Tank or tray

[ignatiusjk]

This is for all the 4x5 film folks out there. What do you prefer tank or tray developement? I've tried both and I'm trying to increase the resolution of my b&w negs. I used to use HC110 Del b with my 120 Panatomic X and liked the results. I never got the same type of resolution from my 4x5 negs.

[Brian Ellis]

Neither. BTZS tubes

[reellis67]

I like tanks for the ability to develop multiple negatives at once without having to resort to continuous agitation, but the volume of chemicals required is somewhat of a pain in the rear. Trays are great for using less volume, but if you wish to develop using anything other than constant agitation you have to have a lot of trays. I have both on hand and I use them both depending on the results that I want. I'm not sure that I would be happy with only one...

- Randy

[Eric Woodbury]

I've used Jobo expert tank for years, but I'm starting to work with homemade tubes. I like the price and the individual times I can give each sheet. I used trays before all of this, but I had my problems with trays and didn't care for that much dark.

[jnantz]

i like trays.
the biggest pain with trays
is putting the film in the water bath at first.
my film likes to stick together when it gets wet ..
but once separated i can process 35 sheets of film at once without a problem.

ymmv

[MIke Sherck]

My preference is also trays. Simple, cheap, and extremely versatile: with practice you can do minus, normal, and plus processing at the same time (I orient the film notches differently, then pull the appropriate sheets when their time is up and store them in water as stop until all the film is developed. Then it can all be fixed together.)

For the ultimate in developing, develop by inspection. Get each and every sheet exactly right, no guessing.

Mike

[Ralph Barker]

I have used trays for several decades, having had bad luck with one of the early tanks. Once you get the technique down, it's not a big problem to keep from scratching the film. Preferences for tanks (such as the HP CombiPlan), rotary drums, or BTZS-style tubes are just as valid, however.

[Louie Powell]

Trays - sort of. I use a slosher. HC-110, dilution H.

[jasonjoo]

I am no where near as qualified as the other posters here, but I've been using trays for the past few weeks and while the few minutes of quiet and solitude in the dark are nice, it is a big pain in the butt to develop using trays! As a side not, I do my processing in a make shift darkroom (which is my bathroom) and so even the easiest tasks are difficult to do. I'm looking at either the JOBO drums or the BTZS tubes right now!

[CG]

Tanks. I have the 8x10 one gallon stainless tanks. The 4 up 4x5 hangers fit for 4x5 work, as do the 2 up 5x7 hangers.

C