Ah, that sweet time of the year, when it’s too dark to do anything outside and I return to my lab to enjoy the sweet bliss of carcinogenic chemistry fumes and eyestrain.
But something is a little different this year. For one, I remembered that I have a blog I never write in – and for another, my Jobo kit has been expanded again.
My CPA came with two film-friendly tanks: a 4106 and a 4322. The 4322 is a small tank, designed for one 120 reel (2×120 or 1×220 rolls) or two 135 reels (that each take one roll). The 4106 is a rather more versatile tank that accepts 5×135, 3×120 or 2×5-4 sheet film reels. Following a slight accident involving the “buy it now” button on eBay, combined with doing some research for a friend, my collection (and understanding) has expanded significantly. So lets have a look at the complete collection.
Quick note on compatibility:
It should be noted that not all tanks can be used on all Jobo systems. With the exception of the System 3000 – all tanks will work on a CPA, CPP, CPA2, CPP2 or CPP3. In theory, the same compatibility should be true of the 4100 processor that preceded the CPA, though having only ever heard of one once, I can’t say for certain.
The CPA and CPP do not support the Lift accessory, and as such are incompatible with the Expert tanks. Non-expert tanks with cog lids can generally be used without a lift on any compatible processor, as long as they have a magnet on, and you don’t turn them upside-down.
The CPE, CPE2 and CPE3 are limited to a 600ml total chemistry because of the weaker motor in these processors. This means that they are unable to handle larger tanks (such as the 4323) because the high drag from the chemicals would strain the motor. The CPE series are compatible with all tanks from the 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 ranges that require 600ml or less of chemistry. In practice, this is only a significant issue for sheet film photographers, as this generally limits CPE users to the current (and expensive) 2509/2509n 5×4 reels in a 2520 or 2521 tank.
The System 3000 (also called ‘expert’) tanks are used for processing paper and sheet film in large sizes with exceptional consistency. Designed for the ATL series Autolab processors, they will only work in an Autolab, or a CPA2/CPP2/CPP3 with lift.
Finally, the Autolab processors are only compatible with those tanks that support the lift accessory. These are the 1500, 2500 and 3000 series tanks with cog lid (plus 2800 series paper drums, for those using it for RA4 or very large sheet film). This means that 1000, 2000 and other tanks fitted with inversion lids may not be used with the Autolab.
The Good Old Days
Always two there are, a master and an apprentice. In the early days of Jobo, these were the System 2000 (or “Professional Series”) tanks, and the System 1000 (or “Amateur”) tanks. Like the current 2500/1500, the 2000 was a larger diameter tank. This gives a theoretically more even development for film, and allows processing of sheet film. Both tank types were usable in all processors (subject to the volume limits of the CPE’s), but parts were not interchangeable.
System 2000:
The System 2000 tanks are not intercompatible with the 2500 series in any way. They use a different design of magnet, a different diameter and different reels. Most reels and inversion tanks are given a “2000” designation, while tanks built or converted for rotary use are given a “4000” designation. We’ll start with these:
| Model | Capacity | 16mm Reels | 135 Reels | 127 Reels | 120 Reels | 5×4 Sheet Reels |
| 4321 | 275ml | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4322 | 400ml | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4323 | 950ml | 10 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 4324 | 250ml | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2400 | 250ml | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4106 | 960ml | 10 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 4107 | 400ml | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Note on reels: “Duoset” reels have a red plastic pin, and allow two films to be loaded onto a single reel. This allows 2×126 films for each 135 reel, 2×110 films for each 16mm reel, 2×127 or 2×120 films on each of those reels. Additionally, the 5×4 reels can take 6 sheets.
Four tanks are oddities here. The 4324 doesn’t follow the increasing size of the previous three models. It is (along with the 2400) in fact a daylight tank, designed to be loaded by someone without access to a darkroom, dark tent, changing bag, or wardrobe with a duvet over their head. Needless to say, they are uncommon today. The other major oddity is the 4106/4107 tanks. The 4106 tank is the standard tank I’ve been using since I got my Jobo CPA. The tank is actually a 2336 inversion tank, with a (uneven) band epoxy-welded around it to rest on the processor’s bearings, a magnet epoxy-welded on top of the tank capacity writing, and a new label stuck on with rotary capacities inscribed on it. I have never had access to a 4107 to verify the same is true, but my working theory is that the 4100 series tanks were modified inversion tanks that served as prototypes with the early Jobo processors, before being replaced with more “finished” designs with the 4300 series tanks.
It’s obvious based on my mention of the 2336 inversion tank, that other tanks exist than the ones above. To my current knowledge though, the above are the only tanks in the System 2000 that can be used with a rotary processor. As such, I see no need to detail the inversion tanks.
More useful though, would be a list of the reels. To my knowledge, there are four common types of reels in the System 2000. None of these reels can be used on any other System, and no reels from any other System can be used in the 2000 tanks. The four common reels are the 2001a 16mm Duo-set, the 2001 Uni-set (designed for 1×135, 1×126, 1×120, 1×127 or 1×220), the 2004 Duo-set (identical but with a flexible latch to support 2×120 or 2×127 films) and the 2021 reel that takes 6xsheets of 5×4 film.
There are also other sheet film reels designed for 6×6, 6×9 and 6×12 sheets. These are rare, and the film rarer still – but they bear mentioning! They are slightly shorter than the 2021 5×4 reel. One reel fits in a 4322 for any type. The 4323 can take two 9cm reels or three 6cm reels.
System 1000:
Intended as a ‘consumer’ alternative to the System 2000 tanks, the 1000 has both strengths and weaknesses to contend with. The System 1000 can only develop film up to 220 – it does not support sheet film, meaning someone with a 1000 system who needs to develop 5×4 suddenly needs to buy not only a 2021 reel, but also a System 2000 tank to put it in. Additionally, as mentioned earlier – the smaller diameter does offer potential risks to evenness of film development between the start and end of each roll. In practice, these effects are generally imperceptible. The diameter and reels of the System 1000 are also shared with the System 1500, though the later reels are slightly different in design. This means that these weaknesses are shared with the newer tanks.
There is however a significant advantage to the System 1000, especially for consistent and heavy shooters – The System 1000 uses only 100ml of chemistry per roll, half that of the System 2000 and a third of a Paterson or Ilford tank. This makes it very economical to use pricey developers such as DD-X in a one-shot manner, even at stock or near-stock dilutions. Additionally to this, the small chemistry volume means that much less strain is put on the motor. This gives a maximum load of 10 simultaneous 135 films, (though I’ve yet to try test-fitting this as I don’t have any System 1000 reels) 12 rolls of 120, or – a maximum of 16 rolls of 127 film in a single cycle. This presents an enormous time saving for photographers developing using standardized processes like E6 and C41, as well as photographers who maintain a consistent emulsion, exposure and development process.
| Model | Capacity | 16mm Reels | 135 Reels | 127 Reels | 120 Reels | 5×4 Reels |
| 4311 | 250ml | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4312 | 250ml | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 4313 | 500ml | 10 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 4314 | 1000ml | 20 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
Note on reels: As with System 2000, “Duoset” reels have a red plastic pin, and allow two films to be loaded onto a single reel. This allows 2×126 films for each 135 reel, 2×110 films for each 16mm reel, 2×127 or 2×120 films on each of those reels.
Much like the System 2000 tanks, there are also System 1000 tanks with a 1xxx number. These are tanks with no magnet, that are not compatible with any Jobo Processor, and so have not been itemized here.
The Brave New World
The System 1000 and System 2000 tanks were Jobo’s first entry into rotary processing, existing designs that were modified and tweaked to suit the new machines. With the launch of the CPA2, CPP2 and CPE2 processors and their Lift and Autolab accessories; it was necessary to redesign the tanks. The new tanks are built to be highly modular, allowing users to start small and build up with extension tubes; as well as reuse tanks for both magnet-driven and lift-driven processing.
System 2500:
System 2500 is the current “Professional” tank system for developing roll film, and the standard tank system for 5×4 sheet. It is not interchangeable with the System 2000, as mentioned above, however the System 2500 does share a number of components with it’s contemporaries. The magnets used on System 2500 are the same as the System 1500, and the tank bodies are similar to the JoboDrum 2800 paper tanks, and are occasionally interchangeable.
The System 2500 introduces the 2502 reel to replace the 2001 and 2004, as well as the 2509 (and later 2509n) 5×4 reels that replace the oval 2021. Again, these reels are not backwards compatible to the System 2000.
While the System 2500 can be extended in the same way as the System 1500 below, this is not a typical use case. The large diameter of the tanks (even compared to the System 2000) means that chemical volumes are large.
| Model | Capacity | 135 Reels | 120 Reels | 5×4 Reels |
| 2513 | 170ml | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2520/ 2521/ 2523 | 270ml | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2550/ 2551/ 2553 | 640ml | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2561/ 2563 | 850ml | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| +2560 | 850ml | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 2583 | 1250ml | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| 2593 | 1500ml | 12 | 7 | 4 |
Only the 2513 and 252x tanks are compatible with the Jobo CPE2 due to the 600ml limit. The only expansion in the system is already larger than the 600ml limit by itself, making expansion impossible. Similarly, this extension combined with a 252x is above the limit of a CPA or CPP – limiting them to use with the Autolab processors. For 135 users on a CPA/CPP, the mid-size tanks can be more efficient than System 2000, and the 252x remains the only practical option for 5×4 on a CPE. To my knowledge, there are no reels that offer 16mm or 127 processing in a System 2500 tank.
As a recommendation, separate 2520 and 256x tanks make a good kit for a CPA, however for a CPE I would advise using the 2520 only for 5×4 and retaining the System 1500 for other formats. Similarly, for high-throughput one-shot users, System 1000 remains the most efficient system for developing roll film both in terms of chemistry and time.
System 1500:
The System 1500 is the standard tank system for the CPE2, CPE2+ and CPE3. Based on the System 1000, they are compatible with the same 1001 reels, and add their own backwards-compatible 1501 reels – again available in both Uni-set and Duo-set versions. The 1500 system also adds Hewes-designed Stainless Steel reels. The original versions (1555 for 135, 1557 for 120 and 1559 for 220) require special cores (1561, 1562, 1563, 1564) to be used, while the later 1565 (135) and 1566 (120) steel reels fit on the normal plastic cores.
| Model | Capacity | 16mm Reels | 135 Reels | 127 Reels | 120 Reels | 5×4 Reels |
| 1510 | 140 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1520 | 240 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1540 | 470 | 8 | 4 | 3? | 2 | 0 |
| 1526 | 570 | 10 | 5 | 4? | 3 | 0 |
| +1530 | 330 | 6 | 3 | 2? | 2 | 0 |
Note on reels: As with System 2000, “Duoset” reels have a red plastic pin, and allow two films to be loaded onto a single reel. This allows 2×126 films for each 135 reel, 2×110 films for each 16mm reel, 2×127 or 2×120 films on each of those reels. Again, 127 numbers (as for the System 1000) are guesstimates as I don’t have the kit to test properly. It should be noted that there are no System 1500 reels that support 127 – however System 1000 reels can usually be used – depending on the individual reel.
Jobo’s maximum combination recommendations are the 1526 (a 1520 with a 1530 attached) for the Jobo CPE series, and a 1520+1530+1530 combination for the CPA or CPP processors. It can be seen from the table above that these numbers make the System 1500 tanks less efficient for use with a magnet drive than the System 1000 tanks – at least when filled to capacity. The maximum capacity of the System 1000 is 10/16/12 rolls of film, and both the 4313 and 4314 tanks use only 100ml of chemistry per 135 film. Meanwhile, the maximum combinations above give 4/6?/4 films on a CPE or 8/12?/10 films on a CPA/CPP – and the most efficient System 1500 tank uses 113ml of chemistry per 135 film.
I have also been informed by a major Jobo dealer in the UK that 1530 extensions are not intended for frequent removal once they have been assembled. Consequently, once a small tank has been “upgraded”, it becomes expensive to use it for single-shot development (typical of black and white) unless the expanded tank is always filled to capacity. While this is also true of a 4314, their non-modular nature makes it less likely that a person will only own a single large tank.
System 3000 (Expert system)
These are mainly intended for prints, but can be used for large-format film. The 3006 and 3010 particularly, are designed specifically for 5×4 film and can be used on a CPA2, CPP2 or CPP3 which have been fitted with a lift. They should provide the best 5×4 quality of any Jobo system. However, the cost of a single 3006 drum is larger than the cost of a complete magnet-driven processor with tanks and reels for both 4×5 and roll film – meaning that they should only be considered for the most unforgiving commercial requirements.
Conclusion
Most of the practical conclusions of this article have already been said, but I suppose I should sum up. First off – there is no value in buying into every single system. For most users, a single system will suffice – 1000/1500 for roll film, 2000/2500 for those who also develop 5×4. For high-volumes where the risk of slight variation can be countenanced, adding a System 1000 roll film kit to a 2000/2500/3000 series sheet film kit is an effective way to increase throughput with a CPA or CPP series processor.
For the majority of us, what system we use will depend almost singularly on what our decades-old used film processor arrived with. In my case, the System 2000 tanks and reels that arrived with my original CPA decided the matter. Compared to a maximum System 1000 kit, I can develop only half the film at a time and I use twice as many chemicals – however I don’t tend to hoard quite that many rolls of exposed film, nor shoot fast enough to be able to develop ten rolls at a time on a frequent basis. Likewise, working with D-76, assuming a minimum of 50ml stock solution per film for complete development – dilution would be 1+1 for System 1000, or 1+3 for System 2000 – both perfectly valid. Further, as the agitation of the processor is automated, the actual development time is not a significant detractor compared to the more hands-on time of loading, washing, fixing, drying. So for now, my trusty 4106 will be plenty.
Contributions
MrAkai on Reddit pointed out that the max capacity tank for a CPE is a 1526, not a 1540. Thanks!
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