Changing bag, or makeshift open tray in one-door room?

[jay moussy]

New to developing, I am wondering if I should opt for the changing bag option, or take advantage of a narrow, windowless one-door bathroom (my own!) for 35 mm and hopefully some 6x6 use.

Hmm.. shopping for a changing bag is confusing, hard to gauge quality.

The bathroom would be very easily make totally dark, and that's a big plus.
I visualize working in blacked-out bathroom, with equipment set in open wide tray, arranged over the toilet general area.
I would be facing the setup sitting on small stool (heh).

What do you think?

Maybe for another thread, but same bathroom could be made in an enlarging setup as well, if I could wheel enlarger in and out, on account of (very short, military-style) showering.

 

[Luckless]

Personally I would suggest a changing tent over a changing bag if you're loading daylight tanks - check for reasonable reviews, and read through the negative/low star ones for consistent faults being called out.

I like the confined space to put the rolls and reels in, as it means that I can't drop something and then have to feel around on the floor for the part I'm missing. It also acts as a handy dust control aspect as well, assuming I can keep the dust down in the bag itself.

As a bonus it means that I can sit there and watch TV or a movie or something while spooling up a bunch of reels at one time, and don't have to stand there in the pitch dark while I try to figure out why a roll isn't taking up on the reel.

An extra bonus would be that my girl friend can't open the door when they come home and have to pee... This issue may or may not be a factor, depending on your living arrangements and other factors I guess?

 

[M Carter]

I have a small closet that's light tight - I weatherstripped the door casing and put a door sweep on the bottom, and it's off my darkroom which has blacked out windows, so even though the closet isn;t likely 100% light-tight, there's not enough light beyond it to be an issue. I like being able to stand up and have a sort of table-space (a wider shelf) to work on. I do a lot of tests where I'm cutting up rolls of 120 film, loading individual scraps into backs or snip-testing rolls, so the extra space is really great to have.

 

[Jim Jones]

I've used several small darkrooms, and would prefer them to a changing bag.

 

[jay moussy]

I have a small closet that's light tight - I weatherstripped the door casing and put a door sweep on the bottom, and it's off my darkroom which has blacked out windows, so even though the closet isn;t likely 100% light-tight, there's not enough light beyond it to be an issue. I like being able to stand up and have a sort of table-space (a wider shelf) to work on. I do a lot of tests where I'm cutting up rolls of 120 film, loading individual scraps into backs or snip-testing rolls, so the extra space is really great to have.

Thanks.
What you describe is close to my situation, where, in the room the bathroom is tried to, I can control light pretty well, especially at night in this country-ish setting with very little light pollution.
I see the need to have a work table well prepared, and spill-proof for work in the dark. looking for some sort of shallow tray right now,

 

[shutterfinger]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/41880-REG/Photoflex_AC_CROO1_Film_Changing_Room_25.html
one of the best out there. Tents have wasted space for 135, 120 in tanks. Ebay occasionally has one similar to the Photoflex with the arm sleeves on one side. The sleeves are too close together making reel loading harder than it should be on the one marketed for 135, 120 formats, the 8x10 version is larger and more expensive but may be easier to use. These are well made.
The changing bags that lay flat are a PITA to use.

 

[bdial]

My darkroom is a roughly 6x10 foot bathroom, with the window blocked off. Some weather stripping around the door, and a door sweep on the bottom makes it light-tight with minimal permanent changes to the door. I've installed a counter over the tub and toilet that hold the enlarger, trays, etc. It's not really functional as a bathroom, but currently the only permanent change has been the large (kitchen type) sink I installed in place of the vanity.
Even if you need to make it truly temporary so that the bathroom remains fully functional, I agree with Jim that a room is much preferable to a changing bag or tent.

 

[Pieter12]

For a while I used a laundry room to load tanks for processing. It had only a door that was simple enough to light-proof. I was only in there for the short time it took to load the film on the reel and close up the tank, sometimes a couple of tanks. You do not need darkness to process the film once it is loaded in the tank, could be anywhere you can work with liquids--a folding table set up in a hallway if necessary.

 

[Ariston]

I think I got a cheap Adorama branded bag and it has been fine. I prefer the bag because I can sit at the kitchen table and talk to my family while I load the tank. Having a tent sounds pretty good, but I have never had trouble with a bag.

I have to develop my sheet film in the bathroom. It's not as fun, but very much worth the effort.

 

[John51]

I use my windowless bathroom. Fully dark at night time with doors shut and the hall lights off. I did buy a changing bag because it was large and inexpensive. Used it for a dummy run and didn't like it all, haven't tried it since. Sitting on the throne is better for me. If you live with others, the bag might be a better option.

btw, only sit on the seat, not the lid. Guess how I know this?

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I developed sheet film in open trays in my darkened bathroom in Vienna for years. It worked just fine. I laid out the trays on a cabinet top (covered with plastic then a towel), unloaded film on top of the washing machine, had tempered water in the sink and washed film in the tub. It was more than adequate for film developing (printing was done in my darkroom in the States).

Earlier I did developing and enlarging in a pretty cramped bathroom. I built a removable shelf for over the toilet which I could set the enlarger on (I was just able to squeeze under the shelf to use the toilet when needed). I shot mostly 120 roll film then, but was able to both develop and print black-and-white and Cibachrome in drums.

There's a way to make your space work and it will likely be far preferable to a changing bag.

Best,

Doremus