developing 4x5 B&W negs

[papagene]

I'll toss in my vote for the HP Combi plan. I have been using it for about i7 years now with extremely few problems. I have only one tank and find it no bigger hassle than processing 120 film in stainless steel tanks.
Whatever method you decide on, have fun and remember 4x5 negs are a real pleasure to print.

gene

[Shangheye]

I started devloping my own 4x5 about two months ago. 25 sheets later. Not a single negative lost. I used the combiplan (three tanks and using them as dip and dunk tanks) I recommend you visit largeformatphotography.org, where a great article has been written on how to use them this way. You need a darkroom...but alternatively, use them the way they are meant to be used with the lid on as a day tank. Satisfation guaranteed. K

[lxdesign]

thanks for all the feedback... I am going to investigate this locally... see if there is a course or someone willing to teach. I am in Toronto. thanks,


David

[keithwms]

Just search "GTA" on the forum and you'll find a willing tutor or two or three.

[jeroldharter]

...
Also, for tray developing, I would recommend what is called a slosher . I have one for 4x5 that will hold up to 6 negatives at a time, each in an individual compartment. This allows varying the time used for development, you just add each negative, emulsion side up, at the required remaining time-- starting with the one that is to be processed the longest. Not as convenient as the JOBO drum and it requires a darkroom, but will give results comparable to the JOBO.

http://www.summitek.com/products.html

As you can see from the link, Peterson no longer sells the ones he made. However you can see what it looks like and they are not hard to make yourself.

That is right. His supply is all gone. You can buy the same thing but in a red color from photographers formulary.

For getting started as simply and cheaply as possible, but with a system that works well for a beginner (unlike trays alone), use the slosher in trays.

Slightly more complicated, but my preference, are BTZS tubes ($120) which are like a deconstructed Jobo 3006 and your hands are the motor base, i.e. you manually rotate the tubes in a water bath. You can control the temperature, develop each sheet in a run for an individualized time, easier to dry than a Jobo, and even use different developers for each sheet. Also the most economical with chemistry volumes.

The next most expensive is the Jobo drum with a motor base ($300+) but you don't have any means to control the temperature, need electricity, etc.

The most expensive option that many people use is a Jobo CPP processor (>$1000) which is very good but takes up a lot of space, minimal customer support (nowadays), a lot of fuss for small batches, can't control development time of individual sheets, etc.

[butterfly]

I use this tank with pleasing results. You do need to presoak the film for 2 minutes in water to ensure even development, and allow for the emptying and filling time, which is a bit slow.

As you get more familiar with the use of the tank the better the results (same can be said of any photographic piece of hardware).

I still get a buzz each time I lift off the tank lid after fixing to see what I've got - very rewarding (most of the time!)

Good luck.

Steve