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Response to Equipment for minimalist darkroom - maybe only contact sheets

from Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net)
Everything you did fifteen years ago still works! For the absolute minimalist setup, you'll need a tank to process the film, stainless or plastic, and a few bottles for developer and fixer. If you don't have a dark place to load the film in the tank, you'll also need a changing bag. A photo thermometer and some type of timer are necessary. Couple film clips. Process and wash it in the sink and hang it to dry on the shower rod (not much dust in the average bath). You'll want a bit of wetting agent in the last rinse, and maybe some acetic acid for the stop bath. Contact prints can be made with nothing more than a sheet of glass to hold the negatives flat on the printing paper, and an ordinary light bulb suspended above to give the exposure. You'll need a couple trays. With a good draining, you can probably skip the stop entirely, and go right into the fixer, since you probably won't be making dozens of contact sheets at a time. Personally, I'd still use at least a water stop bath, but that's one more tray! You should be able to get everything you need for about $50 if you shop around. Less, if you find some used items.
(posted 8474 days ago)

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