Best 4x5 Developing Tank

[Raffay]

Hello All,

I was wondering what are the different types of developing tanks available for 4x5 development, and which ones are better. I currently have a FR Tank it is 1.5 Litres, it is squarish.

Cheers
Raffay

[Light Guru]

I don't think that one type of tank is inherently better then another, its really personal preference.

I personally prefer the Mod54 in a Paterson 3 reel tank.

[mmerig]

I don't think that one type of tank is inherently better then another, its really personal preference.

I personally prefer the Mod54 in a Paterson 3 reel tank.

Will the MOD54 work in a Nikor tank that holds four 35-mm reels? The Nikor's inside dimensions are: 85 mm diameter by 165 mm long. Maybe I can use one 35-mm reel as a spacer in the Nikor tank along with the MOD54. The reels are steel and 39 mm high.

More simply, if I know the inside dimensions of the Paterson 3-reel tank, I can go from there.

Thanks.

[Tin Can]

No, Paterson tanks are 10 to 12mm bigger, I just measured my Nikor and a Paterson.

Nikors used stainless steel reels and Paterson used plastic reels which are bigger.

I loosely measure the Paterson tank to be 97mm, +-5mm.

Will the MOD54 work in a Nikor tank that holds four 35-mm reels? The Nikor's inside dimensions are: 85 mm diameter by 165 mm long. Maybe I can use one 35-mm reel as a spacer in the Nikor tank along with the MOD54. The reels are steel and 39 mm high.

More simply, if I know the inside dimensions of the Paterson 3-reel tank, I can go from there.

Thanks.

[mmerig]

No, Paterson tanks are 10 to 12mm bigger, I just measured my Nikor and a Paterson.

Nikors used stainless steel reels and Paterson used plastic reels which are bigger.

I loosely measure the Paterson tank to be 97mm, +-5mm.

Thank you, Randy.

[Raffay]

Some pictures

[Raffay]

I find the square shape a little difficult to agitate, also it cannot be inverted so I am not sure if it would be easier to agitate the ones that can be inverted.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I use three different kinds of developing equipment. A Combi Plan is wonderful, even though it leaks a bit when inverting. Also I use a uni-color drum for constant agitation development. It is as good as any JOBO, IMHO. Finally, for fine work I use stainless steel 'canoe' (rocking trays), especially for 8x10 work.

When I did processing in a pro lab I used the typical hangars in large tanks with nitrogen burst agitation. Gosh, I wish I could afford that for personal work.

[Bob Salomon]

I use three different kinds of developing equipment. A Combi Plan is wonderful, even though it leaks a bit when inverting. Also I use a uni-color drum for constant agitation development. It is as good as any JOBO, IMHO. Finally, for fine work I use stainless steel 'canoe' (rocking trays), especially for 8x10 work.

When I did processing in a pro lab I used the typical hangars in large tanks with nitrogen burst agitation. Gosh, I wish I could afford that for personal work.

If you have a leaking top contact us directly and we will replace it. It should not leak.
While the CombiPlan is now out of production we still have all of the parts, except for the tank body, should something break. But it should not leak and we will replace a top that does. As long as we still have tops.

As a compact, daylight system there simply was/is no better system then the CombiPlan when the instructions were followed.

[AtlantaTerry]

As a compact, daylight system there simply was/is no better system then the CombiPlan when the instructions were followed.

Mr. Salomon, where might I find the correct instructions for my 4x5 CombiPlan? I bought it from a camera store but it was not in a retail package so I received no instructions.

If you have a link to a website or PDF that would be great.

Thank you.

Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
TerryThomasPhotos{at}gmail