Freestyle has a new all-in-one developing system for sale

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Steve M.

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Just got home and checked the emails. This LAB-BOX from Freestyle really got my attention when I watched the video that was attached to their email. Love the idea behind it. I want to buy some of the monobath chemical and the cine film just to try it.

Now all I need is a negative that enlarges itself, and a paper that prints in one bath :) I had to substitute a kickstarter video for the Freestyle video they sent me because, strangely, I couldn't find it on their website.

https://vimeo.com/202296101

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/search?q=lab+box

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/800342-CineStill-Df96-Monobath-for-BandW-Film-1-Quart
 
I just received this email too.

All in all, it looks too cumbersome just to save you loading a conventional reel.
Even in daytime with no darkroom I never had a problem loading reels.

I would say that after buying this contraption it would end up in the never used again plastic kitchen aid tool pile along with the POPEIL Pocket Fisherman.
 
Thanks Bill. You too.

Cool huh? Here's the monobath stuff for B&W. They have it for colour too of course. What's great about this link is there's a small image of a building on the top left that you can click on and enlarge. It shows how things look w/ different developers and films. The Tri-X photo jumps right at you, and the Tri-X pushed to 1600 is gorgeous.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/800342-CineStill-Df96-Monobath-for-BandW-Film-1-Quart
 
Kind of interesting but not very practical as they present it. For instance, just what do you do with your dripping wet, fragile roll of film after you unspool it to amaze all your friends? Carry around a film dryer?
 
It's a new film related product ... and that is the important part for me. Don't need it though! lol
 
Saul said:
Kind of interesting but not very practical as they present it. For instance, just what do you do with your dripping wet, fragile roll of film after you unspool it to amaze all your friends? Carry around a film dryer?
Click to expand...

I've used the older Agfa Rondinax a few times. Just like any other film developing method, you hang the unspooled roll from film clips to dry. The amazing your friends part is probably just marketing.

One needs to adjust developing times for continuous agitation. - and - The tank can only develop one roll at a time, but like Keith said, what the heck, maybe someone who otherwise is put off by loading a traditional developing tank will get started on developing film.
 
What, no smartphone interface?

What, no smartphone interface?

For younger folks who love gadgets this may be appealing.
I wonder how many hipsters will think it's worth the price?

This take on "simplicity" looks a bit complicated to me.
I'll keep my conventional tanks and reels, thank you...

Chris
 
Is this the second time someone reinvents the Rodinax, or are they actually the same thing?

-

Just noticed the Kickstarter campaign was from 2017. So it's the same one we discussed back then, only that it took 2 years to actually deliver.

Anyway, the "amaze your friends" part looks hilarious. It encourages a blind enthusiasm toward the analog process, the same kind on which some less genuine photography-related Kickstarter campaigns were based...
 
I tested the pre-production Lab-Box. I have one on order. I can see lots of reasons to use, and not to use one. But it is a great way to get consistent agitation, and one of the best and cheapest ways I know of to develop film manually (i.e. without an expensive rotary machine) with continuous agitation that doesn't cause surge marks or uneven development.

The advertising is a little twee, but developing in the field always makes me think of Trent Parke (I'm not posting this because it isn't mine - the ABC credit Trent, but I seem to recall it had his wife, Narelle Autio's name on it when I saw it in a gallery show years ago):
https://www.abc.net.au/news/image/6322096-3x2-940x627.jpg

Marty
 
FWIW I am a fan of the Rondinax in 35mm version, practical and reliable. Of course, not any different in results from conventional tanks, but it saves manipulation, which is always welcome.

Should be interesting for beginners, to say the least.

I'd really like to try the 120 version of this new gadget, always wanted to try the Rondinax 66.

I find prices a bit steep compared to used Rondinax versions but then people have to finance their R&D.

As for the monobath thing, thanks, not for the time being.
 
Like others have mentioned, something like this may bring people over to doing their own film developing. It's decidedly low tech, which is the smart way to go. It keeps the price low and the machine looks wonderfully uncomplicated.

I do very little photography these days, so it took me a while to get comfortable w/ loading the reels and mixing the chemicals again after a layoff. This thing looks like it could be loaded and operated quickly and easily.
 
i always welcome new film related products.
however, pricing too high this quite simple machine could be a huge barrier for new film shooter.
just my 2cent. i dont need it though as i rarely develop just only 1 roll, but only in bulk.
 
I have had a 35mm Rondinax for years, but it leaks, so ordered one of these at the beginning with the original Kickstarter plan. The 120/135 convertibility is interesting, I will be curious to see if they have pulled off the engineering problems associated with that, without creating failure points.
Did I “need” one of these? No, I have enough of a darkroom for film processing, and everything necessary to do it “the other way”, but I am not currently on an austerity program, and I enjoyed using the Rondinax occasionally just for a change of pace. So, what the heck. Should be here in a couple or three weeks, and looking forward to it. The team that produced this have overcome several engineering and manufacturing challenges to get this done, which accounts for the two years it took to develop, going back to the drawing board several times in the interim. At least I hope they overcame them. We’ll see.

Like others have said, anything which might induce a few more people to join the film fold is a good thing. I enjoy gadgets as long as they are examples of attacking engineering problems in a clever way, which I always thought the Rondinax did.
Hope they do well with this, as they seem to have their hearts in the right place.
 
Steve M. said:
Just got home and checked the emails. This LAB-BOX from Freestyle really got my attention when I watched the video that was attached to their email. Love the idea behind it. I want to buy some of the monobath chemical and the cine film just to try it.

Now all I need is a negative that enlarges itself, and a paper that prints in one bath :) I had to substitute a kickstarter video for the Freestyle video they sent me because, strangely, I couldn't find it on their website.

https://vimeo.com/202296101

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/search?q=lab+box

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/800342-CineStill-Df96-Monobath-for-BandW-Film-1-Quart
Click to expand...


Love it, thanks for posting!
 
I've done SS reels for more decades than many of the members have lived. Over the years I've tried many different tanks - Jobo, CPP, etc. Always went back to SS reels as being cheap, easy and reliable. My last interstate move I ended up with a house and no space for a darkroom. Gave all my enlargers and equipment away. Kept my reels and changing bags, develop in the bathroom and scan.


My problem now is being an old fart I have tremors. My left hand shakes so badly I cannot hold a drink in it. I've ruined some film by not getting them on the reels correctly. So I've been looking the Agfa Rondinax tanks. The Lab-Pro is pretty much a copy but offers two advantages for the same price. For $200 does both 120 & 35 (need two different Rondinax tanks to do that and being new and not 40 or more years old no need to worry about leaks. Price is more than competitive.



however, if you do not have a physical affirmative, then SS reels, a tank and changing bag is all you need.
 
I ordered my Lab in a Box during the kickstarter. Paid them last October, have not heard a word after multiple emails to Italy. We will see if this ever makes it to the stores. Their customer service at Lab in a Box sucks. They have had my $$$ and was supposed to receive the box in February, its now June.
 
kknox said:
I ordered my Lab in a Box during the kickstarter. Paid them last October, have not heard a word after multiple emails to Italy. We will see if this ever makes it to the stores. Their customer service at Lab in a Box sucks. They have had my $$$ and was supposed to receive the box in February, its now June.
Click to expand...

I paid in February 2017. I still don’t have it. Kickstarter is crowd funding, and the terms of service make it completely clear that you may never receive the item you are funding. Ars-Imago, the company making the Lab-Box is very small, and was swamped by surprisingly high subscription to the Lab-Box start-up, so they probably don’t have enough staff to respond to individual queries, especially when the updates through Kickstarter have made it clear when they would ship (late June this year is what they are saying right now). I have spoken to them, and the people doing it have good intentions. While there have been delays and other problems, it will appear, unlike Konost, the Robotech role player game or Star Citizen, which I am suspicious were never intended to be put to market.

Marty
 
I hate changing bags and have no access to a dark room - this is kinda cool for when im lazy - btw- if you fully fill it, you don't need to continuously agitate

What we need are more film changing tents
 
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