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

I don’t think Freestyle will have them anytime too soon. The Kickstarter deliveries have been delayed, again, according to the message I got this morning. They say something broke when they tested them. I’m not averse to waiting, as I said, at least this one is likely to come to fruition.

Marty
 
All for only $200! Nope, not enough of an advantage to make me stop using my 40 year old Nikor tanks and reels.

*That were used when I bought them.
 
zuiko85 said:
All for only $200! Nope, not enough of an advantage to make me stop using my 40 year old Nikor tanks and reels.

*That were used when I bought them.
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That makes sense for you but for someone like me who does not have any dev gear this is a very tasty option.
 
markjwyatt said:
Only issue is if you roll your film completely into the canister, you need to fish it out with shim materials or something. I wonder if it comes with something?
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From this morning's email from Ars-Imago via Kickstarter:
So, in a few weeks, you will receive your Lab-Box with the additional Crank and the Film Retriever!
so it is at least an option. I can't remember what all the stretch goals and extras were.

Marty
 
zuiko85 said:
Don't pay too much attention to me anyway Huss, I'm a crusty old coot who always likes to complain about everything.
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Not at all! If I already had a set up working the way you do then I too would have little interest. This seems like a nice easy option for someone starting out (again!)
 
Lab-Box

Lab-Box

I'm a sucker for gadgets, particularly in the darkroom, so I had to subscribe to the L-B Kickstarter. I have a fully (overly?) equipped, dedicated darkroom, so my need is nonexistent. If they have overcome the leakage problems of the Agfa tanks, it's probably going to be useful and a great toy as well. Note that KS subscribers should receive all of the accessories listed on Freestyle and several not now for sale. Sure, completion has been delayed at least an extra year, but that's reasonable given the product and the inexperience in manufacturing of the developers. Overall, their communication has been excellent - long monthly progress reports on the KS site. Someone is in a twist because they didn't take the time to convey the same information to him by reply email - that's too damn tough!
 
Ars-Imago mailed me this morning to tell me that my Lab-Box has been mailed. It took 28 months in the end. In my experience of having brought a few different products to market, that’s not bad.

Marty
 
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Let us know your opinion after testing it Marty. It looks interesting. I am sometimes tired of reels when they dont want to assist. Sweating in dark and swearing to it 🙂)
 
LeicaFoReVer said:
Let us know your opinion after testing it Marty. It looks interesting. I am sometimes tired of reels when they dont want to assist. Sweating in dark and swearing to it 🙂)
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I beta tested a pre-production model. I recommend it; for me it worked just like a modern Rondinax. I did, however, only develop about 20 rolls in it so I can’t comment on longevity or robustness in heavy use.

I also have no economic or other links to Ars-Imago. I am just an enthusiastic film photographer who has used 135 and 120 Rondinax units a lot and volunteered to test the unit and would have been very honest had I found it suboptimal.

Marty
 
Garageboy, I found that waiting until it's dark and using a bathroom works about a hundred times better than a change bag. I take my film and tank and stuff in there, along w/ a blanket and some push pins to go over the door and stop stray light from coming around the door frame.

This new developing system is half of what I want to see (not for me, but for newbies). The first person who invents a small, all in one machine that will develop the film and make also scans will make a fortune. Film needs these new ideas or it's never going to entice new people into trying it. Anything that makes getting a film image easier is a good idea.
 
I've done nearly all my film processing in Rondix 35, Rondinax 35U, and Rondinax 66 processing tanks for several years. They work very well, but they're getting to be very very old and a bit fragile. It's great that a new device of this type is coming to market!

With a processing tank of this type, I go from unprocessed dry to processed hanging to dry–without a darkroom or changing bag at all–in 25 minutes, and my results are extremely consistent and predictable.

I pledged on the LAB-BOX project early on and have supported them 100% through their long development time. It's been quite a lot of work for them ... few first-time innovators realize just how much work it is to go from idea to finished product in manufactured hard goods. And this is a complex device...

My pledge awards are going to ship soon: I can't wait to use the LAB-BOX when it arrives. 🙂

G
 
I'm into it. I don't need it, but hey, its another way to develop. I tend to do runs in batches of two rolls apiece so I'll stick with my Jobo 1502 tank.

I don't remember when I first came across the original Kickstarter, but I was pretty skeptical initially. Between my two hobbies of photography and cycling, I see way, waaaay too many half-baked gadgets intended to nominally make some aspect easier for beginners, but is too convoluted to use in practice, or just a solution looking for a problem. (I'm Back, anyone?)

Of course, that was before I had even known about the Rondinax. That was a cool little gadget that seems to have a bit of a cult following. I don't really know who you all are who develop film on the road (or why), but I can imagine this being a godsend for you guys.

Wholly unnecessary gadget I don't need but deeply want? a Filmomat. Give me one of those and a nice space to setup my old Omega enlarger and I'd be happy.
 
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