetone smoothed, they'd be as durable and chemical-resistant as the molded parts, and no more prone to scratching. Alternatively, it's probably a reasonable user mod to install dividers and stops in the molded 4x5 or 9x12 holders as with the original 9x12 conversion.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

@Donald Qualls I was asking the maker because I think 2x3 sheet film shooting still going on, film available. 3D printing is an option, for those who have one and can make the printing file. My main point here being there may be market for 2x3 (and related sizes) holders that fit into SP-445 tank.

 

[Donald Qualls]

@Witold What I was saying was that it might make sense for Stearman Press to 3D print a specialty film carrier like that. Yes, 2x3 and 6.5x9 films are still available, seems I've seen 3x4 recently as well. They aren't going to generate enough sales of film holders for SP-445 to justify making a mold -- but they might do enough to justify buying an Ender 3 and climbing the learning curve to print in ABS.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

@Witold What I was saying was that it might make sense for Stearman Press to 3D print a specialty film carrier like that. Yes, 2x3 and 6.5x9 films are still available, seems I've seen 3x4 recently as well. They aren't going to generate enough sales of film holders for SP-445 to justify making a mold -- but they might do enough to justify buying an Ender 3 and climbing the learning curve to print in ABS.

OK, agree there. Not going to tell Stearman how to go about it, and making own version is also possible, as I alluded to following my misunderstanding of your post, It can be all done in a more primitive way if one wants to go after it too. I just like this tank and immediately thought of smaller sheet film.

As a side note I just bought some 6.5 x 9 film, by pure mistake (same seller had 4x5 size, all original Agfa APX 100, but I ended up ordering the wrong size), so now I'm stuck looking (mad) for a Linhof Technika to shoot it with

 

[neilt3]

Sorry, was making a joke about all your film references being WxH (common in Europe, especially England) vs HxW (more common in the US).

Apparently my humor-fu was weak.

Ah , yes , I can see how easily that could confuse an American .
It's quite often they try to tell people from England how to speak English !
We get used to it and make allowances .

At least you know us foreigners speak differently than yourself , but still understand what we're saying !

 

[jp498]

I use 6-sheet combiplan tanks and if they were not already owned, Stearman ones would be a great choice. I routinely develop two tanks at once. I try to shoot multiples of 6 sheets to the extent possible.

 

[grat]

Ah , yes , I can see how easily that could confuse an American .

I theorize it's because you drive on the wrong side of the road, and have an unconscious need to justify it.

It's quite often they try to tell people from England how to speak English !

England is roughly the size of Louisiana (the state, not the purchase), and you have like 30 dialects. Which one is "English"?

Speaking of odd theories, I still have this idea that Welsh was created as a practical joke on the English.

We get used to it and make allowances .

At least you know us foreigners speak differently than yourself , but still understand what we're saying !

True story-- in high school it became apparent no matter how gifted I was at IT (my career of the past 30+ years), no one would take me seriously speaking like a backwoods redneck from North Florida. So, I taught myself to speak with a more neutral accent, primarily using Tom Baker and Jeremy Brett as examples. Not that I sound like either of them, it's just a remarkably non-descript "American" accent.

 

[BrianShaw]

Similar with me. As a teen I was teased out of a perfectly good Boston accent. I made a lot of money in the process... kids would give me a 25 cent piece if I would say it’s name: kwaaataaah.

 

[neilt3]

I theorize it's because you drive on the wrong side of the road, and have an unconscious need to justify it.

On a country lane you just take the shortest route , left or right , who cares ?
That's what your horns for !

England is roughly the size of Louisiana (the state, not the purchase), and you have like 30 dialects. Which one is "English"?

Any from the North West is acceptable ( except scouse !)

Speaking of odd theories, I still have this idea that Welsh was created as a practical joke on the English.

Nothing wrong with the Wales .
Lovely part of the country .
The Welsh just need to accept their actually the descendant's of the ancient Britons who fled England when the Romans invaded a couple of thousand of years ago .
I don't know where the natives went .

Me ? With blonde hair and blue eyes I'm probably descended from the Vikings when they came over , and I know I've Welsh blood in me , so go figure ..
I guess I'm one of the few true Brit's !

True story-- in high school it became apparent no matter how gifted I was at IT (my career of the past 30+ years), no one would take me seriously speaking like a backwoods redneck from North Florida. So, I taught myself to speak with a more neutral accent, primarily using Tom Baker and Jeremy Brett as examples. Not that I sound like either of them, it's just a remarkably non-descript "American" accent.

Red neck from the Southern states ? That explains a lot !

 

[grat]

Red neck from the Southern states ? That explains a lot !

See? There it is. The unconscious institutionalized disdain for people from the south. Not only does everyone assume I'm rude, crude and uncouth, they think I'm probably an idiot.

I don't mind the uncouth so much, I just wish they'd wait to meet me to form that opinion.

Speaking of uncouth, we're in serious danger of derailing a good thread about the SP-645, which I kind of triggered, so I should probably put the keyboard down, and back away slowly after apologizing to Tim.

Sorry Tim!!

 

[Kilgallb]

If I could do eight 4x5 in one litre it would be perfect for C41.

I wait until I have 32 sheets of colour before I mix my chemicals then use them up in one or two nights.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

@neilt3 @grat let's keep everything in perspective and not forget unquestionable contribution to our well being by "girls from Essex" and the "American blonds". Nether should we not mention the importance of Tippex and White Out, both having saved a lot lives.

Having lived in the US for a good part of my life and not that much in the UK, here is how I learned about above:

+++++
How do you know your secretary is from Essex?

You will notice Tippex marks all over computer screen.
+++++

It takes some doing to explain the joke to an American.

 

[Kilgallb]

What is the recommended way to agitate for colour or monochrome. Sorry for being off topic, I need a way to process as my drums leak.

 

[grat]

Tim's video(s) have a good method. I tend to grip from the side with my palm on the side of the tank, and my fingers pulling down the top, and do a right-left-right-left rotation of my hand-- not terribly fast, not terribly slow. Then bang it back down in case of bubbles.

The other lesson I've learned is when putting the top on, press down in the middle, not the ends. Gives a better seal.

 

[neilt3]

What is the recommended way to agitate for colour or monochrome. Sorry for being off topic, I need a way to process as my drums leak.

It depends which drum you have .
Some need to be "burled" to remove a bit if air to give a good deal .
The SP-454 you squeeze the sides slightly before sealing the cap or pressing the lid on .
The HP Combi-Plan you press the lid down in the centre a bit more before using the cap .
A Patterson tank you press the lid in the centre and allow the air to come out if the edge .

Reducing the pressure inside the tank helps give a firm seal on the lid .

With the Patterson tanks when taking the lid on to change chemicals , they do get some in the lip if the lid that tends to drip out when inverting .
When I'm developing I tend to stand the tanks on a plastic tray or the draining board of the sink .

Put some water in an empty tank and have a practice .

 

[neilt3]

See? There it is. The unconscious institutionalized disdain for people from the south. Not only does everyone assume I'm rude, crude and uncouth, they think I'm probably an idiot.

I don't mind the uncouth so much, I just wish they'd wait to meet me to form that opinion.

Speaking of uncouth, we're in serious danger of derailing a good thread about the SP-645, which I kind of triggered, so I should probably put the keyboard down, and back away slowly after apologizing to Tim.

Sorry Tim!!

Never change who or what you are .
If you have to create a false image to fit in with another group of people , I wouldn't want to have anything to do with them if they can't accept me for who I am .

@ Tim .
Indeed , keep up the good work .
It's great to have someone still developing new products for the film market .

 

[tim48v]

This thread did kind of get lost but no worries (as my British friends would say.)
Anyway, it looks like about a 50/50 split between "no" and "yes/maybe". So we'll keep looking into it; no real timeline. We've got other projects in the works and the release of our SP-Ultra 4LF developer took longer than we expected, so it would probably be middle of next year before it could be available.

 

[DoubleDarkPhotoArt]

I voted no, when coming home from a day of photography, I rarely have more than 4 sheets of film. If I do have more than four sheets, then I process either later the same day, or on another day; being retired one works like that. I have your original version, hasn't missed a beat.

If on a trip I can come home with up to 50+ sheets, I just take my time and develop when I'm ready. On my last long trip I took a week to develop my films, don't ask how long it took to print them; that's another story.

I can see the advantage of having the ability to develop 6 sheets, but 8 sheets would start to get rather heavy and/or ungainly with the amount of chemistry sloshing around inside.

Mick.

 

[tom williams]

Tim, I have two 445s and appreciate the convenience, compared to the tank-and-hanger routine that I used before. I'd still be sending C-41 negatives to labs if not for the chemical efficiency of the 445s. With the tank-and-hanger process, I can process negatives requiring a few different development times in a single run - not so with the enclosed tank concept. But developing in two 445 tanks simultaneously, each tank not necessarily for the same development time, partially offsets the flexibility of tank-and-hanger method. I could certainly find use for a 645, but it would enhance efficiency only on those days when I have only 5 or 6 (645 only) , or 9 or 10 (645 + 445), negatives to develop, and only 1 or 2 development times.


Good luck - and keep up the good work!