• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Portable Darkroom Tent

Latest Gallery

Texas

A
Texas

  • 3
  • 0
  • 21
There is Hope (Our story)

H
There is Hope (Our story)

  • 0
  • 0
  • 24

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
203,432
Messages
2,854,528
Members
101,837
Latest member
Chapster
Recent bookmarks
0

osprey48

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
136
Location
Norfolk
Format
Multi Format
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
 
Thank you. I'd never heard of portable darkrooms before, and now I see they're everywhere!
 
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.
 
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.
 
I also already have a folding picnic table which I use to put my enlarger on anyway, so I know that works ok.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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.
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

Are you sure no light comes in it with door and windows shut?
 
I would go for something like this instead. OR one made by Eskimo.

Dead Link Removed
 
marciofs said:
Does it really is light tight...? if so I am about to buy one.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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

Same for the growing tent with built in vent. Inside out?
 
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.
 
Too pricy for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:
Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom