Automatic film developer machine thingy...

srichards

srichards

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I was just idly wondering whether such a thing existed that would take a exposed film cartridge that you'd just slot in. Shut the lid and t'other side would spit out perfectly developed negatives...

The thing I hated most about trying to dev my own film was the total hassle of getting the film out of the cartridge and winding it onto the spool . I know my camera should be able to leave the film with the leader out so it should be easy peasy if someone has made an automatic developer which could do such a thing. I don't need scanning or printing. Just the dev bit.

Does such a beast exist?

I'm wondering whether there is a market for a micro lab system which would find a way of using small amounts of chemicals so you can run through only a couple of films or even single films. Preferably something no bigger than a standard laser printer so you could have one at home...
 
The Jobo Autolab does everything other than film loading and isn't much larger than a laser printer :p
 
Too much effort. I want to pop the cartridge in with the leader out. Load it onto a thing. Shut the lid. Walk away :)
 
Those are an absolute piece of cake... I've got a pair of old ones that I use quite often
 
For just loading the tank in daylight: Agfa made them. They were called 'Rondinax'. There was a Rondinax 35 for 35mm and a Rondinax 60 for 120 film. Google for Rondinax and you will get the idea. They are quite often on ebay.

Obviously you have to add the chemicals yourself at the right times, but it takes away the fiddling in the dark angst I believe.
 
NickT said:
For just loading the tank in daylight: Agfa made them. They were called 'Rondinax'. There was a Rondinax 35 for 35mm and a Rondinax 60 for 120 film. Google for Rondinax and you will get the idea. They are quite often on ebay.

Obviously you have to add the chemicals yourself at the right times, but it takes away the fiddling in the dark angst I believe.
Click to expand...

That rondinax is a brilliant idea. :thumbs:
 
srichards said:
The thing I hated most about trying to dev my own film was the total hassle of getting the film out of the cartridge and winding it onto the spool.
Click to expand...

Then get a Gepe spool.

I was given one last week. Unlike a normal spool, it loads from the centre. The film is fed through a slot in a plastic piece which is attached to one end of the spool and can rotate. The slot puts a slight curve on the film and as you rotate it around the spool, the film which is clipped to the centre, loads itself onto the spiral.

The design is so good that I can actually load it without the loading attachment and you can also re-load it when wet. Try that with a Jobo or Paterson!

I'm not using anything else for 35mm now and I want to find one for 120.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...yQvfR57WpqWYWnKZNVqUNWmnTDsdeHA4MINscqFjjuOtw



Steve.
 
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NickT said:
I'd rather fiddle around in a changing bag than have to turn the knob on the side of the Rondinax every 2 seconds. It does only need 200cc of developer though. Instructions are here: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CGUQFjAK&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photomemorabilia.co.uk%2FPaterson%2FDeveloping_Tanks%2FRondinax%2FRondinax35.pdf&ei=GUhIUtCLGZHHswbekoHQBQ&usg=AFQjCNGOtTTpLvSYJxQR4TUxAtj1nPOsPg&bvm=bv.53217764,d.Yms
Click to expand...

I think I'd find a way of adding a motor for slow unattended continuous rotation :)
 
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