Ars-Imago Lab-Box - anyone still using it?

[mrtoml]

I noticed a few threads from a few years ago about this developing tank. People seemed to have mixed views on it.

Is anyone still using it? Or did people give up on it? I note now that they also have a temperature/thermometer lid which might prove useful.

 

[luuca]

I used it for a while.
Then I came back to my beloved jobo cpe.

Imho it has only one flaw: the reel design is not perfect and sometimes the film overlaps in some points, ruining the development.
I tried so many "techniques" to avoid it, but I never found a definitive solution.

 

[Out to Lunch]

noticed a few threads from a few years ago about this developing tank.

Satan's little helper provides a good pros and cons overview of the Lab-Box. When looking at prices, I found them to be all over the place: AliExpress offers a Lab-Box -without the thermometer lid, 4,4 times cheaper than BH but I don't know if it's the real deal. Ars-Imago seems to have run out of Lab-Boxes but separately sells the thermometer lid.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Dear mrtomi,

I have one I purchased slightly used from a member of the forum. I use it and a Lomography Daylight tank exclusively as I do not develop a large amount of film, maybe 5 or 6 rolls a year. I hope to increase that number in the near future. It just takes me weeks, and sometimes months to finish a roll of film anymore!

Most times I have had no problems with the 35mm process with the exception that some film stocks are difficult to cut. I tried 120 once and had trouble getting the backing to come off the film. Had I researched before I tried, I would have known that the film I was attempting to develop was listed as incompatible with the Lab Box on the ARS website.

I've since settled on Kentmere PAN 100 and 400 and have had no issues since then.

I'm happy with it and the results I get.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[mrtoml]

Satan's little helper provides a good pros and cons overview of the Lab-Box. When looking at prices, I found them to be all over the place: AliExpress offers a Lab-Box -without the thermometer lid, 4,4 times cheaper than BH but I don't know if it's the real deal. Ars-Imago seems to have run out of Lab-Boxes but separately sells the thermometer lid.

There is a store in the UK that has them in stock. But £200 for the 35+120 is a bit of a risk.

 

[agentlossing]

I still use mine. Well, it's been a while since I've developed anything, but it's how I do it.