Starting my own development ?

[PatrickMarq]

All, where I live in Belgium it’s getting more and more difficult to find a good service lab. The only good I have found is about 1u30min drive one way without any traffic problems.
This week I had some 4X5 Portra 160 for development and because there is not enough demand I need to wait about 4 weeks :-(
E6 development is not available anymore so no testing of the new Kodak Ektachrome film, and for Black and White there is one person who does it manually and only if he has some free time.

So I think it’s getting time to start my own development, I have no darkroom or the option to create one so I need to load the film in a tent (got one) and a daylight development tank I suppose. It should be for B/W and C41.

What can you all recommend for me to buy.

Thanks
Patrick

[Two23]

Stearman Press sp-445. Very easy to do black and white. Can do C41 by placing tank in a water bath such as a kitchen sink.


Kent in SD

[Kiwi7475]

Stearman Press sp-445. Very easy to do black and white. Can do C41 by placing tank in a water bath such as a kitchen sink.


Kent in SD

+1


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[AndrewBurns]

I know your pain, practically impossible/significantly expensive to get 4x5 processed in New Zealand, so I use the SP-445 and do my own C-41 and E6 no problems at all. Use a big plastic tub full of water and a sous vide immersion heater to keep everything at temperature and it's a simple if slightly tedious process. Basically all of the photos I take these days are C-41 or E6 4x5.

[alt.kafka]

I recently took up film developing. I've only done B&W so far, but will be trying C-41 and E-6. I've found it to be very easy. I'm doing 35mm, 120, and 4x5. The SP-445 is very convenient for 4x5, and works flawlessly. Loading and unloading in a dark bag is as easy as can be.

[PatrickMarq]

Ok, thank you all, going to search where I can buy the Stearman tank

Patrick

[Two23]

Ok, thank you all, going to search where I can buy the Stearman tank

Patrick


https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1488476-REG/stearman_press_445100_sp_445_4x5_developing_tank.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl_7qnrn-5gIVEtvACh0x8A1REAQYASABEgLmdPD_BwE

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/445100-SP-445-4x5-Developing-Tank-with-Two-Holders?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl_7qnrn-5gIVEtvACh0x8A1REAQYAiABEgLVo_D_BwE

https://shop.stearmanpress.com/collections/photography/products/rev-4-sp-445-compact-4x5-film-processing-system


Kent in SD

[MartinP]

You could get one in Ieper if you are that end of the country, or mail-order it from there (easier than getting it from US) . . .

https://www.retrocamera.be/en/darkroom-film-development-tanks-and-reels/1124-stearman-press-sp-445-4x5-sheet-film-developing-tank.html

[PatrickMarq]

@MartinP,
That’s my favoriet store here in Belgium, I buy all my film there ��

[PatrickMarq]

@MartinP,
That’s my favoriet store here in Belgium, I buy all my film there 🤗

[Gary Beasley]

If you fancy the E6 once you have the gear and good thermometer its no harder to do than C41, just more steps. The first developer is the only critical step and the rest basically run to completion. Nice thing about it you have a finished color slide to study. Of course that can be the down side too if you want to do non digital prints, but the choice is there.