What kind of timing device you are using for developing films?

[MattKing]

Seems like I'm the only one here who just uses a plain old clock or watch for timing development / stop / fix.

I use a sweep second hand clock for timing development when printing. Works perfectly. This is also good for group darkrooms.
For those considering the option, look for a battery powered one, with 12 big numbers, and avoid anything with red numbers or hands, particularly the second hand!

 

[GRHazelton]

Ancient Gralab 300. Fortunately I can disable the @Q%^$%^ buzzer!

 

[Peter Schrager]

Does anyone uses a metronome ?

Yes I use one for prints with a footswitch
I'll never go back to conventional timers!

 

[Cholentpot]

Massive dev chart app.

It works, if I need to work in safelight I use a dollar store analog clock. It's not perfect but it's close enough for government work.

 

[jim10219]

Acurite Red digital kitchen timer. It's easy to use because the buttons are far apart so I can feel it and start and stop it in the dark. It has a loud audio alarm, and doesn't produce any light. Plus, it was like $5. Though, I imagine a lot of cheap digital kitchen timers would fit that bill.

That's what I use for open tray film processing where I need absolute darkness. I sometimes use it for paper developing and roll film canister developing too, but also use my watch or phone for that.

 

[awty]

For printing. Once the print is in the developer, I have a regular old clock with a second hand.

For developing film I just set an old watch ( w/o a wrist strap ) on the counter and keep an eye on the seconds.

Seems like I'm the only one here who just uses a plain old clock or watch for timing development / stop / fix.

You're not Robinson Caruso there.
I generally use a tablet timer app for film incase I forget what time I start. Also the tablet operates Spotify. I usually try and leave my phone out of site, incase it rings and fogs the paper.

 

[Vilk]

https://www.rei.com/media/product/691889

my only darkroom timer in two decades

 

[StepheKoontz]

One of these.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07D3BFY6R/

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Since my beginnings in mid 70's I'm using some kind of stopwatch to time my film developing, first mechanical, then digital. For the last ~20 years I was using Ikea Wirra 18951 watch, alarm clock, stopwatch, room temperature device, deepening of the orientation of the sensor. Now lower half of the digits start disappearing and precise timing become iffy. I'm looking for something similar to replace it. Of course, Ikea does not make it any more.
What are you using for timing that is not label "for photography" " like Gra Lab or..?? View attachment 236273

I like the GraLab 300 and hink it's the best because, I ike the idea to set the dev time and watch it to go backwards towards '0'

 

[mshchem]

Gralab 300 for developing film.

 

[NedL]

You're not Robinson Caruso there...

yeah. but now you've got me thinking. maybe i need to make a homemade sand hourglass or water clock or something.... hmmm..
The watch I use when I develop film is digital, and you're right, every once in a while I daydream while I'm waiting to invert the tank and almost forget what minute I'm in....

 

[awty]

yeah. but now you've got me thinking. maybe i need to make a homemade sand hourglass or water clock or something.... hmmm..

Nixie clock!

 

[macfred]

Seems like I'm the only one here who just uses a plain old clock or watch for timing development / stop / fix.

You're not, Ned ! For daylight film developing I use my wrist watch ...
For printing I have a metronome and a mechanical Junghans darkroom timer from the 50's.

 

[Cholentpot]

For printing. Once the print is in the developer, I have a regular old clock with a second hand.

For developing film I just set an old watch ( w/o a wrist strap ) on the counter and keep an eye on the seconds.

Seems like I'm the only one here who just uses a plain old clock or watch for timing development / stop / fix.

One Kodak, two Kodak, three Kodak...

 

[etn]

I am a member of those "ape-descended life forms [..] so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea"

I also use a cell phone app from time to time but found that a watch works well for "simpler" film processing such as develop 11 minutes, agitate every 30 seconds.

EDIT: for printing, Analyser Pro (by RH Design). The watch is hardly visible in the dark room anyway.

 

[etn]

Does anyone uses a metronome ?

As a musician, metronome has become my worst nightmare (but I will not deny its usefulness!)

 

[summicron1]

the clock on the microwave has a lovely timer for developing film. In the darkroom making prints I have a darkroom timer with a sweep hand that I set but it's hard to see in the dark so often as not these days I just count slowly in my head while agitating the prints in the developer ... a slow count to about 75 seems good for RC prints, and 150 or so works for fiber base papers.

Precise times aren't that critical in the darkroom. What matters is consistency.

 

[ic-racer]

I use two Gralabs. I activate the buzzer on the one that is set ONE MINUTE LESS than the other. The one with the actual time has the buzzer deactivated. The first one goes off letting me know the Jobo is almost ready for a chemistry change. When the second one goes off, I can empty the Jobo Lift at the right time without the darn buzzer in my ear.

 

[guangong]

Been using a Gralab since late 60s, early 70s for film. The buzzer is very useful. I hook up an Omega timer for enlarging. On occasion, if only developed a single roll, I have used an antique Kodak timer.

 

[mklw1954]

A small digital "4 Groups Timer", PS-360, available on ebay for $7-8. Can set 4 different times, T1-T4, for developer, fixer, hypoclear, wash.

 

[darkosaric]

Cheapest Ikea wall clock, it works just fine for me.

 

[Helios 1984]

I use LabTimer on my iPhone and turn off the auto-lock in the phone's settings.

 

[payral]

Zone VI Compensating Developing Timer

 

[MattKing]

Cheapest Ikea wall clock, it works just fine for me.

View attachment 236311

When I tried one of these, I couldn't see the red sweep second hand under the red safelight!
I switched to one with a black sweep second hand.

 

[perkeleellinen]

I've used a mechanical Smiths stop clock for twenty years. It started life doing time motion studies in a factory I worked in - I rescued it from the skip when the followers of Taylorism went digital.