Hi all,
I asked this in another thread, but thought it best to start a new one to address the topic and keep the other one on track.
Anyway, I have a new CPP-3 landing soon and plan to use it, among other things, for processing 8x10" sheet film in a 3005 expert drum. Up until now I have been using PMK and processing one sheet at a time in trays. I have been very pleased with the result, but have read many times that PMK doesn't play so well with Jobo / rotary processing. From my reading here and elsewhere, it seems Pyrocat-HD is the most used pyro staining developer in this case, but I also see there is the option of the MC variant and Rollo Pyro / Photographer's Formulary's ABC+ Pyro (which I've read multiple times is based on PMK.)
My questions re. the above options are really as follows:
1: Which is the most reliable when using with a Jobo? (The differences between HD and MC seem greater film speed with the later, and perhaps shorter development times? ABC+ seems a bit more complicated with the prebath etc?)
2: Which will give me a stain that is similar to PMK, with close printing characteristics when using VC fibre papers?
3: Recommended developer solution per sheet with these developers seems to be a minimum of 250ml, and in a fully loaded 3005 drum this equates to 1250ml. I understand that this is pushing the limits of the motor and especially the load capacity of the lift. Would people recommend doing a one bath development with this much developer solution, or instead splitting the development time into two parts, each of equal time using 1000ml? (e.g. 5min with 1000ml, dumping, then another 5min with 1000ml.) I also wonder if 1000ml is simply not enough solution to immerse the sheets in the drum quickly, and might result in streaking etc?
4: My reading is that with all of these developers, it's best to use minimum rotation speed and to give at least a 5min presoak–filling and dumping the water several times. Sound good?
5: Lastly, I'm shooting mainly HP5+, so any specific times / tips for Jobo processing with these developer / film combinations appreciated!
Thanks for your time,
Tim
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