Is building a darkroom worth it?

[spaceistheplace]

Hello guys,

Yesterday I came across an ad in a local classfield website. Some guy was selling his enlarger, lens, easel, trays, bulbs, and lots of extra items you may find useful in the dakroom. And all this for what I think is a fair price!

But the thing is, I've never had my own darkroom, I have printed many times in a rental darkroom and really enjoyed it, the only bad thing was the hassle to transport things (it isn't close to my house) which an own dakroom would fix.
So here I am looking for advice, do you guys think I should go for it? Is building your own darkroom worth it in this day and age?

Feel free to give your opinion, thanks!

 

[Villanova]

If you get proper use out of it and have the space, why not?

 

[marcr1230]

It kind of depends how much usage you'll make of it and how much space you have - I've always had temporary setups - it works fine, you don't need a darkroom to develop film, and you don't need running water in a darkroom ( just access to a sink outside it) - so any room that you can darken and set up some trays and the enlarger will work

 

[Ko.Fe.]

To me it is only worth it to print on 8x10 or larger FB paper. Well. 5x7 will do for albums.
To get enlarger set isn't big deal. To get 8x10 100 pcs of FB paper and have maybe 30 prints under price well above of 100$... This is where question is. IMO.

 

[spaceistheplace]

I do have a small room that will be free to use soon, that's why I think it is a good moment. But it is also a big investment, not only the equipment, which isn't a big deal but paper is! I think I'm going to pull the trigger and get it.

 

[skopar steve]

If you have a space that you can work in that is light tight and ventilated it makes sense. If your like me you never know when you will have a window of time for printing. Also you can make it efficient so there is more time for printing and less time setting up. If you only print a few times a year then it is likely not to be worth it.

Just prepare yourself for those all night printing sessions that happen from time to time. Not to mention the "perfect enlarging lens GAS" that comes with having your own darkroom.

Steve

 

[ChrisPlatt]

If you liked working in a rental darkroom imagine how much you will enjoy your own personal darkroom!

FWIW making black & white wet prints in the darkroom is my favorite part of the photographic process.
I haven't had a proper darkroom in years. Since then I have always used a temporary bathroom setup.

Chris

 

[benlees]

My enlarger is in the bathroom closet! I don't use it much but I'm glad I have it!

 

[spaceistheplace]

If you have a space that you can work in that is light tight and ventilated it makes sense. If your like me you never know when you will have a window of time for printing. Also you can make it efficient so there is more time for printing and less time setting up. If you only print a few times a year then it is likely not to be worth it.

Just prepare yourself for those all night printing sessions that happen from time to time. Not to mention the "perfect enlarging lens GAS" that comes with having your own darkroom.

Steve

Now that you mention enlarger lens, the lens it comes with is an EL-Nikkor 50mm 2.8. I only use 35mm and print 8x10s, sometime 5x7 for print exchange and the odd bigger size. Should I pick up a Schneider or a Rodenstock lens? Or I won't see much difference in these small sizes?

 

[megido]

Sin duda! I built a darkroom in Andalucia. All night printing when the temperature is bearable! Plus you have Fotocasion in Madrid for the paper supplies. They sometimes have very good deals on expired paper which works fine for tests, contacts etc.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Do it.

Phil Forrest

 

[spaceistheplace]

Sin duda! I built a darkroom in Andalucia. All night printing when the temperature is bearable! Plus you have Fotocasion in Madrid for the paper supplies. They sometimes have very good deals on expired paper which works fine for tests, contacts etc.

Yes, I know, have purchased those papers for tests many times, and check your messages, please.

 

[x-ray]

Now that you mention enlarger lens, the lens it comes with is an EL-Nikkor 50mm 2.8. I only use 35mm and print 8x10s, sometime 5x7 for print exchange and the odd bigger size. Should I pick up a Schneider or a Rodenstock lens? Or I won't see much difference in these small sizes?

The Nikkor EL 50 f2.8 is one of the best. You won't find better. Ive printed since I was 9 years old and have used about everything on the market since the 50's. I still have some Schneider Componon S and Rodenstock Rodagons but use almost exclusively my set of Nikkor EL lenses. The only other lenses I feel are comparable are the Fujinon EX which are very hard to find as they were never officially imported.

Setup your darkroom. It can be a great source of enjoyment. To me it's still magic. I just bought a new house last summer and the first thing I did was have a nice darkroom built.

 

[x-ray]

Really between all the premium enlarging lenses there's very little difference. I like the Scneider Componon S optics in the 50-2.8 but don't care for the plastic mount. Rodenstock Rodagons are excellent too. I like the Nikkor so much I replaced the Leitz Focotar on my Focomat with a Nikkor 2.8.

 

[spaceistheplace]

Really between all the premium enlarging lenses there's very little difference. I like the Scneider Componon S optics in the 50-2.8 but don't care for the plastic mount. Rodenstock Rodagons are excellent too. I like the Nikkor so much I replaced the Leitz Focotar on my Focomat with a Nikkor 2.8.

Nice to know then, thanks a lot for your help.

 

[jammcat]

Most of the gear needed for a darkroom can be snatched up for free or very cheap. The only concerns are light proofing and proper ventilation. I set up mine in my laundry room with darkroom gear I got for free on craigslist. Depending on the chemicals you get (especially for B&W), they should last a long time and are pretty inexpensive. As for whether or not it's worth it beyond the cost--- that depends on if you'll actually use it, and only you can decide that.

 

[PKR]

Design it around the largest print size you plan to make. 16x20 for most people is the largest. 35mm film will print well at that size.

I mostly made 8x10 and 8 1/2 x 11 contact and test prints. Finals were usually 11x14. I used 35mm and 4x5 cameras. I tray processed my 4x5 film.

I now scan 35mm film and pigment print. If Agfa paper was around, I would again plan a darkroom.

I had a fume vent over the chemical trays in my sink. It sucked the fumes out. If you do this, be sure your room is very clean and well sealed. As the suction (negative pressure) will suck dust into the room. You don't want that. Also, make sure the door is closed before turning on the vent fan. I forgot a lot of times and paid by doing a lot of dust policing.

 

[x-ray]

PKR you should try the new Bergger fiber variable contrast papers. I'm a huge fan of Agfa and still have 200 sheets of glossy MC111 in my film freezer but after trying the Bergger I've not used any of my Agfa. I've printed on a lot of papers and found none that look as good as the new Bergger. There are plenty of great fiber papers now. I still like Ilford Warmtone FB and some of the Foma. Each have their own beauty for certain negs. Each are unique imo. Also the developer makes a huge difference especially with Ilford Warmtone. Desktop gives green tones and LPD gives warm rich tones with deeper blacks and better tonal separation. For the Bergger either Dektol or LPD produces great images.

The Bergger gloss has the richest surface Un-glossed I've ever seen.

 

[spaceistheplace]

PKR you should try the new Bergger fiber variable contrast papers. I'm a huge fan of Agfa and still have 200 sheets of glossy MC111 in my film freezer but after trying the Bergger I've not used any of my Agfa. I've printed on a lot of papers and found none that look as good as the new Bergger. There are plenty of great fiber papers now. I still like Ilford Warmtone FB and some of the Foma. Each have their own beauty for certain negs. Each are unique imo. Also the developer makes a huge difference especially with Ilford Warmtone. Desktop gives green tones and LPD gives warm rich tones with deeper blacks and better tonal separation. For the Bergger either Dektol or LPD produces great images.

The Bergger gloss has the richest surface Un-glossed I've ever seen.

X-Ray and everybody, what are some of your favorite papers? Foma are the most affordable ones here but I still don't know which one to choose, have only used Fomatone from them.

 

[nikon_sam]

I would love to have a dedicated Darkroom...for now I set up in a downstairs bathroom...
When I live with my parents they let me build one under their patio...it wasn't that big but enough space to have everything I needed...currently, I have three enlargers and would love to have a permanent home set up for them.