35mm Film dev tanks: Patterson vs Jobo?

[Bosk]

This is why I love this forum.

A day later, and 19 responses with all of them being of the intelligent, informative kind - and to think I was worried no-one would bother answering!

You guys are THE BEST. 😀

 

[payasam]

Could we, um, invert "Patterson" and "Nikor", please? Or else go the whole hog and speak of "Jobbo"?

 

[-vin-]

have two pattersons, and both leak... 🙁

 

[wgerrard]

Haven't used Jobo but my Patterson tank is just fine. You need to be sure the lid is sealed correctly. That may take few practice runs. ('Course, I just might be clumsy.)

After reading a thread here, I bought two Hewes steel reels. Been practicing with them, but find that I load them improperly about one-third of the time. Frustrating.

Plastic may crack if dropped, and a steel reel may dent so much you can't put the lid on. So it's a tradeoff.

 

[venchka]

I find Paterson reels easier to load. I find Jobo tanks on a Uniroller motor base far easier to develop with. I curse the Jobo reels while loading them. I grin when it's time to develop. so, Jobo reels & tanks for me.

Paterson for stand developing in Rodinal.

Jobo tanks use WAY too much chemistry for inversion or stand development.

I have a Paterson clone tank & reels. Beseler brand made in Spain. Looks just like the Arista kit from Freestyle. It's the best of the lot among my Paterson style tanks & reels. Second best tank is the old style Paterson with the small grey lid. I really don't like the latest style Paterson tank. That's just me.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Could we, um, invert "Patterson" and "Nikor", please? Or else go the whole hog and speak of "Jobbo"?

No, I think that when it comes to tanks, Nikor is Nikor, not Nikkor as in lenses.

I could be wrong. But to the best of my recollection, you're dead [w]right about Pa[t]terson.

Cheers,

R.

 

[robert blu]

since a few months age I re-started to develop my B&W films I use a (very) old Paterson tank which my father used when I was a child (i m 60 now!). But I also bought a new one (paterson). Unfortunately it is not easy to find them in shops today, in Italy.
robert

 

[John Robertson]

I have Paterson and Jobo tanks, even stevens in most things but the Jobo uses much less chemical. A point worth checking out, could save money in the long run.

 

[JPSuisse]

I've used both, but prefer the Jobo by a large margin.

As a beginner, I found it much easier to thread the film in the reel on the Jobo.

With regards to pouring, I really didn't NOTICE any difference. But, maybe that's because I'm so traumatized by the feeding of the film into the spool that I just don't notice that part yet.

JP

 

[thomasw_]

I have both but I use the Jobo all the time. Better quality design. I use the Hewes-Jobo Stainless Steel reels that are designed for use with the Jobo 1500 series plastic tanks; they work like a charm. It is great using the stainless hewes-jobo reels because you can reload them when damp, the loading itself is very positive, and it is way more simple to measure out chemistry for plastic tanks than for the stainless tanks, as you can do everything in measures of 250mL/roll.

 

[newspaperguy]

Late post, but I thought I'd mention that I've used the same Nikor tanks since the 1960s. Would that everything photographic would have that longevity 🙂

(And no CLA either.)

 

[Soeren]

Well back in 2007 when this thread started Id say Paterson, but now Im not so sure. The Paterson reels feel more sturdy but I have had trouble loading them at times and had to clean them thoroughly before getting them to work properly again. I have one 5reel and two 2reel tanks. Now I use Jobo as well and havea 2 reel and a 5 reel from the 1500 series and a 2840 I mainly use for sheet film 9X12cm, 4X5" and 13X18cm. The jobo roll film reels are more flimsy than the Paterson but simpler and easier to load, the jobo system is modular meaning the funnel, cup and centerposts are interchangeable and you can use the different compinations for different developing tasks. Today Id say jobo but Paterson is a close second.
Best regards

 

[arseniii]

Never used Jobo hence voted Paterson. Don't really like them much. These film loading spoons are pain in the butt to use, never managed to learn to load easily. Should probably try Jobo one day.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

I use JOBO, Johnson (4x5) and stainless steel tanks in my personal darkroom.

The JOBOs are the old 1000 series ( bought in the '70s) along with a few newer series of theirs. The stainless are just as old.

At work we use Patterson.

I am comfortable using all types of tanks but don't forget I've been hand processing black and white for over 37 years so I have had time to become familiar with the little quirks each make/model has.

With regards robustness - well JOBO and Patterson are tuff and stainless goes without saying. As I said, I have had JOBO since the '70s.

There is no 'best' but more of what you feel comfortable with.

Try each and decide.

Regards
Peter

 

[gilpen123]

I used Paterson system 4 tanks 2&3 reel capacity. However, Paterson reels are not that easy to use, I can swear that Samigon reels are so far the easiest with both 35 and 120. Samigon reel is available at BH Photo. I would buy a small hairdryer to make sure that the reels are totally dry before reloading.

 

[micromontenegro]

Nikor all the way! (For me)!

 

[Vincent.G]

For the Paterson universal, it takes 2 reels. Say if I am developing just one roll of film, must the other empty reel be fitted in as well?

 

[Bingley]

For the Paterson universal, it takes 2 reels. Say if I am developing just one roll of film, must the other empty reel be fitted in as well?

I put two reels in my Paterson 2-reel tank even if I'm only developing one roll of film; I also put in enough developer to fill up the 600 ml tank. I read somewhere that it's better to do it this way, but I can't recall why off hand.

 

[Vincent.G]

I put two reels in my Paterson 2-reel tank even if I'm only developing one roll of film; I also put in enough developer to fill up the 600 ml tank. I read somewhere that it's better to do it this way, but I can't recall why off hand.

I have just bought the 2 roll universal tank but has not used it yet. It's my first go at developing too. Isn't it printed on the tank that for one 35mm roll just use 290ml? and 580ml for 2 rolls? But there is no instruction on whether both reels must be placed onto the centre column even if developing just one roll. Just want to make sure before I use it.

 

[wgerrard]

I have just bought the 2 roll universal tank... there is no instruction on whether both reels must be placed onto the centre column even if developing just one roll. Just want to make sure before I use it.

The reason for adding a second empty reel is to hold the first reel in place. That may or may not be necessary. I routinely use a two-reel Patterson tank with one reel. To be certain, test your setup with plain water and a single reel. If you hear the reel bouncing around, you'll need to add the second reel.