[LargeFormat] Processing 4X5 recommandations.

Don Feinberg largeformat@f32.net
Sun Dec 30 13:14:00 2001


So far I've stayed out of this, but my experience is like Anchell's.

I have one bakelite "daylight" tank (from US Navy WW2!) which holds 58 oz of
developer with 12 4x5 sheets.  This works well.   My LF Nikor tank  holds 36
oz with 12 sheets.   IMHO, that just about "makes it", especially when I'm
using 2-solution diluted catechol (my usual developer).  I also have a 4x5
FR tank which also requires about 55 oz -- but the results aren't as uniform
as they are from the either the Navy tank or the Nikor.

Yeah, this does uses a lot of chemical ... especially if you only have say 8
or 9 sheet.  But,  I'd make two comments:

1) I put a huge amount of time and labor into going out and shooting those
negatives.  I go out and shlep the LF gear, the tripod, 25 fim holders,
lenses, ... over Hell's half acre!

2) I know that I'm going to wind up putting in a huge amount of time labor
into printing (the best of) those negatives.

So why on Earth should I even consider to save $1 or $2 on chemicals per 12
sheets?  Are you doing your own darkroom work to "save money" (ha ha ho ho)
or to product results you can't obtain anywhere else?  I know why I'm in the
darkroom :-) :-)

Don Feinberg
donf@cybernex.net

>
> In "The Film Developing Book" Anchell and Troop have this to say about
> volumes of developer:
>
>
> "Although it is true, As Kodak claims, that 100 ml of undiluted D-76 is
> sufficient to develop 8x10 inches of film. it may not always be enoguh
> to develop the film to its fullest potiental. The amount of solution
> required to cover the film's surface should not be confused with the
> amount of developer required to fully develop a roll of film.
>
> To maintain quality and consistency use the following volumes for each
> 8x10 inches of film, regardless of processing method--even rotary
processing.
>
> Undilute developers--at least 250 mil per 8x10 sheet
> dilute developers-- at least 500ml (d-76 1:1, rodinal 1:25 to 1:50)
> very dilute developers-- 1 liter D-76 1:3, (Rodinal 1:100 fx2 1;1 HC-110
> 1:90 form concentrate)"
>
> These amount may sound extreme to some. but saving on developer is penny
> wise and pound foolish. Do not try to make photography cost effective by
> skimping on film developer. You will never be able to maintain quality
> and consistency, even if the results appear adequate."
>
>
>
> 8x10 is equivelent to 4 (4x5) 2(5x7) 1(120) or (1) 35mm x36xp
>
>
> To extrapolate from the data... If those 4x5 Nikor carousel reels use a
> standard 16 oz tank ( 1/2 liter or 500ml) then you can process 8 sheets
> of undiluted, 4 sheets of diluted or 1 sheet of very diluted.
>
> A yankee tank takes 55 oz I believe,
>
> 55oz of undiluted devloper will handle  26 sheets
>
> 55 oz of diluted  developer will handle 13 sheets
>
> 55 oz of very diluted developer will handle 6.5 sheets.
>
>
>
>
> So if you are into stand developement, very diluted developers, the deep
> tanks are the only way to go. The smaller tanks seem to starve the film,
> at least in Anchell's opinion.
>
>
> Les
>
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