...Don't know if anyone can help with this lol. Well, I want a darkroom basically! Wondering if I can get reasonable equipment for reasonable price....don't need to get top notch as it's only for a bit of fun. I've only ever printed B&W - assume it's harder to do colour and not worth getting colour enlarger?

Any knowledge at all appreciated lol

...Don't know if anyone can help with this lol. Well, I want a darkroom basically! Wondering if I can get reasonable equipment for reasonable price....don't need to get top notch as it's only for a bit of fun. I've only ever printed B&W - assume it's harder to do colour and not worth getting colour enlarger?

Any knowledge at all appreciated lol

Hi Loz

Doing colour is a lot more critical and expensive:eek:

I use to do all of my E6 and C41 stuff with jobo drums and bath. Mostly successful but the temperature was critical, even the slight change in temp when going from Dev to fixer was enough to screw the colour balance.

A colour enlarger shouldn't be that much more expensive. But the colour meter would be useful for more consistent prints from any one batch of paper.

Twas a long time ago;) so I really wouldn't know how much you would need to spend (even if the equipment is still made). Ebay may turn up a few gems for you.

Not really going to be much help here apart from enthusiasm. But when I was at college I knew a load of people who had converted a shed or spare bathroom into a B&W darkroom for very little money. Second hand enlargers (check schools/colleges who may be getting rid) are the biggest spend but can be found reasonably cheap. Running water is obviously a bonus, but not required.

With the advent of digital the home darkroom is dying a bit I guess, unless you're an 'enthusiast'. Nothing comes close to a nice B&W portrait appearing before your eyes in the developer though. As a 'hobbyist' photographer for the past 9 years (previous 5 being digital only) the thing I miss the most is developing my own B&W prints.

As I said, not much actual help but a big 'go for it' in the encouragement stakes

Hehe thanks. I'm looking on ebay, as theres isn't exactly a massive demand for them (obviously not too many anoraks on there!!) I was wondering if a Brisky Courier Service could be arranged if I bought one lol. Theres a few down south with quite a bit to get started. Onenear Gatwick....Milly... *flutters eyelashes* hehehehe!

Hi Loz

Doing colour is a lot more critical and expensive:eek:

I use to do all of my E6 and C41 stuff with jobo drums and bath. Mostly successful but the temperature was critical, even the slight change in temp when going from Dev to fixer was enough to screw the colour balance.

A colour enlarger shouldn't be that much more expensive. But the colour meter would be useful for more consistent prints from any one batch of paper.

Twas a long time ago;) so I really wouldn't know how much you would need to spend (even if the equipment is still made). Ebay may turn up a few gems for you.

Yeah, I've never done colour so I really don't know what to do haha! Maybe try to get colour one if poss just on an off chance......

Thanks

My dad used to have a darkroom at our old house (and he used to brew beer in there too lol) - i remember him going nuts when i opened the door one day while he was developing photos

My grandad used to do all his own photography. He had all the gear. I was always curious, but never went in the room much because it had no windows and the red light scared me

Did have a wierd machine with a light on a vertical stand that could be moved up and down for focusing. Can't remember much more than that.

He had all the trays and mallarky you need. I don't know what he's done with it - and you'd be welcome to it, but it's all in South West France :(

Did have a wierd machine with a light on a vertical stand that could be moved up and down for focusing. Can't remember much more than that.

That would be the enlarger lol. You focus it at what size you want, then place the paper under it and expose the pic for however long then develop it

Shame you don't know what happened to it all