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I'm getting ready to fire up my darkroom after being "out of it" for a year, and I notice that paper choices have narrowed a bit. And maybe the cost is up a little? I'm being sarcastic. But...

Sorry for such a late post, but if you're really serious about good results from marked contraction development why not think about so-called semi-stand development? PMK wouldn't be your best...

This happened to me once, too. I had used Pyrocat HD with great success on HP5+ and FP4 LF film, and once I used it on 5 120 rolls of Ilford Delta 400 -- all clear! Pretty spooky. Never did figure...

I use the 4x5 and 5x7 format, and interestingly was disappointed when I used TMY in 4x5 so I didn't try past the first box. But I love HP5 developed in D76 1:1 or Pyrocat HD. I expose for an ISO of...

There are lots of good suggestions here. I have had excellent results with Pyrocat HD and Ilford b+w films (HP5+, FP4) using tray development. I develop vertically using film holders now, presoak 5...

Thanks for your thoughts. I had hoped there wasn't some incompatability between Delta 400 and Pyrocat that everyone knew but myself. I will take Ken's advice and expose a sheet today. I have used...

I bought one on eBay 2 summers ago, condensor head, and love it so far.

I just got out of the darkroom after my first disaster in a while. I've botched up film development before, but have usually figured out what I did wrong. I've recently become a fan of sheet film...

I agree, but make SURE you mix the photo flow in distilled water and disgard it if you aren't going to use it again that day. One other thing that helps film to develop more evenly is a 5 minute...

Thanks for the Jensen Info offer. I actually have a bunch of stuff from them and haven't had a chance to weed through it all. I can contact them if I need more. I have read a diffusion source is...

I tray develop my 5x7 negatives and have my routine down-pat, rarely damaging a negative, and almost never scratching the emulsion side. Occasionally I will get a minor scratch on the base side. ...

I agree with Michael. I found a Durst 139 on ebay last summer (one comes up every few weeks) and am very happy with it. It's amazingly rigid (I can't believe I put up with my Elwood as long as I...

Thanks everyone. Steve, I appreciate your explanation about why D76 is ill-suited. I knew there had to be a reason. I have some experience with standard development using PMK, but know that you...

I read with great interest the article in View Camera mag 2 months ago about the theory and results from using so-called stand development in certain lighting situations, and have studied John...

My old 5x7 Elwood has seen me through to this point, but I think it's time to look for more rigidity and precision. I know that a used Zone VI comes up on ebay from time to time; what is the...

James,
I did get the Tachihara fresnel with the etched glass cover and have it on the camera. I am very pleased with it, and because of the design (both by wisner and Tachihara), it HAS to focus...

I have a Wisner Technical 5x7 and want to use a Fresnel to aid in focusing/composing. I tried to get one from Wisner but they won't have any for a few months, and they directed me to Midwest Photo,...

I'm a novice, but seem to have solved a similar problem I was having. Paper type is an important variable, but I've found that graininess is a big problem IF I - Let the wet emulsion soak into the...

Henry: I agree that Elwoods can be pretty good old enlargers, and have many satisfactory prints to prove it. I was faced with your same problem at the start. The previous owner had 4 plates of...

We've got pretty hard water in western KS but I've never had consistent problems as you describe. I usually develop in d-76 and fix in Kodak rapid fix mixed in tap water. I only mix in distilled ...

Thanks for all your help. What is KEH?

With an Elwood enlarger and an old, uncoated Wollensack 139mm lens I make B+W en largements from 4x5 and 5x7 negatives without any technical difficulties. Low co ntrast prints, in general, have...

I can only add comment to the unlikely but fatal possibility that you are someho w inadvertently exposing your paper before you get to the contact printing stage.

I've been searching the myriad of ads out there for "best buys" in the form of o lder or classic lenses in the 90 to 120mm range, covering 4x5 (mostly for landsc ape work). There are a lot of...

Bob is probably right, but could use some lithium, possibly.