A Compact Film Processor with One Very Unique Feature!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- The AGO is a very intriguing compact film processor for home, that has a couple of unique features, including a very cool take on temperature control that will definitely help to bring confidence to a workflow, especially with colour film development. I got my hands on a beta unit and decided to do a quick review for a new series I’m making for the channel titled: In Focus.
This wasn’t paid for or sponsored by AGO, I just thought it’s a cool product that could interest some of you film shooters.
You can check out the funding page here: www.indiegogo.com/projects/ag...
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I started developing my own film because I was impatient and didn't want to wait for a lab to do it. Also my lab in China started ruining my negatives. As soon as I started developing film myself I started looking for ways to make it easier. The inversion process was an obvious target, so I bought a poor man's Jobo on TaoBao in China. It's a horizontal motorized device that has only one control - speed. It only cost US$50 and has worked great for the last 3 years. It's all I really needed. I can handle the temperature myself using a sous vide warmer.
Greetings! Can you share the link to that poor man jobo device, I think I need just something like that. 😊 Thank you!
Glad to hear you've found a method that works for you. That's what's most important.
I was considering one of these, but how do you use it with a water bath? It’s not water proof as far as I know… would live to hear your solution!
Yeah. All I’m after is something that’ll do constant, slow agitation using a Patterson tank. No extra gimmicks.
@@mynewcolour The speed does not really matter, you want some speed as half of the film is out of the developer when it rotates. So you dont want to exhaust that developer that's on the film. Iw tested really fast rotations, it does not matter at all. Any rotating platform is amazing, as you save so much chemicals. I can develop 10 sheets of 4x5" with 250ml. Or 5 rolls of 135 with 500ml.
I decided to back this after seeing this video. I've always hated wrestling with my sous vide/thermometers to try and keep my temperature perfect and this seems like a perfect solution and a huge time saver.
Was just about to pull the trigger on a Jobo after watching your video on it as I wanted a home development solution, but this looks like a way more appropriate option for me as someone who's just starting out in film photography. Definitely backing this! It would be really cool to see your results and thoughts developing color film with it, and also how the results compare to your Jobo. Appreciate you making this Kyle!
It's much more compact, that's for sure! And the temp/time compensation is great.
Love this! Will def make developing much easier and fun.
Man this looks really cool. Definitely a great addition to the market and something I may have to put under my own tree for Christmas....
a fantastic idea, and one Ilford could add to the simplicity kits, the chemistry in a yoghurt container, and as it does most things and is simple enough for kids to use, this device would augment this already turn-key solution into a full system; one buy, except the consumable chemistry, and done!, especially for school art, or for photography beginner darkroom classes.
Honestly, I can't wait for this!!
I'm getting ready to start developing and scanning at home and this looks very intriguing ! Thank you for this !
You're welcome. Cheers.
This is super cool thanks!
Simply wow!
This looks really great.
I’ve thought about trying some film development for a long time, just can’t do it now…
I’ve got a perfect camera to get me into it as well, ‘55 Zeiss Ikon Contaflex which was my fathers. His mother had purchased it so he could record photos of my parents first born, yeah that would be myself. I had the camera repaired as both the shutter and aperture were not working. Probably spent way more in repairs than the cameras worth, but it has a lot of sentimental value to me…
Enjoyed your review, decided to subscribe as well.
this is SICKKKK
Love this!
c41 and ecn2 work great at room temperature. the correct time is 15:00
I saw this thing originally a year or so ago and thought it would never actually happen but I loved the idea. Glad to see they made it happen and it works really well.
Personally I paid similar for my Jobo with the lift so won't be rushing out to buy one, but tell you what I'd much rather set that little thing up than the Jobo as mine doesn't have a permanent home haha.
Yeah, I still really like the Jobo with the bath to heat chemicals, but the size of this and the time compensation make it really interesting!
Might be looking to develop and scan myself at home soon to save lab costs ... for sure might have to take a look at this one! Thanks Kyle.
You're welcome. Cheers.
Having developed many hundreds of rolls (not just one roll) in Paterson-type tanks, I have one big concern: when using the tank normally (with inversion agitation) you're supposed to spin the reels and central core a few times at the start of development to dislodge air bubbles. This is done via a keyed rod that you insert down the center of the funnel. I think everybody who has used a Paterson tank very much will bear me out that it is VERY common during this initial spin for the reels and core to drag, catch and stall when they rub against the inside of the tank. It's not so bad for a spin or two, but if I understand this blurb correctly, the AGO relies on this center-core spin *all the time* for agitation. If the AGO's motor doesn't have a lot of torque, it will stall out if this happens... and if it has enough torque, it might pull itself out of the tank, or unlock the top of the tank, or rip the end of the film off the reel. I would need to see a LOT more field experience with this agitation method before I'd be confident in leaving it unattended.
I'm also not sure that handling temperature changes by varying development time in response to a fixed curve is as great an idea as the host thinks it is... different films and developers respond to temperature change differently, so this approach would be only a "ballpark" solution. I'm sure it would work fine with b&w film, which is pretty tolerant, but again, I'd rather see more testing (at someone else's expense) before I tried running super-picky E6 films in it.
They have most likely tested this enough to know how much motor torque they need.
Very cool video... thanks for letting us know about this! Will you just be talking about gear in upcoming "In Focus" segments, or will you for example talk about other peoples creative work? Thanks again!
Definitely creative work as well.
those auto calcs are based upon Watkins factor -- induction of developer. an idea that was derived for thick emulsion bw film.
very cool.
Does this processor reverse the agitation every 10 or 15 seconds like the Jobo does? Or does it just agitate one way all the time?
Yes, it does reverse. And you can actually go into the settings and modify how long each rotation is.
That's great then! Looks like a really cool little unit, thanks.@@KyleMcDougall
This form of temperature modified control is an old idea first implemented by RH Designs from the UK. They did it in a developer timer for prints.
You are actually correct, and its this exactly same thing they seem to have. PROCESS MASTER IIm. It seems to be for prints & film.
I love this. I have about 20 rolls of 35 mm and 120 films that need to be developed. This would make life easier, cheaper in the long run, and makes developing easier. About $350.00 for the U.S. version but I think I need to invest in this.
I'm not sure it actually makes developing any *easier.* Agitating a Paterson tank via the traditional inversion method is boring, but not difficult or onerous... and agitation is the ONLY part of the process that the AGO actually automates. You still have to load the film reels and tank in the dark, mix the chemicals, pour them in and out, remove the film and hang it up to dry, and clean up everything afterward. The video makes it obvious that spillage is still a messy problem. And if you like the "time compensation" method of dealing with temperature changes, you can do it with a thermometer and a chart. The only potential advantage would be that you can be getting the next solution ready while the AGO is agitating the current one... and that's only if you can trust it not to stall, stick, tip the tank off the counter, etc., which we won't know until people accumulate a lot more field experience.
@@jlwilliams exactly, paterson 5 tank will do it in 4 sessions, 30 min each you can have it done a morning.
I don’t mind the manual process at all when it comes to developing my film. That’s one of the reasons I went back to film because I found myself enjoying the process. Also, this is one of those times when I can truly get away from my phone. Interesting product though.
Me as well I don't process lots of film so the manual process gives me time to myself.
Interesting. Very interesting.
Kyle (or anyone from Vintage Visual): can you use it vertically or does it have to be on its side? Also, what kind of batteries and can they be swapped out?
Thanks for the video. Like this idea a lot.
Yes, it can be used vertically (which requires more chemical volume). Details on their website about that. I believe the batteries can be swapped out, and also it's charged via USB C.
@@KyleMcDougall thanks. I saw that but just read it as a comparison of vertical v horizontal placement.
Very interesting processor. I would prefer a more simple interface. One knob ON Off and the timer. I think too much electronics programs. In the darkroom the hands are usually wet... so touch screens and buttons are not easy to use.
Does it support ECN2?
One question: what about us large format photographers would you recommend it for 5x4 or 10x8 processing? I hate processing sheet film in Jobo tanks.
I don't think it can do 8x10. They do list it as being compatible with 4x5, with a specific type of film holder for the Paterson tank. Personally, I'm using the Jobo 4509n reel with my CPE which I've found to be amazing for 4x5. 6 sheets with very little chemical useage.
If you're not processing too many sheets at a time, a Paterson Orbital (with or without the motor base) is a good option. I use mine for 5x4" and 9x12cm. It only requires 150ml of solution, so very economical.
I developed my own film for years and never had a problem with temperature of the chemicals. You always started with the chemicals at the right temp but then just went into the agitation etc. Can't say I even thought it was a problem but would like to hear more about that. Is it when people live in a cold climate?
Temp correct at the start but do you measure the temp at the end? Putting agitation into the chemicals may increase the temp, especially if it’s constant agitation. If temp increases slowly during the process, I’d say it’s good to compensate or you over develop the negs.
Jobo had this decades ago where the tanks also floated in a temperature controlled water bath.
I don't believe that Jobo has ever had a time/temp compensation feature?
Curious to see how the device handles Blix popping the lid like it happens sometimes.
There is no lid on there, so nothing to pop off
Yeah, no lid on this, so I'm assuming no issues with BLIX, which is nice.
Just so I understand for sure, does the temperature compensation occur continuously during the development? For example, if the temperature drifts down (or up) during development, does the unit readjust the time as the development cycle proceeds?
Unfortunately not.
@@KyleMcDougall Hmmm! This is a big deficiency in the product, especially if the developer solution is much different from room temperature.
@@KyleMcDougall I don't believe what you said is correct.. According to the product page, it states that "AGO takes care of the rest by continuously monitoring the temperature and automatically adjusting the processing time during the process, guaranteeing consistently perfect negatives with every use."
Yes it does. This is the main purpose of the product.
It looks great, but I really don't understand the drilling out the funnel part. Why does this happen? Maybe they need to ship the product with a drilled out Patterson tank for a little extra. Just seems strange.
It does come with both a pre-modified funnel and the template if you want to modify additional ones.
Yeah, as mentioned I believe you can buy this with a Paterson tank with pre-drilled funnel.
oh ok, sorry, I guess I missed that. My bad. Great vid btw @@KyleMcDougall
Sorry, my bad, I must've missed that point@@randomdesign6304
Does it work with Caffenol?
Not sure about that.
maybe worth a try? @@KyleMcDougall
How can you use less chemical the way it shows? Isn’t the amount of chemical you use fixed to the amount of film you develop rather than the size of the tank?
Rotary processing uses less volume as it's constant agitation.
@@KyleMcDougall right, but there is a finite amount of chemical to react with right?
As much as I love the process of shooting film, scanning my negatives, and the editing process in Lightroom, I just really can’t get myself interested in the idea of developing my own film. I remember when I was in school to become an x-ray technician and I had to learn how to develop my own x-ray films, It just seemed so complicated and tedious. Even now, I’d much rather find a good lab that I trust to develop my film and then I’ll scan them myself at home. Am I alone in this? Haha
Same though the main appeal to developing on your own is cost.
Nope. I’m with you - enjoy the process of shooting/scanning but can’t get into development. But as someone who primarily likes to shoot slide film… the number of labs that still process E-6 grows smaller each year.
It has gotten SO MUCH better with the new chemical process. I'd really give it another go if I were you (but everyone is different). :)
@@MinerDolansee I'm slightly opposite. I like shooting and developing and seeing the results. It's fun to me. But I really don't enjoy the scanning process, even doing it with a DSLR setup. I kind of run out of patience during the scanning process.
Boy am I tired of processing my own film but boy oh BOY do I know for certain that I cannot afford to outsource the amount of film I shoot 😢
One big minus is that AGO supports only nonstandard home kits in C-41. Bellini is a variant of C41 RA, but all the others are nonstandard simplified kits with blix. There is no program for standard C-41 with Fuji or Kodak standard chemistry.
You can add custom times/temps
$350 is way cheaper than a Jobo, not a bad idea... will have to look into in the future.
Can’t wrap my head around how drilling the funnel wouldn’t result in light getting in?
I was thinking the same. It is obvious the person who created this producto thought about it, it is just a matter of people start using it to hear their results and how well the final product works.
He mentioned it forms a sort of seal, i assume that means a light seal of sorts? Just a guess
@@michaelkammeyer no the seal he mentioned in the video is so that the tank can lie down like that and not pour out all the liquid, like a gasket
Not sure, but I would imagine it was a well-thought-out and calculated idea.
Holes are drilled to top part of the funnel, in a region where light gets in any way.
AGO Film Processor
$338 USD...yeah I'm good on that bro.
Cheapest in its class
Isn't it a bit useless in general? An automated agitator and a thermometer? For 400e???? What am I missing here? If it automated chemicals in and out, it would've been an interesting product that justifies the price... now you still have to manually do everything except agitation and you have to keep this thing on top of your tank.... and take care that you don't spill any chemicals on it... and change it's batteries....
Where else will you find a device that develops your film at the perfect time all on it's own? No need to maintain perfect temperature.
When I opened the video I knew this was gonna be a cool product but with a "niece" price, meaning overpriced... but holy shit... 320 bucks for an ealry bird and now 440?!?!?! That's just beyond insane, it's just crazy... let's be honest, it's a 20 dollars PCB with a motor and a thermometer attached to it, the display is probably the most expensive part... it shouldn't cost more than 150, and even that would be borderline overpriced. The lab I go to charges €12 for developing and digitalization, if I shoot a roll of 35mm a month, I can develop more than 2 years of film at my lab and still save money! With the new price I can go for 3 years and still have money left!!! It's just insane... the idea is very cool, but people need to calm down and realize that some of the prices they're asking for these simple little products are just off the roof...
I'll pass....
To keep my mind active i'll continue to process my own film and enjoy the process...
🙏
Just hope the product is built for longevity. You're not going to want to return this for a service or repair
So they reached out to you but its not a sponsored video? So you will be sending it back to them? I thought the kickback was you kept the product after review? So it is a sponsored review!
Nope, this is going back to them. Not sponsored.
@@KyleMcDougall Thank for responding.
This would be great at $50. But $350? That's insane.
A Job is over $1000. All you really need to keep temperature consistent is a sous vide though.
Don't think you're going to have much luck finding anything like this for $50.
Buddy, for $50 you can't develop 5 rolls..
It's a few dollars worth of plastic and electronics - the Chinese could crank it out for $5, and sell it for $50.
Unless the AGO people have their own factory, that's where it's coming from anyway.
@@mikesmith-po8nd a mold alone is like $10,000 for the company to make and then they usually have to have an order of 10,000 units to get the price reasonable.
Can you say processor correctly please?
I cannot
i got to the page and thought it was $90,000
Filmomat light is better and only a little more $
Did the manufacturers remember that Kodak have priced thousands of photographers out of film photography?
Good thing other companies make film
@@goldenhourkodak: Do they? Other manufacturers make Portra 400 and Tri-X.
Having to drill the funnel is a non-starter
I see you can get a predrilled funnel. Good.
Yes you can. I believe they do a package with a Paterson tank.
So, it`s just a motor with a timer for 350EUR😂😂😂