Developing film (only - for the moment)

Mozziephotography

Mozziephotography

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I have unlimited GAS at the moment for old film cameras. There are around a dozen, wonderful, mint condition machines ready to be tested. Thought I might have a go at developing the "test film" for each one, just to see how well they work and if there are anyproblems. The subject matter won't be important, so I'm not too bothered about scanning etc at the moment. I did have my own studio at one time, from tanks to tray to enlarger etc and loved it. Thought it might be better to stick to one film stock, a cheap one, so ... what would I need in terms of kit to kick start this project off at a resonable price. Best developer etc?
 
Fomapan film is probably the cheapest and available in bulk rolls of 17 and 30m rolls. I've enjoyed using both the 200 and 100, developing in Bellini duo Step, which is not very sensitive to temp and time etc, but maybe not good for pushing/pulling etc. I like the results and have found it to be consistent, not the same can be said for the 120 version.
 
Beware. There will come a time when you have so many cameras you mean to try, but somehow never get around too, that you run the risk of burning out. ;)
 
I don't think you will find film much cheaper than this.

Type-517 100 35mm 36Exp – Analogue Cameras

www.analoguecameras.co.uk www.analoguecameras.co.uk

It has been discussed elsewhere on the forum, I bought a good few rolls back when it was even cheaper and have been quite impressed. Tonality and rendering are more like that of Kodak Plus X so more contrasty than the current FP4+ , development times are on a pdf downloadable from their web site.
 
35mm or 120? I'd get a tank that does both anyway. HC 110 or Rodinal developers have good shelf lives, a dark bag for loading the film, some measuring cylinders, a thermometer and a fixer (I use the Ilford Rapid one but any BW film fixer will do). May be a can of "Air duster" to exclude the oxygen from the developer once opened.

I've often considered a bulk loader so that I could create rolls of say 6 or 12 frames rather than having to shoot 24 frames before I can process. But then you have to balance the cost and effort of bulk loading against shooting 24 frames when you only want a few shots.
 
sirch said:
35mm or 120? I'd get a tank that does both anyway. HC 110 or Rodinal developers have good shelf lives, a dark bag for loading the film, some measuring cylinders, a thermometer and a fixer (I use the Ilford Rapid one but any BW film fixer will do). May be a can of "Air duster" to exclude the oxygen from the developer once opened.

I've often considered a bulk loader so that I could create rolls of say 6 or 12 frames rather than having to shoot 24 frames before I can process. But then you have to balance the cost and effort of bulk loading against shooting 24 frames when you only want a few shots.
Click to expand...
Do you need a darkroom for bulk loader or can it be done in a darkbag?
 
Downhill Specialist said:
This is true but the biggest change (ha!) I made to this was getting a Calumet pop up changing tent. So much easier.
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Go away, I am not listening.
He said whilst trying not to immediately rush off and check the price of such a thing, it is after all, something I have been fancying for a while.
 
zx9 said:
Go away, I am not listening.
He said whilst trying not to immediately rush off and check the price of such a thing, it is after all, something I have been fancying for a while.
Click to expand...
if you find a good one let me know!
 
zx9 said:
Go away, I am not listening.
He said whilst trying not to immediately rush off and check the price of such a thing, it is after all, something I have been fancying for a while.
Click to expand...
honestly, it makes such a big difference without the bag resting on your arms. So much more room to manoeuvre especially for bulk loading, loading Patterson tanks and more recently for me, 8x10 holders (it's tight but works), 4x5 is easy.
 
Downhill Specialist said:
honestly, it makes such a big difference without the bag resting on your arms. So much more room to manoeuvre especially for bulk loading, loading Patterson tanks and more recently for me, 8x10 holders (it's tight but works), 4x5 is easy.
Click to expand...

I agree. I image it would be tight with a standard size tent for 10x8 but fortunately I have a Harrison Jumbo tent for the larger size; my normal Harrison Pup will fit on a table, but the Jumbo requires something more bed sized to work on. I can usually rely on having a darkroom and a counter to load holders, but not when on holiday.
 
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Downhill Specialist said:
This is true but the biggest change (ha!) I made to this was getting a Calumet pop up changing tent. So much easier.
Click to expand...
I've got one and I use it because I think there is less risk of dust on the negs, I prefer a large dark bag from a comfort point of view.
 
Downhill Specialist said:
honestly, it makes such a big difference without the bag resting on your arms. So much more room to manoeuvre especially for bulk loading, loading Patterson tanks and more recently for me, 8x10 holders (it's tight but works), 4x5 is easy.
Click to expand...
A dark bag works and is cheap enough. I have a tiny home built darkroom (4' 3" x 4') and the ease of loading film into a dev tank was a revelation compared to the dark bag.

Edit: Back to your question. Just give it a whirl. Changing bags are £20+ on eBay.

AP Dev tanks are good value. Either 1 x 120 or 2 x 35mm
www.ebay.co.uk

Darkroom Film Developing Tank 2 Spiral Reel For Processing 120 135 35mm Negative | eBay UK

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Darkroom Film Developing Tank 2 Spiral Reel For Processing 120 135 35mm Negative at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk
Champion chemicals are the cheapest out there. I wouldn't use this now but it's certainly more than adequate:
firstcall-photographic.co.uk

Champion Suprol Universal Film & Print Developer, 1 litre

Champion Photochemistry is now the world's foremost chemical manufacturer to the photographic industry. In the past the company has, behind the scenes, been the manufacturer for many famous UK trade names and High Street photo retailer?s monochrome chemicals. Champion approached us with an offer...
firstcall-photographic.co.uk firstcall-photographic.co.uk
Even if you just use it as a one shot developer you have enough for 50 x 35mm films.

They also do a fixer and stop bath so getting these from the same place at the same time cuts down on p&p costs. If you find you enjoy film deving then there is a world of developers for you to play with.

Edit edit: Firstcall don't have Champion Stop bath but they have other cheap alternatives.
 
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zx9 said:
I don't think you will find film much cheaper than this.

Type-517 100 35mm 36Exp – Analogue Cameras

www.analoguecameras.co.uk www.analoguecameras.co.uk

It has been discussed elsewhere on the forum, I bought a good few rolls back when it was even cheaper and have been quite impressed. Tonality and rendering are more like that of Kodak Plus X so more contrasty than the current FP4+ , development times are on a pdf downloadable from their web site.
Click to expand...
This is an Ilford film marketed as FP4 not FP4+ The iso is 100 and I have used it with success when developed in !D11. Here is the crunch, you have to use Analogue processing sheet times because there are no similarities to the processing times on the usual data sheet that are remotely similar. They are all longer.

Apparently it is an out of date cine film which was bought in well stored drums by the company who invested in proper loading and sealing equipment so it is loaded properly, not a dog eared hand rolled product.

I have no problem with it and compared standard FP4+ and Type 517 and found the grain size to be visibly more or less the same until you pushed the enlargement sizes. The Development times for ID11 diluted at 1-1 gave slightly 'thin' negatives but they still printed very well. Even a section of a 20x16 enlargement showed it to be as sharp as standard FP4+ but the grain difference is starting to become slightly noticeable.

I still have a dozen or so cassettes in the fridge still to be used and will buy more when needed..
 
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