Mark in Maine wrote:
Mark, perhaps this attitude works in developed capitalist economies,
but we in Central Europe prefer to save our pennies wherever and
whenever we can

Serge stated that he was using a Jobo processor - I would expect that
he could afford a lot of chemicals for the cost of his processor, but
I do apologize for my bourgois view of the world.

To atone, I offer the thought that the BTZS tubes that I use for
processing are probably the least expensive method for developing film
- they can be made from inexpensive PVC plumbing pipe, and are very
efficient in their use of chemicals.

Well, I am sorry for not being very clear asking initial question. I
do not really have to tight my belt when ordering extra chemistry
though I used to order an extra E6 5 liters kit every three months and
it used to be a norm for a while. I'd say that, apart from the better
result consistency (some in this newsgroup would say that the labs are
unbeatable in the matter but then well, we're just living in the
different worlds), there is actually an economical reason to justify
home development.
Say, I am mixing 250ml of solution to develop a couple of 135 or 120
films in a small 2500 series tank and that allows me develop at least
40 films with a 45/50 euro kit which makes it a bit over of 1 euro per
roll. The development at a "pro" lab in my town is 3.20/3.40 euro per
roll (I put "pro" word in quotes since the only time when I gave the
film to such lab during the last six months they managed to jam the
first three frames of a 120 roll somehow) and so I believe that my 350
euro's used Jobo is already paid off.
The original question had raised in my mind merely because I just
managed to finish a liter of solution in a week to develop something
like 8 sheets and, since I already got used to the thought of the hand
developing being so economical, I was curious if I might be doing
something wrong.

Thanks anyway for you leading me to the BTZS tubes! I don't think it
would beat Jobo in development of transparencies but I think it would
make more sense to try it with B&W. As for E6, I am a bit lazy to
change a number of solutions in the darkness and would still prefer to
raise the lift

Serge
Brescia, Italy