Starting out developing film

[Rhythm Thief]

I've never developed anything in my life and was wondering what's the minimum kit I'd need to start? How much would it be likely to cost? I'd be doing 120 film, mostly B&W but possibly the occasional colour film. I'd like ideally to make prints too, but I suppose I could send my negatives off for someone else to print, or maybe get myself a scanner to digitise them and print them myself. How dark does a darkroom need to be? Could I just use my workshop (which has two large windows) with blackout curtains or at night or something? All advice gratefully received.

 

[trythis]

110% dark.
Minimum....very minimum. Changing bag, light tight cannister and film reel, developer and fixer. You need stuff to put chemicals in. I reuse containers.

 

[Hatchetman]

You can probably get started developing film for about $50 all-in. A good tank with reel(s) is the biggest thing. I load the tank in a bedroom closet sometimes rather than put up the blackout shades in my "darkroom" which is actually our laundry room.

follow this guide from Ilford: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/200629163442455.pdf

 

[polyglot]

Have a read of the FAQ in my signature, it lays it all out - required bits, chemicals and process.

 

[removed account4]

hi RT

i have processed film in moonlight in a sink but it was with coffee developer with is black as night
i wouldn't recommend a workshop with black out windows unless you can sit in the room
with these windows blacked out and not really see anything.

good luck

 

[frank]

RT, where are you located?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Thanks for all the replies so far, looks like something I could start doing fairly easily with a dark bag and a developing tank. Polyglot, the link in your signature is well written, easy to understand and very useful, cheers! I'm in the UK if it makes a difference ... most of the stuff I'd need seems to be available reasonably cheaply. At the moment, I reckon I could buy everything I need for roughly what it would cost me to send the five or six films I've got off to be developed commercially.

 

[frank]

I asked about location because if you were near, I could have helped set you up with gear. That's why it makes a diff.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

The human eye is far more sensitive to light than any film. I once read that a dark accommodated eye can detect 9 photons hitting a single cone. In a pinch I have loaded Tri-X into a tank when the vague outlines of furniture could be discerned without any fogging. (Not advocating that anyone do this routinely)

A process called latensification uses a dim green light for 10 to 20 min to increase the sensitivity of film. More than enough light to see things.

Most homes have an interior room which can be used as a darkroom at night. I don't recommend changing bags as they cause your hands to sweat. Any moisture transferred to the reel or the film will cause problems.

 

[PtJudeRI]

I use my bathroom, which isn't 100% dark! but close enough. Get a Patterson daylight tank, then you can develop in broad daylight with no problems. I do b&w, e6 and c41 with no problems. All in, $50 is a good start. Tank (get the 3 reel, not the two), chemistry, thermometer, graduated cylinder (1000ml and 2 500ml) and you are off to the races.

 

[polyglot]

Thanks for all the replies so far, looks like something I could start doing fairly easily with a dark bag and a developing tank. Polyglot, the link in your signature is well written, easy to understand and very useful, cheers!

Glad it's useful.

A dark bag, paterson tank and a scanner is a perfectly good way to start, and it will pay off in no time at all. Blackout curtains are a perfectly good way to make a darkroom - mine is my laundry and I can print both B&W and colour in there. Colour is much more sensitive to imperfect blacking but most B&W papers are pretty forgiving. Just do a safelight test to be sure once you've made the curtains.

 

[Hawkeye]

Suggest you look at UK Ebay or your local classified ads. You should be able to pick up what you need used for a fraction of what new costs. It is a buyers market for equipment. Maybe post a wanted ad on APUG. If you were local to me, I'd give you what you needed to get going.

I never bothered with a changing bag. When I did not have a proper darkroom, I'd use an interior room at night. Make sure the area outside of the dark room is as dark as possible just in case.....