Ilford darkroom tent coming soon?

[logan2z]

I too married well.

I'm fortunate to have an understanding wife as well. I took over a spare bedroom as my dry space and have permanently blacked out an adjacent bathroom and use it as my wet space. I don't think she'd be thrilled if I put trays of chemicals on the kitchen counter, but thankfully I don't have to

 

[Sirius Glass]

Setting aside room in the home or apartment is the most expensive part of a darkroom. Small wonder that many eschew film and go digital.

 

[Luckless]

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.

You don't see a value in a reliably light tight space that can be set up as needed, takes a limited amount of space while in use, stores away easily, and doesn't block usage of a bathroom or someone else entering the room? If I had an enlarger smaller than my 5D and was still sharing a 1 bed/1 bath apartment, I would be strongly considering a tent like that.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Some humor here. No sulfide toning in my tent because if I did, friends that come over would think I'm doing something else.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Some humor here. No sulfide toning in my tent because if I did, friends that come over would think I'm doing something else.

 

[Craig]

I wish them well but fail to see the usefulness.

What about for people who live in apartments and can't devote space to a full time darkroom? What about people who only shoot film occasionally and either can't build or can't justify a permanent darkroom?

Or large/ULF shooters who could use it when traveling to change film holders? Even for 8x10, a dark reasonably spacious place to load and unload film holders would be really useful, and 8x10 is very difficult to manipulate in a changing bag. In the northern hemisphere in summer it's often impossible to make a hotel bathroom photographic grade dark to load holders.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What about for people who live in apartments and can't devote space to a full time darkroom? What about people who only shoot film occasionally and either can't build or can't justify a permanent darkroom?

Or large/ULF shooters who could use it when traveling to change film holders? Even for 8x10, a dark reasonably spacious place to load and unload film holders would be really useful, and 8x10 is very difficult to manipulate in a changing bag. In the northern hemisphere in summer it's often impossible to make a hotel bathroom photographic grade dark to load holders.

I have a room that is my dry darkroom and is only used for that. The wet darkroom is the master bathroom that gets changed back and forth.

 

[Paul Howell]

I could see some use if I was on the road more, being able to set up for film development, contact prints, and maybe working prints from 35mm and 6X9. In the past I've taken my old Federal Stowaway 6X9 and printed in a light tight motel bath. Then again, moving beds and chairs around to make room around likely more of hassle than it's worth.

 

[foc]

 

[VinceInMT]

I can certainly see this as useful for some. All “dry side” and drum processing would have worked well for me when the arrival of our first child booted me out of my darkroom to the garage. The garage was impossible to use as a darkroom except at night. One of the biggest selling points for the house I am in now is the 11x11 room in the basement with no window. I jackhammered the floor to tie into a drain line and ran in how and cold water. It’s been the best set up I’ve ever had.

As for kitchen use, I am the cook of of the house so whatever I do in the kitchen doesn’t get negative feedback from my wife.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I can certainly see this as useful for some. All “dry side” and drum processing would have worked well for me when the arrival of our first child booted me out of my darkroom to the garage. The garage was impossible to use as a darkroom except at night. One of the biggest selling points for the house I am in now is the 11x11 room in the basement with no window. I jackhammered the floor to tie into a drain line and ran in how and cold water. It’s been the best set up I’ve ever had.

As for kitchen use, I am the cook of of the house so whatever I do in the kitchen doesn’t get negative feedback from my wife.

My Jobo processor in in the kitchen so before I use it I scrub down the sink and counters with the kitchen sponge. After the darkroom work I scrub down the sink and counters with the darkroom sponge. I store the clean up equipment including the sponges separately.

 

[wiltw]

Setting aside room in the home or apartment is the most expensive part of a darkroom. Small wonder that many eschew film and go digital.

If Ilfochrome paper and chemicals were still available, I would still do darkroom printing...I truly got more satisfying rexlaxation from my darkroom sessions. But they took Ilforchrome paper and chemicals from me. And they took most of my favorite emulsions from me. That is why I now derive more pleasure from digital photography today.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If Ilfochrome paper and chemicals were still available, I would still do darkroom printing...I truly got more satisfying rexlaxation from my darkroom sessions. But they took Ilforchrome paper and chemicals from me. And they took most of my favorite emulsions from me. That is why I now derive more pleasure from digital photography today.

When I worked at Kodak I was allowed to use the company darkroom at night. That is where I was introduced to the grain focuser and the Kreonite machine. I have a Peak Grain Focuser but I have never really recovered from not having a Kreonite machine.

 

[wiltw]

When I worked at Kodak I was allowed to use the company darkroom at night. That is where I was introduced to the grain focuser and the Keronite machine. I have a Peak Grain Focuser but I have never really recovered from not having a Keronite machine.

Whutsa Keronite? Current definition is something for plating metal.

 

[MattKing]

Whutsa Keronite?

Kreonite print processor, I'd venture.

 

[wiltw]

Kreonite print processor, I'd venture.
View attachment 296914

Oh, a Kreonite (processor), not a Keronite (metal plater). Thx for that.

Just wondering what is less expensive, a grow tent or a darkroom tent?!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Kreonite print processor, I'd venture.
View attachment 296914

Thank you.

 

[ColdEye]

Looks interesting. I REALLY want to go back into printing, but small apartment life is not the easiest for it. My plan is to just use black out curtains at the window and bathroom door.

 

[BCM]

In stock at B&H. I just ordered one.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1684626-REG/ilford_1181926_pop_up_darkroom.html

 

[digital_archivist]

Mine was finally shipped (ordered on February 7) and is due here tomorrow. We shall see...

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Looking forward to hearing the verdict on this. Planning a quick trip to NYC next week and if the reviews are positive, I might pick one up at B&H.

 

[xtol121]

My Ilford Darkroom Tent showed up a few weeks ago. I have it set up in the corner of my bedroom and no matter how tiny 4’x4’ seems, it’s a whole lot bigger when it’s a big black tent in your bedroom. Not exactly great as decor… As far as usability it does exactly what it says. I’ve used it to print black and white, color, and to load and develop film.

There are very tiny pinholes along the seams but they do not add to exposure over the 20ish minutes it takes to process film. I processed one test roll of 400TX with my normal Harrison bag and then another roll in open tanks in the Ilford tent. Both films had a base fog of 0.18. Seems safe to me?

I started with my Leitz Focomat V35 enlarger but just upgraded to a Saunders/LPL 4550 because I found a good deal and I love making bad decisions. The LPL 4x5 enlarger does fit and surprisingly the baseboard footprint is similar to the V35. The column is tall though and pushes at the top of the darkroom tent. I cut a 10” circle out of cardboard and stuffed it on top of the column to distribute the pressure. Works fine for now.

I have enough room for 3 8x10 trays on a tray ladder. I have a 4th tray on the table that I use to walk the print out of the tent and down the hall to a holding tray. I also have 2 small tables that fit under my main table to keep paper boxes and paper safes, as well as a binder of negatives I’m working on at the moment.

My Arista safelight and a daylight LED bulb are hung from the loop at the top of the tent. The cable then runs down the back of the enlarger. I wish the tent hard a few more loops up the edges for cable routing.

I also have an inline duct fan installed. When in operation with the tent zipped up it actually inflates the tent so the interior grows about 8-12” all around. It feels much roomier and gives about 6 feet of space which is much more comfortable to move around in.

I have been using my bathroom for the past 3 years and it’s enough of a struggle to set up that more often than not I just don’t print. Putting up and taking down to print with the Ilford tent would probably be a similar amount of work, but gives me a space I enjoy being in more, and it keeps my bathroom in a normal state. My bathroom layout is awkward, might not be the case for others. I wish the tent was around when I started printing, it’s a really neat piece of gear and I think it’s well made for the price. Living in a small apartment, it’s made printing less of a chore.

 

[foc]

My Ilford Darkroom Tent showed up a few weeks ago. I have it set up in the corner of my bedroom and no matter how tiny 4’x4’ seems, it’s a whole lot bigger when it’s a big black tent in your bedroom. Not exactly great as decor… As far as usability it does exactly what it says. I’ve used it to print black and white, color, and to load and develop film.

There are very tiny pinholes along the seams but they do not add to exposure over the 20ish minutes it takes to process film. I processed one test roll of 400TX with my normal Harrison bag and then another roll in open tanks in the Ilford tent. Both films had a base fog of 0.18. Seems safe to me?

I started with my Leitz Focomat V35 enlarger but just upgraded to a Saunders/LPL 4550 because I found a good deal and I love making bad decisions. The LPL 4x5 enlarger does fit and surprisingly the baseboard footprint is similar to the V35. The column is tall though and pushes at the top of the darkroom tent. I cut a 10” circle out of cardboard and stuffed it on top of the column to distribute the pressure. Works fine for now.

I have enough room for 3 8x10 trays on a tray ladder. I have a 4th tray on the table that I use to walk the print out of the tent and down the hall to a holding tray. I also have 2 small tables that fit under my main table to keep paper boxes and paper safes, as well as a binder of negatives I’m working on at the moment.

My Arista safelight and a daylight LED bulb are hung from the loop at the top of the tent. The cable then runs down the back of the enlarger. I wish the tent hard a few more loops up the edges for cable routing.

I also have an inline duct fan installed. When in operation with the tent zipped up it actually inflates the tent so the interior grows about 8-12” all around. It feels much roomier and gives about 6 feet of space which is much more comfortable to move around in.

I have been using my bathroom for the past 3 years and it’s enough of a struggle to set up that more often than not I just don’t print. Putting up and taking down to print with the Ilford tent would probably be a similar amount of work, but gives me a space I enjoy being in more, and it keeps my bathroom in a normal state. My bathroom layout is awkward, might not be the case for others. I wish the tent was around when I started printing, it’s a really neat piece of gear and I think it’s well made for the price. Living in a small apartment, it’s made printing less of a chore.

Thank you for your detailed post and glad you liked the darkroom tent.

 

[digital_archivist]

I started with my Leitz Focomat V35 enlarger but just upgraded to a Saunders/LPL 4550 because I found a good deal and I love making bad decisions. The LPL 4x5 enlarger does fit and surprisingly the baseboard footprint is similar to the V35. The column is tall though and pushes at the top of the darkroom tent. I cut a 10” circle out of cardboard and stuffed it on top of the column to distribute the pressure. Works fine for now.

...

I also have an inline duct fan installed. When in operation with the tent zipped up it actually inflates the tent so the interior grows about 8-12” all around. It feels much roomier and gives about 6 feet of space which is much more comfortable to move around in.

I just set up my tent, and I have two questions (if you don't mind):

-Where do you bring in your electrical cables?
-What duct fan did you use? Any recommendations?


Thanks!

 

[AgX]

Is there a facility to install a fan?

If the tent gets blown up by the fan one might wonder if there is any air exchange. And any blown out air then likely would remain in the room and finally would be blown into the tent again.