Want to develop own film.

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kabooi

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I know next to nothing about the developing of film. I know you got to have some chemicals and I know you can get a bag where it's dark to shove it all in. ;)

I love my new hobby. It's rewarding. But prices of deving film is too expenisive for me, so I want to start developing my films.

I want to dev black and white only. Is that better?
I've looked on ilfords site and they have an instruction sheet so I'll prob follow that.
I dont know what b+w film I'll use but it will prob be ilford.
The question is what do I need to buy? Is there a starter kit available so I can buy everything in one go? If you could point me in the right direction or the best thing to do, go ahead :)
 
Welcome to the madhouse that is the darkside :D

black and white is easier in terms of what you need, temperature control and whatnot, I'd say its certainly the place to start.

Have a read of the developing your own sticky at the top of this forum, it really is exactly what you need...

I believe firstcall-photographic do a starter kit, but given its price, I'm not sure I'd have bought that when I first started developing had I known about it.

Realisitically all you need is a changing bag, developing tank with a reel and some developer and fixer. Aside from that you've probably got everything else, measuring jug, scissors, bottle opener etc.
 
I am sure here will have some experts will provide you more detail if I miss something.

Top of head that I can remember:
-Developing tank with reel
-I use Kodak D41,it's cheap and nice results for me but it requires you to get some air tight bottles to store the chemical.
-fixer, I use wetting agent too
-thermometer, I got a digital one
-some people use film clips but I use the clothes pins instead
-bottle opener
-timer but I use my phone
-measuring jugs

I got more or less everything on eBay with great cheap price as I wasn't sure whether I could do it right before spending too much.

As I am a very messy and silly person,I could do it,am sure you could do a lot better! Hope you will enjoy your film photography and dev!
 
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VirtualAdept said:
Welcome to the madhouse that is the darkside :D

black and white is easier in terms of what you need, temperature control and whatnot, I'd say its certainly the place to start.

Have a read of the developing your own sticky at the top of this forum, it really is exactly what you need...

I believe firstcall-photographic do a starter kit, but given its price, I'm not sure I'd have bought that when I first started developing had I known about it.

Realisitically all you need is a changing bag, developing tank with a reel and some developer and fixer. Aside from that you've probably got everything else, measuring jug, scissors, bottle opener etc.
Click to expand...

I have a pair of sciccors. Need a measuring jug (what type?) and bottle opener. Any brand of the developer and fixer? am looking at that first call site and may give them a go....
 
http://www.harmanexpress.com/
Use them they are very good and delivered quickly.
I bought the developing kit from them for £50
and for chemical i used Ilford stop, fixer and wetting agent.
For developer they are plenty choice depending your budget.
I started with ID11 but now used ilfotec HC a very concentrated one and very economical.
I also bought a film picker on ebay as i find it more easy to pull out a bit of film and start to load it on the reel before going in the bag.
 
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fred2511 said:
http://www.harmanexpress.com/
Use them they are very good and delivered quickly.
I bought the developing kit from them for £50
and for chemical i used Ilford stop, fixer and wetting agent.
For developer they are plenty choice depending your budget.
I started with ID11 but now used ilfotec HC a very concentrated one and very economical.
I also bought a film picker on ebay as i find it more easy to pull out a bit of film and start to load it on the reel before going in the bag.
Click to expand...

I think I shall go for that next payday....here is the list of whats included. Would I need to buy anything else? I shall buy the chemicals (is it stop, fixer and wetting?) and a changing bag? And then I'll be good to go?

Contains everything you need for developing films and prints:
1 developing tank
2 spirals
1 graduated cylinder of 50 cc
1 graduated cylinder of 650 cc
3 developing trays 20x25 (8X10") in assorted colours
1 film squeegee tong
3 print tongs
1 set of film clips (one with weight)
1 stirring paddle
1 straight glass thermometer
1 instructions manual
 
Yes, the sticky thread at the top is really helpful and was what I read to develop my own black and white, and it is very enjoyable. I am using Fotospeed developer, stop and fixer at the moment and it is very good. Other things to buy: thermometer, changing bag, 3 tubs for developer, stop and fixer and a developing tank (sorry for this post seems to have mentioned a few things you have already mentioned).
 
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You only need developing trays and print tongs if you're printing actual photos.
The manual I'd also forego as, as has been said, the sticky here is excellent and all the times can be found on the digital truth site.
 
kabooi said:
I think I shall go for that next payday....here is the list of whats included. Would I need to buy anything else? I shall buy the chemicals (is it stop, fixer and wetting?) and a changing bag? And then I'll be good to go?

Contains everything you need for developing films and prints:
1 developing tank
2 spirals
1 graduated cylinder of 50 cc
1 graduated cylinder of 650 cc
3 developing trays 20x25 (8X10") in assorted colours
1 film squeegee tong
3 print tongs
1 set of film clips (one with weight)
1 stirring paddle
1 straight glass thermometer
1 instructions manual
Click to expand...

You don't really need wetting agent but you need your developer
I use an app on my iPhone and that is the best thing I bought so far ,he guide and time you true the step depend the Film and developer you use.
 
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