By far the best luxury I ever had in a darkroom was an intelligent, personable, and attractive girl to take over print developing after I dropped a print in the stop bath so I could get back to the enlarger.
Darkroom Luxuries
-
A
- Thread starter mgb74
- Start date
Recent Classifieds
-
For Sale FS: Kodak 127mm f/4.7 Ektar and Graflex 103mm f/4.5 Trioptar lenses, $125
- Started by dirkfletcher
-
For Sale Paterson Super System 4 3-reel tank with two MOD54 reels
- Started by Steve Goldstein
-
For Sale Arca Swiss D4M tripod head - classic mount
- Started by Guivd
-
Want to Buy 4x5 Camera: Horseman 45FA, Chamonix 45N-2, Chamonix 45F-2
- Started by Christopherjs
-
Want to Buy Saunders/LPL 4500ii 4x5 Glass Negative Carrier + 240-500 masking attachment
- Started by Grayjohn900
Forum statistics
+1
I hated those cans!
OP
OP
It's interesting to see the range of items we consider luxuries. For some, even having a darkroom at all, or the basics like running water, is a luxury. Makes me appreciate the basic darkroom I have even more.
Darkroom Automation enlarging meter. Brilliant piece of kit, in combination with a Stouffer T2115 step wedge.
A self cleaning darkroom.
David A. Goldfarb
Moderator
Three APO lenses (Rodenstock & Schneider), Metrolux timer, Columbia stainless steel trays, two Nikor sheet film tanks.
That's sort of what you get with a Phototherm Sidekick - that's a super luxury item. It self-feeds the chem and then washes itself automatically - can even dry too. Doesn't get any better (for the film processing part). With auto transport desktop print processors there is still a bit of clean-up (draining and roller wash) - but even so, another super luxury item.
Does it dust, vacuum and organize everything in the darkroom? Can it automatically correct the composition and adjust the focus on the negative directly? Does it clean all optical surfaces? Mount slides, cropping if necessary? If it can do that and more I am in!
No, my ex-wife did that, but that's one of the reasons why she's my ex LOL (j/k).
Time machine to go back to see how things were done over the last century and a half. Kodak back in the first half of the 20th century. I have enough stuff. I'm sure given a million dollars I could dream up a use. I have probably 400 sq feet, but it would be cool to have dedicated rooms for various tasks.
But really I don't need anything (maybe a Heiland led colorhead for my Zone VI 8x10 and 5x7 enlargers) I would like to enlarge color 6x17 especially.
But really I don't need anything (maybe a Heiland led colorhead for my Zone VI 8x10 and 5x7 enlargers) I would like to enlarge color 6x17 especially.
Just a dedicated and suitable SPACE would be amazing.
I came into a great array of equipment in the last few years but have no space that'll work. I have FOUR enlargers (two Leicas, no less) plus all the trays and gear to basically run a pretty decent community facility!
I came into a great array of equipment in the last few years but have no space that'll work. I have FOUR enlargers (two Leicas, no less) plus all the trays and gear to basically run a pretty decent community facility!
Michel Hardy-Vallée
Membership Council
You, sir, have won the Internet.
Michel Hardy-Vallée
Membership Council
For my part, having a semi-permanent setup in the garage to myself (almost) year long is quite a luxury in itself. Compared to packing up and down my stuff every time I needed to print before.
My luxury item for now would be my GraLab 451, bought NOS. It's reliable, precise to the tenth of a second. All of my stuff is secondhand or hand-me-down, but I decided that I did not want to compromise on approximative timing. The result is that I can now control exposure down to the 1/4 of a stop, and that is sufficient to make the difference between an OK print and one that nails it.
My luxury item for now would be my GraLab 451, bought NOS. It's reliable, precise to the tenth of a second. All of my stuff is secondhand or hand-me-down, but I decided that I did not want to compromise on approximative timing. The result is that I can now control exposure down to the 1/4 of a stop, and that is sufficient to make the difference between an OK print and one that nails it.
An eight by two by one foot sink, wood, with grey epoxy paint and running water, with a elevated end shelf for a running first wash and a three degree down-slope toward the wash end drain.
A magnetic (no heated) is simplicity itself to make, and there are plenty of plans online in beer makers forums, using a box, pc fan, a few 'super' magnets, a speed control and an old phone charger.
I used an old silverware case, gutted the inside, and used some Lexan and duct tape for a water resistant top. When no in use, the cord charger goes inside the Box which can slide into a book case like a book itself.
Buy several different sizes of magnetic lab stirs and make sure you have venting for the fan, built in.
Make sure your mixing jar/bucket, has a FLAT bottom, as a rounded jar bottom will no allow the stir to work properly in the center of the mixing vessel, and slowly, work up your stir speed.
You will no be able to 'dump and go' with your bulk chemistry, but it still beats the heck out of a long stir and a lost hour.
Not a lot of muscle but it's good enough for a gallon size batch of D76.
I suppose I should add a repair for my Omega E size Colour head, so I could have that up on my E-5 (6?) enlarger instead of the circle light Omegalite head it wears now.
A magnetic (no heated) is simplicity itself to make, and there are plenty of plans online in beer makers forums, using a box, pc fan, a few 'super' magnets, a speed control and an old phone charger.
I used an old silverware case, gutted the inside, and used some Lexan and duct tape for a water resistant top. When no in use, the cord charger goes inside the Box which can slide into a book case like a book itself.
Buy several different sizes of magnetic lab stirs and make sure you have venting for the fan, built in.
Make sure your mixing jar/bucket, has a FLAT bottom, as a rounded jar bottom will no allow the stir to work properly in the center of the mixing vessel, and slowly, work up your stir speed.
You will no be able to 'dump and go' with your bulk chemistry, but it still beats the heck out of a long stir and a lost hour.
Not a lot of muscle but it's good enough for a gallon size batch of D76.
I suppose I should add a repair for my Omega E size Colour head, so I could have that up on my E-5 (6?) enlarger instead of the circle light Omegalite head it wears now.
Last edited:
RH f stop timer a decent stool, and a radio.
Pah! All you soft modern-day "artists" with your luxuries like electricity and heat!
In my day, I was lucky to share darkroom space in the hut with the ponies and sled dogs on Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition.
H. Ponting, 1911 - Cape Evans, Ross Island
In my day, I was lucky to share darkroom space in the hut with the ponies and sled dogs on Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition.
H. Ponting, 1911 - Cape Evans, Ross Island
This is a little crazy. I have a thread about it on AudioKarma. I was gifted this non-functional Pioneer amplifier by a friend in graduate school. Someone gave it to him and he gave it to me. I had it all these years and finally fixed it to use in the darkroom. It needed a bunch of new components. Since that picture I even found a new knob for it. Yes, someone makes reproduction knobs for these vintage amplifiers.
wow that looks like a comfy darkroom!
I've got to ask, how much none visible residue light does that tv cast out after being on awhile and do you load your tanks/holders in front of it?
Hasn't been an issue so far, I don't turn it on until after I load film - so any afterglow isn't a problem.
Last edited:
| Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here. |
PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:  |