PDA

View Full Version : SP-8x10+ campaign launched!



DiscoShrew
2-Feb-2019, 12:25
It looks like the makers of the quite popular SP445 are moving into 8x10 territory, although what I find interesting
is that it can take any number of different sized sheets of film, including 4x5, 5x7, 8x10 or theoretically bigger.

Link here (https://productdev.stearmanpress.com/)


Dividers: We’re planning on two dividers. One will split the tank into two 5×7 compartments. The other into two 4×10 compartments. Install both for processing 4×5/9×12.



So why do we think the SP-8×10+ will succeed?

Simplicity: No frames/holders to fumble with in the dark. Just take the lid off and drop in your film. No seals, O rings or complicated mechanical contraptions. And it requires only 500 ml of chemistry.
Flexibility: It will handle anything smaller than 8×10. Simple dividers keep smaller sheets separate. The production version will handle anything between 4×5 and 8×10: 5×7, 4×10, 4×5. Yeah, 9×12 will work too. You should be able to adapt it for those odd-ball sizes that no one else has heard off.
Proven: tray processing has been around since, well, the first days of photography. It just works.

Tin Can
2-Feb-2019, 13:31
Is it for single sheets of each size?

Like 4 sheets of 0ne 4X5 in each compartment only?

Then 2 sheets of 5X7 at once in 2 boxes

Or only one 8X10 in the whole shebang?

The descriptor is not complete.

Tin Can
2-Feb-2019, 13:59
Page 2 for the rest of the story...

https://productdev.stearmanpress.com/page.html

DiscoShrew
2-Feb-2019, 14:20
https://productdev.stearmanpress.com/page-2.html

Here it explains that it will fit 2 5x7 sheets, I don't believe it specifically addresses 4x5 sheet capacity, though logic serves 4 4x5 compartments with both 5x7 and 4x10 compartments inserted?


Dividers: We’re planning on two dividers. One will split the tank into two 5×7 compartments. The other into two 4×10 compartments. Install both for processing 4×5/9×12.

rdeloe
2-Feb-2019, 18:54
Tim has info about this at his site. He decided to go with a single sheet of 8x10 (or multiple smaller) for a host of reasons he explains. It's great to see this going forward. I have the SP 445 and think it's excellent (now that I figured out how to stop it leaking by... reading the instructions!)

I don't have a darkroom so for me the SP 445 is by far the easiest and most economical way to process 4x5 film.

Mike Bates
6-Feb-2019, 09:28
I backed the SP-8x10+ campaign even though 4x5 is the largest film I shoot and I already have (and love) the SP-455.

I'll use it with the 4x5 dividers. I like the dead simple loading and the economical use of chemistry.

I've long considered the idea of building an Arduino-based controller for continuously adjusting the time to development completion based on an immersed temperature probe. The SP-8x10+ design allows mounting such a probe easily. I'd like to achieve accurate (and repeatable) C-41 color development by heating the developer to near the proper temperature and measuring the cooling "drift" to adjust to time to completion. I could possibly experiment with room temperature C-41 development.

Andrew O'Neill
6-Feb-2019, 09:59
Good luck!

DiscoShrew
8-Feb-2019, 15:08
Blogpost, with samples of 4x5 and 5x7 developed in the 8x10 tank.

https://shop.stearmanpress.com/blogs/news/testing-testing-and-more-testing

Roger Thoms
9-Feb-2019, 11:24
The textured background will certainly help hide uneven processing. I'd rather see the tests with a nice even background or a clear blue sky. Still it looks promising.

Roger

tim48v
8-Mar-2019, 22:46
Here's the executive summary for those that don't want to bother with the details (click here for all the details (https://shop.stearmanpress.com/blogs/news/the-sp-8x10-status)):
1. It doesn't look like the SP-8x10+ will reach its funding goal.
2. We're planning to put it into production anyway.
3. The retail production price will probably be around $140-$150/each.
4. You can still get in on the $123 price, if you sign-up before March 11th (click here to back the project (https://productdev.stearmanpress.com/))

tim48v
12-Mar-2019, 12:51
The crowdfunding campaign was supposed to end at midnight, March 11th.

However, you may have noticed that the countdown timer was still ticking away this morning, clearly in violation of the space/time continuum. (If you had refreshed your browser, it always started over with two days; 01:18:19 remaining.)

Okay, we probably should have noticed the error earlier. To be honest, we find the situation a bit humorous, this is a minor glitch compared to the other problems we’ve had with the software.

If you thought you had two days left to sign up and still want to, go ahead. The "back this project" button is still live.

Frankly, we’re focused on the next prototype and will be publishing an updated schedule soon. And we’ll pay extra attention to the calendar.