RE: developing film negatives

Hi there
I would really recommend adding a prewash to the set. With that you can wet
the film evenly, preventing chemical streaks, and load the tray carefully,
without worrying about losing valuable developing time. I process everything
up to 11x14 w/o scratches or streaks with the prewash because it allows you
the freedom to be careful & take your time in starting the processing. It
only adds a minute after all the film is situated in the tray.
Try it in the daylight with some scrap film first... It really is quite easy
once you get the feel for it.
good luck!
andy

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pinhole-discussion@spitbite.org
[mailto:owner-pinhole-discussion@spitbite.org]On Behalf Of Gordon J.
Holtslander
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 12:05 AM
To: pinhole-discussion@spitbite.org
Subject: RE: [pinhole-discussion] developing film negatives

Hi:

People have used opaque tubes - ABS plastic
http://remarque.org/~tox/photography/juryrig/filmtubes.htm

 or commercially made btzs tubes
http://www.viewcamerastore.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_74&products_id=36
http://www.viewcamerastore.com/files/film_tubes.pdf

 or
even jobo processors for sheet film.
http://www.jobo-usa.com/products.htm

I used to shoot lots of 4x5 film with lens cameras (I confess). It is
not difficult to tray process a number of sheets at one time. This is the
cheapest way to process sheet film.

Its done in total darkness. You have to carefully lay everything out so
you can find things in the dark.

You need a timer with an audible alarm that can easily be turned on in the
dark. I usually used a gralab timer with a flourescent dial - nice to
know that the timer is working.

I usually used three trays, one for developer, one for stop and one for
fixer.

In the dark the film is pulled out of the holders and stacked so a single
sheet can easily be grabbed. One by one the sheets are placed in the
developer tray. Once all the sheets are in, the sheet on the bottom is
carfully pulled out and placed on the top of the stack and immersed. This
is repeated for the duration of development. Its necessary in order to
provide each sheet of film a fresh dose of unexpired developer.

This has to be done slowly and carefully - but its not difficult.

When the buzzer goes on the timer the stack is moved to the stop tray and
shuffled - and then to the fixer tray and shuffled again.

It sounds a little tedious, but I've developed 100's of sheet of 4x5 film
this way. Its a matter of having an appropriate timer, trays and
patience, to sit in the dark for 15 of 20 minutes. A counter top and stool
to sit on are essential. A radio helps - but one without any lights.

For pinhole cameras I use large format ortho film and tray process one
sheet at a time under safelight. If I could get cheap larger format
panchromatic film I'd use it with pinhole cameras.

Gord

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004, I Zarkov wrote:

> Brad,
> I've been doing pinhole camera photography for about 12 years now shooting
> 4x5" sheet film which I load into a Doran DayLight Sheet film developing
> tank. You can slip a dozen sheets into slots that can be adjusted down
from
> 4x5" to smaller sheet film sizes. It has a light baffle so that once the
> film is loaded into it and the 2 part lid in place all processing can be
> done in roomlight. It's the best! No standing in the dark, no floating
lids,
> just very convenient.
> Adorama has them for $25.95, their product description..."Made of Bakelite
> plastic. Accepts cut film sizes from 35mm to 4x5". Accommodates 12 sheets
at
> one time. Comes complete with individual sheet film loader. Also accepts
> film packs from 2 1/4x 3 1/4" to 4x5". I use 2 of them when I'm doing
batch
> processing. Couldn't work without them. Highly recommeded.
> Peter
> 'No commercial interest, yadda-yadda-yadda..." Premier also used to carry
> them.
>
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---------------------------------------------------------
Gordon J. Holtslander Dept. of Biology
holtsg@duke.usask.ca 112 Science Place
http://duke.usask.ca/~holtsg University of Saskatchewan
Tel (306) 966-4433 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Fax (306) 966-4461 Canada S7N 5E2
---------------------------------------------------------
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Received on Mon Mar 29 06:00:37 2004