Starting to use BTZS

I have read through the 4th edition of BTZS several times and think this is the way to go.

I just ordered the 4X5 developing tube set and a 4X5 film test from the View Camera Store. My film of choice will be Ilford FP4+. Fred suggests using Ilford DDX as a developer. (BTW, I don't have a very good track record choosing, my last film choices have been Agfa 25 (120) and Agfa 100 (4X5) both gone).

Has anyone tried this film testing service? I am hoping it will give me enough information to start and then I can make adjustments for the variables (my lens, meter etc.)to get good results. I am going to stick with one film and developer and paper for 4X5 and try to make it work.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
John

John, you are making the right move. You will be extremely pleased with the results.

Bob

JHannon said:

I have read through the 4th edition of BTZS several times and think this is the way to go.

I just ordered the 4X5 developing tube set and a 4X5 film test from the View Camera Store. My film of choice will be Ilford FP4+. Fred suggests using Ilford DDX as a developer. (BTW, I don't have a very good track record choosing, my last film choices have been Agfa 25 (120) and Agfa 100 (4X5) both gone).

Has anyone tried this film testing service? I am hoping it will give me enough information to start and then I can make adjustments for the variables (my lens, meter etc.)to get good results. I am going to stick with one film and developer and paper for 4X5 and try to make it work.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
John

Click to expand...

JHannon said:

I have read through the 4th edition of BTZS several times and think this is the way to go.

I just ordered the 4X5 developing tube set and a 4X5 film test from the View Camera Store. My film of choice will be Ilford FP4+. Fred suggests using Ilford DDX as a developer. (BTW, I don't have a very good track record choosing, my last film choices have been Agfa 25 (120) and Agfa 100 (4X5) both gone).

Has anyone tried this film testing service? I am hoping it will give me enough information to start and then I can make adjustments for the variables (my lens, meter etc.)to get good results. I am going to stick with one film and developer and paper for 4X5 and try to make it work.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
John

Click to expand...

It would be very wise to stick with one film and developer, and even one paper for that matter, until you get a good feel of what the BTZS system can do for you.

I am a very big proponent of the BTZS system, and it is not because I like to test films and developers, but rather because it allows one to derive so much useful information with a minimum of testing. A person who understands BTZS and knows how to test can quite literally get more useful information in two hours of BTZS testing than they could in days of testing using the Zone system. Course, people who use the Zone system don't understand this, so why say more?

In any event, spend the time to make sure that you can repeat the results from your tests. In order to obtain the same results consistently it is necessary to follow consistent practice. If you pre-soak for the tests, continue to do so. Be consistent with temperature of development. If using tubes, always use the same amount of solution and maintain the same type of rotation in the water bath. If you have any questions about the quality of your water, mix your working solutions with distilled water, or at least purified water from the store. And test your own ability to repeat results. Such tests often are instructive in revealing flaws in our methodology.

Sandy

Sandy ... will the BTZS sheet film test kit also work for those using trays or other types of tanks when processing?

Thanks,
Rick

Rick Olson said:

Sandy ... will the BTZS sheet film test kit also work for those using trays or other types of tanks when processing?

Thanks,
Rick

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Yes it will, but some loss of precision is possible, perhaps even probable, if you do the testing in trays. Nothing beats rotary processing for consistet results and eveness of development.

One of the main reasons Phil Davis began using tubes in his workshops was because trays did not give as much precision as his system is capable of delivering.

However, for real life work you don't need absolute precision and there is no reason excellent negatives can not be obtained with tray processing. In fact, many really excellent photographers I know develop LF and ULF in trays so if that is how you like to develop it will work with BTZS.

Sandy

John, I process with trays and agitate every 3 minutes for 10 seconds with an initial agitation of 1 minute. But like was said, you need to be consistent. Do it the exact same way with regards to agitation method, dilution/temp/time and you should be good to go.

Thanks for all your comments. Another good thing about the tubes is that you can easily identify the negative that gets extra or less development. Also the lights can be on during the development part. I started out with trays but I seemed to scratch at least one negative in the trays.

I will keep things as consistent as I can, I am one of those crazy people that keeps both an exposure and darkroom log with notes on developing for each roll, etc.

I will let you know how it goes.

Regards,
John

John,
You're not crazy for doing that. I do that too. It has especially helped me with sheet film developing. If it works for you, then do it.

sanking said:

A person who understands BTZS and knows how to test can quite literally get more useful information in two hours of BTZS testing than they could in days of testing using the Zone system. Course, people who use the Zone system don't understand this, so why say more?

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Interesting point, as soon as I am ready to cash out some money and time to look into it, I'll go buy it on this website:

http://www.anseladams.com/product2.aspx?Product_ID=72

Cheers