Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/01/04

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Re: Jobo CPE-2...
From: Rolfe Tessem <rolfe@ldp.com>
Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 20:51:52 -0500
References: <200201041904.LAA02870@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>

> Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 13:00:12 -0600
> From: John Straus <Mail@SlideOne.com>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] [OT] Jobo CPE-2...
> Message-ID: <B85B57DC.754A%Mail@SlideOne.com>
> References: 
> 
> on 1/4/02 11:45 AM, Dave Stratton at stratton@gci.net wrote:
> 
> 
>> I use the Jobo CPE (with lift) for processing B&W.  I would recommend that
>> you do get a lift for the processor...it really does make life a lot more
>> pleasant.   Also, I use Xtol (1:3) to process Tmax film and  obtain great
>> results...but a caution...I have found that I must use 3 oz (~90 ml) of Xtol
>> per roll, thus I have to use ~ 360 ml solution per roll.  With a little over
>> a 600 ml liquid limit, the max number of rolls I process at a time is 2 (and
>> doing the numbers I am pushing my limits).
>> 
>> I still find the cpe a great way to do film...I just find something to do in
>> the darkroom for the ~ 30min processing time. If one wants to process more
>> than two rolls use Xtol (1:2), or even Xtol (1:1).  Not as successful for
>> me, but still good results.
> 
> 
> Thanks for the heads up on the limits of the CPE-2. So tell me why they list
> the capacity @ 5 rolls of 35mm when that is not possible??? Truly misleading
> until you read the fine print...


John,

This is not at all misleading on Jobo's part. If you use D76 stock or 
D76 1:1 for example, you will be well within the limits. Or for that 
matter, any of the C41 or E6 chemicals will work fine since with those 
chemicals you are generally trying to use the *minimum* necessary to 
develop the roll instead of playing with extreme Xtol dilutions.

What you must appreciate is that it takes a certain amount of stock 
developer to develop a roll. You cannot dilute infinitely and still get 
an image on the film.

Xtol, which we have been discussing, requires 100ml (per Kodak) of stock 
to develop a roll of 35mm film. If you dilute 1:3, that's 400ml of 
solution. If you  want to develop 4 rolls at that dilution the tank 
would have to hold 1600ml of solution, which it does not.

Using Xtol 1:1 or even Xtol stock or D-76 or another developer will work 
  fine in most cases. You just have to understand the limits and respect 
them.

And yes, I would also recommend that you get a lift for the Jobo. 
Without one, it's almost not worth it. Jobo periodically runs promotions 
where they throw in the lift for free with a new one, so you should 
evaluate that in deciding on the tradeoffs of buying used.

- --
Rolfe Tessem
rolfe@ldp.com
NYC





- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

Replies: Reply from Mark Rabiner <mark@markrabiner.com> (Re: [Leica] Re: Jobo CPE-2...)