Beginner film developer

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I'm interested in learning how to develop (black & white)film, but I have no clue where to start. The only camera I have is an Advantix. Is it possible to use this type of camera to develop black and white film? If so, what will I need to build a darkroom--chemicals and materials, developing paper, etc.?

-- Robin Brown (rgbangel99@hotmail.com), January 31, 2001

Answers

That's that little cartridge film? You'd be best with almost any 35mm camera -- doesn't have to be fancy. Then you'd just use the cheep reels and tanks and stuff. Or if you can find a cheep old 120mm that's even better.

I use Ilfosol - a liquid developer that is dead easy. I use Iflord FP4 and it is also easy -- sure there is lots of fancy stuff, but just to start go to the guy at the photo store and ask him or her what you need to start. Then the person will tell you and maybe show you if it isn't a Saturday afternoon.

Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), January 31, 2001.


Don't mean to be a jerk, but I don't know if anyone makes b&w film in APS format, if so im uninformed. and taken literally a camera doesn't develop film, you do. and if you're gonna build a darkroom, you might as well buy a nice 35mm or 120 outfit beforehand...

-- Jason Tuck (Jtuck80@csi.com), February 01, 2001.

Well, the only B&W film I could find listed was Kodak 'Advantix' B+W 400. This is not a true B+W film, but a chromogenic emulsion which has to be developed in C-41 chemistry. This isn't really suitable for a beginner to be home processing.
Like the previuos posts have said: First get yourself a proper camera.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), February 01, 2001.

Once you get a camera to shoot real B&W film, check the back threads here, this has been covered many times.

For a starter film and developer, you can't go wrong with Ilford HP-5+ or Kodak Tri-X film. For the developer either Kodak D-76 (or Ilford ID-11 which is virtually identical) or Kodak Xtol.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), February 01, 2001.


Hi: You don't need to build a dark-room, realy. Just use a dark bathroom at midnight with all your bed-sheets over the door. Eventualy, you will give up and use XP-2 or CN-400 which are Colour B&W film, or you will have an inexplicable urge to build one. If you don't get the urge, nothing lost. Your first 5 rolls will be really bad -- don't worry about it -- so just get a $5.00 cheep 35mm camera, a roll of FP4 or HP5 and it's gonna be lousy so don't worry. If after roll #6 you get the urge, then start consulting books on the subject. Any more specific questions for the cheep way out (not the quality way, but the cheep way) just ask off line -- quality way you got to ask the rest of the forum. Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), February 01, 2001.


Kodak makes B&W film for Advantix 400 25exp. which proccess through C- 41. The only thing is that you can't develope it your self. If you have a Wolf Camera near you or any photo supply store they might have the film. But your best bet is to buy a used 35mm camera. Good Luck

-- Zee Bryant (zee990@cs.com), February 06, 2001.

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