I want to try developing my own film and making prints. I want to set up a temporary darkroom in a light tight bathroom. What are the bare essentials that I need? What kind of an enlarger do I need? How much will I have to invest, and where can I get these things online? Thanks!

-- Sophie Robertson (sophiefairlight@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001

Answers

There are several books on step by step methods to assembling a darkroom. There are lots of small items so it is worth getting a book that describes what you need, and how to arrange or build a darkroom. The good news is that it is not hard and it is quite a thrill to develop pictures yourself. The one caveat I would make is that the bathroom needs to have outside ventilation (active, not passive).

-- Andrew Held (Heldarc@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001.

I solved the problem halfway by setting up a film developing area in the laundry using large cheap trays as work surfaces to catch spills, and a changing bag to load film onto the tank reels. I fond a rental lab in which to do printing. This was most economical, since the enlarger you use has a larger role in determining the quality of your prints.

It was also a wise choice since my developing activity has slowed down recently, and I don't feel as bad about it than if I had invested several hundred dollars in an enlarger.

The Kodak site will tell you all you need to kow, and your local library should have a few beginner books on the shelves.

-- Jeff Polaski (polaski@acm.org), November 14, 2001.

If you don't rush into it, you can find what you need relatively cheaply. When I decided to set up my first darkroom I found everything I needed at garage sales in about six months. I bought trays and tongs and mixing containers all together for a song. I found a cheapo 35mm enlarger for about $35--it served me for a couple of years, until I was certain I wanted to pursue photography seriously--then I sold it for $40 (remember, this was over 20 years ago). I was also able to find easels, developing tanks, film clips, reels, a timer, a thermometer, etc.--usually at about a tenth their original cost. Of course, I live in a university town, and a lot of what I bought came from students whose enthusiasm had waned. You can find most of what you need on e-Bay, but garage sales will offer the best bargains. I think you could get it all for less than $200, but you could easily spend $1000 or more, depending on the quality of the items you seek. When people find out you are serious, they start giving you stuff too. A few years after I got serious a friend's father died, leaving a complete color darkroom. Her mom wanted to sell the whole lot to one person, and I got it for $200. The enlarger alone (Beseler 67 with dichroic head) was worth twice that. Over the years, stuff just sort of accumulates.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), November 14, 2001.