Development processors

[shadowfox]

I was thinking recently that it would be nice if I have some way to automate my B&W development.

Having been at it for a while, I am "done" playing around with developer/time/agitation variation and have settled with a standard.

So now it became pretty much just a step to get over with before I can print in the darkroom (which I much prefer to spend my limited time on).

Anyone here have experiences with some kind of automatic film processor that will enable me to just load the roll and wait until the film came out the other end fully developed and fixed? Preferably something much smaller than those Noritsu at minilabs, maybe even desktop size?

Brand and model would be useful even to start researching on.

 

[tlitody]

jobo ATL 1000 or 1500 but they don't make em anymore and parts would be problematic. Also they need plumbing in properly providing you can find a good one. They made bigger ones too but those two will do upto 4x5 and even 8 x10 if you use small 2500 print drums.

 

[shadowfox]

Thanks, that's a starter.
Anyone use the popular Jobo CPE for B&W?

Y'know I ought to ask this on APUG or Pnet.

 

[bolohead]

Check out the Phototherm Sidekick. They are still in production and serviced by the manufacturer.

 

[tlitody]

The CPE is not a load and leave it processor as you asked. You have to be there to make the chemical changes. Its benefit is that is has a tempered water bath and uses continuous rotary agitation which requires less chemistry than hand inversion method. For black and white there is not much point as it won't save you any time. But for colour it will keep everything at 38deg C which is a good thing.
The CP2 is a bit bigger but still requires manual changing of chemicals all be it easier if you have the lift but still no real time saving for black and white.
The ATL machines were very very good but if you can get something which is in current production then all the better.

 

[Fotohuis]

A CPA-2 with elevator. But best preformance is for C41.
For B&W I use this Heiland TAS processor:
http://www.fotohuisrovo.nl/documentatie/TAS_Flyer_D.pdf

Greetz,

Robert

 

[sevo]

The CPE is not a load and leave it processor as you asked.

The load-and-leave version would be the Jobo ATL series. NOT suitable for small scale use though, even for the smallest (ATL1500) - you need a fairly constant throughput, with at the very least one run of two films per day, or you'll have to set it up and disassemble it before and after each processing run (a matter of several hours and a calibration run or two). The CPE-2 is doubtlessly better for occasional use, being designed to be temporarily set up.

In general, rotary processors are the tool of choice for colour development, but not advisable for black and white, at least in medium and small format - the agitation pattern is very much anti-acutance, resulting in looks which are generally considered unpleasant, in particular in small format or on faster films.

 

[Fotohuis]

You have also the ATL 500-800 series, the last types from Jobo. For B&W you have limited options due to a high agitation but not impossible. A good choice for 35mm development is the CG-512/RLS developer. Ultra Fine Grain and at 24C.

Greetz,

Robert

 

[venchka]

Uniroller motor base & Jobo 2551 or 2553 tanks. At least you don't have to touch the tank during the various stages. You do have to dump and fill periodically. Simple. Silly cheap. Perfect for low volume use. Totally consistent. 5 rolls of 35mm or 6 rolls 120 or 12 sheets 4x5 per run. If you want to get really carried away, you can load 1 4x5 reel, 1 120 reel and 1 35mm reel at the same time.

 

[shadowfox]

Check out the Phototherm Sidekick. They are still in production and serviced by the manufacturer.

I read good things about this processor in APUG.
But they are not priced realistically. At least for non-lab film users like myself.

A CPA-2 with elevator. But best preformance is for C41.
For B&W I use this Heiland TAS processor:
http://www.fotohuisrovo.nl/documentatie/TAS_Flyer_D.pdf
Robert

Now that's quite intriguing, so you load the film and chemical and it'll agitate the tank for you?

Uniroller motor base & Jobo 2551 or 2553 tanks. At least you don't have to touch the tank during the various stages. You do have to dump and fill periodically. Simple. Silly cheap. Perfect for low volume use. Totally consistent. 5 rolls of 35mm or 6 rolls 120 or 12 sheets 4x5 per run. If you want to get really carried away, you can load 1 4x5 reel, 1 120 reel and 1 35mm reel at the same time.

I use 8x10 Uni-color tank for 4x5 up to 8x10 films. 300ml liquid only. It works great, really.

 

[tlitody]

The load-and-leave version would be the Jobo ATL series. NOT suitable for small scale use though, even for the smallest (ATL1500) - you need a fairly constant throughput, with at the very least one run of two films per day, or you'll have to set it up and disassemble it before and after each processing run (a matter of several hours and a calibration run or two). The CPE-2 is doubtlessly better for occasional use, being designed to be temporarily set up.

In general, rotary processors are the tool of choice for colour development, but not advisable for black and white, at least in medium and small format - the agitation pattern is very much anti-acutance, resulting in looks which are generally considered unpleasant, in particular in small format or on faster films.

There is no calibration routine except for determining development time. What you are suggesting is that the inbuilt heat sensors go off if not used. This is a rediculous idea. The ATL 1000 I used in a lab could be left without problems. The only thing you need to do is to put it through its self cleaning process to ensure there is no residual chemicals before leaving it to dry out.
And it is a perfectly suitable machine for small darkroom use. That is exactly what they were designed for.