briandaly
Established
Once you've read up on what you need to do, there's nothing like seeing someone go through the steps...
http://www.youtube.com/user/squarefrog
http://www.youtube.com/user/squarefrog
Simplest, cheapest way to develop Neopan at home
- Thread starter squirrel$$$bandit
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 33
- Views 3K
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
One more thing, it has to be distilled water? Not the filtered well water we have coming out of our taps?
sockeyed
Well-known
I'm sure. You can also rate quite a few 400 films at 1600 and get really good results. I saw a comparison between Neopan 400 and Neopan 1600, both rated at 1600, and they were indistinguishable. Tri-X pushes very well too. This is part of the fun of home deveoping - you can try out different exposure and development combos. For example, Tri-X at 250 produces beautiful mid-tones and lower contrast - great for bright, sunny days!
You might also want to consider bulk-rolling your own film. Get yourself a bulk loader (the AP ones are my favourite, plus a pile of reloadable cassettes (look for the metal ones) and, of course, a bulk roll of film. Freestyle sells very good rebranded Fomapan film under the Arista.edu Ultra label for just over $20 for 100'. 36exp rolls therefore cost about $1 each!
No, I don't work for Freestyle if anyone's wondering.
This probably varies from place to place. Here in Vancouver I use water straight out of the tap with no problem. Ask around.
Bob Michaels
nobody special
Before you buy anything other than photo chemistry, take a cruise through your local supermarket or big box retailer with an eye out for inexpensive substitutes.
You can buy stainless steel photo film clips for $4 each or a big bag of spring type clothes pins for $1.
You can buy a nice $20 photo graduate or a $1.49 household equivalent.
Everyone mentions used development tanks from any of the used websites like EBay or CraigsList. They are everywhere.
There are some very nice photo timers but a $4.99 digital stopwatch from RadioShack has served me well for many years.
Kodak makes a nice stirring paddle but a $.99 slotted stainless steel stirring spoon has always served me well.
The list goes on and on.
Now I will admit to always using a real $20 changing bag instead of XayRaa garbage bag suggestion but I will keep his idea in mind.
Bottom line is that home developing is a very cheap thing to try.
You can buy stainless steel photo film clips for $4 each or a big bag of spring type clothes pins for $1.
You can buy a nice $20 photo graduate or a $1.49 household equivalent.
Everyone mentions used development tanks from any of the used websites like EBay or CraigsList. They are everywhere.
There are some very nice photo timers but a $4.99 digital stopwatch from RadioShack has served me well for many years.
Kodak makes a nice stirring paddle but a $.99 slotted stainless steel stirring spoon has always served me well.
The list goes on and on.
Now I will admit to always using a real $20 changing bag instead of XayRaa garbage bag suggestion but I will keep his idea in mind.
Bottom line is that home developing is a very cheap thing to try.
Bob Michaels
nobody special
While we are all dwelling on the economies, we should not lose sight of the #1 reason to develop your own film, control of the process.
B&W film is not a clearly defined and controlled process like C41 or C6. B&W has many variables. You can let someone else control those variables and hope that it works with your style of exposure. Or you can control everything yourself. That way you are not only consistent, but you can process film the way you want it to look.
B&W film is not a clearly defined and controlled process like C41 or C6. B&W has many variables. You can let someone else control those variables and hope that it works with your style of exposure. Or you can control everything yourself. That way you are not only consistent, but you can process film the way you want it to look.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Eventually, I hope to be able to benefit from that control. I'm sure with my first few rolls, I'll be having to take what I get...but at least I won't wait two weeks for it, and pay six and a half bucks.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
i would suggest the distilled water for mixing any chemistry that you plan to keep and re-use, as well as for the final rinse after development, with the wetting agent.
fidget
Lemon magnet
You mentioned doing it on the cheap.
It could be worth buying more than one dev tank, or two small/medium sizes rather than just one big tank which will take several reels. I found that I had 2, 3 or 4 films (35mm &120) to develop in each session. I can put two 120 rolls on a reel, develop and then use the mix to dev two 35mm reels in the other tank during the same session. For this I have tried ID11 at 1:1 (600ml) with very good results. Further use of the mix may be possible with adjustment of the times, but this is enough for me.
Dave
It could be worth buying more than one dev tank, or two small/medium sizes rather than just one big tank which will take several reels. I found that I had 2, 3 or 4 films (35mm &120) to develop in each session. I can put two 120 rolls on a reel, develop and then use the mix to dev two 35mm reels in the other tank during the same session. For this I have tried ID11 at 1:1 (600ml) with very good results. Further use of the mix may be possible with adjustment of the times, but this is enough for me.
Dave
ibcrewin
Ah looky looky
Another El Cheapo work around. I use bamboo skewers for stirring paddles, $.99 for 100 skewers. Then I still have left over skewers for kabobs!
Also, since your wife is evironmentally concious, she probably doesn't want chemicals in and around her kitchen. I took 4 large garbage bags and duct taped them together and made a chemical proof work area that fit's the kithen counter exactly.
Also, since your wife is evironmentally concious, she probably doesn't want chemicals in and around her kitchen. I took 4 large garbage bags and duct taped them together and made a chemical proof work area that fit's the kithen counter exactly.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
I ordered a bunch of stuff today...$120 total, and I should have all I need. And luckily, our house has an "extra" kitchen, in what used to be a separate apartment, which we use for crafts, silkscreening, photo stuff, etc.
In any event, I'm the head cook... ;-)
I ended up getting a packet of powdered D76, plus some Rodinal from eBay. I'll try both. I could only seem to find F76+ in bulk, and got impatient...
In any event, I'm the head cook... ;-)
I ended up getting a packet of powdered D76, plus some Rodinal from eBay. I'll try both. I could only seem to find F76+ in bulk, and got impatient...
mcvr
Newbie
I started to do the same thing a couple months ago after buying a Hexar. Developping your film at home is fun and easy. I too develop a lot of NEOPAN 1600. I would use a changing bag to load the film. Use cotton gloves to do this so you won't get any grease on the film. I also use a film retreiver to retreive the end of the film and cut it before putting it into the changing bag. That way it is easier to load it onto the reel as you won't cut across the sprockets.
I don't think you have to use distilled water for the chemicals. Just use it as your last rinse with photoflo to avoid water marks.
Found this useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9bNcBE_Hc&feature=related
I don't think you have to use distilled water for the chemicals. Just use it as your last rinse with photoflo to avoid water marks.
Found this useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9bNcBE_Hc&feature=related
Last edited:
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Heh? You can buy a 32 oz. from either Freestyle or here:
http://www.digitaltruth.com/store/cart/Clayton-F76-Film-Dev-32-oz-p-106.html
... wait, you are in US, aren't you?
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Yep, thanks for that! I got my stuff from B&H and didn't feel like doing another transaction. Will try it soon...
cole
Established
I recently started doing my own developing at home (having done my own printing for awhile), and I use Neopan regularly.
I find HC-110 provides great results as a developer, and due to its ability to work under heavy dilutions, it proves incredibly cost-effective as well!
Good luck and have fun.
I find HC-110 provides great results as a developer, and due to its ability to work under heavy dilutions, it proves incredibly cost-effective as well!
Good luck and have fun.
