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CPP-2 and CPA-2 Processors
Contents:
- Visit the CPP-2/CPA-2 Online Gallery
- Product Summary
- Key Features
- Technical Specifications/Capacities
- Processing Costs
- What's a less expensive alternative? What's the next step up?
- Where to Buy?
Product Summary:
The CPP-2 and CPA-2 Processors are very similar. They both provide lab-quality processing of film and prints. Both use a recirculating water bath to temper the chemicals, and both have the same maximum capacities. These processors are designed for advanced amateurs and small labs.
What're the differences between the two? There are four differences:
- The CPP-2 has a cold-water solenoid to allow you to either cool the process down below room temperature, or to quickly lower the temperature of the water bath (i.e. changing from a C-41 process at 38 deg C to an RA-4 process at 35 deg C).
- The CPP-2 uses an integrated digital thermometer which allows it to hold the temperature of the process to within +/- 0.1 deg C. The CPA-2 uses a different temperature probe which holds the temperature to within +/- 0.2 deg C. This is really only an issue with the C-41 process.
- It's much easier to set the temperature on the CPP-2. You program the temperature using three knobs for the tens, ones, and tenths of degrees. With the CPA-2, you dial in the temperature with one knob, then tweak it a little after the temperature stabilizes.
- The CPP-2 displays the water bath temperature on a digital LED readout. The CPA-2 comes with a traditional color thermometer.
Key Features
Why do the CPA-2 and CPP-2 work?
There are primarily three important variables when developing film and prints. The three are time, temperature, and agitation. As you may or may not know, when developing black and white film by hand without a processor, you change the development time based on changes in room temperature. With B/W film, there is a set formula (for a given chemical developer/dilution) that dictates any increase in temperature will result in a decrease in time, and vice-versa. It's important to realize that this is not true with color film. There is no uniform correction with respect to time and temperature, and therefore it's difficult to develop color film consistently without a processor that controls the temperature accurately. The following is an explanation of how the CPA-2 and CPP-2 handle the three variables.
Time: The CPA-2 and CPP-2 Processors do not automatically time the filling and draining of the chemical and rinse steps. In order to achieve the correct timing, you will need a wristwatch, or a manual darkroom timer. The way you fill and drain chemicals differs with whether or not you're using the processor with the optional Lift Accessory. (See section below regarding "How" the CPA-2 and CPP-2 work.)
For me, the only alternative to non-standard BW processing -- anytime. Very good process-accuracy, and the Expert Drums are easy to use. - Ralf Graebner
Click here to visit the CPP-2/CPA-2 Gallery.
Temperature: The CPA-2 and CPP-2 Processors use a water-bath to ensure even tempering of the chemicals, and the tank or drum that contains the exposed paper or film. This is important with B/W processing to help you be more consistent -- but it's not critical. For people who only develop B/W materials, the biggest advantages are:
- Daylight Operation: You don't need to install the CPA-2 or CPP-2 in a darkroom. Once the lids are closed on the tanks, they are completely light-tight.
- Small footprint: The CPA-2 and CPP-2 are relatively compact machines (for machines that are capable of developing 20x24" prints). They have a footprint of 38x15" (LxW).
- Easier to deal with chemicals: The CPA-2 and CPP-2 use a contained system whereby chemicals are only exposed to the air during very short delivery times which cuts down on odors and oxidation.
- Versatility: One processor is used to develop 35mm, 120, and 220 roll film, as well as up to 18 sheets of 4x5" film, and prints up to 20x24". Another big advantage to these processors is the ability to use JOBO Expert Drums, which yield the highest quality sheet-film processing available today.
Agitation: The CPA-2 and CPP-2 Processors use a bi-directional rotation system to agitate the solutions. It's very important that the rotation is bi-directional because it prevents the chemicals from forming flow patterns which could result in improper processing.
Another important point to mention about agitation is the perception that rotary processing increases agitation and therefore must result in a decrease in process time or over-developed negatives will result. This is true! The same can be said of an increase in temperature causing over-development. This increased agitation can yield shorter development times without a decrease in consistency or process quality. (It should also be noted that agitation controls contrast more than density.)
How do the CPA-2 and CPP-2 work?
There are two ways to operate the CPA-2 and CPP-2 Processors. The first is without the optional Lift Accessory, and the second is with the Lift (easily the most common method). The only differences between the two methods are how you attach the tank or drum to the processor, and how you fill and drain the processing tanks and drums that hold the film and paper.
Attaching the tanks and drums without using the Lift The CPP-2 shown here is operated without the optional Lift Accessory. The tank shown loaded on the processor is attached with a magnetic coupling.
The magnetic coupling shown in this image comes standard with the processor, and tanks purchased for use with this configuration require magnets to be attached to the bases.
The magnets, #1504, are purchased separately from the tanks. The reason for this is if you decided to purchase the CPA-2 or CPP-2 with the Lift (as shown below) these magnets would not be needed.
The magnets are attached to the bottom of the tanks by pressing them onto four pins which will securely hold the magnets in place.
The tank is now ready to be loaded with film reels or prints. Once the film or prints are loaded in the tank and the tank lid is secured, the tanks are completely light-tight.
Attaching the tanks and drums using the Lift
The CPA-2 Plus shown here is operated with the optional Lift Accessory. The Lift makes the processor easier to use, but it's not required to use the processor (except when using the Expert drums).
With this configuration, the magnet shown above is removed from the processor and replaced with a gear. This gear is attached to the rotation motor, and turns exactly like the magnet drive.
The Lift incorporates a transfer-gear that connects to the cog gear on the tank (shown below).
The Cog Gears, #1505, are generally purchased separately (two gears are included with each Lift Accessory). One Cog Gear is required for every tank lid you'll want to use.
The Cog Gears snap into the mouth of the tank lids and become a permanent part of the lid. (They seem like they could be removed because they use a compression o-ring system -- but they are not removable).
Things that are the same with or without the Lift Accessory How you operate the processor is the same with or without the Lift. This image shows the control head for the CPP-2. The CPA-2 head is a little different: There is only one knob along the top row, and the digital display is replaced with an LED that indicates whether the processor is tempering, or the heater is inactive.
"A", and the two dials to the right of it are used to set the operating temperature. The dial labeled "A" is the tens place, the dial just to the right of it is the ones place, and the dial on the far right is the tenths place (the temperature is currently set to 38.0 degrees C).
"B" is the power switch. ("B", "C", and "D" are the same for both the CPA-2 and CPP-2.)
"C" is the pump motor switch, which sets whether or not the water will recirculate.
"D" is the rotation speed switch.
For all prints less than 20x24", you'll use the 2800 series drums. These drums are modular, and as such allow you to use base pieces separately -- or attach modules to them for larger prints.
You'll notice this customer is pressing down on a red ring. These rings are the locking rings that secure the tank lids and extension pieces to the other components.
This system has a couple advantages: The first is this tank can be disassembled to allow you to only use the smaller base tank (which saves chemicals) for test prints.
The other advantage is these are locking rings -- not screwed-on lids. This design ensures you'll never accidentally cross-thread a lid resulting in an expensive replacement.
These are the 2500-series items you can use to develop film in your CPA-2 or CPP-2. From the left, they are the #2509N 4x5" Sheet-film Reel, the #2508 Loader base with #2512 4x5" Guide, and the #2502 Reel (shown w/120 film being loaded).
The #2509N Sheet-Film Reel comes with two black panels to press against the edges of the sheets to keep them rigid. This is important to ensure the film edges don't touch each other.
The #2508 Loader Base and #2512 Guide allow you to load the 4x5" reels easily and quickly. They are not required, but many customers find them helpful. Sheet film kits that include the tanks, reels, loaders, and guides can be purchased separately:
#4341 Single-Reel Sheet Film Kit
#4342 Double-Reel Sheet Film KitThe #2502 Reel shown here can be used with the CPA-2 and CPP-2, but it's important to make one note. This isn't the most economical tank series to use to develop roll film on the CPE-2 Plus processor.
The more economical series, both in terms of cost of the hardware and in terms of the amount of chemicals needed to develop the film, is the 1500-series tanks. They are less expensive, and are smaller in diameter so they require less solution. There is no processing-quality difference between the 1500 and 2500 series tanks system.
Another alternative to these items is to use the Expert Drums to develop your sheet film.
CPA-2 and CPP-2 Technical Specifications/Capacities:
Film Capacities Format 110 35mm 120 220 4x5" 5x7" 8x10" 11x14" 16x20" Qty 32 8 10 5 18 6 5 1 1 Print Capacities Size 4x5" 5x7" 8x10" 11x14" 16x20" 20x24" Qty 24* 12 6 2 1 1 *Assumes use of #6810 Varioformat Easel
Specifications Tempering bath capacity 4.75 gallons (18 liters) Base area 15x38 inches (38x97cm) Solution capacity Four 260ml (8oz) graduates and six 1000ml (34oz) bottles Power consumption 480 Watts, 4.4 Amps (while tempering) Voltage 120 Volts / 60Hz (available in 240V - special order) View the online CPP/A-2 instruction manual.
Processing Costs:
These costs are calculated at the suggested list prices for Tetenal chemicals. Depending on what price you ultimately pay for chemicals, the costs per roll and sheet will vary. If you would like help determining what your actual costs will be, please e-mail sales@jobo-usa.com with what you currently pay for your chemical, and we'll reply with the cost-table.
Processing Costs for Film and Prints
Process
Size / Format "Cost Per"
CPP-2 and CPA-2C-41 Color Negative Film
35mm/36exp $1.60 120 $1.29 220 $2.58 4x5" Reel System $0.72 4x5" Expert System $0.44 5x7" $0.76 8x10" $1.69 Custom Depends, Contact JOBO E-6 Color Positive Film
Tetenal E-6 5-Liter 6-Bath Kit #109342 35mm/36exp $2.40 120 $1.92 220 $3.84 4x5" Reel System $1.07 4x5" Expert System $0.66 5x7" $1.14 8x10" $2.52 Custom Depends, Contact JOBO RA-4 Prints from Color Negatives
Tetenal RA-4 5-Liter Kit #109318 4x5"* $0.11 8x10" $0.44 11x14" $0.53 16x20" $1.91 20x24" $2.73 *4x5" Print capacity assumes use of #6810 Varioformat Easel
Accessories
Qty Item# Description Comments 1 4072 CPP/A-2 Lift Makes adding and removing chemicals easier. 1 1520 Two-Roll Tank This tank with the #1530 and #1540 give you the tanks you need for the most economical capacities. 1 1530 Three-Roll Extension Module 1 1540 Four-Roll Extension Module 6 1501 Adjustable Film Reel (35mm/120/220) The maximum capacity for 35mm/36exp on the CPA-2 and CPP-2 is eight rolls. The reason you only need six of these reels is because the #1520 and #1540 tanks come with a #1501 Reel. 1 3063 20x24" Print Drum 1 3010 4x5" Expert Drum (10 sheets) 1 3005 8x10" Expert Drum (5 sheets) 1 3360 Foot Pump 1 109318 Professional PK RA-4 Chemicals, 5-Liter (for example) You can use virtually anyone's chemical. The Tetenal line of chemicals is the one JOBO recommends and knows best. 8 3312 Film Clips Graduates and Bottles Some extra items it would be nice to have. 1 3523 Roll-Film Dryer
What's a less expensive alternative? What's the next step up?
For a comparison of all rotary-style processors, please click here. The processor immediately below the CPP-2 is the CPA-2. The processor immediately below the CPA-2 is either the CPE-2 or Nova FP Compact 3.
The processor immediately above the CPA-2 is the CPP-2. The processor immediately above the CPP-2 is the ATL-500 or ATL-800, ATL-1500 or the ATL-2000-series processors.
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This page last updated on 06/04/04