Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/03/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have a CPE2. I'm not in love with it. Its construction is a little flimsy. Its not bad - its just not wonderful. If you are only processing conventional black & white film, why bother? I use mine for C41. Its a bit of a pain to set it up each time. If you can leave it set up its less of a pain. If you need constant agitation and critical temperature control its a good, inexpensive way to get it. Look at ebay - there are usually several CPE2s up for sale at about half of a new machine. When I do B&W I do it by hand. I can be done before I could get the Jobo setup. Get some tanks, reels and some measuring containers. Skip the Jobo unless you need its features. Henry >I'm currently without a darkroom and having a hard time finding a decent lab >within shouting distance. I have, however, noticed all the hooting & >hollering about "Jobo and XTol" on the LUG and would like to hear specifics. > >I've checked the Jobo site (http://www.jobo-usa.com/products.htm), and found >a slew of drum processors: does anyone have a preference (just a little >light LUG humor, there)? Seriously, though, can anyone make a spectacular >argument against the CPE2Plus as a unit? It's the most affordable of the >bunch for doing loads of film (vs. the DuoLab), but if it's a troublesome >unit in some way, it would be nice to hear feedback. > >I'm also remembering something about the 1L vs the 5L packages of XTol; is >there a difference? Seems the wrapper is not the only difference, and I've >seen a few odd references to that here on the LUG: are they different >formulas giving different results? Everyone seems to prefer the 5L, and I >know my own batch from a 1L package was a capital-D Disaster, but if good >results can be had (hence the LUG hooting), I'd give it another go. > >Thanks for your help again, and thanks to the LUGnuts who contacted me off >list on my earlier post. > >