Establishing a darkroom.

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PollitowuzHere

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The title mostly says it all.
I've been developing my own B/W for the past year and I've really taken a liking to the whole DIY process. The logical next step is to start printing my own pictures. I'm currently looking to buy a Beseler 23c, it seems like the best choice out there considering the wealth of parts and it's flexibility. However, I'm not sure how the whole printing thing works or at least how to set up a darkroom. I want to print 35mm and 6x6-6x7. So, what do I need to get started?
Thanks!
 
OK, I'll start. Get three El-Nikkor enlarging lenses. The 50mm f2.8 for proof sheets and 35mm film, 75mm f4 for 6x6, and a 90mm for the 6x7 (or make the 90 do double duty for both MF formats.) Buy neg holders for all three formats. Get trays for all sizes you want to print. I use 8x10 trays for almost everything, 4x6, 5x7, 8x10. then I use 11x14 trays for 11x14. Three print tongs, color coded. Safelights, buy 'em big and bright. I use two timers, one for each side of the room. There's more but my brain hurts.
 
By to timers, since u are new, just to make sure.... Vik means the one for the enlarger and the one for the tray work. Make sure the one for the tray work is a big one, easy to see. Good darkroom ventilation is a must or u are going to taste and smell fixer.

If u live near a community college, they used to have BW photo courses that include dark room work. Good way to learn all the basics before u invest.

Gary
 
I'm thinking of a El-Nikkor 105mm 5.6 for double duty in MF, but I really couldn't find a lot of information about it on the internet. Do the trays have to be the ones that sell in B&H/Freestyle or can they be normal trays like the ones you get in your local hardware/department store? Same goes for timers, does it have to be a GraLab timer?
 
No it doesn't have to be those name brands, but specialized darkroom gear is tweaked to work the best. For example, real darkroom trays have grooves on the bottom that allow one to easily grab the print with the tongs.
 
I just set a simple one up. I have a Besler 23c on a roll around cart with a timer mounted below it. Five trays, develop, stop bath, fixer on one table. Two washing trays by the sink, one with a washing aid, one with just water. I have never had drying spots. Get A LOT of canned air. Dust is your enemy. Extra enlarger bulbs. Mine seem to have a short life. Get some cheap expired paper to practice with
You are going to waste a lot learning. Then you need contrast filters to make them pop. Patience is your friend, good luck. It is labor of love.
 
Photo timers are dirt cheap these days. I personally like the Time-O-Lite for the enlarger, because it auto resets to the last time you used (don't have to try and remember).

I like the large Gra-Lab for film processing. (And it's just a cool looking device.)

You might try Schneider Componon-S lenses also. I picked up a 50mm f/2.8 that is super sharp.

As for paper, I bought a guillotine style flatbet cutter that I use for cutting down to different sizes (8x10 to 4x5, 5x7 to 3 1/2 x 5, etc.) This is a bit of a pain, but it saves some money. It's not as hard to master in the dark as you might think.

I definitely agree about having a spare lamp. Nothing is worse than burning one out when you're ready to print.

I also recommend a piece of heavy plate glass, for contact sheets. Mine is a round table top, slightly larger than needed. I wish I had one just the right size, but it works.

I use the utility room sink rather than lavatory or bathtub, because the bottom is flat-- uses less water. I also find that a wind-up kitchen timer works well for timing the rinse process. Oh yeah, and I hung up a line over the bathtub with plastic clips for print drying.

Have fun. Printing feels magical, and it's addictive! But time consuming!
 
I guess for the lenses either a El-Nikkor 50mm 2.8 or a similar Componon-S.
Do I need anything (I'm guessing I do) to hold down the paper to the base board?
And safelights, what color or wattage is recommended?
I'll imagine that printing is as fun as developing, there's nothing quite like it. Plus the smell of fixer is something that one gets hooked on 😀
 
Will you be able to find an enlarger locally? It so happens that I got a Beseler 23 for free recently, but it's just too big and heavy for my temporary set-up. I'd give it to you, but shipping to Puerto Rico looks prohibitive.
 
The only local enlarger available is an old Focomat 1c that's really dusty with dead wiring and they want $500 for it.
I was thinking of buying a Beseler on eBay, found a pretty good (I think) deal for an overhauled one. Of course, if I could get it for free, I'd be more than happy to pay for the shipping 😀
 
Thanks! The Kodak link looks interesting, but you forgot the Ctein one.
I'm currently reading "Black & White Photography" by Horenstein and "Way Beyond Monochrome" by Lambrecht and Woodhouse. Very informative books, although the latter one is really overwhelming at times.
 
I had a small darkroom setup in my basement apartment. I had it in my bedroom, right beside the bathroom. Only really used it a handful of times but it was nice to know I had it.

It was an Omega C700. Really compact and simple. Got it for like $50 from an internet ad. The woman said her sister left it at her apartment for 2 years and she asked about it and her sister told her to get rid of it. It was wrapped in plastic brand spanking new.

A lot of people will recommend the Beseler 23C. get the II or III variant. Those are the enlargers that were in high schools and colleges across the country. And they have entered the used market en mass. So you can get them for a decent price.

You'll need at least 3 trays. Developer, stop bath and fixer. And then a bin to wash the prints in. I would just put a rubbermaid container in my tub, fill it up and drop the prints in there. That was the best part about having my setup right next to the bathroom. Oh, get a safelight. It's easier to work with. Don't bother with a timer. You can use a wristwatch that has a glowing back. I used my timex in college when rolling film. It illuminates but isn't bright enough to light up the room and react with the silver. But then again timers are pretty cheap anyway.

These days I work all digital and the investment in a wide format printer has replaced the darkroom. Doing it digitally is still fun. I think a lot of people miss out on the print making process when it comes to digital but it is just as important as when working with film.
 
I too am quite pleased with my Omega C700.
Between uses it stores easily in my closet where a Beseler 23C would not.
Carriers and other accessories are cheap and plentiful.

Chris
 
The highest quality enlarging lenses have never been cheaper. But printing smaller than 11x14 you'll never notice the difference between a Nikkor 50/2.8 and the APO-Componon-HM 45.

my wet side left to right
IMG_2353.jpg


IMG_2354.jpg


IMG_2355.jpg
 
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