New to this and In need of help...

Hello,
My name is Christie. I am very new to analog photography, I mean I know how to take my own photos very well, however I have recently decided that I would like to set up my own dark room and have total control over my own creations. The thing I need help with is what all do I need for my dark room? Is there anyone out there that would be willing to send me a complete list of what all I need. Im finding pieces and pieces...but Im wondering will it ever be complete? Also, I would like to purchase the Omega D5-XL Super Chromega Dichroic Enlarger because it does color and black and white, is there another out there that does the same? AND is there a need for a condenser as well? Any help and Input would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank You,
Christie

Welcome, Christie. I personally use an LPL C7700 MX enlarger, which can be used to print in colour and mono. As far as what you need to set up a darkroom, you will need -

either a completely darkened room for printing OR a changing bag for processing film;
measuring cylinders OR any type of measuring device for mixing dev, fix, etc;
an accurate thermometer which can be immersed into liquid;
a film opener, or just a regular bottler cap remover;
trays for chemistry for printing (at least three);
a processing tank and reels (these could be plastic or stainless steel, and should have a light trap, so that they can be used for processing in light);
scissors for cutting off the end of the film (also for rounding off the edges of 35mm film for plastic reels - this helps a lot);
and a large amount of patience;
(There are probably other things I've temporarily forgotten.)

Good luck,
Kevin

Add a safelight, some weighted film clips for drying, a clock with a second hand, the chemicals themselves, some paper and, for the enlarger, the best lens you can possibly afford even if it means selling the kids

David.

christie6682 said:

Hello,
My name is Christie. I am very new to analog photography, I mean I know how to take my own photos very well, however I have recently decided that I would like to set up my own dark room and have total control over my own creations. The thing I need help with is what all do I need for my dark room? Is there anyone out there that would be willing to send me a complete list of what all I need. Im finding pieces and pieces...but Im wondering will it ever be complete? Also, I would like to purchase the Omega D5-XL Super Chromega Dichroic Enlarger because it does color and black and white, is there another out there that does the same? AND is there a need for a condenser as well? Any help and Input would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank You,
Christie

Click to expand...

Ilford's website has a number of PDFs that should help: www.ilfordphoto.com - click on the "Applications" menu. I think Kodak has similar documents on its site if you are a Kodak kind of person .

Any enlarger with a dichroic colour head will happily do B&W and colour. There are dozens of makes and models available on the used market. The Omega you mention is a well respected make - Beseler, Durst, LPL, DeVere are a few others.

Some people prefer a condenser head for B&W and others prefer colour heads but you do not need one if you already have a colour head: many (most?) people use a colour head for b&w.


Have fun, Bob.

An Omega D5 is a fine enlarger, no question, but they are large and relatively expensive compared to smaller machines. If you won't be enlarging negatives larger than medium format, then you may want to consider a smaller enlarger that will be easier to find space for and cheaper. That will give you more budget for the lens. In addition to the on-line sources there are several good books on setting up a home darkroom. Have a look at your local second-hand bookstores.

Christie: welcome to the wonderful world of analog photography. Along with the other comments above, do a forum search on "darkroom design" and you will find lots of advice from people here.

Regards,

There are many good books on the subject that your library should have or can get. Time/Life's books called the Negative and the Print are simple and clearly write on what you need.

No you don't 'need' a condenser enlarger, but some who print B&W find them useful for a more contrasty punch from the condenser when printing. It's really a matter of your image style. How you like your final print to look will decide whether you need a condenser enlarger.

All of us can send you 'our' list, but the learning curve of self discovery is important for each of us. What one can't live without isn't necessarily what you need.

One thing I will suggest for your list is aluminium foil. It is a super light-wieght material to block out light leaks over even windows in your darkroom. Inexpensive and can be molded into whatever shape you need. Just as duct tape to attach it.

Basics for b/w work:

Material for dkeep light out of your darkroom, different measuring jugs or cillinders for measure/mix chemicals, bottles for keeping chemicals.

For film processing:

1. Atleast one developing tank with atleast one reel which can take type of film you use. Most known are Paterson and Jobo for 35mm/120 work, and there are others makers. Plastic or stainless steel is never ending debate, for beginners I think plastic are easier to work and to find/buy, some people swear at SS...

2. Hose for connecting developing tank/watter source, for washing the film after processing.

3. Thermometer (developer temperature most critical)

4. Clock for following processing times, you can use your ordinary wrist wach (if have seconds needle), mobile phone, or buy dedicated timer.

5. Film clips for hang film to dry.

For printing:

1. Enlarger and lens. You chould have condenser/mixing chamber/lens/negative carrer suitable for negative size you use.

1a. Print easel minimum sized for paper size you will use.

2. Enlarger timer.

3. Safelight. Different colours of light filter are for graded or multigade papers or for developing films.

4. 3 chemistry trays/dishes (developer, stop, fixer) suitable for paper size you use, and print thongs.

5. Big tray for washing RC papers or dedicated washer if you us FB papers with hose to connect to water suplly.

6. Clock for waching processing times.

7. Clips for hanging RC papers to dry.

8. Filters for variable contrast papers if you don't use vario/colour head and use variable contrast papers.

9. Dryer for FB papers if you use FB papers (you can be without one, but it can make life easier considering paper curling when dry )

Companies like Paterson or Kaiser or Jobo sell (or used to sell) beginners sets with esential items included. You don't have to buy them, but you can see there what is considered as esential itams needed. See at theire web sites/catalogues. Of course thare are lots of other things you will get or think you need as times goes buy like contact sheet printer, enlarger exposure meter, negative carriers/condensers/mixing chambers/lenses for your enlarger when you start to use different negative sizes, different sized dishes when change paper sizes, more film developing tanks, this and that, etc...

Regarding enlarger. You already know what enlarger you want. But, if you for whatever reason do not buy it, there are enlargers which when use b/w head are condenser type, and when use colour or vario head are diffuser type.

For colour I don't know.

Christie,
May I suggest something ?
Go to a college darkroom, or beter a camera club darkroom.
Here you'll find a lot of nice people volunteering to demonstrate you the use of the darkroom and all what can be done in a darkroom.
This way, you'll find what is _really_ needed and what is superfluous. Last but not least, you may be able to use various enlargers. These are not born equal and some people prefer one brand above another one, even if these brands are reputable and praised. One size do not fit all.... This will save not only money but frustration.

Duplicate threads merged and duplicate posts and references thereto removed.

Welcome to the dark side Christie!
The Beseler 23CII or 23CIII are excellent. They do both, and the color filtration is very accurate. I do B&W with the color head still on and use variable contrast paper.
They are all over ebay.
What size film are you looking at?
Good luck.

Just a suggestion -- one often sees complete darkrooms for sale on E-bay. Since digital has gotten so popular, most of these things sell very cheaply (compared to what they used to cost, anyway!) If you live in or near a reasonably large city, one should pop up near you sometime in the near future. Perhaps that would be a good way to start?

I got started in sort of this way, pre-ebay. I bought someone's student darkroom at a garage sale. All I needed to purchase other than that were paper and chemistry, and the friendly folks at my local camera store walked me through that. Kodak used to put out a very nice basic darkroom booklet, available pretty much everywhere. I've seen many darkroom books at book stores (Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc.) which contain lists and illustrations of the basics. As to which enlarger, lens etc. are the "best" ... doesn't really matter. Honest.

Mike

Welcome Christi. A great source for darkroom equipment is Craigslist. Nearly every town in the US has 4 or 5 listings from people selling off their darkroom equipment to go digital. I found a fantastic deal on my enlarger with timer, filters, lenses, trays, etc. I would recommend the book Darkroom Basics and Beyond by Roger Hicks. It is a very easy to follow introduction to film developing and printing. Other members here will likely chime in with other valuable books as well. The DBAB book has great illustrations all the way through so that you will know what each piece of equipment looks like and how and why they are used. Grab a book or two and follow them through a few times to get an idea of the process before purchasing equipment. And don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Peter