Opinions of 4x5 Developing Reels

[Fungus]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm going to order a MOD54 and a B's and give them a try.

In the mean time, I'm going to try tray development. I've never developed 4x5 in trays and am curious to see if I can do it successfully. I'll expose some negatives in the back yard that I don't really care about so if I ruin them in processing it won't be anything worthwhile. I do have one question relating to the process: when moving negatives from the developer to the stop or from the stop to the fixer, do you move the negatives one at a time, or do you pick up the whole stack of them and move them as a stack to the next tray?

Also, what's the best size tray for developing 4x5? 5x7 or 8x10?

[Tin Can]

I mostly process 4X5, 5x7, 8x10 in like new KODAK only hangers in tanks with gas burst

2X3 has waffe cans

ULF is trays

Always use 1 size bigger tray one at a time

gently

[Alan9940]

Also, what's the best size tray for developing 4x5? 5x7 or 8x10?

Back when I tray developed, I always used the next size up tray--8x10 tray for 4x5, 12x15 (Paterson) for 8x10.

[Fungus]

Back when I tray developed, I always used the next size up tray--8x10 tray for 4x5

Wouldn't the next tray size up for 4x5 be 5x7?

[Randy]

Wouldn't the next tray size up for 4x5 be 5x7?

I have always done 4X5 and 5X7 in 8X10 trays. I have done 8X10 in 11X14 trays.

[Alan9940]

Wouldn't the next tray size up for 4x5 be 5x7?

Technically, you're right. Regardless, 8x10 tray for 4x5.

[Fungus]

No one mentioned BTZS tubes. Are they passé these days? Are they worth trying? I can't seem to find anyone selling new ones--every site says some variant of "SOLD OUT".

[darr]

No one mentioned BTZS tubes. Are they passé these days? Are they worth trying? I can't seem to find anyone selling new ones--every site says some variant of "SOLD OUT".

Steve Sherman makes, sells, and instructs how you can make something similar for his Extreme Minimal Process method.
I do not use them, but I have found his videos interesting.
The semi-stand development method I use is derived from his technique.

[Michael R]

I didn't like the results but some people like using them. The solution volumes are more economical than most inversion systems. If you want to try them you're probably best off making a few yourself using stuff like black PVC tubing or whatever. I think most people take that DIY approach these days.

No one mentioned BTZS tubes. Are they passé these days? Are they worth trying? I can't seem to find anyone selling new ones--every site says some variant of "SOLD OUT".

[Randy]

No one mentioned BTZS tubes. Are they passé these days? Are they worth trying? I can't seem to find anyone selling new ones--every site says some variant of "SOLD OUT".

I made some myself many years ago - just cut some PVC tubing, curled the film and slid it in then set all the tubes in a tray of developer and rolled them until time was up. I think I tried it once and didn't like the mess and the difficulty of removing the sheets after processing. I recently watched an instructional video on using them - that video sold me on the Stearman Press SP-445