Developing Beginner

[Poppers]

Hello all. Sorry if this has been asked before. I'm looking at shooting and developing my own B&W film. I developed a couple of films about 10 years ago but nothing since.

I've decided to step of the digital highway for a while and try something different with a rangefinder and single lens (for now).

What's the easiest approach for home development. I have no room for a dark room really and need to not cause too much worry to my other half.

I gather I can pick up bits cheap of eBay but am thinking maybe i should just shell out and get a kit. like this http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/860/ap-darkroom-film-and-print-kit

I'm based in the UK and want to build up a kit that can be stored when not in use but easy to get out and use. I'm thinking of storing everything is a washing up bowl under the sink or something.

What's the simplest route regarding chemicals etc. are some easier to store than others and easier for beginners to use. Should i use any one film?

When calculating dev times do they take into a count the chemicals cooling once poured into a tank?

And whats the easiest way to make a contact sheet?. last and not least (apologies for all the questions) how hard is it to get decent results from an enlarger at home from a beginner?

Cheers in advance.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I'm looking at shooting and developing my own B&W film. I developed a couple of films about 10 years ago but nothing since.

When calculating dev times do they take into a count the chemicals cooling once poured into a tank?

Good for you for getting back into developing your own film. I developed a couple rolls of film over 30 years ago and decided to get back into it about two years ago. It's been lots of fun. I'll address your development time question. It's my understanding that the development time does not take into account "chemicals cooling once poured into a tank". For most films, but not all, the development is done at 68 degrees (that's 20 degrees for you folks on the other side of the pond). If you measure the temperature of the water at 68 (or 20), pour in the developer, and then begin developing right away, the temperature should not change much, if at all, in the typical development times of 4 to 8 minutes or so. Of course, if you live inside of an unheated igloo or in the tropics where the temperature is quite high, my advice may change, but most room temperatures are such that the temperature would not change enough to be of any consequence. Just be sure to do your developing soon after checking the temperature of the water and pouring in your developer.

Hope that helps,

Ellen

 

[Ljós]

Hi,

first of all, welcome again to the world of self-developing (and possibly printing)!

Since you are located in the UK you may find this source for second-hand darkroom equipment http://www.secondhanddarkroom.co.uk/ helpful.

For developing film: the good news is that you hardly need space at all, once the film is in the daylight tank (via a changing bag) all you need is some sort of sink for water and pouring out the tank. And - and this could be trickier - a quiet spot to hang your film to dry. Steaming up the shower and having the film dry there (reduces the amount of airborne dust considerably) is recommended by many, and works very well, but it is not the only way to do it.

When it comes to contact prints: an enlarger is not necessarily needed, other light sources are possible, but once you start developing paper prints (your contacts) it would be kind of foolish not to also make enlargements with an enlarger. In my experience you can expect very nice results even with gear that is not top-flight, but you will have to find a way to deal with the "setting up the darkroom and chemicals"-dance.

If you can afford it, a Nova print processor is a great help to save space. You are lucky to be in the UK, where the supply (and prices for used gear) are best. Roger Hicks has some info about the Nova on his page.

Wishing you well, others are sure to chime in with more tips and hints!

Greetings, Ljós

 

[charjohncarter]

Here is a tank/reel that is very easy to load. So that frustration will be gone. This one comes from Freesyle in the US but it is made in some EU country, so you might be able to find it. I removed the ball bearings on mine.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/5041-Arista-Premium-Double-Reel-Developing-Tank-with-two-reels

 

[gb hill]

Don't waste money on that kit. Unless you plan to print, the trays are a waste. I bought most of my stuff on ebay..cheap! Get a tank with reels, a thermometer, changing bag, unless you like standing in the dark. I perfer a bag. Get some dark chemical bottles. Rest you can improvise on. Buy plastic measuring cups, bottle opener, & scissors at the store. Get a syringe if using developers like HC-110. You wont need bottles if you use HC110 or rodinal. You don't need stopbath, Use water instead. I recommend Ilford Rapid fixer. Be sure to reuse it & it will last a long time. I also recommend Kodak Photoflo for washing the film. Many say you can use dish washing liquid but I have spots on my film when I use it. Photoflo works much better & a bottle will last a very long time. Don't waste your money on a film squeegee either. Use your two fingers. I found some plastic clips which look like clothes pins with a hanger on the end. Found them at the dollar store. I keep most of my stuff, except chemicals in a shoe box. Get a film scanner & you will be ready to roll.🙂

 

[Poppers]

is there a particular brand or type of chemicals i should look to get hold of?

 

[zauhar]

I'll put a word in for the Samigon reels, which are easy to load (although I have still had trouble with them on a couple occasions). They have a very prominent "slot" for the film to feed into, easy to find in the dark.

Regarding temp control, you can make a remarkably stable constant-temperature bath just with tap water. In the Winter I need some warm water to get 20 C, in the Summer I accept what comes out of the tap and refer to the development chart. Usually I can get the running tap water to within +/- 0.5 C of where I want it without too much fiddling.

I pour out the volumes of chemicals I need into marked 1 litre plastic bottles, and leave those in the bath while loading film on the reel. If using Rodinal, I mix that "fresh" using water adjusted to about the right temp. I try to adjust my running rinse water to about the same target temperature, although I don't think that is critical.

Speaking of development charts, if you have an ipad, iphone, etc get the "Massive Dev Chart" app, which I find invaluable.

I am a beginner (just started last year) and got up to speed in no time.

Best of luck,

Randy