XTOL + Automatic processing

jejes · 2025-10-24T14:07:25-0400

Hello, i want to standarize processing for XTOL with Noritsu V30. Until now i was doing manually every roll searching his time. Is there a way to process for example all 100iso at one time? I will suppose that it's not fair becasue the silver content of each film determines time. I mean, APX is one time, and Foma100 is another.

How do you batch develop this?

Thank You

loccdor · 2025-10-24T15:24:47-0400

Most likely for films within 30sec - 1 minute of each other, grouping them together, erring on the side of over-development.

I've done similar in my own personal photography: when I have a bunch of different films, seeing which have similar development times that I can group in my 3 reel Paterson tank.

It's not that much related to film speed, you need to compare the times.

Depending on what volume of film you process, this individuation can add significantly to your cost by requiring more batches than you would otherwise need, which is why sometimes B&W development has a higher charge than C-41, even though the chemicals are generally cheaper.

koraks · 2025-10-24T15:31:11-0400

loccdor said:
Most likely for films within 30sec - 1 minute of each other, grouping them together, erring on the side of over-development.

This. Ignore the film speed; look for films that have similar development times and process them together. Everything that's within 3 minutes of each other can go in the same batch. Is it ideal/perfect? No. But it'll likely be good enough and as long as you deliver negatives that are free of streaks, dust & scratches, I bet that nobody would even notice.

jejes · 2025-10-25T01:27:49-0400

Yes, i will do like that. Averaging times within a range of 2-2:30 min and correcting in computer

mshchem · 2025-10-25T01:44:27-0400

When in doubt 8 minutes at 20°C, in stock XTOL continuous agitation. (Jobo)

I often look up the exact time after I start processing, my default timer setting is 8 minutes, I adjust it as required. Most of the time 8 minutes works fine.

npl · 2025-10-25T08:39:18-0400

mshchem said:
When in doubt 8 minutes at 20°C, in stock XTOL continuous agitation. (Jobo)

I often look up the exact time after I start processing, my default timer setting is 8 minutes, I adjust it as required. Most of the time 8 minutes works fine.

Looking at the times for a few common films, 8min is not a bad average for intermittent agitation, but maybe a bit less (-15% ?) for continuous ?

We should note that 8min continuous will definitely overdevelloped some film, like fomapan 100 (the time is 5-6min for XTOL stock with intermittent agitation according to Foma datasheet).

I understand OP's desire to streamline things, but honestly as a consumer I would assume that looking up the right dev time is part of the service. Maybe a middle-of-the-road solution is to create lists of films that can or cannot be developed together with whatever average time OP will end up choosing, and process the latter separately.

mshchem · 2025-10-25T11:16:29-0400

NPL you make a good point here.

The Noritsu V30 is a dedicated C-41RA film processor, are you trying to process black and white at 100°F ?

jejes · 2025-10-25T15:34:44-0400

mshchem said:
NPL you make a good point here.

The Noritsu V30 is a dedicated C-41RA film processor, are you trying to process black and white at 100°F ?

V30 converted to B/W 20º and time adjustable

XTOL + Automatic processing

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