The Jobo ATL-1000 has landed- advice please

After months of waiting, I now have bought a Jobo ATL-1000 primarily for processing E6, probably C-41 and may end up using it for B+W too. I have a load of questions relating to the B+W application, but for now, they will have to wait.

I have done some background reading which has brought up some points that need addressing. I am based in the UK and would appreciate advice on obtaining:

1. a suitable device for controlling water input temperature at 38 and 20 deg C. Current thinking thermostatic shower mixing device since I would like it plumbed in.
2. Digital thermometer to check above is accurate (doubt that my Jessops spirit one good enough)
3. pH meter so that I can adjust pH of second stage with Sodium Hydroxide/Sulphuric acid
4. In-line water filter
5. Glass/Plastic measuring cylinders
6. Storage bottles for chemicals (soon to mix own B+W dev)

Having just bought the processor and a stockpile of Velvia 50, funds are not exactly as available as I would have liked! Happy to think outside the box and get gear marketed at other activities such as Fish keeping etc which may well provide better value.

Also grateful for advice on whether to go 3 or 6 bath for the E6 and if any preference for manufacturer.

I have been advised to use 7:30 as std dev time for Fuji Velvia 50 (rather than 6:30), which I rate at ISO 40. Does this sound sensible?

Sorry that there are so many issues to resolve in one post.

For the thermometer a glass one can be very accurate. It may not be very fast but that's a different issue. If it was me I might consider a metal thermometer that is adjustable. Then get a good glass one to check the fast acting metal one. If you do get a digital then watch what the accuracy is. Many aren't very accurate.

Measuring? Patterson and Jobo both sell various kinds. The Jobo might even have space to hold the Jobos. New they're all over priced but can be found used.

For storage bottles. All I can suggest is take up drinking-)) You'll have plenty of bottles.

An update, since I have now run several batches of E6 through the machine.

Using Fotospeed 3 bath chemicals, the standard dev time seems correct using Velvia 50 at ISO40. This is when compared with identical exposed film which had been processed earlier by a pro-lab but to save cost, I had chosen not to get the other sheet processed. An advantage of 4x5!

There was a red/magenta cast in the first batch, so having bought a digital pH meter off that well known auction site, addition of NaOH to a pH of 12.5 (from 11.95) seems to have corrected this.

Other gear, was an aquarium Reverse Osmosis water filter with Deionisation unit again from epay. This is slow to produce the necessary water for washes etc which are stored in a Camping 25l tank. Kodak Digital Thermometer was bought used for £10. Caravan submersible Whale pump with 1/4 in jack plug into back of ATL1000 for water feed to unit. Aquarium micro pump in water tank provides agitation and the heater was from Nova. This tank arrangement means that I can easily process in several locations if necessary.

Did have some issues loading the 4x5 reel in correct slots, but am learning on this.

Next thing is to get the ATL working with Pyrocat. After the E6 backlog is cleared!

Baxter, I have processed quite a lot of 4x5 in Jobo reels and found that if I do 6 sheets on a reel, one sheet out of the six seemed to have uneven development. I first noticed this problem with vast expanses of one colour, like a sky or painted wall.

This was with C41, which is a shorter process, exactly ½ the time of E6. That may have had something to do with it, maybe. However, I found that by doing only 4 sheets on a reel I haven't had any more uneven development, in the last 10 years or so.

I use the outer and inner slots for all processing.

Are you using the film loader to help load the reels easily? If not, I suggest you think about it, it makes loading, a no fingers on the sheets situation.

Just remember to memorise the amount of clicks, as you turn the reel around!

Mick.

Sorry for delay in replying Mick and thankyou for passing on your experience. I am now able to load the reel easily, I knew I just needed to train myself.

I have been using all 6 slots and haven't experienced the problems you noted except on one or two of the early runs.

Here I discovered that Jobo have increased recommended fluid volumes from that which was in the manual that came with my machine! Now they say 270ml whereas the figure in my book is 160ml. I'd rounded this up to 200ml, but am now using 260ml if I do 5 sheets and a bit more if there are 6.

For 4 sheets I am using the outermost slots and have found that 200ml seems ok.

E6 backlog now clear. Iso-propyl Alcohol arrives tomorrow so that I can start the Pyrocat-HD adventure.

Baxter

160 for which tank and reel combo? That sounds like the single reel tank with one roll of 120 loaded on the outside of the reel.

http://www.jobo.com/joboint/products/2500tank.html#Technical Specifications

Nick

I said it was an old manual, perhaps the fluids have evaporated! It has the look from an authentic typewriter and non computer generated diagrams.

For the combo you mention, they say 125ml, and 160 for the 2502 with 6 sheets in a 2906N reel.

I have found the link for the ATL1500 which is the same machine but fitted with a more sophisticated timer/controller.

The 2509N reel is relatively new. I think about 10 years -)