At a bit of a tangent here -
worst investment was plastic print tongs; always broke in the middle of a print session & *always* seemed to be the last one I had in store :-(
better investment was metal tongs with rubber tips; vastly more expensive but they haven't broken yet so cheaper in the long run
Other *best investment* would be a timer with consistent repeatability.
Sim2.
When I give workshops, one of my handouts is this list. ...
When I give workshops, one of my handouts is this list. I like to think of darkroom equipment in three categories, but each has his own priorities, as you seem to. IMHO, this list of darkroom equipment covers the essentials and some luxuries, but is not necessarily complete. YMMV
Film development
Absolutely Essential
Developing tank and reels (critical)
Accurate thermometer 1 (critical)
A completely dark room OR a changing bag (critical)
Film cap remover (for 35mm)
Measuring cylinders and beakers
Chemical storage bottles
Funnel
Stop clock/watch/timer
Film clips
Nice To Have
Scissors
Negative storage sleeves
Stirring rod (for mixing chemicals)
Luxuries
Temperature controlled water bath
Mechanized processor
Printing Equipment
Absolutely Essential
A dark room
Adequate ventilation
Electricity
Trash can
An enlarger for smaller negatives, and/or a contact printer for larger negatives.
Contrast filters for the enlarger (or an enlarger with a dichroic color head)
A clock or timer with a easily seen (under safelight) second hand,
Trays for chemicals (at least 4, plus a washer tray.)
Print tongs (or gloves)
A safelight and filter. The Ilford 902 safelight filter is recommended for all Ilford printing papers. The Kodak 0C (zero-see) is the equivalent.
Print easel to hold and mask the paper
Nice To Have
A dark room with running water
Heat and air conditioning
4 blade easel
A focusing aid (grain focuser)
Mechanical or electronic enlarger timer
A dedicated print development timer
Paper trimmer (one that can be used safely in dim light)
Paper safes
Drying racks
Microwave or hair dryer (for paper NOT film)
Clean, camel hair brush, and/or a puffer brush for removing dust from negatives
Luxuries
Stereo or radio
Vertical (archival) print washer
Programmable f-stop enlarging timer
Compressed air for dusting negatives
Light box for viewing negatives
Large sinks to hold all your trays and print washers
Which just goes to show one of the problems with lists like this. One person's "essential" will be another's "useless." SOME things of course we should agree on - enlarger, quality lens etc. But a lot of the peripheral stuff is going to be a very personalized list developed by personal experience.
Like that list.
I'll make one minor correction - it's OC (oh-see)
I was thinking about the "Never used" equipment thread last night while I was fighting (again) with my paper safe. There is specialized equipment for every possible need in a darkroom. So my question is, if you were setting up a new room (or advising someone setting up their first), what equipment would you skip? And what equipment would you really push to get the best for?
When I give workshops, one of my handouts is this list. I like to think of darkroom equipment in three categories, but each has his own priorities, as you seem to. IMHO, this list of darkroom equipment covers the essentials and some luxuries, but is not necessarily complete. YMMV
...snip....
Printing Equipment
Absolutely Essential
A dark room
Adequate ventilation
Electricity
Trash can
An enlarger for smaller negatives, and/or a contact printer for larger negatives.
Contrast filters for the enlarger (or an enlarger with a dichroic color head)
A clock or timer with a easily seen (under safelight) second hand,
Trays for chemicals (at least 4, plus a washer tray.)
Print tongs (or gloves)
A safelight and filter. The Ilford 902 safelight filter is recommended for all Ilford printing papers. The Kodak 0C (zero-see) is the equivalent.
Print easel to hold and mask the paper
Nice To Have
A dark room with running water
Heat and air conditioning
4 blade easel
A focusing aid (grain focuser)
Mechanical or electronic enlarger timer
A dedicated print development timer
Paper trimmer (one that can be used safely in dim light)
Paper safes
Drying racks
Microwave or hair dryer (for paper NOT film)
Clean, camel hair brush, and/or a puffer brush for removing dust from negatives
Luxuries
Stereo or radio
Vertical (archival) print washer
Programmable f-stop enlarging timer
Compressed air for dusting negatives
Light box for viewing negatives
Large sinks to hold all your trays and print washers
One of the expenses that can be reduced is NOT to buy a contact printer. Expensive and used very seldomly as you can put a sheet of paper on the easel put the sheet of negatives on it. A glass plate on top, turn the lights on for a few seconds, presto a contact print. Spend your saved $$ on more paper. You can use a larger sheet of paper where you can write notes & info.
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