Ilford darkroom tent coming soon?

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Ever since I heard about Ilford is selling a darkroom tent this fall, I've been on the lookout. This website is saying that they'll be available in February. I'm assuming that in the UK.

https://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/ilford-pop-up-darkroom/p13074

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ever since I heard about Ilford is selling a darkroom tent this fall, I've been on the lookout. This website is saying that they'll be available in February. I'm assuming that in the UK.

https://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/ilford-pop-up-darkroom/p13074

Will it take a tall 4"x5" enlarger like the Chromega Dichroic II 5D-XL?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I wish them well but fail to see the usefulness.

 

[Paul Howell]

Looking at the dimensions, at about 8 foot tall, with a drop table I think a 4X5 would fit, issue will how deep and wide, I would use paper drums and motor base so I could print 11X14. Price is just over $500 us. I think a cheap tent for frame, then blackout cloth, could customize to size needed. From Walmart, S118 + cost of black out cloth and sewing.

 

[Luckless]

Will it take a tall 4"x5" enlarger like the Chromega Dichroic II 5D-XL?

Based on their specs on the site showing 4.25x4.25 and 7 feet tall, which are looking like outer dimensions, and comparing it to my D5, I'm going to go with "Yes, it should fit"

Might need a low table to get the full height range.

Probably wouldn't have room for me to fit in there with it and trays, but someone really skinny and fond of cramped spaces might be able to pull it off.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Will it take a tall 4"x5" enlarger like the Chromega Dichroic II 5D-XL?

I haven't seen one, but the specs are 4.25'x4.25'x 7' high. If I get one, I'd put my Beseler 45MXT with 3 11x14 trays if I could. I'm trying to black out my garage with little success so the then might do the trick.

 

[logan2z]

It's a cool idea in theory, but it looks much too cramped to be practical. I spend the bulk of my darkroom time on the dry side - a physically separate space - which keeps me away from chemical fumes most of the time. With this tent, it seems like my nose would practically be in the trays for my entire darkroom stint. Ilford mentions provisions for ventilation hookups, but that would seem to limit portability and hinder easy pop up/tear down.

I applaud Ilford for trying to make a home darkroom a reality for more people, but I'm not sure that this product is really the answer.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I wish them well but fail to see the usefulness.

When I was starting out in photography in Japan, I could have used something like this, instead of multi-layers of black plastic, in the kitchen corner!

 

[NB23]

It's a cool idea in theory, but it looks much too cramped to be practical. I spend the bulk of my darkroom time on the dry side - a physically separate space - which keeps me away from chemical fumes most of the time. With this tent, it seems like my nose would practically be in the trays for my entire darkroom stint. Ilford mentions provisions for ventilation hookups, but that would seem to limit portability and hinder easy pop up/tear down.

I applaud Ilford for trying to make a home darkroom a reality for more people, but I'm not sure that this product is really the answer.

The dry side will be out of the tent.

the dry side is usually happening with lights on...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The dry side will be out of the tent.

the dry side is usually happening with lights on...

The dry side is usually where the enlarger is, no? Dry side exposure. Wet side, processing. Even my plastic garbage bag, kitchen corner darkroom had wet and dry sides. Enlarger on one side, turn myself around to the wet side, which had three stackable shelves containing developer, stop, and fix. The problem was ventilation. There was none.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The dry side will be out of the tent.

the dry side is usually happening with lights on...

The dry side is usually where the enlarger is, no? Dry side exposure. Wet side, processing. Even my plastic garbage bag, kitchen corner darkroom had wet and dry sides. Enlarger on one side, turn myself around to the wet side, which had three stackable shelves containing developer, stop, and fix. The problem was ventilation. There was none.

My dry side is where I use the enlarger to make prints and where I load film, so NO.

 

[mshchem]

I have a nice darkroom. Still when the sun is hitting that side of the house I see light. It's not enough to cause a problem but it drives me crazy. It should be easy to address once the snow clears. A nice tent would be a great thing for people that don't have a spare utility room like I do.

 

[mshchem]

Really for paper you could have developer and Ilford citric acid stop in the tent, fix on the kitchen counter. No stink.

 

[NB23]

Yes indeed, dry side can be where the enlarger is. But even mid sized darkrooms have this ambiguous gray zone where the enlarger is very near the trays.
This tent is very welcome as it enables any place to become appropriate for printing, even a Hotel room.

small prints are a thing of beauty. A small box of 100 5x7 becomes 200 sheets of 3.5x5, a super sweet size, just about the same as a iphone screen. Hours of fun, for little money.

 

[Paul Howell]

Looking at the dimensions, at about 8 foot tall, with a drop table I think a 4X5 would fit, issue will how deep and wide, I would use paper drums and motor base so I could print 11X14. Price is just over $500 us. I think a cheap tent for frame, then blackout cloth, could customize to size needed. From Walmart, S118 + cost of black out cloth and sewing.

Black out cloth is $7.99 a yard, so 10 yards is $80, the tent is the pattern, maybe $200 in labor, none if you have a sewing machine and large table to work on. Total is less then $400 and would be large enough for an 4X5 and trays, takes up space need a large room to set up, or in right temperate zone maybe out doors, nights.

 

[logan2z]

This tent is very welcome as it enables any place to become appropriate for printing, even a Hotel room..

I don't typically travel with my enlarger, so not a big benefit for me

If this tent enables more people to get into film photography/darkroom work, then I hope it succeeds.

 

[logan2z]

fix on the kitchen counter

You're single, right?

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I think WPC shooters will love this tent. They could coat their plates on location easily.

 

[NB23]

I don't typically travel with my enlarger, so not a big benefit for me

If this tent enables more people to get into film photography/darkroom work, then I hope it succeeds.

there are portable mini enlargers in carrying cases, and where the case becomes the baseboard.
Or even this. Wow.

 

[mshchem]

You're single, right?

My wife is an artist. She's "occupied " the lower level bath. The vanity top would require 15 hours of green scotchbrite to get all the paint etc out. The family room of our 4 bedroom house is her studio. Carpet removed, bare concrete floor, kiln with vent hood, rolling mill, work benches etc. If I spill over into her area it's not good

 

[logan2z]

My wife is an artist. She's "occupied " the lower level bath. The vanity top would require 15 hours of green scotchbrite to get all the paint etc out. The family room of our 4 bedroom house is her studio. Carpet removed, bare concrete floor, kiln with vent hood, rolling mill, work benches etc. If I spill over into her area it's not good

You married...wisely

 

[Wallendo]

I am looking forward to the availability of this. I already have a spot picked out for this (and a backup spot) in my house for a semi-permanent installation. At least until I can build a permanent darkroom.

I suspect that peoplke who already have darkrooms at home are not the target audience for this.

 

[MattKing]

fix on the kitchen counter

You're single, right?

That is what larger trays holding the smaller ones, plus good ventilation is for .
It helps to have been doing similar things for decades, including when we met, and for the decades since.
I too married well.

 

[gone]

Like Ralph, I don't understand why someone would use a tent, but it must be for specific situations. Like most of us, I've developed and printed in a studio apt, a small bathroom, etc. If there were a lot of big windows in the place, this might be a godsend compared to taping and un-taping the windows though. Most people come up w/ a system to make that work easier, often w/ just a pre fitted panel to put over the windows.

You could use a tent outdoors if for some reason you wanted to develop LF negs in the boonies, but I don't know why you'd do that. Show the glossies off to the snakes and raccoons? A crow might be interested, they have a good eye.

 

[MattKing]

I have a friend (he posts here too) who is a school teacher who mainly teaches Art in one school, but has been temporarily seconded to a high school to teach Art, including photography. His principal would support investing in this, but there is no way that he could convince the authorities to (re)build the school darkrooms.

Its perfect for a darkroom skills learning unit in a school that lacks darkroom facilities.