A new processor.

D

David M

Very Active Poster
Registered User
Joined
Jan 29, 2017
Messages
3,160
I accidentally came across this through Kickstarter, although it’s now in production and available from various UK retailers.
It’s an attachment for Paterson tanks that turns them into horizontal rotary processors. Instead of direct temperature control, it continuously varies the process time to compensate for fluctuations. They also produce a holder for 5x4 film, holding four sheets and they claim that the machine can drive two of them in a long Paterson tank, to process eight sheets.
I have no personal experience of this, but the online reviews seem positive.

vintagevisual.eu

AGO Film Processor | Vintage Visual

Automatic film processor for the home developer. Easily develop most popular film formats and processes. Hands off approach.
vintagevisual.eu
 
8 X10? I'd love to see that in action re E6.
Looks interesting but I can't fathom how it controls temp.
 
A Lego motor works well, I know I used one in the late 1970s, with Paterson tanks. Also, Paterson Super System 4 tanks leak without the lid, as there's no seal except the lid itself, unlike the older System 4 & 3 tanks. (I was using the original blue Lego moto and 4 large wheels, which I still have somewhere)

What's missing is a temperature regulated water bath, which you really need for colour film processing, particularly E6, as cooling without one is affected bay the ambient temperature. It's not really an issue with RA-4 paper, with much shorter development times.

Ian
 
It doesn’t control the temperature.
It continuously measures the temperature and adjusts the time that you have set, to give the equivalent amount of development. If I remember rightly, Fred Picker offered a similar device.
Presumably you begin with the nearest temperature you can conveniently get and proceed from there. (Perhaps a degree or so warmer?) No reason why it shouldn’t work perfectly for B&W, but I don’t know about colour.
There’s a sort of perforated cylinder for doing 10x8, either prints or film.
I did a little more reading and apparently the first batch of 5x4 holders had problems. They say that these have been cured now.
 
There's a review in this month's B&W Magazine, but only tested with B&W. As most houses are usually around 18-20ºC there won't be an issue with B&W. You might get away with C41, but it's not good enough for E6.

Paterson did sell a version of the Series 4 tanks for 10x8 prints, I have two tanks, but only one cradle. It was much simpler.

Ian
 
When I do C41 or E6 I have a Filmomat and a Cinestill heater, this works well, even in my garage when its freezing outside, but I have noticed on Fomapan, I get some white spots and I use stopbath, so will now use just filtered water and see how that works for me.
 
The Filmomat Light looks to be a way better option, as it has a water bath. Over the years I processed a lot of E3/4, E6, 935mm to 5x4) and C41 films in Paterson & Jobo inversion tanks, just using a kitchen bowl as the water tempering bath, maintaining the temperature with water from a kettle if or when needed, which is simple, easy, and accurate.

Looking at the Filmomat Light one huge bonus is you can also use a wide variety of tanks. Makes me think though the Lego motor on an arm would do the same in terms of rotating a drum :D.

Ian
 
Ian its a good tool , I have done a few mods on it with having a 3d printer, I found that the 4x5 JoBo sheet film drum did not fit right on the rollers that come with the unit, so I made and printed a little mount that clipped in to the roller bars, but liftted the tank enough and put larger size rollers to support the 4x5 Jobo drum, then when I do 6x6 or 35mm I just remove it and use the rollers in the Filmomat.

One other thing I also found is when the plastic bottles that hold the chemicals are in use and partly full/or empty, they started to float and get in the way, again I made and printed some clips to hold them in place.

Back in the 70's and 80's I used and still have a Patterson Color tank processor that made up to 16x12 prints with it both color and BW. I had a heated tray underneath it to keep the chemicals warm, { I still have and it still works}. It had a different size tanks for different size sheets of paper.
You did the rotation by attaching small cranking handle to the tank that was held in position by a slot and spring, I did convert this to a electric motor, I used and converted my wifes electric can opener that she would never used, this worked great for years after.

I have seen some of hse for sale on line recently.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top