Perfect darkroom clock

argentic · Jun 18, 2013

I just bought this clock

It's perfectly suited for darkroom work. A big clearly visible wallclock (30 cm). All safe red leds, and it counts the seconds. Ideal for developing films, in group darkrooms and even in a smaller darkroom. I got it online at Conrad. It's called "Orium". If someone is interested, dont wait too long. You never know how long a product will be on the market these days.

cliveh · Jun 18, 2013

In terms of a perfect darkroom clock, I don't think you can beat a JUNGHANS. I have 2 of these in my darkroom. They are the metronome of clocks.

argentic · Jun 18, 2013

cliveh said:
In terms of a perfect darkroom clock, I don't think you can beat a JUNGHANS. I have 2 of these in my darkroom. They are the metronome of clocks.

Yes, I have a one of them, and durst coltims too. But they can be used by only one person at a time. I teach darkroom courses, and with this clock several persons can use it at the same time for different purposes. And when working under safelights this clock is a lot more visible.

bush · Jun 18, 2013

Would you mind putting here the link for the orium clock that could be bought online? This is what I'm looking for the darkroom. Much appreciated!

tkamiya · Jun 18, 2013

I WANT ONE but can't seem to find a source in US.... I only found one place that had it in EU.

argentic · Jun 18, 2013

I got it here : http://www.conradpro.fr/ Conrad is based in Germany but ships internationally.

The clock isn't made by Conrad though. Just by searching for "clock red leds" I found several similar ones on amazon under different brands.

tkamiya · Jun 18, 2013

Thank you VERY much! I'll be buying one from Amazon shortly.

ac12 · Jun 19, 2013

Found 2 of them round and square frame. $60
http://www.amazon.com/DBTech-Stylish-Digital-Circling-indicator/dp/B009OO5X28
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OO612O

AgX · Jun 19, 2013

argentic said:
Yes, I have a one of them, and durst coltims too. But they can be used by only one person at a time. I teach darkroom courses, and with this clock several persons can use it at the same time for different purposes.

How can a single clock used by several darkroom workers at the same time?

Ken Nadvornick · Jun 19, 2013

And when it's time to load or unload panchromatic film?

Ken

markbau · Jun 19, 2013

Have you tested to see if it is actually "safe"? I'd just want one for VC paper.

bdial · Jun 19, 2013

AgX said:
How can a single clock used by several darkroom workers at the same time?

For timing paper you just look at where the second hand (or LED dot ) is and go from there. Since no resetting is needed any number of people can use it.
Timing film processes could work the same way, but the clock may need to be covered during film loading.

AgX · Jun 19, 2013

Now I realize that this was a quite stupid question.
I'm back to kindergarten...

ROL · Jun 19, 2013

argentic said:
It's perfectly suited for darkroom work. A big clearly visible wallclock (30 cm). All safe red leds, and it counts the seconds. Ideal for developing films, in group darkrooms and even in a smaller darkroom.

Cool clock. How exactly is it "safe"? Dimmest setting? Distance from workstations? Have you tested it? I don't see anywhere else that it is claimed to be safe for paper or film. Inquiring minds want to know.

Jeff Kubach · Jun 19, 2013

I use Big Ben for my darkroom clock!

Jeff

argentic · Jun 19, 2013

@ROL

Since I just received the clock, I haven't had time to test it yet. But the light sensibility of VC papers doesn't expand beyond 580 nm. Red leds have a very narrow spectral band above 610 nm. My experience confirms this. I have several darkroom lights based on red LEDS. Even cheap bicycle taillights. In practical use they are all absolutely problem free. So I'm confident that testing the clock will give similar results.

The old style red incandescent light bulbs were much more dangerous since they only were painted full spectrum lamps. But even with those lamps I couldn't detect any problems up to 10 minutes exposure in my darkroom. Ofcourse you should respect minimum distance, and have an absolutely lighttight darkroom.

cliveh · Jun 19, 2013

bdial said:
For timing paper you just look at where the second hand (or LED dot ) is and go from there. Since no resetting is needed any number of people can use it.
Timing film processes could work the same way, but the clock may need to be covered during film loading.

So what is the advantage of this over a conventional clock with a second hand?

Klainmeister · Jun 19, 2013

Can you guys stop making me spend money?

E. von Hoegh · Jun 19, 2013

I use a Time-O-Lite for enlarging, a Gralab for developing, and when I need to watch something and still time it (say dodging & burning a print) I use this in conjunction with a radio reciever - http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/grp40/wwv.cfm Somtimes during the day propogation is wierd and I use this, again with the reciever.
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/time/short_wave.html . One or the other, often both, are recievable for me 24/7.

MattKing · Jun 19, 2013

cliveh said:
So what is the advantage of this over a conventional clock with a second hand?

It is really easy to see.

I once bought a clock with a second hand for use in a darkroom. I then discovered that, when illuminated by a red safelight, a red second hand is almost invisible against a white background.

ROL · Jun 19, 2013

argentic said:
I have several darkroom lights based on red LEDS. Even cheap bicycle taillights.

I'm not terribly concerned with paper, and that is cheap and easy to test anyway. I do however use a Zone VI compensating timer, whose smallish red led dim-able (for film) display has no effect within 4 feet of my sheet film developing trays. There is little or no light directed outwards of the display, as say in the manner of a red LED flashlight, ...or taillight (i.e., I cannot see my hand, or anything else, working in my trays – only the display). The lowest intensity of the display is barely visible when the room lights are on, but clearly visible in the dark. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable using anything close to bicycle taillights in my lab for film. The mammoth red display of this clock would certainly give me pause, unless (inconveniently) turned off for film. It would though be nice to replace my safelight (ambient) lit wall clock, whose sweep second hand is often inscrutably visible (all the more with age ), for paper processing. Since there don't seem to any other objective or manufacturing criteria, please let us know of your testing results.

cliveh · Jun 19, 2013

MattKing said:
It is really easy to see.

I once bought a clock with a second hand for use in a darkroom. I then discovered that, when illuminated by a red safelight, a red second hand is almost invisible against a white background.

I have done that, but I took the plastic face off and painted the second hand black and then put the plastic cover back on (problem solved). However, don't you think that flashing L.E.D's in a darkroom spoils the atmosphere of peace and relaxation?

Mike Wilde · Jun 19, 2013

I stick with an old gralab 300 for film development. It drives a 555 timer circuit that chirps every 15 seconds while the gralab has time on it.
I find that once film is in the daylight tank I can read magazine articles and agitiate to the tone of the chirp.
If doing trays of large format pan film, the chirps in the darkness remind me to shuffle sheets.

I use the gralab for timing paper fixer times too, and the chirps remind me to agitate the tray.

I have a Vivitar Process Time Commander for the more complex timing sequences, like e-6 and c-41.

To actually tell the time I have a small LED alarm clock with a few pieces of Rosco ND gel filter media hung over the front of the display where it sits on a shelf.
To see the time in other than lights out you need to lift the ND out of the way.

Most of the time I tell time in the darkroom from the radio.
At midnight the classical radio station changes announcers.
I know I should go to bed then, or I will be grumpy that morning, when my wifes 6:20am alarm goes off.

Perfect darkroom clock

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