WTB: Daylight tank for 4x5 developing

S

Sputty

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Hey,

Looking to buy a daylight tank for 4x5 developing - preferably a Nikkor 4x5, but anything else functional. Keen to process 4x5 at home in absence of a workable darkroom.

Contact me by PM for any items for sale or leads.

Cheers,
Jonathon
 
Check ebay...that's where I got mine...recently they've been fetching between $90-260...and are very rare...
Make sure all the parts are there...I have seen them go at lower prices when the "Film Band/Strap" is missing...correct spelling is "Nikor"...
 
i am a fan of the yankee a lot of people hate this tank . i have never had a bad negative come out of this tank and you can develop 12 sheets at once . something to consider and they are relatively inexpensive .
 
thetooth said:
i am a fan of the yankee a lot of people hate this tank . i have never had a bad negative come out of this tank and you can develop 12 sheets at once . something to consider and they are relatively inexpensive .
Click to expand...

Most people don't know the proper way to use this tank and as a result end up with bad negs. I to have used this tank for years with no problems whatsoever..
 
I had a Yankee years ago. The best part is that "rack" or "cage" that holds the film is adjustable, although not many people use some of those sizes anymore. 2.25x3.25, 3.25x4.25 and the metric sizes are pretty much history unless you cut your own film from larger sizes. The tank itself was easy to use.
 
The very best daylight tank to use is the Combi Plan.

It comes from Sweeden (I think?) and was sold in the US so finding one on eBay should not be too much of a problem. It prcesses 6 sheets of 4x5.

The tank fully seals nicely and so a proper inversioin agitation can be acheived without spilling chemical everywhere as would happen with the Yankee.

The Yankee and FR branded tanks work well but are what I call 'wet' tanks in that not having their inlet and pour openings sealed they can leak chemical during agitation. However the user soon develops the appropriate agitation method to minimise leakage.

The Nikor is good as is the Jobo system but with the latter I strongly recommend the use of their sheet loader. The Jobo reel can be loaded without this but it sometimes can be a little tricky until you get used to it.

I have used all of the above, and more, over the past 35 years with success. The choice boils down to which one you feel comfortable using.

One point I must bring up is the washing of the 4x5 neg. The Jobo and Combi have excellent 'in tank' wash systems but with the Yankee. Nikor, FR etc. the 'under the tap method' is usually employed and is not as efficient. I tend to be a bit picky on this area of the process being a photographic archivist by trade.

Regards
Peter
 
I have a combi plan and find it pretty good in spite of all the negatives (pun) I've read about it. I'ts a little slow to fill and drain and it does leak a little at times but over all I'm very satisfied with mine ... if I was doing a lot of 5x4 I'd consider another option because it does use a lot of solution for six negs ... just over a litre at a time!
 
Ask 10 people and you'll get 12 answers. Everyone has a "best" this or that.

Here's what I use. Is it the best? So far, for me, yes. I get very even development. I can develop all 3 formats that I use. Total cost was about $60.

Jobo made a tank that held adjustable reels for roll film and sheet film. The tank was sold under two numbers: 2551 and 2553. The tank and center column are the same. You want the cog lid. For 4x5 film, get 1 or 2 (the tank holds 2) 2509 or 2509n reels. If you also need to process roll film (35mm or 120/220), get 1 to 5 of the roll film reels. The tank holds 5 reels of 35mm and 3 reels of 120/220. The reels are nice in that you can load 2 rolls of 120 on the same reel. Or 1 roll of 220. You can also put 1 reel of 35mm, 1 reel of MF and 1 reel of 4x5 in the tank at the same time. How cool is that? Perfect for the two-bath developers. Or any film that you develop for the same time no matter which format.

For agitation, buy a Beseler or Uniroller motor base. $20 tops.

I develop a lot of film in Xtol 1:3 for 9 to 19 minutes with this set up. It works like a charm.

The only thing I have found that is better for 4x5 film is the Jobo 3010 Expert tank. It is easier to load than the 2509 reels. Totally uniform development. The best $125 I ever spent. It's worth a lot more than I paid for it.

Good luck.
 
hey Keith, where did you get your combi plan? I could only find them OS. I actually gave up on that idea and bought some old fashioned stainless steel hangers and using cut down 3 litre milk bottles as dip and dunk tanks. I might look into the jobo though, if my 5x4 phase pans out well.
Dont you just love processing at this hot time of year? I use three trays of ice cubes to cool my chemicals down to a usable 22 degrees, with the water coming out of the tap at 28. I cant wait till april.
 
Andrew Howes said:
hey Keith, where did you get your combi plan? I could only find them OS. I actually gave up on that idea and bought some old fashioned stainless steel hangers and using cut down 3 litre milk bottles as dip and dunk tanks. I might look into the jobo though, if my 5x4 phase pans out well.
Dont you just love processing at this hot time of year? I use three trays of ice cubes to cool my chemicals down to a usable 22 degrees, with the water coming out of the tap at 28. I cant wait till april.
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I was getting a film and chemical order from Freestyle and noticed they had them in stock so ordered one. Mind you, that was back before the Aussie dollar fell through the floor!

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/459809-Combi-Plan-T-4x5-Processing-Tank-with-Lid

They seem to have gone up a bit ... from memory I paid seventy something!
 
Sputty said:
Is the Yankee a daylight tank, or does it requires a darkroom?
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the yankee is a daylight tank . the trick with this tank is the agitation . just a slow rolling rocking motion . i extended my agitation times a little because the rocking motion is so slight .

loading the film holder might be the only tricky part just practice with a old negative or 2 and you will get the hang of it . this tank also works great for 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 film .

what ever you end up buying factor in a test batch or 2 to get the hang of what ever system you choose .
 
One point I must bring up is the washing of the 4x5 neg. The Jobo and Combi have excellent 'in tank' wash systems but with the Yankee. Nikor, FR etc. the 'under the tap method' is usually employed and is not as efficient. I tend to be a bit picky on this area of the process being a photographic archivist by trade.

Regards
Peter[/QUOTE]

on the washing end with the yankee tank . i bought a hose from paterson that attaches to your faucet . it really does a nice job of forcing the water to flow from the bottom up really creates a nice flow of water . there is also a fitting at the end that fits perfectly in the center cylinder of the 35 mm processing tanks to do the same ( works great for the 5 reel tank )
 
I read a lot of criticism of the Combi Plan over at the large format forum and hesitated to buy one initially. The top does leak a little ... but not that much really considering some of the descriptions I read in threads there.

For washing with mine I attach a hose to the bottom outlet and connect it to the tap. The funnel they supply for filling it is a bit dinky though and I made something else up that works a lot better ... I find the sheet holders very easy to load in the dark!
 
Al Kaplan said:
I had a Yankee years ago. The best part is that "rack" or "cage" that holds the film is adjustable, although not many people use some of those sizes anymore. 2.25x3.25, 3.25x4.25 and the metric sizes are pretty much history unless you cut your own film from larger sizes. The tank itself was easy to use.
Click to expand...

I have and use one now when I venture into 4x5 and 9x12 land (I haven't done 2 1/4 by 3 1/4 sheets for a while). I find it easy enough to use, including washing by ensuring the water gets to the bottom of the tank after the development cycle.

Someday I would like to try the Jobo, but haven't yet. The Yankee was a big enough step up from tray processing that I am still happy. :D
 
I must be lucky. I got great deals on my Jobo hardware. I didn't try anything else. No reason to try enything else now.
 
I have the jobo set up that Wayne describes...without the film guide for help.
I have to say, after some shaky practice sessions, I was able to get through the first time without error or leaks. I think that says something about the usability of the system.
 
the jobo system is nice . i could never make the investment for the system though . i think the yankee tank cost me like $12.00 and has not done me wrong yet also i needed something that would do 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 sheet film . one of these days i will snag one though .
 
Jobo stuff can be real cheap if you're in the right place at the right time.

Me: Jobo 2553/3 reels/2521 tank/2 lids - $17.00.
Friend: Jobo 2551 & lid - $8.00.

Doesn't the 2509 reel handle 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" film? It's adjustable.
 
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