Developing sheet film

[Photo_Smith]

Here's the Orbital link:

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps how orbital.html

As already noted, the trick lies in finding 'em cheap nowadays.

Cheers,

R.

I found one for £2.50 a little while back-how much is the going rate?

 

[Roger Hicks]

I found one for £2.50 a little while back-how much is the going rate?

From my linked piece, "The Paterson Orbital is no longer available new but turns up frequently at camera fairs and on eBay. Prices vary wildly: anything from a fiver/7.50 euros/$10 or so to ten times as much, or more." I don't think prices have changed much, but you did very well at two pounds fifty.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

I found one for £2.50 a little while back-how much is the going rate?

Anywhere between what you paid and $140.00 when I was looking from memory!

I eventually stumbled over one new in box on Ebay for around seventy dollars and jumped on it because it was the cheapest one I'd seen in a couple of months of searching.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Anywhere between what you paid and $140.00 when I was looking from memory!

I eventually stumbled over one new in box on Ebay for around seventy dollars and jumped on it because it was the cheapest one I'd seen in a couple of months of searching.

Dear Keith,

Strewth!

And that's not a pseudo-Australian affectation: it was in common use in the UK when I was a boy. I believe it to be an abbreviation of "God's Truth!"

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

Dear Keith,

Strewth!

And that's not a pseudo-Australian affectation: it was in common use in the UK when I was a boy. I believe it to be an abbreviation of "God's Truth!"

Cheers,

R.

That's an Aussie expression I quite miss actually Roger ... don't hear it a lot now.

The 'F' word dominates ... sadly! 🙁

 

[Roger Hicks]

That's an Aussie expression I quite miss actually Roger ... don't hear it a lot now.

Dear Keith,

Gosh. Another cliché bites the dust. EVERYONE outside Australia knows that between "Strewth", "Bloke" and "Cobber", you only need about 10 other words in Strine. Of course this was largely due to the Adventures of Barry McKenzie in Privater Eye, which I've just learned was banned in collected form in Australia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_McKenzie

Cheers,

R.

 

[Keith]

Dear Keith,

Gosh. Another cliché bites the dust. EVERYONE outside Australia knows that between "Strewth", "Bloke" and "Cobber", you only need about 10 other words in Strine.

Cheers,

R.

And let's not overlook 'bewdy' 'bonzer' and 'avagoodweegend!' 😛

 

[Photo_Smith]

Anywhere between what you paid and $140.00 when I was looking from memory!

I eventually stumbled over one new in box on Ebay for around seventy dollars and jumped on it because it was the cheapest one I'd seen in a couple of months of searching.

Stone the crows....

 

[Kenj8246]

Before this thread digresses--as they seem to do 😀--into a syntax/vocabulary/colloquialism discussion, thanks for all your replies and suggestions. While I can get two sheets into a two-reel plastic tank without resorting to tricks, I'm pretty sure I've chosen the Mod54 gizmo. Looks like it might work with a minimum of fuss. Pricey but, then, it's just money, right? 🙂 Will let y'all know how I get on with it.

Kenny

 

[ruby.monkey]

Just be careful not to load the film in the wrong way round, or else it'll scratch the emulsion to buggery.

 

[Kenj8246]

Good tip. I sometimes have a fit getting a fingernail or something under the edge of the film in the holder to extract it; my hands are rather large and 'fat-fingered'. Guess I just haven't stumbled onto the right trick yet. 🙂

Kenny

 

[Roger Hicks]

Before this thread digresses--as they seem to do 😀--into a syntax/vocabulary/colloquialism discussion, thanks for all your replies and suggestions. While I can get two sheets into a two-reel plastic tank without resorting to tricks, I'm pretty sure I've chosen the Mod54 gizmo. Looks like it might work with a minimum of fuss. Pricey but, then, it's just money, right? 🙂 Will let y'all know how I get on with it.

Kenny

Dear Kenny,

With all the 6-sheet loaders I've used -- and I've tried several -- I find it safest to load and process just 4 sheets instead of 6. Yes, 6 is fine if you're careful, and the Mod 54 is easier than most, but I'd still go for batches of 4 rather than 6.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Good tip. I sometimes have a fit getting a fingernail or something under the edge of the film in the holder to extract it; my hands are rather large and 'fat-fingered'. Guess I just haven't stumbled onto the right trick yet. 🙂

Kenny

Dear Kenny,

Look for Linhof plate/film holders. They have a little arm to push the film out.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Kenj8246]

Dear Kenny,

...6 is fine if you're careful, and the Mod 54 is easier than most, but I'd still go for batches of 4 rather than 6.

Cheers,

R.

Care to share why? I think I can understand why but I'm curious as to your particular calculus....

 

[JohnTF]

I've know some rather obsessive friends who after exhaustive (one year) testing, gray cards, densitometers, etc., concluded the only even processing of sheet films was with a soft paint brush loaded with developer applied from one end.

I did say obsessive, right?

We used tray processing, with developers that required shorter times. We also used the big block tanks that took a lot of soup and processed a dozen sheets, probably in Dk60a, back in the day. Oh, and the dip tanks, I once had a stainless steel set with water bath for Ektachrome-- about two moves ago.

Roger, the Czechs copied the Linhof holders, for the next time you are having a pint in Prague. Found some NIB at Skoda Foto in the used department.

It used to be an adventure there, outfitted Zu with an entire darkroom, had a Taxi to the door, and Bob's your Uncle, she quickly had her own set up, Meopta 6x9 and the works, less than a Benjamin with tax and tip.

Used to have a lot of new and used Jobo kit, some still in storage if I decide to go back and soup some film.

Unfortunately, you don't see much darkroom gear at the shows, there is a current revival attempt at some rental space with classes downtown on Superior Ave. , Igor, myself, and a few others try to help them out when we see gear. If you see gear at a show now, it is often left in the room when the vendor departs without selling it.

Regards, John

 

[Roger Hicks]

Care to share why? I think I can understand why but I'm curious as to your particular calculus....

Much easier to avoid cross-threaded loading, scratching and touching. That's all.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JohnTF]

That's an Aussie expression I quite miss actually Roger ... don't hear it a lot now.

🙁

So that's what my pal was saying in Cleethorpes?

J

 

[KM-25]

I had a Mod54 insert for my Paterson tank when first experimenting, while it was ok, I had thin based films like Rollei IR400 come disloged and stick together and got streaks and unevenness now and then on other films. With gas at $4.00 a gallon, film at $1.25-$2.50 per sheet, I am amazed at how people try to cut corners here. I started getting really great and consistent results once I got a 3010 Expert Drum and used it on a cheap Beseler motor base.

I now have two 3010 drums and use them on a Jobo CPP2, incredible negs every time.

 

[Nokton48]

For thirty years I have used a Unicolor 8x10" Print Drum, and a Unicolor Uniroller. Develops four 4x5's, two 5x7's, or one 8x10. I also have an 11x14" Print Drum that will do two 8x10's, which I seldom use, but very nice to have. And a 16x20 Print Drum as well.

All of this has always worked well for me.