Skeptical about developing film, then look here!

gb hill

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I put this link on another thread, and it makes developing a roll of film so simple that anyone skeptical about trying it will see how easy it really is. So I decided to put it here in case anyone misses it. Also shows the tools you need to buy. You can get this stuff on ebay for hardly anything nowadays. So jump in and have fun.


http://www.markushartel.com/tutorials/archives/2005/12/how_to_develop_1.html
 
How is that different than other pages on how to develop film? Ilford PDF is pretty good, too.

allan
 
kaiyen said:
How is that different than other pages on how to develop film? Ilford PDF is pretty good, too.

allan

Pictures!:D Just thought I would post it to show how easy it really is for somebody that has never done it before. sorry!
 
Thanks for the link gb hill. I'm picking up an used Jobo CPE2 developing kit tomorrow; so this link is just what I needed.
--
Monz
 
I am very new to photography and am interested in trying to develop my own b&w film. Problem I have is what to do with the negatives after developing. My goal is to have a lab print the pictures I really like and want to keep. How do I view the negatives to see what is worth printing ? Is that what an enlarger is for ? Or a lightbox ? Once I know what I want to keep I can bring the negatives to a pro lab and tell them to print shots 4,5,6 whatever.
 
It's a useful link with pictures. I'd recommend cracking the cassette open with a standard bottle opener rather than pulling it back through the felt another time. And just say "no" to squeegies.

Kennjg - you can contact print with a sheet of glass and a desk lamp (you also need paper and trays. I use the film area guide of my scanner to make contacts now and inspect them on screen.
 
kennjg said:
I am very new to photography and am interested in trying to develop my own b&w film. Problem I have is what to do with the negatives after developing. My goal is to have a lab print the pictures I really like and want to keep. How do I view the negatives to see what is worth printing ? Is that what an enlarger is for ? Or a lightbox ? Once I know what I want to keep I can bring the negatives to a pro lab and tell them to print shots 4,5,6 whatever.

You can:
1. Scan the negatives and view on screen. Then save the "keepers" as jpg files onto a CD which can be printed by the lab or
2. Make a contact sheet (if you are not used to "seeing" in negative) and ask the lab for enlargements of your best shots (expensive).
--
Monz
 
kennjg said:
I am very new to photography and am interested in trying to develop my own b&w film. Problem I have is what to do with the negatives after developing. My goal is to have a lab print the pictures I really like and want to keep. How do I view the negatives to see what is worth printing ? Is that what an enlarger is for ? Or a lightbox ? Once I know what I want to keep I can bring the negatives to a pro lab and tell them to print shots 4,5,6 whatever.

Why don't you consider getting a negative scanner instead. This way you can see your negatives on your comp. and post them to the internet for us all to enjoy. I think a light box and also the scope or whatever the thing is called to put to your eye to view your negs. is pretty expensive. Probably the cost of a neg. scanner? The enlarger is for developing the film on photographic paper.
 
Monz Ahmed said:
You can:
1. Scan the negatives and view on screen. Then save the "keepers" as jpg files onto a CD which can be printed by the lab or
2. Make a contact sheet (if you are not used to "seeing" in negative) and ask the lab for enlargements of your best shots (expensive).
--
Monz

Thanks Monz good advise!:)
 
The bone I have to pick with most descriptions of processing is that they all point out how important temperature control is but don't advise you to get your thermometer checked. Same in books.

I changed to an electronic thermometer some time ago and over the year or so since, found my negs getting thinner. Sure enough, when I tested the thing against a pair of mercury thermometers, it was registering 20C when the actual solution was 18.5C. That's one piece of digital kit that won't be used again until I figure out how to re-calibrate it!
 
kennjg, if you do not have chemicals and trays for them, and if you do not have a scanner, perhaps your best bet is to have film processed by a lab which will scan the frames and give you a CD.
 
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