Gast
Hello photography enthusiasts!
I’d like to start developing my films using a Jobo processor. The developers I use are F09, A49 and ID11. Can anyone help me? What is the minimum quantity required per film? What about the development times? Are Efke 35mm and roll films suitable for rotary development? What do you think of the EFKE films (35mm/roll 100 and 25) for portrait and nude photography?
At the moment I’m using Fuji Acros and Agfa APX 100.
Regards, Franz
zensusa
Hello Franz,
I can provide you with practical advice regarding your questions about Jobo processing, as I have been working exclusively with Jobo/Rotation and the R09 (F09) for years, as well as occasionally, depending on the objective and the film, with the Cube SX and LP SuperGrain (in earlier years I also used XTol and Agfa Rodinal).
Firstly, a note on the minimum volume: stick to Jobo’s technical data sheets; the information listed there is correct. For example, you can develop two roll films (both films are wound onto a single spiral) in the ‘small Jobo tank’ (Tank System 2500) using 270 ml. You can develop 1 roll film (after folding in the small red stop clip on the spiral so that the film can only occupy the outer coils of the spiral!!) with 170 ml.
As for 35mm films, you must pack at least two 35mm films into the “small tank”, and they are loaded onto two spirals. The developer volume is also 270 ml. Developing just one 35mm film, i.e. just one spiral, means that you would still need to use 270 ml. In other words, with 35mm film, you must not use less than 270 ml!! – otherwise you’ll end up with ruined film!
As regards development times, you should generally bear the following in mind: It is important to keep the times consistent, so you should generally develop at 24 degrees, measured in the water jacket of the tank. Remember that the temperature in the chemical tanks takes a little longer to reach the selected temperature. Only start development once all liquids have reached the preselected temperature!
- Compared to agitation development (regardless of the rhythm), rotation requires approximately 10 to 15% less development time. To convert the time from 20°C (as is usually specified for agitation development) to 24°C, or another temperature, you can use the “Ilford temperature list” **. (You’ll probably find this on the Ilford website under technical instructions).
As I also work with Efke roll and sheet films (25 and 100), I can assure you that you can process all Efke films in the rotary processor without any problems; you just need to bear a few things in mind: pre-soak the films for 2 minutes at the same temperature; Add a stabiliser to the stop bath or fixer; if you’re using vinegar, the stop bath should be a 2 per cent solution based on 60 per cent vinegar. i.e., 1 part vinegar stop bath to 30 parts water (this will not cause the film emulsion to dissolve, as is often described in forums) and, right at the end, a good wetting agent (I recommend the one from LP; it has worked very well for me, better than Tetenal’s wetting agent); do not wipe the films dry, but let them dry ‘wet’ (no hot air!).
Right, that’s it. By the way, if you send me an email, I can send you the ‘Ilford temperature list’ as a PDF file.
Oh yes, the Efke 25 and 100 have the following times in R09, 1:40 at a gamma of approx. 0.65 (refers to roll and sheet films, but should also be roughly correct for 35mm):
Efke 25, 24°C agitation with 2 mins pre-rinse, 4 mins development.
Efke 100, 24°C rotation with 2 mins pre-rinse, 9 mins development.
The Agfa 100 APX takes 7.15 minutes/seconds to develop, and you can develop both the Fuji Acros 100 and the 400 Neopan in 5.15 minutes/seconds each. If you’ve achieved correct exposure and all shooting conditions were right (i.e. subject contrast and lighting conditions were neither too high nor too flat), you should end up with negatives that develop well on Classic Arts paper (warm tone) with a gradient of 2 to 3.
Right, that’s it for now. I wish you every success.
Until then
Lo van de Renne
Gast
Hi Franz,
I fully agree with the reply above. I’ve been working mainly with Xtol and TriX for years.
You do need to pay attention to the dilution. The volumes specified by Jobo don’t tell you anything about the concentration!
In the rotary processor, I use Xtol neat or at a maximum of 1+1. At 1+1, I don’t fill the tins quite to the brim. It’s actually quite simple – just always bear in mind how much chemical (!) is needed, and not just how much liquid.
I always find the best data at www.digitaltruth.com. As a first guide, the values there work quite well for the rotary processor too, if you run it for 2 minutes longer – that also compensates for the slightly shorter development time (due to the constant movement). :(
Good luck
Marc
