Who develops your 120 film?

Deano

Deano

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After just purchasing a Hasselblad medium format i will be shooting a fair bit in 120 film. At the moment i am at college so will be developing it there but once i leave i will need to get it done elsewhere. Also how do you decide which prints you want etc.? as its obviously different to just dropping off one of the old colour films off to boots and getting an envelope of 6x4 prints. Do you request some kind of contact sheet first? Sorry if this seems a stupid question but its got me puzzled :thinking:
 
I've never used 120 negative film. Just slides, so printing has never been an issue. I get them developed at Peak Imaging, and I'm sure they would do yours.

Actually I will soon be using my very first 120 negative film. I've just got a Holga, and here in my drawer is roll of Kodacolor Gold which is nearly 20 years passed its date. It should help produce even crappier pictures.
 
I've only used DLAB7 and Peak imaging for my 120 stuff. DLAB7 was fine and cheap but after the 7dayshop card cloning stories I won't be going back there. Peak Imaging let you pay by cheque which I prefer and they don't wait until it's cleared before doing the job. I've sent film off 2nd class in their freepost boxes and had it back in the same week.
 
Short answer to the question is "I do".

Black and white film is so easy to develop and requires so little equipment that anybody can do it at home.

E6 slide film is a bit more tricky as it is not a room temperature process but the kit you need doesn't cost the earth nowadays second hand.

I have not seen the need to shoot MF prints for a great many years so that question is moot to me.

As for deciding which frame to print a contact sheet is nice but it isn't essential with 6x6 as it is with 35mm since the neg is so much bigger that once you get used to it it is pretty easy to spot the keepers on a lightbox.
 
Used peak imaging for my first roll - not the cheapest but their turnaround including very high resolution scan to CD was within a week.

USed the darkroom for the last three rolls, cheaper and probably equally good quality of processing. Their scan to Cd option has medium andd high res options. Not so sure the medium res is good enough to be honest. Turnaround 4 days by mail order !
 
If you've invested in a Blad then you definitely need to be sending your film to a pro lab to see the best from it, but why shoot print film? The printing process is it where it all goes wrong and results can vary enormously. If you shoot reversal (slide) film, the printing process is eliminated, you just need to invest in a decent scanner to scan your slides.

Should you choose to develop at home, then shooting E6 reversal colour film is your easiest option, as once the film is in the developing tank, you can work comfortably with the light on, and you don't have the mess and upheaval of printing the results. You can get E6 developing kits, and it's quite possible to keep the temperature range reasonably stable without too much bother and without spending a fortune.
 
We develop all our film both black and white and colour in 35mm and 120 format. Colour is not as easy as black and white; you have to be consistant with temperature and agitation. However we use a Jobo CPA2 which gives good results.

Ernie
 
I'm with the 'do it yourself' crowd - I was born into medium format by developing myself... made some mistakes but learned from them. In the end it's so much more rewarding to get it done in your own kitchen or bathroom... and once you're used to doing it you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that you'll be treating your film and not some unknown 'somebody' out there. Plus it's cheaper in the long run.

Check out my 'beginners guide to developing' thread for some pointers if you choose to go this route and feel free to ask questions here - so many of us are willing to help.
 
I haven't developed 120 roll film for over 20 years but, without doubt, you need to go down the DiY route.

edit: I always had good results with patterson tank and an appropriate sized reel. Ilford chems did a great job.
It's a simple job to transfer a film to a reel in a changing bag, and I preferred the inversion method to agitation.
Squeegee, drying cab, contact sheets .. the unrelenting taste of vinegar .. I don't miss it one bit ( I Lie )
 
First Call photographic stock Jobo tanks and processors and you can sometimes find them on eBay. A new processor is expensive but they are good and give consistant results.

Now that Patterson have given up selling C41 chemicals the problem is finding a supplier of chemicals for colour processing. Tetenal still do them and Fuji do a kit. Both are also available from First Call. Used the Fuji kit for the first time recently and found it good but slightly more complicated to use than the Patterson chemicals.

Ernie
 
jennyandernie said:
First Call photographic stock Jobo tanks and processors and you can sometimes find them on eBay. A new processor is expensive but they are good and give consistant results.

Now that Patterson have given up selling C41 chemicals the problem is finding a supplier of chemicals for colour processing. Tetenal still do them and Fuji do a kit. Both are also available from First Call. Used the Fuji kit for the first time recently and found it good but slightly more complicated to use than the Patterson chemicals.

Ernie
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Thanks for that. I've done lots of processing of E6 yonks ago, but using immersion baths to keep the temp reasonable. A thermostatically controlled setup does appeal, I must admit.
 
I'll be staring to do B&W at home as soon as I get paid from work to buy all the kit and chemicals

2nd hand Darkroom a good place to get some from?? Cheers

EDIT - Also you know those Jobo processer do you just stick the chemicals, set the time and thats it?
 
I have a Patterson auto colourtherm, its a temp controlled bath with containers that sit in it for the chemicals, a developing tank, and a motorised cylinder for prints.
12 and a half quid from Fleabay, does exactly the same thing as a jobo unit of the same level.











its in the garage, covered in sawdust and cobwebs :bang:
 
If you have not done any film developing start with black and white. It is fairly easy and very tolerant on temperature and timing. In fact I usually give at least a minute longer than recommended.

All you need is a developing tank, chemicals, thermometer, a measuring cylinder and a changing bag to load the tank. No need for a darkroom to develop film.

Colour is more demanding. The temperature and timing has to be spot on for good consistant results. To use the Jobo tank you load the film the same way but then put the special Jobo tank in the temperature controlled water bath and switch on. The developing tank is then rotated at a constant speed and kept at a constant temperature with the thermostatically controlled water bath. Another advantage of the system is that you use a lot less chemicals; only about half as much as a conventional tank.

There is a tank which you can load in daylight and even process a few frames from a roll and put the rest of the roll back in the camera. Made by Agfa they are no longer available but can be found secondhand. We have one and I used one a lot in the past; this type of tank is very economical on chemicals too.

Ernie
 
cherryrig said:
I'll be staring to do B&W at home as soon as I get paid from work to buy all the kit and chemicals

2nd hand Darkroom a good place to get some from?? Cheers

EDIT - Also you know those Jobo processer do you just stick the chemicals, set the time and thats it?
Click to expand...


No, well actually it depends on the model, but generally its just a gloryfied temp controlled bucket of water, with a few labour saving agitation devices.
It just keeps the chemicals at the same 38 degree or whatever temp, mine has a motorised drum that sits semi submerged in the water for 8x10 print development, might even be 8x10 film.....I dunno:shrug:
 
jennyandernie said:
To use the Jobo tank you load the film the same way but then put the special Jobo tank in the temperature controlled water bath and switch on. The developing tank is then rotated at a constant speed and kept at a constant temperature with the thermostatically controlled water bath. Another advantage of the system is that you use a lot less chemicals; only about half as much as a conventional tank.



Ernie
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I just had one of those light bulb moments after reading you're post:D
I've never used this auto colourtherm, it was £12.50 so no instructions, I always thought the drum (the kit also has an ordinary 1x120 reel tank with a magnet on the bottom to stop it floating about), anyway, I always thought the long motorised drum was for prints only, but reading you're post I can see if I put 6 reels in it, it would only use a small amount of developer to process them all, because the chemicals would sit in the bottom and submerge the film in it as it went round, rather than like the 1 reel tank that submerges the whole film all the time....is this correct ?





I wish you'd all shaddap, I don't want to get into all that E6 stuff....damit :schtum:
 
Joxby. We have had two of the Jobo tanks; bought them both second hand from eBay. The first one was a CPE-2 which we sold and bought a second hand CPP-2 with lift. You are right in that you can use them for prints or films.

The long film tanks (or short tanks with an extension piece) can be used for a number of films at once; we usually try to do 4 films at a time. You can also put 2 120 films or one 220 film in the tanks. Altogther it works out much more economical.

We do not do a lot of print processing now but have one of the Patterson Orbital Colour Print Processors with a motorised base. These are very easy to use and can be used for large format sheet film processing.

Ernie
 
I think my drum is a bit longer than you're Jobo drum, it looks like it would carry at least 6 120's.
What is the purpose of the lift, I've seen them on Jobos, but I'm not sure how useful it is......probably because I've never tried it...:lol:

Light bulb moment #2 - automatically stops developement via the timer ??

*guesses* it doesn't just lift it out of the water, it lifts it vertical, so the developer sits in the bottom of the drum, no longer in contact with the film.

55fsrr.jpg
 
The lift is used to raise the tank when time is up. The advantage is that the chemicals run out and you can add the next stage without disconnecting the drum from the rotating mechanism. If you do as I do and mount the apperatus over a sink then the whole process is much cleaner and easier. You do not uncouple the drom until the process is complete; even the washing can be done as the drum has multiple speeds.
 
Thanks Ernie, suppose I'm just gonna have to knock the dust off it and give it a go..:thumbs:
 
I could always just take it off your hands Joxers. Think of all the messing about. :shrug:
 
CT said:
I could always just take it off your hands Joxers. Think of all the messing about. :shrug:
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3 flippin years that's been there, finding out it will do at least 6 rolls in that drum has set the ball rolling, I thought it only did a normal one roll tank, still....its a lot of slide to cock up in one go :lol:
I'd have given it away yesterday.
There are still plenty of bargains on Fleabay if you broaden the search outside Jobo's

s'Ernies fault anyway :lol:

on topic.....:suspect:.....CCimaging
 
There is a company in Bradford called ProAm they charge £1.99 for a standard 120 Film
This is a professional Lab with the latest technology
If you have gone to Medium format to get better results then its not worth doing it yourself at this cost Because if you process the film wrong it don't get better
 
I agree that the pro labs are hardly likely to get it wrong; though they have been known to, talk to any wedding pro from the days of film. If you are a pro and need reliable fast results then use a pro lab but if an amateur photographer then it very satisfying to do the complete photographic process yourself.

In my opinion it is the difference between a photographer and a happy holiday snapper.

Ernie
 
Paul Richards said:
There is a company in Bradford called ProAm they charge £1.99 for a standard 120 Film
This is a professional Lab with the latest technology
If you have gone to Medium format to get better results then its not worth doing it yourself at this cost Because if you process the film wrong it don't get better
Click to expand...

E6 processors are pretty thin on the ground in our neck of the woods, I don't know ProAm, but £1.99 is cheap for walk-in processing, I'd give em a shot but there's no reference to E6, or any processing on their site, just digital printing.
 
Just a general response regarding 120. I still process 120 BW in Patterson tanks and I believe Ilford-Harman are distributing them at least overseas now - try the Harman site I'm sure they have links. MrCad sells second-hand gear.
Any colour stuff is too much hassle to bother with so I post mine to http://www.the-darkroom.co.uk
I've used them for years and they're always really quick and good quality.
 
Well, I just bought a nice used Jobo CPE-2 processor, so hopefully, I've got all the bases covered as far as film processing is concerned. I don't mind film processing too much, and I hate waiting for lab results - I just can't be arsed with the whole printing rigmarole. At least this way, I can be scanning my fim shots on the same day I took them.
 
CT said:
Well, I just bought a nice used Jobo CPE-2 processor, so hopefully, I've got all the bases covered as far as film processing is concerned. I don't mind film processing too much, and I hate waiting for lab results - I just can't be arsed with the whole printing rigmarole. At least this way, I can be scanning my fim shots on the same day I took them.
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I must say CT thats a pritty big out put with chemicals etc! are you starting up your own mail service ;) :lol:
 
LOL. I hate doing my own processing, never mind someone else's. ;)

The Jobo comes with all the chemicals, and it looks like it should be very economical on chemicals compared to hand tank processing?
 
CT said:
Well, I just can't be arsed with the whole printing rigmarole.
Click to expand...


ah...but...y'see :rules:

1. can't be arsed processing b/w rigmarole
done that now
2. can't be arsed processing colour rigmarole
done that now
3. can't be arsed printing
...(to be continued)...

:lol:
 
PMSL. I can see where you're going with it - but it's not gonna happen. :lol:
 
If you got that one off ebay from swindon CT the congrats you got a bargain, I was watching it myself but funds wont allow this year, besides I need more glass and some inspiration before I start worrying about my own developing.
 
It was the guy from Wiltshire. He's now trying to get me to meet him halfway somemwhere. Doesn't want to post it - can't find a box! :cuckoo:
 
He's found a box now and posted it anyway. :D
 
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