ADOX CMS 20 II sheet films 4x5

TiMo · 2012-06-07T06:57:16+00:00

Ein Frage an Mirko: Der ADOX CMS 20 II Planfilm 4x5 war in sehr beschränkter Stückzahl ohne große Vorankündigung im Shop und ist mittlerweile ausverkauft. W...

TiMo

A question for Mirko: The ADOX CMS 20 II 4x5 sheet film was available in the shop in very limited quantities without much advance notice and is now sold out. Will there be a restock, and will Adotech II also be available in larger packs? Best regards, Tim

MirkoBoeddecker

Hi Tim, Yes, the fact that there were two in the shop indicates that we can (and will) produce them now. ADOTECH will remain at this quantity. The reason is that we also bottle larger quantities in glass bottles, but would then have to take additional, costly measures to protect them from breakage during transport. It is therefore cheaper to fill two small glass bottles. Furthermore, we have to meet minimum order quantities for the glass bottles. Best regards, Mirko

TiMo

Thanks for your reply, Mirko. If you mix the Adotech II 1+29, you end up with 1.5 litres of developer. That’s exactly the amount that fits into a Jobo canister with a flat film spiral for six 4x5 negatives. Can I do three runs of six negatives each with the 1.5-litre batch, or will the developer not be able to handle that volume? I suppose I’d have to extend the processing times by 5–7% per run. Do you know yet when you’ll be able to stock the film again? Best regards, Tim

MirkoBoeddecker

Hi Tim, Here’s a bit more detail, so everyone can work it out for themselves: A 4x5-inch sheet film has a surface area of 0.0125 m². A 35mm film has a surface area of 0.06 m². This means you can develop about 4–5 times as many sheets of sheet film as 35mm films in the ADOTECH = 30 sheets. The problem arises with the capacity of the tank. You would need to run it four times. The first two times without extension. This is only possible with two tanks. The developer must not be contaminated with fixer. Best regards, Mirko

TiMo

Hi Mirko, I might be missing something here, but there are a few things I’m still not quite sure about.

The problem lies with the can’s capacity.

What’s the problem there?

You’d have to run it through four times. The first two times without a extension. That’s only possible with two tins. The developer mustn’t be a contaminant for fixer.

If I can develop 30 films, and there are 6 films per batch, I’d have to run it through five times. Why do I need a second canister? I’d just do several runs with one canister and clean it in between. Or carry on with the development on another day. Cheers, Tim

MirkoBoeddecker

Do you know yet when you’ll be able to show the film again?

Yes, since Friday ;-)

Or carry on with the development on another day.

But the set AL only lasts for a limited time. If you clean it thoroughly in between, that’s fine, of course. Best regards, Mirko

TiMo

Thanks for your reply. However, the film is currently still listed as 'sold out' in the shop. After five weeks, I was still able to use the AL effectively for a second development of a roll film, having prepared it in a plastic bottle with tap water, without protective gas, and stored at around 20 degrees. The development time was extended by 15% (as recommended in the instructions). Best regards Tim

MirkoBoeddecker

However, the film is currently still listed as "sold out" in the shop.

Strange, that’s not the case for me. I’m talking about the sheet film. The KBs are being produced on the new machine. The lamp blew straight away during the first signing. Now we have a ‘partially signed’ roll and are currently looking for the start of the signing. The unsigned films will then be sold at a special price. Once we’ve finished with that, we’ll first install a light sensor in the drum so that the machine stops in future if the marking light goes out :)

ThomasPauly

A question about roll film development: The instructions for the Adotech CMS II developer state: Development of 6 roll films of 120 film or 6 35mm films in 500 ml of working solution 1. Development of films 1 and 2: Pour 16.5 ml into the mixing vessel and top up to 500 ml with water at 20° or 24° C 2. Development of films 3 and 4: Pour 25 ml into the mixing vessel and top up to 500 ml with water at 20° or 24° C 3. Development of films 5 and 6: Add 50 ml to the mixing vessel and top up to 250 ml with water at 20°C or 24°C After the first and second development, top up the bottle with water to 50 ml again! Is it correct that the third round (i.e. for the 5th and 6th films) yields only 250 ml of working solution? I am not aware of any canister in which 250 ml of solution would be sufficient to develop roll films. In that case, the set offer (6 roll films + 50 ml developer concentrate) would not make much sense. Could this perhaps be a printing error? Incidentally, there are numerous sample photos on Flickr that give a fairly good idea of the tonal range of this material: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ADOX+CMS+20&f=hp. Best regards, Tepe

TiMo

Is it correct that in the third round (i.e. for the 5th and 6th films) only 250 ml of working solution remains?

That must also be 500 ml.

TiMo

Another question for Mirko: Do you have any tips for development using the Adotech II? I assume the processing time needs to be reduced by about 15% and that the speed is lower. Is there anything else to bear in mind, or is using this developer for development even a good idea? Best regards, Tim

MirkoBoeddecker

...or is rotation even worthwhile with this developer?

Probably not. The new ADOTECH II has improved highlight reproduction, but this comes at the cost of reduced sensitivity. The 20 ISO is already borderline, which is why we always specify 12 ISO as well. If you lose any of that in the rotation now, we’re slowly getting into the realm where the whole thing becomes impractical, as, for example, cameras can no longer be adjusted or the tripod becomes your best friend. Best regards, Mirko

TiMo

Thanks for the info, Mirko. I always shoot the CMS 120 at ISO 12 anyway, using a tripod. By the time I get to ISO 6 with the rotary development process, it hardly matters anymore. I’ll definitely include it in my next order of 4x5 film, and then it’s a case of ‘the proof is in the pudding’. Cheers, Tim