Paterson Universal tank and 2 reels-#115
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If you're in charge of B, CineStill DF96 monobath was used for this W film. All of this is accomplished by a single chemical. For a novice like me, it was extremely simple.
Approximately 500ml, which, depending on your developer and fixer (Power or Concentrate), is quite effective. I find that the recommended 290ml is close to what I need for one reel. For a single reel, I use 350ml. Pour water into the tank with no film in it and measure how much is needed to submerge everything, plus a little extra in case some of the liquid gets caught somewhere in the tank or spills during the pouring. I highly recommend this product, and best of luck with your development!
There was a gasket in previous models, which was required because the seal was not light tight; however, there is no risk of a light leak in these new designs. When I first used mine, I was blown away by the design; it appears to be too loose to be effective, but it allows no light to reach your film.
Plastic
Selected User Reviews For Paterson Universal tank and 2 reels-#115
Every time I use a stainless steel reel, my film gets messed up and I lose a few images. These reels are simple to assemble and operate. After about 6 months of use, the reels jam about 4/5ths of the way in, so I gave them four stars. This would not be an issue if you used 24 shot rolls, but I use 36. The bearing is fine, and the plastic is free of burrs; it simply jams. Purchasing the reels separately would cost the same as purchasing this package. That said, I've placed another order, but I can't give it five stars because the reels don't last indefinitely. It's still a great choice.
It's a pity that the reels aren't better. This tank is capable of completing the task at hand. The only thing that keeps it from being a 5 star is the reels, which are light proof, easy to use, and at a reasonable price. It takes more than a little practice to get film on them; they are slightly easier to use than the old metal reels, but not by much. If your film is thin and flimsy, it's nearly impossible to keep it from jamming against the reel and creasing, and you'll have to trim the corners in the dark. There are better reels on the market that will fit this tank and perform much better. I haven't switched to them yet, and I can't believe I've been fighting them for so long. There's a huge difference between the two. So get the tank; it'll do the job just fine, but throw away the reels. You want the reels with the wide loading ramp, which have tiny little tabs that are difficult to feel in the dark. To give you an example, I bought some from Adorama and they fit perfectly on this tank, which is better than the one offered by Adorama, but the reels are nowhere near as good. br>br>Get different reels to save yourself some time and frustration.
This is the first time I've used a reel that isn't made of stainless steel. In a darkroom, there are a lot of moving parts to keep track of, and it doesn't appear to be light tight, but it developed three rolls in the time it would have taken me to do one with the stainless reel. It's super simple to load, and the ability to shoot two 35mm rolls at once is fantastic. I'm planning on shooting 120 film through it soon, as I recently purchased my first medium format camera. The volume markings on the bottom seemed to match the amount of liquid needed to cover the film perfectly.
Likes:
: Chemicals can be exchanged quickly thanks to the tank's design.
: It starts to fill from the bottom and works its way up. A large built-in funnel and a fill tube are included.
: After chemicals have been placed in the tank, it should be simple to determine their true temperature.
: I'm eager to try loading film using the ratcheting motion. Before I used film, I overcame the following issues: br>br>
: One of the ratcheting bearings was not fully seated in its cage and remained stationary. I pushed it a little with a thin screwdriver, and it now freely moves in its cage.
: The snap lid is a little stiff, so be careful when closing it. This isn't a concern for me. Simply press down in the center and run your fingers around the perimeter to seal. It'll loosen up with time. I'm hoping it will last a long time.
: Both of the reels had been overtightened. I had to twist the sides of the plastic with what I thought was excessive twisting force in order for it to expand to 120 width. For more information, look up the instructions on the internet.
: It wasn't immediately obvious that the funnel needed to be twisted to secure it. Tolerances are limited, and the product is stiff, but it should last a long time.
You can't always rely on developing tanks, reels, and other equipment that you don't keep up with. There's always the chance that whoever used them before you didn't clean them thoroughly enough, contaminating your film and causing it to develop incorrectly. I used to have a metal tank and reels, but I realized that these adjustable plastic reels, while a little more fragile if mistreated, are infinitely easier to load. I decided to purchase this kit so that I would always have my own equipment on hand in the event that I needed to develop some film. Because I lack the space or resources to set up my own darkroom at home, I rent time in one. When I use the darkroom, I bring everything I need (tank, reels, grain focuser, thermometer, filters, etc. ) and don't have to worry about something I'm missing.
This Patterson tank and reels are far superior in my opinion. The only thing I would suggest is being very careful when dumping liquids because a hard upside down shake will send the funnel, along with your film spools, flying into the sink. Please do not inquire as to how I know this. So just keep a finger over your lip while shaking out the last few drops of developer, and you'll be fine.
The plastic reels have always been a pet peeve of mine. In daylight, I can't get it to feed properly, and the small BB that's supposed to drive the film tends to scuff the edges and cause kinks. I simply feed it like I used to do with my old Nikkor stainless reels. It's difficult, but I think I'll be able to do it more easily than getting it to self-feed. I now regret purchasing this item, especially since I recently purchased Nikkor stainless reels and a tank on Ebay for $10 less than I paid for it. The Paterson would be ideal if I could get the reels to work, and the fact that they are adjustable is a plus because I plan to shoot some 127 roll film in the future.
When it comes to developing film at home, this is pretty much the gold standard. Even in the dark, the reels are simple to operate. If this is your first time developing film at home, I recommend practicing in the light with some dud film before developing your first roll of film. If you want to develop film at home, buy this kit because the lid clicks in nicely and the agitator is pleasant. It can be used with two 35mm rolls or one 120mm roll.
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