Taking and Developing B&W negatives

kenneth · Post by **kenneth** » Wed 19 Aug, 2009 1:17 am

I would like to make an open offer on this forum to anyone who still owns a film camera or would like to buy an old one to learn the simple and most pleasurable skill in processing film. Negatives can then be scanned on a computer or alternatively a small investment would allow those interested to print from negs using RC or FB paper. With the advent of digital the costs involved in processing are negligible. Processing your own negs does not even require a dedicated darkroom as you can load spiral tanks under the bedclothes. All that is required apart from a s/h Paterson developing tank is some developer, stop, and fix chemicals which can be purchased cheaply at places like Jessops or Jacob's in Leeds. Drop me an e-mail if you are interested and I will be happy to impart my limited knowledge. It is about as much fun as you can have under the bedclothes with your clothes onhttp://www.paulpetterson.co.uk/

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 19 Aug, 2009 7:00 pm

'as you can load spiral tanks under the bedclothes'Memories again - thought it was just me that used to do that, amazing how adept you can become at doing things with your eyes closed (yes that's asking for an answer I know)Got spoilt later though with a small proffessional dark room at work.

kenneth · Post by **kenneth** » Wed 19 Aug, 2009 9:39 pm

chameleon wrote: 'as you can load spiral tanks under the bedclothes'Memories again - thought it was just me that used to do that, amazing how adept you can become at doing things with your eyes closed (yes that's asking for an answer I know)Got spoilt later though with a small proffessional dark room at work. I don't use the bedclothes technique these days. We have a walk in storage area which is light tight and works fine in fact I processed a roll of Pan-F Plus last evening which looks good. I have made a cabinetmaking workshop in the cellar of our Victorian terrace that doubles as a darkroom as it doesn't need to be 100% light tight for printing b&W. This Leeds based firm are worth contacting for enlargers. The contact is Terry http://www.northernphoto.co.uk/The Ilford Website has great pdf files to download as far as processing is concerned http://www.ilfordphoto.com/applications/page.asp?n=9I use Ilford Pan-F Plus 50 asa and Kodak Tri-X 400 asa which covers most situations. I have seen Tri-X push up to 1600 asa with no major lost in print quality which should allow you to photograph a black cat in a coal cellar

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 19 Aug, 2009 10:48 pm

We had a rather nice Leitz Focamat enlarger and for routine stuff, Ektamatic paper and processor but that rather took the fun (and control) out of old dishes.

kenneth · Post by **kenneth** » Wed 19 Aug, 2009 11:28 pm

chameleon wrote: We had a rather nice Leitz Focamat enlarger and for routine stuff, Ektamatic paper and processor but that rather took the fun (and control) out of old dishes. I nearly bought a Leitz Focomat 35 last year as I am a Leica nut but bought a mint condition Durst enlarger complete with transformer, time and Rodenstock Rodigon 50mm 2.8 lens for £150.00 from Northern Photographic. Certainly since the advent of digital technology darkroom equipment is sold for a song. Terry at Northern Darkroom was telling me that prices will not stay low as there is now a big demand after people have realised the limitations of digital. So buy now was the advise I was given. Colleges were throwing out darkroom equipment a couple of years ago but they now realise the error in this and are re equipping