Developing Film

[Annibale G.]

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Hi,

usually I develop my films in a tank with four reels. I'd like to use something that allow me to develop more than four reels. Something that allow to deveop in one times 20-25 or more films together. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Xmas]

Hi

 

I use three tanks (Paterson) which each hold eight 35mm films for a batch of 24 films. I fix the eights in succession to save fixing solution, but dev with 1:100 Rodinal in parrallel.

 

A deep tank is more inconvenient, e.g. space to store.

 

Noel

[christer]

Hi,

usually I develop my films in a tank with four reels. I'd like to use something that allow me to develop more than four reels. Something that allow to deveop in one times 20-25 or more films together. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

Hello Annibale, how are you?

 

I think your problem is "far too many almost identical shots" as I could see from the negative strips in your recent posting.

 

I think they called it "saturation bombing" during the Vietnam war. Didn't work.

 

See you on Skype sometime,

 

Chris

[tobey bilek]

The old marine motto was one shot, one kill. My good friend who had a wedding business with 6+ photogs working for him, did weddings with 8 rolls of 36 each for years and years.

 

D76 was mixed on Thursday night. 150 to 200 rolls were developed on Sunday night,

3 1/2 x 5 prints were done by Wed. A team of neighborhood ladies were trained to be printers.

 

He bought 100 foot rolls of Plus X six cases at a time. All went into the Leica brass cassettes which he loaded himself.

 

Point being they made the shots count and the film was developed in 8 reel stainless tanks. There was a wood fixture with leather straps to hold them upright. Developer was 1:1 one shot as was the fix. No stop or water wash between. He did some kind of semi stand at the end and loaded reels while the previous batch was developing. I do know he had hundreds ss reels.

 

He also had several dozen M2 and M3 cameras at any given time. They were replaced annually. Leica New Jersey was at his house one day and remarked he had more cameras than they had.

 

People click off these digi cams today making 4000 exposures per wedding. 95% of them are junk or duplicates. Then they have to cull them out. It is pointless. You need to be able to previsualize the pictures and not push the button if everything is not favorable.

 

When color came along, it was cheaper to establish a working group and set up a private business to handle the darkroom work.

[stunsworth]

TPeople click off these digi cams today making 4000 exposures per wedding. 95% of them are junk or duplicates. Then they have to cull them out. It is pointless. You need to be able to previsualize the pictures and not push the button if everything is not favorable

 

Just out of curiosity did your friend do mainly posed group shots? That's certainly how I remember weddings in the UK in the 60s and 70s. The more informal "reportage" approach that's popular these days needs a different approach - all IMHO of course.

[Annibale G.]

Hello Chris, how are you? I' m ok thanks, I'm studying for a photojournalist master now.

What about you? I've never seen you on skype frome ages, one of my computer is alwas turned on that's why you see me there. I'm so glad to see a your reply. Hope to see you soon. Thanks.

Annibale

[earleygallery]

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If you're serious about doing regular high volumes then you can probably pick up a used 'minilab' for a bargain price, given the number of shops that have stopped offering a processing service. I guess the bay is a good place to look.