I had no idea!!

S

SuitePhoto

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So now that I've decided to take the plunge into the B&W 35mm world (from digital), I decided it might be a good idea to do a search and find a decent lab to process my film. A google search turned-up almost nothing on labs, but a BUNCH of info on how to do it yourself...

While reading about the different chemicals and processes you guys use, I figured that even a basic darkroom set-up would be expensive. Much to my amazement, all I need is the chemicals, the tank (which is much smaller and less expensive than I thought it would be), and then something to measure out the chemicals in.

SWEET! I could develop my own film in a second bathroom that is hardly used and could be made light-tight and scan the negatives - no lab fees reqired!!

Do you guys know of any beginner kits that would have everything I would need to get started? There seems to be tons of info on the web about the basic process, but are there any good books out there that explain the basic theory and chemistry behind the process? I like to go into stuff like this with my eyes wide open. Thanks.
 
First off I'd say 2 things. Developing film is great, it gives you a nice feeling that you don't get otherwise. It's like you're making photos rather than taking them.
Second. It's easy. Really.
Maybe that's ok for me to say as I used to do it as part of my college course
but it is easy.

I can't help you with books but
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/applications/page.asp?n=9
is a good place to start.
so is
http://photography.about.com/library/weekly/aa051401e.htm

They both tell you pretty much all you need to get started.
 
Mike-
Welcome to B+W! I'll warn you, it may be habit forming. An "experiment" just like yours has left me with a wet darkroom that I spend a lot of time in, and a strong disinterest in color and digital work. Medium or large format B+W could reel you in next!
This page will prove invaluable as you experiment with film/ developer combinations to find the "look" you like best-
http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.html
Enjoy!
 
Hi Mike. I'm new to developing my own negs also. I got a starter kit from *bay. Log on to *bay and check out these item numbers: 280012468502 and 280013809785. I got the single tank kit. Good luck and have fun.
 
A word of advice: The combinations are endless. Pick a film and a developer. One of each, no more, and learn them. THEN branch out. You will find proponents of very different film and developer combination here on RFF. Do NOT go to apug.org, everyone will have at least three opinions each, and you will get nowhere.

I'm being a bit sarcastic, but I'm serious. You need to master the technique, and if you change multiple variables at once, you'll never get "there".

Don't ask me what I prefer! :D

As far as gear goes, either plastic (Paterson et al) or stainless steel (Nikor, Kinderman, etc.) will do. Despite my preference, it's just practice makes perfect.

Earl
 
What I'd do is simply go online, purchase all the things you need and make your own kit. The tanks and things are cheap and easy, the expensive part is the enlarger. I have a Beseler 67, which I really recommend, since it will do 120 as well as 35mm. Black and white is so fun! (tell your friends...)
 
I'd just like to second Earl's comments! Find a combination that works, perfect it, and attempt to "improve" it only when compelled to by a real shortcoming.
 
Trius said:
A word of advice: The combinations are endless. Pick a film and a developer. One of each, no more, and learn them. THEN branch out. You will find proponents of very different film and developer combination here on RFF. Do NOT go to apug.org, everyone will have at least three opinions each, and you will get nowhere.

Earl
Click to expand...

LOL, good advice but no one ever follows it at first. I did pick one film and played with developers until I found one that 'stuck'. I am now confident enough that I now have two films (100asa and a 400asa).
I will suggest you choose one of the liquid developers, (Clayton F76+, HC110, Rodinal, etc) to start with. They are easier to mix 'one-shot' and have a longer shelf life.

Get a good thermometer, temp is important.

As for tanks, I would suggest stainless steel, the learning curve in loading the reels is higher but the steel is easier to clean and takes up less space.

The main thing is to just do it, take the plunge, you will not regret it.
 
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You don't need a light-tight room if you're scanning the negatives. Just a changing bag.
 
Thanks for the tips! After reading a few threads on here about different kinds of film, it seems that you guys can't talk about the film without talking about the chemicals you use to develop it!

The enlarger is definately a long way off - I'm very comfortable with my digital workflow and the negitaves will go strait from drying to the film scanner. I'm just the type of person that wants to have control - especally in my creative endeavors - and quite franly, after hearing about how the different chemicals do very different things, it was making me very nervious to turnover my unprocessed film to any lab! :)

Couple questions - Do I have to keep the chemicals in the fidge? or do you just need to cool them off before using them? What type of thermometer should I be looking for?
 
Hi! I'm new to RFF, but was in the same boat last year.

Mike, I found developing film to be much easier once it wasn't so much of a mystery. I started off with a basic book I found at the library (Exploring B&W Photography, A. Gassan ISBN:06970349101), and searched the heck out of photo.net to read about other newbie experiences.

There's a photog based in the Philippines who put together a nice tutorial online. I worked off of it for a couple of months until I was confident enough to try branch off of it. You'd have to use wayback machine to see it, looks like his site got hacked: old massif website. It also came in handy the first time I tried developing in the summer heat. :)

I started out with one of those paterson starter kits that go real cheap on the auction site - but I found the plastic reels to be a pain. If you plan on using stainless reels & tanks, I found that splurging on the pricier stainless reels is totally worth it! I forget the brand, but it's the kind with notches that grab onto the sprocket holes in the film.

I've never needed to keep the chemicals in the fridge. I do put my developer in old wine bottles, and use those vacuum stoppers to keep them from oxidizing.

Oh, and one thing I wish I didn't do back then was use a film squeegee. Distilled water with some photoflo type rinse does a much better job!

have fun, thankfully it still is for me!
raymond
 
SuitePhoto said:
Couple questions - Do I have to keep the chemicals in the fidge? or do you just need to cool them off before using them? What type of thermometer should I be looking for?
Click to expand...

I keep my chemicals in a cool dark place (cold storage room). For the thermometer, I just used whatever the AP kit gave me. Check out this site regarding thermometer accuracy.

http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Thinktank/5693/photogra2.html
 
rncamero said:
I've never needed to keep the chemicals in the fridge. I do put my developer in old wine bottles, and use those vacuum stoppers to keep them from oxidizing.
Click to expand...
Vacuum stopper?
 
That is correct, film can only produce results when processed in chemicals and each developer will produce different results. Sometimes the differences are very subtle but sometimes they are very noticeable.
Good luck.

SuitePhoto said:
Thanks for the tips! After reading a few threads on here about different kinds of film, it seems that you guys can't talk about the film without talking about the chemicals you use to develop it!
Click to expand...
 
SuitePhoto said:
Couple questions - Do I have to keep the chemicals in the fidge? or do you just need to cool them off before using them? What type of thermometer should I be looking for?
Click to expand...

It is not recommended that photo chemicals be kept in the fridge. If they get too cool some of the chemicals will parsipitate out, and are really difficult to remix.

I keep my chemicals in the basement in gallon (or smaller) jugs, which runs 65-68 deg. F.

The other thing that deteriorates the chemicals is oxydation. It's not good to store chemicals in a partially filled container. The suggestion above of using wine bottles with a vacuum stopper is great. I just use plastic jugs and squeeze them before replacing the cap. As the quanitity gets smaller, I transfer them to smaller jugs. I'm thinking about the wine bottle/vacuum stopper method now. (Besides, it's fun emptying the bottles!)

Don't use a container for more that one type of chemical - especially plastic containers, as they adsorb the chemicals. If you put developer in a container that previously contained stop bath or fixer, it will be contaminated. The other way around is less of a problem, but try to eliminate all potential problems - just to keep your sanity.

I have been developing and printing my own B&W for nearly 60 years, and still enjoy the control and the results. :cool:
 
These vacuum stoppers have one drawback in wine use, Bruce - You cannot claim you can't keep the bottle over till next day! :D
 
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