My mail order lab has such low demand for 8x10 these days, they're down to three sheets per dip and dunk. This means an order of several dozen sheets takes a while to fill, and I'm not 100% convinced with the processing anymore. The alternative is a much more expensive pro-lab , offering fast service at nearly double the cost. So, with home processors getting cheaper, I'm considering doing it myself.
Expectations: I don't want to get too involved in things, but will for the day if I need to; I want to be able to process once or twice a month, up to a max of 100 sheets a month. E6 mostly, once in a while C41, almost always 8x10, once in a while 4x5. Budget is reasonably generous - I'm looking at something like a s/h Jobo ATL2000, or maybe one or two CPP-2/CPA-2 processors (more likely the CPA-2 if I get two). Either way, they are likely to be set up for up to 4x5, so I guess I need new drums, and a sheet-film cabinet.
Do these look practical for my needs? Have I missed any major, expensive accessories I'll need? Alternative ideas?
Bookmarks