Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/06/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Robert: Thank you for your note. Based on practical experience, I am not convinced by your argument relating to increasing development times with Xtol. Perhaps some LUG member has asked Kodak about this and can tell us what they answered. Otherwise I will ask them. With regard to the tanks, it seems we are talking about different tanks. In fact I have three of that type, two marked Kaiser and one marked Jobo although they are exactly the same, except for size. Seems there is a bit of badge engineering going on here and that a Jobo is not always a true Jobo. Mine has only one capacity marked for each specific numer of films, and the instruction leaflet does not mention anything except hand agitation. Otherwise I agree with you. >Christer: > >You have two things a little confused. The Kodak reccomendations for >increasing development time is based upon using the same one litre batch >with stock solution and returning the used developer to the container. >Doing it this way, it starts to deplete and sucessive rolls need more >developing time. You will see similiar directions for Ilford ID-11 and >Microphen and other developers when used as stock solutions and then being >reused. > >The second problem is with the Jobo tanks when using them on a rotary >developer such as their CPE-2. The tank has two capacities marked on it, >rotary, and traditional hand inversion. Using hand inversion the two reel >tank as a capacity of 485ml, and 260 for rotary. If you put the tank on a >CPE-2 with a jobo-lift, the excess of developer over 260ml will pour out >when you tip the tank sideways to mount it. If you do not use a lift, but >the magnet drive and a lid on the tankd, you will be able to process with >the 400ml in the tank. > >Regards, > >Robert > > >At 12:14 PM 6/24/99 +0000, you wrote: >>>The current Xtol datasheet is April 1998-J109. >>> >>>On the matter of how much active ingredient to use, they are very >>>specific (page 2, "Capacity"): >>> >>>"We recommend always starting with at least 100 mL of full-strength >>>developer to prepare the diluted solution for each 135-36 or 120 roll. >>>for example, with a 1:3 dilution, this would produce about 400 mL of >>>solution. This is the minimum amount per roll, even though a lesser >>>amount may be adequate to cover the film" >> >>Yes, the data sheet is specific, but also not all that clear. >> >>The 'Capacity' section has a subsection 'Time Compensation' which states >>that the capacity is approx 15 rolls of film per litre, with time >>compensation. These three words are important. And then, if you go to the >>bottom of the page, there is a table for the time compensation. It says: >>"increase normal development time by 15% if you develop 6-10 films per >>litre and increase these times by another 15% (that is by one-third in >>total) if you develop 11 to 15 films per litre full strength developer >>(FSD)". >> >>To me that means that if you use 100ml FSD per film you develop 10 rolls >>per litre and should increase the times given in the table by 15%. Perhaps >>a little more as a 33% increase is recommended if you use 91 ml (1000 ml >>divided by 11 films), and I do not think that development times jumps in >>such steps for minor dilution changes. As always, your mileage may vary.... >>And the mileage for different brand films does vary as the test made by >>Jobo confirms. They say Fuji and Agfa need more developer than Kodak and >>Ilford films >> >>On the subject of Jobo tanks (and other are similar), on the bottom of my >>tank it says that its needs 260 ml per film, which is true. But what is >>also true is that you can put as much as 400 ml in the small tank, and this >>may be the solution to the capacity problem you would otherwise have. Just >>be a little bit more careful when agitating and emptying the tank. >> >>I have tried Xtol undiluted and diluted 1+1 and 1+2 and 1+3 with Delta 100 >>exposed at 200. I found the 1+1 dilution to give the best over all result. >>I always buy the 5 litre pack, which costs less than two one litre packs. I >>find it false economy to save on developer and I use at least 150 ml FSD >>per film. Troop and Anchell would find even that too little I guess..... >>150 ml makes almost 7 films per litre FSD and I have found the 15% time >>increase described above to be needed and adequate. >> >>-- >>christer almqvist >>eichenstrasse 57, d-20255 hamburg, fon +49-40-407111 fax +49-40-4908440 >>14 rue de la hauteur, f-50590 regnéville-sur-mer, fon+fax +33-233 45 35 58 >> >> >> - -- christer almqvist eichenstrasse 57, d-20255 hamburg, fon +49-40-407111 fax +49-40-4908440 14 rue de la hauteur, f-50590 regnéville-sur-mer, fon+fax +33-233 45 35 58