Chemistry set...

I have raided the two photography shops in Chester uk, and come up empty with anything anologue, except the two films each shop had.
I went looking for developing kits and got laughed at. So eBay it is.
My question as a novice in the whole process is are these value sets that will be good enough.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=111533433587
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=181613528414
Many thanks


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Have a look at Ag Photographic - they have a variety of kits on offer at the moment http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/

EDIT haha I just checked your second link and that is Ag's eBay store.

Looks fine, but if money is tight you ought to be able to pick up all you need hardware-wise for less second hand or even for nothing (try Freecycle or Gumtree)

Look at Firstcall photographic, they have one of the biggest range of anything darkroom, from basuc film developing kits to complete darkroomshttp://firstcall-photographic.co.uk

pdeeh said:

Looks fine, but if money is tight you ought to be able to pick up all you need hardware-wise for less second hand or even for nothing

Click to expand...

For developing film (120 & 35mm), you don't need much in the way of equipment or chemicals. The one thing missing from either of the two kits linked to in the OPs post was a changing bag. This would be essential if no darkroom is available.

You don't need to buy anything in kit form, but you will need a minimum of equipment and chemicals.

A member here named StoneNYC has a little link with a list of items he suggests to start with, maybe he can post it. You'd not have to use those exact brands and company (especially as it's in the U.S., so shipping would be expensive), but it is a good list to start with.

You need developer and fixer (and some like me would argue you need stop bath).
If you don't have a room that is totally light-tight, a changing bag is a good idea.
A "daylight" tank and reels are needed. Although I like steel tanks and reels, you can get plastic. Plastic reels can telescope wider to accept 120 film - so one reel can handle more than one kind of film.

Hi Blood, greetings to North Wales.
Do you have the Ilford booklets on developing your first film and making copies? They're hands-on, concise and complete, including equipment.
If not, probably available on Ilford's site. Otherwise, send me a PM and I'll be happy to send you PDF's.
Re Changing bag: A dark box (p.ex. those used with mini labs) or something that provides a wide unobstructed space are _so much better_ to use compared to ordinary changing bags, notably when you want to handle 120-film. Wish you luck on ebay etc.
Reels for beginners: For 35mm almost anything is fine, but beware of really old plastic reels, can be a pain! For 120-film, the (Spanish) AP-reels with with wide in-guides are a god-sent. It's worth every penny to invest in new or near new ones (btw, the AP-reels are also the cheapest ones). Personally, I like steel reels - however, to start with, the AP-reels are much easier especially for 120!
Good luck and good light!

Thanks for all the fantastic input and tips guys, I have this book on it's way to help me with some aspects of both helping me shoot and develop.... http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=151514651367
I've also won a new changing bag at a fiver.
I'm certainly of the 'buy the best you can afford' mind and would rather pay for new kit in a slow order than trying to buy a big job lot of gear I don't know how to use so starting small is the key.
I have spotted the ilford PDFs and have booked marked them to print out in work soon after Xmas
Thanks for all the links. I've been told today I can get my Xmas goodies so will be a happy snapper soon as I find a decent supplier.


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Dead Link Removed for a start. Definitely you can get all the equipment for basically-free second-hand.