Re: Dumb question re: processing 4x5

"pico" <pico.pico.net> wrote in message 
news:13iacqm89oguafe@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "Robert Chin" <bchin_us@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:ffd9re018fc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>> So my question(s) is/are simple:  I've heard that because the
processing 
>> tanks for 4x5 film take so long to fill, uneven development could
result.
>
> Not if you use a film and developer you can pre-soak or use high
dilutions 
> with long development times.
>
>> Is this a real problem, or is it the opinion of someone really
obsessive?
>
> It's a problem for people who use film/developer/temps that yield short 
> development times. Just don't go there.
>
>
Depends on the tank.
Let's assume that it takes thirty seconds to fill the tank. Let's assume
you 
are doing C41, where the developer time is 3:15. The tank filling time is 
about 1/6 of the total developement time. That's a bad thing. Now let's 
assume that a different developer/temperatuire combination time is 15:00 
That thirty seconds to fill the tank is now only 1/30 of the developement 
time-- not a big deal.

If you are using one of the tanks where the film stands up and the tank 
requires a quart/liter or so of developer, it's going to take some time to

fill. But you can process perhaps a dozen sheets at once. Just fill the
tank 
in advance, load the sheets in the holder, and shove the holder into the 
full tank- start timing. If you are using one of the tube/roller styles 
tanks that only require a few ounces of developer (they don't need to be 
full), the fill time is not an issue.

When I develope 120 rolls four at a time in C-41, fill time is an issue. I

have two tanks. I load all the rolls on the 'spindle' (long center post
that 
holds the reels). The tank is already filled with the proper amount of 
developer. I put all the films in the tank, start the timer, close the
lid, 
and turn on the lights. The second tank has the bleach in it. When the
timer 
reaches 3:00, I turn off the lights and get ready to pull the reels out of

the developer tank and put them in the bleach tank. Essentially, this 
procedure makes the 'fill time' for a large tank only a matter of seconds.