Any advice is good right now.

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soupdragon

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OK, so I have a big camera, some big film and plenty of chemicals.

The question is, what is the best way to process 8x10 colour film?

I did buy a Stearman press tank but it does not look very E6 friendly.

What size of Paterson tank do I need to try the "Taco Method" of processing? Is this actually a real thing?

Is the Paterson Orbital a good option? They seem impossibly expensive but can be had second hand.
 
I recently bought an(other) Orbital for about 65 quid almost new from a dealer, so just keep your eyes open and don't be too dismayed by the asking prices of various ebay chancers. Honestly though, doing 6-bath E6 one sheet at a time in an Orbital floating in warm water will get very old very quickly, especially if you're rotating it by hand. You're looking at standing there for 45mins+ for each sheet for a full cycle of E6 - fine for 5x4" if you're getting 6 shots done at once......but christ that would really drag for single 10x8" sheets. Similarly you can probably find any old Ilfocrome 10x8" print drum and stick a single sheet in and roll it by hand floating in warm water, but again, you're going to be doing one sheet at a time.

One option is pick up an old Jobo CPE2 type processor and the 2500-series drum which holds two 6-sheet 5x4" reels (I forget the number code) then try one of the various third-party 10x8" reels which fit those tanks and take 3-4 sheets at a time. Generally speaking the Jobo system is bulletproof for 5x4" E6 (done literally hundreds of sheets problem-free in mine) but the only sticking point is finding a 10x8" reel which isn't just some 3D printed junk and will give even development with no scratches. Colour 10x8" is too dear a do to be mucking about with untested stuff. Some people will say you can use the Jobo 10x8 print drum and wedge the film into the ridges on the tank and do one sheet at a time, but I've never tried this because my bigger drum is the film drum with no ridges. Other than that you could go for an larger processor that will take the 3005 Expert drum but you're then in some serious coin that will make buying a dozen ebay Orbitals look like the deal of the century.
 
soupdragon said:
OK, so I have a big camera, some big film and plenty of chemicals.

The question is, what is the best way to process 8x10 colour film?

I did buy a Stearman press tank but it does not look very E6 friendly.

What size of Paterson tank do I need to try the "Taco Method" of processing? Is this actually a real thing?

Is the Paterson Orbital a good option? They seem impossibly expensive but can be had second hand.
Click to expand...
To process colour film properly you do need proper temp controlled chemicals and processing. Find a decent CPE2 and the 2840 drum with the Cog Lid. Even then you'd only be able to process a single 8X10 at a time.
 
Here’s two tanks that will hold 10x8 film. The Jobo tank will hold two, but needs care in loading as the film must be loaded between two shallow ribs. I have no experience of using the Paterson tank for 10x8.
The “taco method” with rubber bands, is only needed when several sheets are placed into the same tank, to prevent them overlapping.
In both the situations above, the spring of the film holds it in place.
The Paterson Orbital was designed for processing Cibachrome,,which clung to the base by surface tension. Film must have access to the back for the chemicals, to remove the anti-halation layer, so it needs modification to make this possible. The modifications are well documented on the web. The Stearman tank is an updated version, which you should research before getting an Orbital.
The real answer is the Jobo Expert drum. If you think the Orbital is expensive, sit down before you look at the Jobo.
All the best with your endeavours.
IMG_0197.jpegIMG_0197.jpeg
 
soupdragon said:
OK, so I have a big camera, some big film and plenty of chemicals.

The question is, what is the best way to process 8x10 colour film?

I did buy a Stearman press tank but it does not look very E6 friendly.

What size of Paterson tank do I need to try the "Taco Method" of processing? Is this actually a real thing?

Is the Paterson Orbital a good option? They seem impossibly expensive but can be had second hand.
Click to expand...


I'm late to this, but have been contemplating the same question before I sink money into a 10x8 camera (I already have lenses that will work).

My conclusion is that for a single sheet, or even two, I would use trays.

For more than 2 sheets, I would use hangers and an old 3 1/2 gallon Kodak rubber tanks for development, and trays for stop and fix. I primarily use Pyrocat-HD that I mix myself and even at 3 1/2 gallons developer per session, it's still pretty cost effective. Of course, rubber gloves, eye protection and a lab apron are a given.

The open question is how to wash the film. I'm thinking another 3 1/2 gal rubber tank with a hose barb installed on the bottom to which I'd connect a hose with running water would do the trick.
 
While it's probably 25 years, I'd guess, since I last process C41 or E6 films I would not go down a Paterson Orbital route, and I do use one.

I've been shooting 10x8 B&W for 20 years, (5x4 for 47 years), use trays or a Paterson Orbital, for 7x5 & 10x8 but if I used colour film I'd have it lab processed, it's just so expensive anyway so why add in extra risks. Colour 5x4 E6/C41 and smaller, no problems.

If heavily committed, I'd get a Jobo CPE2, or something similarly automated. I began colour reversal processing late 1960s with Ferrania film & their reversal process, Pavelle for colour prints, later loads of E4 (E3 process) just Paterson or Jobo 2000 Inversion tanks.

I found while I could easily process 5x4 E6 films, it was better to have them lab processed.

Ian
 
Ian Grant said:
While it's probably 25 years, I'd guess, since I last process C41 or E6 films I would not go down a Paterson Orbital route, and I do use one.

I've been shooting 10x8 B&W for 20 years, (5x4 for 47 years), use trays or a Paterson Orbital, for 7x5 & 10x8 but if I used colour film I'd have it lab processed, it's just so expensive anyway so why add in extra risks. Colour 5x4 E6/C41 and smaller, no problems.

If heavily committed, I'd get a Jobo CPE2, or something similarly automated. I began colour reversal processing late 1960s with Ferrania film & their reversal process, Pavelle for colour prints, later loads of E4 (E3 process) just Paterson or Jobo 2000 Inversion tanks.

I found while I could easily process 5x4 E6 films, it was better to have them lab processed.

Ian
Click to expand...

What is your current preference for 10x8 monochrome film, the Paterson or trays?
 
My Stearman tank arrived today.
It looks like it will work but I'm not sure about keeping the lid in place.
I have stolen a couple of the old lady's hair band, hopefully that'l do the trick.

I think the design needs a dose of looking at.
 
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