Thinking of building a darkroom.
Discussion
Last year at the end of March I closed my business and in October I sold my house. I've been bumming around for almost a year. I'm currently in Spain but have also been in Belgium, Portugal and Italy. I have just put in an offer to buy a flat in the UK so I can have a base to come back to. It has a large 3ft 6in x 5ft 6in totally dark cupboard with electrics and it occurred to me that it would make a nice darkroom. No running water but I can probably get around that and rinse film and prints in the bathroom.
I have a large archive of 35mm and 6x6 negatives dating back to the mid 70s that need printing. I have a friend who is a professional printer that prints for me occasionally but with 8x10 prints at £25.00 each costs can soon mount up. The last time I had a darkroom was back in 1979 but even if I do say so myself i was a pretty good printer. I think I should be able to get back up to speed pretty quickly
I'm looking at second hand enlargers and thinking of going the whole hog and getting a 5x4 enlarger and maybe dabbling with some large format photography. On the other hand I have my hands full with the negs I already have so maybe I should be sensible and just get a 6x6 enlarger. Durst used to be the brand to have in my day. Any other brands worth considering? Anyone got any darkroom equipment for sale?
I have a large archive of 35mm and 6x6 negatives dating back to the mid 70s that need printing. I have a friend who is a professional printer that prints for me occasionally but with 8x10 prints at £25.00 each costs can soon mount up. The last time I had a darkroom was back in 1979 but even if I do say so myself i was a pretty good printer. I think I should be able to get back up to speed pretty quickly
I'm looking at second hand enlargers and thinking of going the whole hog and getting a 5x4 enlarger and maybe dabbling with some large format photography. On the other hand I have my hands full with the negs I already have so maybe I should be sensible and just get a 6x6 enlarger. Durst used to be the brand to have in my day. Any other brands worth considering? Anyone got any darkroom equipment for sale?
I've got a Paterson enlarger that needs a good home, but it's 35mm only. Has some colour sliders, the bulb lights up when you switch it on, more than that I cannot say. I've had it for years and intended to do something with it, but for what I'm likely to do now my other Paterson "suitcase" enlarger will be plenty.
but could email to you A neighbour of mine has just recently dismantled a darkroom he built some years ago in his garage.
Unused for a long time and it had to go when the mechanism for a new garage door needed to intrude on the space.
Not sure what equipment was left in it or if he has done anything with it but I could ask.
I have been promising to go round and look at his Bronica kit but keep putting it off in case I am tempted to buy ....
Unused for a long time and it had to go when the mechanism for a new garage door needed to intrude on the space.
Not sure what equipment was left in it or if he has done anything with it but I could ask.
I have been promising to go round and look at his Bronica kit but keep putting it off in case I am tempted to buy ....
LongQ. Definitely interested to hear what your neighbour has. Let me know please.
I used a Bronica S2 back in the old days. I have a hankering to get a Pentax 67 as I've never owned one. I bought a Rolleiflex for a friend in Berlin recently, a 2.8F. I hadn't picked one up for the best part of 30 years yet all the controls came to hand as if it were yesterday. I'd forgotten how well made they are. Might have to put one on my wish list.
I used a Bronica S2 back in the old days. I have a hankering to get a Pentax 67 as I've never owned one. I bought a Rolleiflex for a friend in Berlin recently, a 2.8F. I hadn't picked one up for the best part of 30 years yet all the controls came to hand as if it were yesterday. I'd forgotten how well made they are. Might have to put one on my wish list.
Ammo 7 said:
LongQ. Definitely interested to hear what your neighbour has. Let me know please.
Caught up with my neighbour yesterday - they had been away for a while.Apparently they gave all the darkroom kit to a local college.
He still has the Bronica stuff and some studio lights. I'm hoping to take an inventory with him next week some time but it may be the week after.
Nice to know that your neighbour's darkroom gear will be put to good use Long Q. Since deciding to build a darkroom I've got a bit carried away eyeing up (and buying) nice film cameras. Should be moving in to the new place around the end of next month. Can't wait to get set up and start printing again.
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