Re: [Leica] Developing for dummies

[Paul and Paula Butzi <butzi@halcyon.com>]

At 09:15 AM 4/26/98 , you wrote:
>I use both TMAX and Ilford Delta, both typicially 100 ASA.  Could some of
>you recommend a good _basic_ developer for each film; something that will
>provide reasonable results but be reasonably tolerant of the relearning
>process?   I suspect that it would be best to settle on one or the other,
>but would like to try developing both before I decide. 

I'll second Tina's suggestion: Kodak XTOL.  Both the TMax and Delta films
look very nice developed in XTOL.  It's cheap and readily available.
 
>
>Last, is a JOBO processor worth it for B&W?  Or will a simple tank do the
>trick just as well?

I suspect it depends.  If you run a lot of film, the ease of processing a lot
of film may be worth it.  For a couple of rolls a week, I suggest that you buy
a small stainless two reel tank and a couple of Hewes stainless reels.

The big advantages of the Jobo are: 
1. the temperature control improves consistency and is a big help for color
work.
2. The motorized agitation improves consistency.
3. 1 and 2 above mean that except for pouring chemicals in and out, you can
    read a book while processing film.
4.  If you buy an automated unit like Tina's ATL, you don't even need to pour
    chemicals in and out. 
5. For sheet film, the consistency and uniformity of development in the expert
    drums is hard to beat.
6. You can run ra4 or Ilfochrome prints.

The down side is:
1. expensive
2. big

- -Paul