Developing sheet film in the Stearman SP-8x10 daylight tray

Developing sheet film in the Stearman SP-8x10 daylight tray in the LU darkroom.

[@c.augustin]

My experience with this daylight tray is mixed. Loading might be easy in the darkroom, but not so much using a changing bag or even a changing cube - it might be easier with a large changing tent. But my biggest problem was uneven development and visible stripes on the negatives (mainly with color negative), and I think the flow inside the tray isn't ideal due to these pieces in the lid that are there to hold down the film. And 4x5 tend to glide through under the holders/dividers in the middle (with my SP 8x10). I changed to a Jobo 2520 for 4x5 and to rotary development, and my problems are gone (I also have an SP 445, and I had lots of problems with this one, too). I might go back to the SP 8x10 if I go 8x10 at some point (still undecided ;-)).

[@lensman5762]

This the modern reincarnation of the Patterson print development tray of the early 1980s. I still have mind and it still works beautifully. It can do a single 8X10, 4x4X5, and even 2x5X7 negatives depending how you set it up. Hope this one is not pricy.

[@GreggObst]

I'll add that these work well for two sheets of 4x10 as well as two sheets of 5x7, one sheet of 8x10. .

[@nickfanzo]

Just bought one for my 8x10 work

[@waldenpict]

and it works well ?

[@nickfanzo]

@@waldenpict perfect- no issues so far. Shot a lot since then too

[@JasonRenoux]

The dry run demo shows the 4x5 negs going over one another. If they get stuck during the dev time, they won't be usable. What prevents them from doing this in this method? I have the 4x5 stearman and considering upgrading my camera to an 8x10 so very interested in using this for all format. cheers

[@4570Govt]

There are dividers included with the tray that are supposed to go into the tray when used with 4x5, to keep those sheets separated. I'm surprised they were not shown, despite the middle divider being used.

[@c.augustin]

Yes there are dividers put on the lid - but they didn't work reliably with my SP 8x10 (the lid is slightly bent upwards at the center).

[@Kref3]

Thanks a lot for the video. I am currently thinking about getting a Stenopeika Air Force 8x10 after having used only 4x5 so far and I am looking for development options. This one looks really interesting, especially since it seems to work nicely with 4x5. This thing is - as the name suggest - made for one sheet of 8x10 film.You have a divider in the middle to separate it into two compartments for 4x10 film. But you did not subdivide it any further. When you showed with the open lid you could actually see the two sheets on one side going over each other. I assume they will stick eventually and the lower sheet will not get developed properly. So since there is a middle divider, I would have assumed that there are also additional dividers to separate the tray to four compartments of 4x5. If these are missing, this would be a big "no thanks" from me. Or are they included and you just decided to not use them? If yes, why not? If if comes with the additional dividers, you could probably develop 8 sheets of 4x5 or 2 sheets of 8x10 at a time by putting them back to back. I always do that when developing paper and I have to do several identical prints. Figure out how to do it, then expose all papers, then develop them after everything has been done, two sheets back to back in one tray. This of course with open trays in red light

[@chriscard6544]

it comes with more dividers

[@ilichcastillo]

Sorry if it´s a silly question but I was wondering if its possible stand developments (8x10) on it.

[@waldenpict]

please, what exactly is the "photo flow in the tank" ??…

[@alphascorpii185]

photo flo, not photo flow. It's a final bath of a wetting agent that is used to wet the film evenly so it can dry evenly too, without any trace. It's very useful if your water is hard.

[@myronhensel]

I hear ilford films do no recommend a pre wash. Is this true? Will it hurt it if I pre wash ilford film?

[@nickfanzo]

Don’t pre wash your film unless the manufacturer says to do so. Hobbyists love to make up their own nonsense, it isn’t needed at all. If it was supposed to be done, the people that made the film would tell you

[@chriscard6544]

@@nickfanzo 😁