Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 38

Thread: CatLabs CL81 experiences

  1. #1
    www.alexgard.com AlexGard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    489

    CatLabs CL81 experiences

    I'm going to copy/paste this from a post over at SA so apologies to any dorkroomer's who've already seen this post.


    Developed my first batch of 8x10's today. I have a few more still drying that look a lot more promising than the first batch (did 2 tanks of 3 sheets)

    I am using the CatLabs CL81 in a 2500 tank. Loading the film into this thing is pretty tricky. I am loading it emulsion side inwards (same as mod54) but I'm not sure if this is the right way to go about that. Here you can see the scratching and uneven development mostly top two corners (bottom is vignetted because I used too much rise. This was literally the first photo I took with the camera). This is a straight scan, no adjustments. Using foma200 R09 1:50 , 10 mins.

    I also seem to remember reading somewhere that foma is really easy to scratch or something? Either way as I said loading the stuff into the CL81 is really hard and it seems like it would be nearly impossible to load it in without having the edges dragging along the inside of the film guides.

    Any ideas on how to get away from scratching the film, otherwise I'm just going to have to compose for a crop....

    I have no facilities to set up a dark room so tray development is more or less out of the question for the moment. Even so I've been having a lot of fun playing with the 8x10.



    [timg]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5562/14876240468_b04df65562_b.jpg[/timg]
    First 8x10 scan (for SA) by Alex Gard, on Flickr

  2. #2
    ic-racer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    6,737

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    Hard for me to see scratches from that image. If it is a contact print are you sure the glass is clean. Zooming in on the image in the link just makes the letters on the page look bigger, the image stays the same size. Maybe you can post a detail of the area in question. Looks like there is a bad light leak in the upper right and less so in the upper left.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,856

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    444

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    Is there a reason why you just don't use the ridges in the drum to hold the film?
    Cheers Shane

  5. #5
    village idiot BennehBoy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    England
    Posts
    287

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    FWIW I have just started to use a CL81 to do C41 in my ATL1500, I've had no problems at all.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Connecticut, USA
    Posts
    5,308

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    I can't see any image in either link, seems to be a bad link?

    When using the MOD54 I found it best to use very gentile agitation, this means HAND INVERSION. If you're using this on a JOBO machine or rolling it instead of inversion, then this is most likely the issue. Looking at the design I can't imagine that it wouldn't scratch with rotation, especially right at the stop&reverse portion of rotation.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Elko, Nevada
    Posts
    477

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    Interesting. Guess I am going to have to try mine.

    If it cannot handle the Jobo machine then I will probably sell. I have never had a problem when doing 8x10 by hand with my BTZS tubes. The only purpose for my picking up the CL81 was to accomodate machine agitation.
    The Viewfinder is the Soul of the Camera

    If you don't believe it, look into an 8x10 viewfinder!

    Dan

  8. #8
    Japan Exposures
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    679

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    Or just use a paper drum to process sheet film...

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    181

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    cat81 works fine for me in the jobo, but I get a scratch along the edge where it loads into the base and the top - but that is no problem.
    This is a good system for x-ray film (if you can put up with the slightly smaller film size due to the scratch.

  10. #10
    Unwitting Thread Killer Ari's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    6,286

    Re: CatLabs CL81 problems

    Have you contacted CatLabs? The owner/rep is a member here, koh303 is his username.

Similar Threads

  1. Anyone used CatLABS CL81
    By DKirk in forum Darkroom: Equipment
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 12-Jun-2015, 07:49
  2. Unloading film from CatLabs CL81
    By sweat100 in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 1-Dec-2014, 10:21
  3. CL81 8x10 film reel
    By Mkillmer in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 27-Jun-2014, 08:08
  4. C-41 from CatLabs
    By Kimberly Anderson in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 8-Jan-2014, 16:23

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •