Darkroom alternatives advice needed.

[mgb74]

If you have a large enough bag, inserting a cardboard box, open to where your hands reach through, can help.

 

[snusmumriken]

When I was a kid, I had a Paterson tank but no changing bag. I used to load the film into the tank in bed under lots of blankets. Had to load quickly or suffocate! Never fogged a film, though.

 

[VinceInMT]

I use a changing box when I need to change film in one of my pinhole cameras in the field. It should work fine in your home as well, and cheap. Details:

The Changing Box Page

 

[jwd722]

I use a changing bag that is 26x30 into which I configured a pvc frame to give me some room. I have about 8 inches ceiling height which works fairly well. It let's me load film cassettes with my bulk film loader, JOBO 1540 tank w/120 and 35mm and I have also loaded 4x5 film holders. A bit tight but with some patience and practice it works fairly well.

VinceinMT beat me to the punch but I was going to suggest a film changing box. I was interested in wet plate photography and acquired a 5x7 studio camera, Petzval lens among other brass lenses, odds and ends and started building a Dark Box as a location darkroom. The box is large and heavy cardboard and masonite for now as a mock-up. The idea for mine came from a youtube video by Borut Peterlin. His is crude but it was a test box before he improved and finished a final model. I don't know if he ever made the final version though.

Here's a link:

 

[cmacd123]

back when A lot of minilabs were closing, one could sometimes buy a "loading box. - like a tent but with rigid sides. the minilabs used them to put rolls of paper into the printing magazines.

this is a typical one https://www.ebay.ca/itm/234503507880

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If my 15 to 18 year old students can easily manage two rolls per tank in a changing bag, so can you. Some of our changing bags, are tiny cheap things from China, too!

 

[Bill Burk]

I have a couple changing bags and I only use the smaller one when backpacking or on road trips with 4x5 to load Grafmatics. (The bigger one was a Goodwill find that I haven’t gotten around to using).

For everything else I use the darkroom. @KerrKid your laundry room may do just fine. You might be “restricted” to working only at night in there. That’s because some light always seems to find its way into rooms, but it’s easier to make rooms dark at night.

 

[albada]

Need a larger dark bag? I use this one even for 4"x5" film.

Photoflex Changing Room | Freestyle Photo & Imaging ​

The Photoflex Changing Room is an upgrade from the traditional dark bag.This double walled, light-tight changing bag includes an internal frame that provides plenty of room to work and an internal, removable "trash bag" for film wrappers, boxes, and canisters!…

www.freestylephoto.biz

Thanks, Sirius. I saw this on the internet and some reviews mentioned that the position of the arms on either side worked for some and not for others. Do you have personal experience with this item?

I have this Photoflex Changing Room. It's great, with plenty of room inside to work unimpeded. I recommend it. For me, its spaciousness makes it much better than a bag.

Mark Overton

 

[250swb]

I think a changing tent or 'room' is the way to go. I have one branded by Calumet and it's the right size for loading 4x5 dark slides or loading 35mm film into five reel tanks. It can get sweaty on hot Summer days, but not nearly as uncomfortable as a changing bag, and of course your arms aren't touching the material using a tent.

 

[Craig75]

I use a changing bag but I found very easiest way for me was to use it in conjunction with a film loader (or whatever they are called) and just load film onto reel directly from cartridge in the bag. Done in a minute.

Many ways to skin this cat tho

 

[Neal]

Adorama Film Changing Room

Film Changing Room (25 x 22 x 15")

www.adorama.com

 

[AgX]

Looks very much like the Photoflex one, which costs twice as much.


Strange enough Adorama does not ship to Europe.

 

[grat]

I've got the PhotoFlex tent/room/box. Works pretty well, although I had to air it out for the first month or two-- when folded up, it would develop this horrible chemical smell.

The arm holes are on the side-- I'm 5'11", so it's not that uncomfortable, but if I were smaller, it might be an issue.

 

[KerrKid]

If my 15 to 18 year old students can easily manage two rolls per tank in a changing bag, so can you. Some of our changing bags, are tiny cheap things from China, too!

If I'm being honest, there are a lot of things I could do at 15-18 that I can't do now. . But, you're correct. I could also put a small box inside the bag to provide some structure.

 

[KerrKid]

Looks like the PhotoFlex is very popular. I think I'd pony up for that instead of the bag since it's not that expensive. I've got monkey arms so it shouldn't be a problem from that perspective, either.

I'm probably going to give the laundry room at night a shot first, though. I can block out the window easy enough and hang a cargo blanket I have over the door. Shouldn't that work?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If I'm being honest, there are a lot of things I could do at 15-18 that I can't do now. . But, you're correct. I could also put a small box inside the bag to provide some structure.

And that is a great idea! That is what I used to do before I had my own darkroom. Worked a treat! Just make sure you give the inside of the change bag a wipe with a damp cloth or tac rag.

 

[AgX]

I can hang a cargo blanket I have over the door. Shouldn't that work?

Good point. Over here all doors at rooms have flanges, thus only a slit at a the floor may be cared for. Lay a towel at it.
In case your door has no flanges you may have to hang a blanket in front of it, but this would necessacitate some means to hold it. Maybe duct tape attached to the frame. Or dark tape all around (costly over time). Or make kind of flanges yourself. If the door leads to another room, light level may be low already.

For the above reason I never thought about such... Now I have to inform on American doors.

 

[KerrKid]

And that is a great idea! That is what I used to do before I had my own darkroom. Worked a treat! Just make sure you give the inside of the change bag a wipe with a damp cloth or tac rag.

Will do!

 

[KerrKid]

Good point. Over here all doors at rooms have flanges, thus only a slit at a the floor may be cared for. Lay a towel at it.
In case your door has no flanges you may have to hang a blanketin front of it, but this would necessaties some means to hold it. Maybe duct tape attached to the frame. Or dark tape all around (costly over time). If the door leads to another room, light level may be low already. Or make kind of flanges yourself.

For the above reason I never thought about such... Now I have to inform on American doors.

There is trim around the doors and I use pushpins on the top piece of trim to hold the blankets up. I could also get some weather stripping to help. If it doesn't work, I can fall back on a Photoflex or bag. Might not be a bad idea to have one anyway for working in a remote location.

 

[KerrKid]

I use a Paterson changing bag with no issues when I am loading short 12-exposure 35mm rolls onto Hewes reels which goes very quickly.

Loading 120 film onto Paterson plastic reels in the changing bag was another matter. Unless I was very lucky and the film started correctly right away my hands would sweat enough to practically guarantee creases in the negatives. My first solution was to wear the nitrile gloves I was going to put on anyway for handling chemicals. The long term solution has been to use AP/Samigon reels for the Paterson tank. They load as quickly and easily at the Hewes 35mm reels.

40 years ago, I remember fumbling in the dark trying to load reels. They were metal ones as I recall. I'll look into the reels you referenced.

 

[KerrKid]

If you have a large enough bag, inserting a cardboard box, open to where your hands reach through, can help.

I didn't see your post before mentioning the cardboard box idea. Must be telepathy.

 

[KerrKid]

View attachment 306546

I use a changing box when I need to change film in one of my pinhole cameras in the field. It should work fine in your home as well, and cheap. Details:

The Changing Box Page

Thanks Vince! Glad to see you're back!

 

[KenS]

I need alternatives to a darkroom. I’ll be developing b&w 135 film. I heard the bags are confining and the arms very tight. I’d rather have more room I think, but I’m not sure what to get.

As for the film developing itself, Is there a good source of information on the process and equipment and chemicals needed? I’ll read the sticky threads here as well.

Thank you for your help!

I 'gave up' on using a dark bag some 20-odd years ago .. i saw Iford's' 'advertt' for a 'changing box' (at a price that was well and truly "outside' the money I was willing to 'fork out' from my pension incme)... so I decided to build my own (based on their 'design.) I have to admit it IS a LOT better than a 'dark bag' (as long as you are 'at home' while so doing. it does NOT, however, fold down and fit into you hip pocket (unfortunately 8-(.

Ken

 

[KerrKid]

I 'gave up' on using a dark bag some 20-odd years ago .. i saw Iford's' 'advertt' for a 'changing box' (at a price that was well and truly "outside' the money I was willing to 'fork out' from my pension incme)... so I decided to build my own (based on their 'design.) I have to admit it IS a LOT better than a 'dark bag' (as long as you are 'at home' while so doing. it does NOT, however, fold down and fit into you hip pocket (unfortunately 8-(.

Ken

I think the box is better than a bag unless there's a box in the bag as was discussed. Vince posted a cheap DIY box idea that I'd like to try if the local thrift store can cough up a pair of suitable black pants.

 

[AgX]

I 'gave up' on using a dark bag some 20-odd years ago .. i saw Iford's' 'advertt' for a 'changing box' .

First time I read of such by Ilford. And googling did not make me wiser...

Did I miss something? I mean the idea of a box instead of a bag is not new and Vincent made a great design improvement.