4x5 developing tanks.....

[BigSteveG]

I had planned to use the $80 combi tank...now I see a $29.00 daylight tank available, it's not water-tight so inversion is not possible, development is performed through a left-right motion. Anyone use the inexpensive version? It's 1/2 the price so I'm wondering if the combi is much better or convenient.

[ericantonio]

BigSteve,
Don't skimp on negatives. You only have 1 chance to do it right. No do-overs. Be patient and keep an eye out on hard to get Nikkor 4x5 tanks. Or BTZS tubes for about $100 bucks.
Keep it simple for now, try 5x7 or 8x10 trays. Look for instructions on www.viewcameramagazine.com.

[Ralph Barker]

You'll find a number of threads about daylight tanks via the search function. Although a couple of people have gotten the cheap ones to work, most folks end up with serious over-development along the edges due to fluid dynamics. The HP CombiPlan tanks don't seem to have that problem.

The cheapies can be used for washing, though.

[ericantonio]

The cheapies can be used for washing, though.

That's the ONLY reason I got them.
Load them up and use the Ilford fill/sit/emtpy/repeat process.

[venchka]

A used Jobo 2500 tank, 2509n reel and Uniroller are no more expensive, probably cheaper, than the Combi tank.

[Chuck Peacock]

Will the Jobo 2521 tank (for a single 2509n reel) work on a Uniroller, or do you need to get a bigger tank like the 2551 to roll reliably?

[Nick_3536]

At least the 2551. The short tank doesn't span the two rollers. but you can use only one reel in the 2551 tank if you want.

[Gene McCluney]

The Combi-plan is the best daylight tank for inversion agitation processing of 4x5 cut film. However, I am much much more partial to in-the-dark processing in 3.5 gallon Kodak or Cesco tanks with stainless steel hangars, which you can get for just about any size sheet film up to 8x10 on the used market. I just did a run of 22 sheets 5x7, and they look perfect. I use HC-110 dilution E, which is very economical, as I shoot a lot of film in a short period. I get about 3 weeks of tank use out of one mix of developer. I keep track of sheets processed and mix date of developer.

[Howard Tanger]

Hi Steve: What is the brand name and source of the $29.00 daylight tank?
Thanks, Howard

I had planned to use the $80 combi tank...now I see a $29.00 daylight tank available, it's not water-tight so inversion is not possible, development is performed through a left-right motion. Anyone use the inexpensive version? It's 1/2 the price so I'm wondering if the combi is much better or convenient.

[venchka]

Answering out of turn: Educated, informed guess: The Yankee Tank. Loved by some. Hated by many. I have a friend who uses 3 Yankee tanks without the lids in the dark. He likes the set up. 3 used Yankee tanks would be fairly inexpensive.

YMMV.