I may not be qualified to answer this question completely, since I have only tray developed sheet film. I did spend a lot of time with roll film on reels though....
Anyway, possibly my experiences tray developing will be of some assistance.
First, if you shuffle a stack of negatives in a tray, you are not giving continuous agitation. I use staining developers and agitate once through the stack (regardless of how many sheets in the stack) once every 30 seconds for the first half of development and once per minute for the second half. No problem getting edge effects; I can see the Mackie lines clearly through the grain magnifier. Six sheets once through in 30 seconds means shuffling a sheet every five seconds. No problem with practice. I can do more than six at a time, but prefer to standardize on six or less just to keep the shuffling comfortable.
I agree that scratches can be avoided fairly easily by paying attention to your technique. But, as I am fond of saying, "the simplest tools require the greatest skill." A degree of dexterity and experience as well as attentiveness while processing is required. I haven't scratched a negative in almost two years, but I am still jubilant when I get through a 36-negative batch and they are all undamaged.
I use 5x7 deep trays (Paterson) with grooves, not ridges on the bottom. The smaller tray helps me to control the negatives while the grooves keep the back side of the film (I develop emulsion-side-up) from getting those fine scratches everyone is talking about. Plus, when I take a sheet from the bottom, I try not to drag it along the bottom of the tray.
Getting even development with tray development is dependent on agitation technique. If you push the sheets down into the developer too fast, the developer surges around the edges and you can get extra density there. A slow, even submersion though, gives really even negatives. I get really even cloudless skies with PMK. Again, it boils down to technique.
Tray developing is very flexible. I can add sheets as I go, starting with those with the longest times first, and do N+1, N and N-1 in the same batch. Trays require little time to set up, little storage space, and can be transported easily as well. I've done developing in hotel bathrooms more than once. And, in the time you take to load your holder, I can be well into the development.
The trade-off as I see it is, more simplicity and flexibility but with a greater requirement for skill and a slightly greater risk of damage if you aren't careful.
Best,
Doremus
Anyway, possibly my experiences tray developing will be of some assistance.
First, if you shuffle a stack of negatives in a tray, you are not giving continuous agitation. I use staining developers and agitate once through the stack (regardless of how many sheets in the stack) once every 30 seconds for the first half of development and once per minute for the second half. No problem getting edge effects; I can see the Mackie lines clearly through the grain magnifier. Six sheets once through in 30 seconds means shuffling a sheet every five seconds. No problem with practice. I can do more than six at a time, but prefer to standardize on six or less just to keep the shuffling comfortable.
I agree that scratches can be avoided fairly easily by paying attention to your technique. But, as I am fond of saying, "the simplest tools require the greatest skill." A degree of dexterity and experience as well as attentiveness while processing is required. I haven't scratched a negative in almost two years, but I am still jubilant when I get through a 36-negative batch and they are all undamaged.
I use 5x7 deep trays (Paterson) with grooves, not ridges on the bottom. The smaller tray helps me to control the negatives while the grooves keep the back side of the film (I develop emulsion-side-up) from getting those fine scratches everyone is talking about. Plus, when I take a sheet from the bottom, I try not to drag it along the bottom of the tray.
Getting even development with tray development is dependent on agitation technique. If you push the sheets down into the developer too fast, the developer surges around the edges and you can get extra density there. A slow, even submersion though, gives really even negatives. I get really even cloudless skies with PMK. Again, it boils down to technique.
Tray developing is very flexible. I can add sheets as I go, starting with those with the longest times first, and do N+1, N and N-1 in the same batch. Trays require little time to set up, little storage space, and can be transported easily as well. I've done developing in hotel bathrooms more than once. And, in the time you take to load your holder, I can be well into the development.
The trade-off as I see it is, more simplicity and flexibility but with a greater requirement for skill and a slightly greater risk of damage if you aren't careful.
Best,
Doremus
