my first darkroom... equipment suggestions?

[angrykitty]

So I'm going to have a darkroom in a large spare bathroom with a utility sink, and I've started to look at equipment on craigslist.

I'm poor, so I need something thats very economical. For the enlarger, I also need something reliable and has a good 'rep', even if its pretty old. I'm lookin at things that are free and under a hundred bux so I'm not expecting too much, but what would you guys recomend from the bottom of the rung?

also suggestions on blocking out a window and door frames would be awesome...

thanx!

 

[Christopher Walrath]

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

An article I wrote a while back here on APUG. It's got a beginner list of gear at the bottom. As to blocking out the windows, try a black sheet, folded over so double thick or soome such material. I would affix it around the outside edge of the sill with hook and loop strips (velcro) for ease of set up/ break down. The same could be done for the door, but I would probably try just some strips of material that jut out just past the edges through where light might pass so you don't have to disassemble if you need to get out in a hurry.

 

[Rick A]

Depending on where you are, there are loads of complete darkrooms for sale cheap. I've seen a bunch in Pa., I'm sure there are many in other areas.

 

[RTMoynihan]

Could always try your local 'freecycle' group, their pretty handy. Also keep your local independent camera stores sweet they often have more than enough enlargers to choose from, I know we do! You could substitute dev trays for new cat litter trays or the little drawers you get for school classrooms. Having only had one enlarger I can only recommend my one which is a rolleimat of sorts. I got that for free too! Our art trail hosts a load of local photographers and I got chatting to him, he offered me his MF enlarger and I almost bit his hand off. He had moved up through the formats and had a LF enlarger that could do MF and 35mm. A print washer is quite useful too, but you could hook up a bit of hosing to the tap to make that a bit cheaper!

 

[stillsilver]

Welcome to the site. Make sure your enlarger is in good working order. You can upgrade the lens later.

Mike

 

[tkamiya]

I have a freebie enlarger but it would make no sense to ship it anywhere as shipping alone will be few times the value of this equipment.... If you are in US, Omega DII and D2 are plenty available. If you find one in fairly decent shape and complete, these are rugged, stable, and excellent performer. It will do anything from 35mm to 4x5. (I have two) Again, it would be nearly impossible to ship this huge enlarger. For your information, I paid $40 for a complete DII that just required cleaning. I also picked up D2 that needed TLC for free.

I will send you a PM shortly about something else, so please watch for it.

 

[RTMoynihan]

Oh also a grain focusser is a really neat tool to have to make sure you get nice sharp prints

 

[R gould]

Don't know if they are available in the U.S., but Meopta enlargers are reasonably cheap new so secondhand should be cheap, and a good buy, tough and good performers, perhaps something like a opemus 6 good for up to 6x6, I use one myself, as for trays, cat litter trayswork well, and fora grain focaser,youcan manage witha maginifying glass, for timing developing of both film and paper, an old fashioned digital watch works well,Richard

 

[alexhill]

Put the word out to friends, and friends parents, and your parents' friends that you want to make a darkroom. Watch craigslist for freebies, and keep an eye out for total darkroom set ups. Perhaps you can trade weeding for them My safelight currently is a red LED camping headlamp. Have fun, and ask lots of questions

 

[Barry S]

If you're in the DC area, I can probably get you a nice 4x5 enlarger for under $100, possibly for free. For light blocking, a cheap and easy solution is the light block fabric used for curtains. Joann's Fabrics usually has 40% off coupons, making the fabric very cheap. As Alex mentioned, put the word out and you may end up with more equipment than you can handle.

 

[tkamiya]

Oh, I almost forgot...

My "window block" is actually two layers of "contractor clean up bags" purchased from Home Depot. This is basically a box of extra thick, strong, and large trash bags. I joined 4 of them to make a large sheet, then used one to cover the windows first, taping all sides using painter's masking tape. Then, used another similarly arranged material to cover the window frame. Then... used duct tape to fight the light-leaks. Place painter's tape first, then use duct tape on top of it. Cheap, available, and easily removable.

I didn't expect much longevity from this but amazingly enough, it has lasted 8 month for me so far and still going strong. Keep in mind, I am in Central Florida. Strong sun will eventually bleach this thing... but it hasn't happened yet.

 

[RTMoynihan]

My "window block" is actually two layers of "contractor clean up bags" .

Could also use aluminium foil, it's cheap and easy to cut into shape

 

[angrykitty]

wow tons of good suggestions... I'm keeping an eye on craigslist and waiting for the right one to pop up...

I havn't heard much about the besler enlargers, are those better or worse then omega? Those two seem to be the most common ones up for grabs.

I was expecting to have to paint the window or board it up but some of those ideas seem a little bit more reasonable...

I'm in the bay area, CA btw

 

[MattKing]

A Beseler 23C model (the newer the better) is a good reliable choice if it is in reasonable condition. It will work with 35mm and smaller sizes, as well as all medium format film up to 6x9 (2 1/4 x 3 1/4).

Many of them were used in school darkrooms, and there is a large quantity of accessories available on the used market.

In fact, you can even buy one new.

The Beseler 67C series is also good, and also still being made. It will only work with sizes up to 6x7 though.

My 67C was my main enlarger for almost 30 years. I recently acquired a larger Omega which will handle 4x5, but I've kept the Beseler too.

 

[alexhill]

wow tons of good suggestions... I'm keeping an eye on craigslist and waiting for the right one to pop up...

I havn't heard much about the besler enlargers, are those better or worse then omega? Those two seem to be the most common ones up for grabs.

I was expecting to have to paint the window or board it up but some of those ideas seem a little bit more reasonable...

I'm in the bay area, CA btw

Honestly, the lens is 100x more important than the enlarger. I've used pro lab enlargers and cheep hobbyist ones and got great prints out of all of them. Good negs and patience is worth way more than fancy gear.

If I were you, I'd get whatever I could get. You can learn and practice just as well on a free enlarger that works as a 5,000$ one. If you choose to continue with the darkroom, better parts will float your way- or you will have gained the experience which will allow you to know what you need to buy.

I use two garbage bags doubled up over my window. I open the top a crack, then stuff the top of the bags into the crack, then push the window closed. When I lower the blinds they do a really great job holding the bags against the sides of the window. No tape needed . Painting the window is the HARD way. its very difficult to make a window light proof with paint.

 

[mikebarger]

Think free.... I've seen a lot of darkroom stuff go to the dump over the last couple years people just couldn't give away.

Look and listen...free stuff is out there.

Mike

 

[Rick A]

I dont know what your transportation situation is, but you could also watch CL in nearby areas. Seems prices are high in the SF area, but I've seen entire DR's for cheap in Sacramento.

 

[angrykitty]

update:

so I ended up finding an omega c700 on craigslist for 50 bux... but when I went to pick it up she had lost the lens! I ended up paying 20 for the enlarger and a box miscellanious dark room stuff... the box of stuff was worth more then 20 alone so I just got it anyway. hopefully she'll find the lens and I can pay her the difference! But I'm still keeping an eye out for other enlargers and/or lenses...

Thank you TK for the contractor clean up bag idea, I think that's what I'll go with

 

[Bateleur]

update:
so I ended up finding ...

Now you are almost up an running, don't forget to add a portrait of your setup to the darkroom portraits section

 

[jp498]

The c700 is a good enlarger. If you hadn't gotten one already, there was a nice chromega-B enlarger on the classifieds here (no affiliation) which is like I have and is very good for 6x6cm or smaller stuff. It is a very versatile and easy to use quality enlarger. If your enlarger is missing the lens, there is a possibility it's missing the lensboard as well, which is the metal plate that holds the lens to the bottom of the bellows. If you browse ebay for Omega lensboard, you will see examples. It should have a hole in the middle of the appropriate diameter for the lens rear diameter you will be putting in it.

Find an El Nikkor, Schneider Componon-s, or rodenstock lens for the enlarger here or ebay. I use a componon-s 80mm for both 35mm and 6x6cm negatives, though most people use a 50mm only for 35mm negatives.

Hopefully you have a good dial (or digital) thermometer for film developing as the developers work differently according to temperature.

I still read craigslist with interest at all the killer darkroom equipment deals. I don't need any of it, as I have a complete setup already. It's just an exciting time for someone getting into film, especially B&W.

I found plastic reels (paterson style) easier to load and deal with than stainless, but it's a personal preference.

A gralab timer can function as both an enlarger timer, and a film developing timer (if you turn off the enlarger with it's own switch).

In addition to Chris's good writeup, you might get some hypo clearing chemical to reduce the amount of washing needed. A bath in that with a couple of washes before and after will save a huge amount of washing time.

I put my chemical in wide mouth plastic juice bottles. Some chemical are light sensitive, which is why brown bottles are often sold for darkrooms, but my chemicals stay in the darkroom, so it's usually dark there.

 

[snay1345]

My enlarger didn't come with a lens either, but instead of holding out and buying a decent lens I bought some banged up vivitar lens that was not very clear. It was all I had for the first few months and then I won a Nikkor lens. Once I put that on I couldn't believe the difference the lens could make. So my advice is not to go for the cheapest lens, I am by no means a master printer but I noticed very quickly how much difference a lens can make.

 

[angrykitty]

ok so my friend finnally decided to drop off the god forsaken thing... and... I'M CONFUSED!!!!

confusion # 1:

It's a c700 lamphouse, therefore a condenser... these are for black and white right?

so why does it say ColorPrintMaker under the omega sticker? and it comes with a set of (apparently unused) color filters. All the c700's I'm seeing on google specify that they are black and white and none of them have the ColorPrintMaker logo...

I'm asuming I can use the filters the same way I would use the dials on a Dichroic ... (the only enlarger I've ever used) to control contrast for b&w except i have to do it sort of manually. So... ummm.... that will work right? do I get to print color with this one eventually too?

confusion #2:

needs a bulb... can I just use any 75 watt incandescent bulb or does it have to be a dedicated omega one?

confusion #3:

the lensboard is the metal square under the carrier that has a threaded hole in it where you would screw in the lens? thats the only part that needs to go there, right... ? (other then the lens, of course...)


this thing's a lot different from the fancy schmantzys I learned on... should be... interesting. Shoot, I already learned a whole lot just from matching appropriate labels to appropriate filters... so THATS what those numbers on the dials meant! And I got so used to just having ready to go combinations of them posted on the wall

 

[Rick A]

Dont worry about what the label says, you will be more than able to print B&W on the thing. You can use the color filters to print variable contrast, just use the filtration recommended for whichever contrast grade in the filter drawer. Its best to use the bulb listed for the enlarger for optimum performance, the bulb is available from Freestyle. All you need to do now is afix a lens to the lensboard that is appropriate to the format of your choosing. 50mm for 35mm negs, 75-90 for medium format, depending on neg. size (I use a 90mm for 6x6, its overkill) Your C-700 will handle negs from 35mm to 6x7, all you need is the negative carrier and lens to match. I believe you need 39mm mount lenses, so be careful when you buy them to get the right mount size, or its a no go for using them. I can scan in a copy of an owners manual for you if you need one.

 

[MattKing]

Incandescent enlarger bulbs can differ from regular household bulbs in 6 ways:

1) some enlarger bulbs have different threads or mount sizes than household bulbs;
2) the shape of enlarger bulbs can be different. This results in the centre of the light being in a different (wrong) place;
3) it doesn't matter if household bulbs have slightly uneven light. Enlarger bulbs are designed to be even;
4) it doesn't matter if household bulbs give out light with variable colour. Enlarger bulbs are designed to give out light with consistent colour;
5) household bulbs have printing on the end. With some enlargers, at certain magnifications, the printing will show up in your photographs ; and
6) enlarger bulbs are more expensive and less easily located.

As for the "color" filters that you have, they could be either filters designed mainly to be usable with variable contrast black and white paper, or filters designed for color printing. You make reference to labels for the filters. What do the labels actually say?

By the way, you can use colour printing filters to adjust the contrast of variable contrast paper, but it is much more convenient to use a set of filters dedicated to that purpose. Here is a link to freestyle's catalogue page showing one Ilford choice:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/137666-Ilford-MG-Filter-Set-6-in.-x-6-in.?cat_id=1602

 

[tkamiya]

Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed

Check out the second link. This is the one that goes into an C700 enlarger. It's not specific to Omega or C700 but is specially made for photographic enlarger use.