Portable Darkroom Tent

osprey48 · Nov 30, 2012

I've just seen a portable darkroom tent in Firstcall's catalogue, and wondered if anyone has used one before, or can offer some thoughts on it. It would be a good thing for me, as I can only set up my darkroom in the winter evenings when I can eliminate all the light, and then only if my accommodation is suitable. It could just be big enough for all my gear, but at over £500 its a lot of money.

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/633/nova-portable-darkroom-tent

Jon Shiu · Nov 30, 2012

Interesting concept, some others who use it:
http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/darkroom.html

Jon

osprey48 · Dec 1, 2012

Thank you. I'd never heard of portable darkrooms before, and now I see they're everywhere!

Stephen Weston · Dec 2, 2012

i have one at the moment and it gets me by. Don't bother with the table though. It is nothing more than a picnic table and is not very stable. I went to Ikea and purchased a fold up garden table and chair which is much more sturdy. I can either use my Magnifax or Durst M70 colour and a nova processor plus timers etc.

osprey48 · Dec 2, 2012

yes, I was wondering if there would be enough room for 3 dev trays as well as enlarger etc. Initial measurements suggest that it could be ok, but I'd have to actually set my darkroom gear up in an imaginary space first to make sure.

osprey48 · Dec 2, 2012

I also already have a folding picnic table which I use to put my enlarger on anyway, so I know that works ok.

Mark Crabtree · Dec 2, 2012

I had a military surplus field darkroom tent for a while that I used for proofing Cirkut photos on site. I worked great, but was a pain to haul around and set up.

I've generally found it very easy to make a room dark enough for developing and printing using black mulching plastic to cover windows. The portable tent seems like more trouble for less space, but perhaps more spouse friendly than taking over the bathroom.

viridari · Mar 10, 2013

You may raise eyebrows buying one of these; they appear to be more often used these days for growing *ahem* "illegal plants". Check out the product descriptions on the big auction site if there is any doubt.

ac12 · Mar 11, 2013

4 ft square it pretty tight.
But if you don't have space/facilities, you make do with what you have.

I figure 2ft for you to work/stand in, and 2ft for the table ( or 1.5 and 2.5 if you are thin). Thus Your table is either 2 (or 2.5) ft deep x 4ft wide.
If you need 2ft width for the enlarger, timer, etc, then you have only 2ft left for the wet side.
If you use trays, it would have to be 5x7 trays. Or use stacked trays.
Better would be to use a vertical slot processor or a small drum processor.
And wet and dry will be side by side, so no splashing.

mark · Mar 11, 2013

You can get a really big "secret Garden" grow tent for less than what this is listed at. Pot growers prefer to spend their cash on stash. You can't build one for this cheap. I am going to buy a smaller one to do wet plate out of.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Reflect...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4abb12dea5

jp498 · Mar 11, 2013

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I've got one of these. Not for ice fishing, not for growing pot, not for a darkroom, but as an outdoor weatherproof place for fusion splicing fiber optic cables. The windows and door button up good and it would make a decent darkroom. Its pretty well made too.

nicholai · Mar 12, 2013

Using those grow tents would be a bad idea, they're totally reflective inside. So unless you're only trying to reproduce gray, i would stay out of them.. unless you plan to cover the entire inside with black fabric... that wouldnt work wonders for dust though.

marciofs · Dec 1, 2014

mark said:
You can get a really big "secret Garden" grow tent for less than what this is listed at. Pot growers prefer to spend their cash on stash. You can't build one for this cheap. I am going to buy a smaller one to do wet plate out of.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Reflect...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4abb12dea5

Does it really is light tight...? if so I am about to buy one.

marciofs · Dec 1, 2014

jp498 said:
Dead Link Removed

I've got one of these. Not for ice fishing, not for growing pot, not for a darkroom, but as an outdoor weatherproof place for fusion splicing fiber optic cables. The windows and door button up good and it would make a decent darkroom. Its pretty well made too.

Are you sure no light comes in it with door and windows shut?

canuhead · Dec 1, 2014

I would go for something like this instead. OR one made by Eskimo.

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OptiKen · Dec 1, 2014

marciofs said:
Does it really is light tight...? if so I am about to buy one.

No, they are not.
I have one and light leaks at the zipper. They are not meant to be light proof. Only light controllable.
You could black tape the zipper and the occassional pin hole (again, they are not meant to be light proof), but you would still have to deal with the reflective silver inside that is meant to reflect and amplify the light within.

marciofs · Dec 2, 2014

canuhead said:
I would go for something like this instead. OR one made by Eskimo.

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It seems it would be too hot inside in the summer.

Mike Crawford · Dec 2, 2014

Wet plate Borut Peterlin has done a handy video for converting an Eskino tent, though it is for collodion use and not conventional BW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GFX71BmuuY&list=UUCjjZ-Qc43dF7xHBC92MAuA

John Koehrer · Dec 2, 2014

OptiKen said:
No, they are not.
I have one and light leaks at the zipper. They are not meant to be light proof. Only light controllable.
You could black tape the zipper and the occassional pin hole (again, they are not meant to be light proof), but you would still have to deal with the reflective silver inside that is meant to reflect and amplify the light within.

Ice fishing dingus. Would it be possible to turn it inside out?

Same for the growing tent with built in vent. Inside out?

MartinP · Dec 3, 2014

There is lightproof cotton-blend material sold in huge sheets in curtain-material suppliers, it's used for blackout blinds and other times a lightproof curtain is required, and the same shop would probably even sew it up for you too. Wouldn't it be possible to make a simple box of that and suspend it indoors, from hooks or strings or lightstands or something? You could choose whatever size or shape you needed then.

Sirius Glass · Dec 3, 2014

Too pricy for me.

Portable Darkroom Tent

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