Does this look like a good starter kit?

[childers-jk]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Beseler-67-CS-E...ryZ29985QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am seriously looking to start my darkroom (finally convinced my wife!!) 😀 And I was wondering if some of you experts thought this setup on the bay was a good starting place? I have some experience with developing film, but none with printing. I would like to try printing at home and continue my developing.

If this isn't a good setup, is there anything in particular I should look at when buying an enlarger? Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff C.

 

[phototone]

The only thing missing from this set-up is a print washer. You can either purchase one, or you can acquire a Kodak Siphon, which is a device that clips to the edge of a print tray and turns it into a very effective print washer.

 

[eric]

The only thing missing from this set-up is a print washer. You can either purchase one, or you can acquire a Kodak Siphon, which is a device that clips to the edge of a print tray and turns it into a very effective print washer.

That is a pretty nice setup. The 50mm nikon is pretty good until you start to make small prints like postcards or 5x7's. Yes a good Kodak Siphon is what you need and go to your local discount store and get a large plastic tub to put the siphon in. Don't get a large one from the photo store. You just need a container big 'nuf for 8x10's and eventually 11x14.

I didn't see but is the easel 4 blades? That might be something to consider in the future.

With Darkrooms, you can invest now for good stuff cause it lasts forever. I moved and I lost my enlarger lenses but I have just about the same stuff from 20+ years ago. Really, same easel, same enlarger, same tanks, same trays, same graduates, same timer. I invested in a used Nova slot and that helped out a lot in small areas.

 

[pshinkaw]

Very good!

About all you need is the tray siphon and running water plus a little dark.

By the way, you can set up the tray siphon outdoors and water the roses as you wash the prints. You don't have to send all the wash water down the drain.

-Paul

 

[childers-jk]

Thanks for all the advice. I am thinking of putting the enlarger and stuff in a spare bedroom and working in there, then taking the prints to the adjacent bedroom and washing them. On the tray siphon, do you need to have a tray or can the water just pass over the print and out the back side? I am planning on setting up the print washer in a bathtub/shower. I could leave the trays in the tub, as no one uses this bathroom for showering. Is there an easy way to setup the washing in a standard bathtub?

Thanks again for all the feedback, we'll see how the bidding goes.

Jeff C.

 

[dtomasula]

If you want to do printing of anything larger than 35mm, you'll need another lens. Since the enlarger goes up to 6x7, I'd get an 80mm lens to handle that as well.

 

[f/stopblues]

One thing missing is a dust brush for the negatives. Dust is the devil in a darkroom and you'll save yourself time from spotting prints later on if you're meticulous about keeping things clean. I picked one up at the local photo store for ~$10. Make it the last thing you do before placing the carrier into the enlarger.

Chris

 

[Poptart]

There's always just one more thing you need for the darkroom. My new obsession is a vacuum frame, which I'm going to make as soon as I find an appropriate air pump. Then I'm sure I'll have everything, really!

 

[childers-jk]

Follow Up

Follow Up

I want to thank all of you for your information. And specifically, I wanted to share a short story with you.

I took the information I gained here at RFF and watched *bay and the newspaper. Now I live in a relatively small community and finding exotic items like darkroom equipment and such in the newspaper is tough. However, I happened across an ad this Sunday in the paper for a complete darkroom set with voltage stabilizer and analyzer. Now this is probably a bit much for me, and the price was a little over budget, but I decided to call anyway. When I did, I met the nicest person. Tom was very excited to have someone call about the equipment, as I was the first. So we set a time for me to come by and look at the equipment. I took my wife (here's the where the over budget statement fits), and we went to see the equipment. I must say it was way beyond what I had suspected. Tom had a special room, about the size of a large bedroom. Tom said it was a bonus room, and he turned it into a darkroom. On one side sat the Besler 23 C with the dichro head. Tom also had the original condenser head as well. He began by showing me all the parts, the trays, the grain focuser, developing tanks, both 35 mm and 120 mm. I was very impressed. He also had a Jobro processor that was too much for me, but he showed me everything about how it worked. I was thinking a go for the buy when I looked over at my wife, and she thought it was a good deal. Then Tom says he would like to show us some of the pictures he has done with the equipment. So he took us on a tour of his house pointing out the black & white and color pictures he has done over the last 40+ years. Anyway, to say the least some of the work was awesome. I was very impressed. Needless to say, I agreed to purchase everything except the Jobro processor (I just don't shoot that much.) Tom also showed me a really nice Mamyia (sp) 645 he wanted to sell. I told him that I didn't have enough money for that, but would love to have it. Anyway, I will be going today to pick up the equipment.

After we got in the car to head home, I thanked my wife for coming with me, and apologized for dragging her to some old guy’s house to look at photo stuff. She said she didn't mind, and she could tell the joy that I got from just talking about it.

So sorry for such a long post, but I just wanted to share with you perhaps another joy to photography. Here is Tom 78+ years old, selling off an AWSOME collection of photography equipment, and he was VERY excited to see it go to someone who was interested. I hope that some day, if I don't completely ruin the equipment from my mistakes that I can pass on the joy to some other youngster!!! I don't know if all of you feel this way, but I was like a little boy in room full of toys. I was giddy and excited, and I really enjoyed the whole experience.

Thanks for reading, and if this is too long or not on topic, feel free to delete.

Thanks,

Jeff C.

PS As soon as I get it all home I will post a few pics.

 

[Doug]

Jeff, a good story! And as you described the visit, I could see myself in that seller's position, except that my darkroom is quite small. Same stuff, though, except for the Jobo processor. I hope someday, when I'm done with it, to find as enthusiastic a buyer as you!

 

[dlofgreen]

Jeff,
Sounds like you got a great start with the darkroom, you also have a great wife that seems to really understand you and likes to see you happy. My wife is like that too and the only thing that is better that a room full of gear is a wonderful woman you can share your excitement with.
D.