Which film development process is best

[Scott Walker]

Since I now have a darkroom at my office I am going to get my enthusiastic 20 year old assistant to start working in the darkroom one day a week.
I am always way behind on printing and developing film and I now have hundreds of 8x10 negs that need to be contact printed and filed with the negative and about 50 sheets of film and 25 or so rolls of 120 waiting to be developed.
I do not need something capable of developing paper just film in 120, 220, 4x5, and 8x10.
I have only ever used trays for developing film so all my research on this subject has only confused me more since I really don't have anything to reference my findings to.

I need a processor that I can let a 20 year old operate and be confident that my negatives will receive even, consistent development.



Thanks

[chassis]

For 120 rolls I would use a Paterson style reel
And tank system.

For sheet film I like BTZS tubes.

The amount of film you outlined can easily be
Processed in two days or less. One day if your
Assistant is good.

[Daniel Stone]

1. Jobo expert drum for the sheet film on a beseler motor base

2. Medium Format: Jobo tank/reels or Paterson plastic reels

They're all super easy to load, and easy to use. Its also "in the light" so no tray developing in the dark .

-Dan

[Jay DeFehr]

JOBO ATL3. The difficult bit is determining optimum development. Operating the machine requires about an hour's training, after which development is mostly automated, aside from loading reels/sheets, etc., which does take practice.

[Scott Walker]

The ATL 3 appears to be the kind of thing I am looking for, aquiring one might not be so easy though.

[Jay DeFehr]

Scott, you are off the beaten track a bit, but even with shipping, I wouldn't expect to pay much. I paid a few hundred for mine, shipped from L.A. to Idaho.

[jeroldharter]

The amount of film you outlined can easily be
Processed in two days or less. One day if your
Assistant is good.

man, you must be fast! Hundreds of 8x10's in BTZS tubes? That would be a long day for me.

I don't know about entrusting a novice 20 year old with all of that film due the the material cost and your time investment. Nor would I want him handling my 8x10 film!

I'm just asking because 8x10 is a lot of time and money - how do you gets "hundreds" of sheets behind? It would take me years to print that many negatives.

For the roll film, consider a Phototherm Sidekick. Small and automated.

For 8x10, a Jobo CPP with a 3005 drum is probably the most readily available, semi-automated option. Although not so common anymore, you might go for the old school hangers and tanks for such a large amount of film.

[Ari]

I'd process the 8x10s in a tank using hangers, and the 120 film in SS tanks and reels.
Can you teach a 20-year-old to load reels and hangers reliably?
If you can't, you may have to put in a week-end of processing all by your lonesome.

[Scott Walker]

Scott, you are off the beaten track a bit, but even with shipping, I wouldn't expect to pay much. I paid a few hundred for mine, shipped from L.A. to Idaho.

I guess I will just have to be patient, it took me about a year to find an 8x10 conversion for my Beseler.

It sounds like the CPP would work as well just less automation?

[Scott Walker]

I don't know about entrusting a novice 20 year old with all of that film due the the material cost and your time investment. Nor would I want him handling my 8x10 film!

I'm just asking because 8x10 is a lot of time and money - how do you gets "hundreds" of sheets behind? It would take me years to print that many negatives.

Although not so common anymore, you might go for the old school hangers and tanks for such a large amount of film.

Lots of people send their film to a lab to be developed......chances are it is a 20 year old handling their film, at least if mistakes are made I can work directly with my 20 year old to correct the problem.

I get behind because I will go out for 3 or 4 days and shoot as many as 50 sheets a day.

I do actually have hangers and tanks for 4x5 that I don't use, can't even give you a good explanation as to why but I do not like the process.