alwang wrote:
Makten, what\'s your kit/process look like for developing B&W 4x5? I\'ve been thinking about getting into this, but it looks like most were recommending a Combi Plan as a 4x5 daylight tank, and that\'s now been discontinued. Are there other good options, or would I need to mess with trays?
The Combiplan is great if you can find one. Though it does use a lot of chemicals if you are only developing single sheets at a time. It also leaks a tad while inverting which annoys some people (not me). Great even development though. A wanted add on largeformatforums may get you a used one.
I\'d personally recommend BTZS tubes. They use an incredibly small amount of chemicals, they are cheap, and they give even development. I load it in the bathroom day or night and am good to go. I have 3 caps which makes it easier for C-41 developing and 2 bath developing. http://www.viewcamerastore.com/servlet/the-70/BTZS-Film-Tube-Cap/Detail
I\'ve also done stand development to great success with the 4x5 tube by have a few hundred ml of my Rodinal 1:100 set up - dumping it in quickly and putting the cap on extremely quick and then agitating vigorously for a minute. The initial agitation is most crucial for even development and even more so with stand. After the minute I stand the tube upright, take the cap off, and top off the developer to ensure it is 100% covering the film. Fun stuff .
I had very little success with trays. Agitation technique was difficult for me and results were poor with very uneven development. It also forced me to develop in the dark at night instead of being able to lounge around my PC or whatever. Uneven development went away the first time I used my Combiplan and BTZS tubes. The only time I\'ve had uneven development with either of those methods was my first time trying divided pyro 2 bath. I didn\'t use photoflo in the first bath and didn\'t agitate correctly.
The Yankee 4x5 tank gets generally poor reviews.
Jul 15, 2012 at 10:00 PM
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