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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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What developing reel and tank to get?
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 4:37 am
Post subject: What developing reel and tank to get?
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 4:37 am
Post subject: What developing reel and tank to get?
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I'm interested in processing 35mm and 120 film. Got a changing bag so far but no tank and reel. What do you folks suggest?

Are the soviet bakelite ones a good choice?

Steel or plastic?

-thanks in advance,
1kgcoffee


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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 8:36 am
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 8:36 am
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I have a plastic patterson tank and reel. Works well enough. 120 film is a little fiddly to get on but with some practice (actually a lot of it) you slowly get better at it.


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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 2:35 pm
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 2:35 pm
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I also have a Paterson tank, a Super System 4. I have an old Jobo model 1236 that handles the same amount of film (up to two 35mm or one 120/220), which I'm replacing with the Paterson. The Jobo used to work fine, but its gasket has gotten hard and it leaks now, and Jobo no longer makes a replacement for it. Thankfully, the Paterson doesn't leak.

I also find the reels to be somewhat fiddly for 120, but the Jobo reels were just as bad, if not worse. Practice, practice.


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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 3:45 pm
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 3:45 pm
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+1 for the Paterson tank.


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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 7:34 pm
Post subject: Re: What developing reel and tank to get?
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Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 7:34 pm
Post subject: Re: What developing reel and tank to get?
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1kgcoffee wrote:
...Are the soviet bakelite ones a good choice?...

Some of them are. I have 2 bakelite 120 tanks for single film that can use 125mm of solution. They are the best I have for single-use developer (with the exception of my Jobo tanks, also good for single-use developer, but in the CPE2 developing machine).

You may as well consider the day-light loading tanks (a bit more expensive, if you can find them):
http://www.pbase.com/molok/image/156740429
I had an 120 film Rondinax 60 tank. It was very convenient in use (the simplest loading system) and had a very small capacity, also good for single-use developer. Unfortunately now is broken (bakelite). Crying or Very sad


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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 3:01 pm
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 3:01 pm
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+1 for the Agfa Rondinax 35 & 60, also look out for Kent and Essex versions which are similar but generally cheaper.
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