Film Developing Equipment List
This is exactly what equipment I use along with the practices I use them for. I started home development back in 2018 to save money, to save time, to have creative control over my images. I enjoy the hands-on approach, but it’s understandable that not everyone has the interest, time and space to learn to cook, but I wouldn’t hesitate and would encourage for you to look into it if you have any interest. I have done the research and have compiled it to this one place, searching around for all the answers is the hard part and it’s all right here. The upfront cost could seem steep, but if you buy it all at once, you can move past the logistics and searching, and go right into making images. Developing requires multi-tasking and thinking ahead a few steps, but once it’s been done a few times, that period of a few months of learning will equate to confidence and the comfort of knowing you are truly self-sufficient.
Buy List
This list contains exactly the tools you will need to develop ECN-2. They can be similarly used for B&W and C-41 development.
Mixing Chemicals
Glass Stir Rods from Amazon $8 for 12
Mix the raw chemicals, and for stop bath and the final rinse for each session.
x6 1000ML Clear Plastic Measuring Cup from Dollar Tree $1
To mix the chemicals in. I keep one for each chemical, because they do start to smell like the solution after a while, the characteristics of the plastic. When I go from development to stop bath, I pour the tank into the measuring cup to get to the stop bath quicker. While it’s in the stop bath, I grab the dedicated funnel and then pour it back into the bottle. If you can afford all glass measuring cups, go all out and grab the scientific kind. They are more accurate and easier to clean. So you might be able to switch chemicals if you use ECN-2 this month and C-41 a few months from now with a good cleaning. Use warm water and sodium carbonate to wash them out. Same application for the amber glass bottles.
Arista Graduated Cylinder 300 mL from Freestyle $9
I use this for measuring fixer. If you’re measuring for 1 L, the most you’ll need is a 250 mL measurement. A 1:3 dilution would be 250 mL and a 1:4 would be 200 mL. Smaller cylinders are more accurate, or at least that’s what they say.
Arista Graduated Cylinder 50 mL from Freestyle $6
This is for smaller, more precise amounts. You will need this to measure stop bath of 9mL and the final rinse of 2mL. It’s a 50mL cylinder measured in 2mL increments.
For $1.24 they can’t be beat, I buy two packs and just keep the larger ones. I use the largest one for the bleach since it’s a nasty color and wouldn’t want it getting anywhere except the tank and storage bottle.
1 Gallon Distilled Water from Target $2
Important for mixing and prolonging the life of your chemicals.
Darkroom
Paterson Universal Tank from Freestyle
It holds a roll of 120, or two rolls of 35mm.
Arista Changing Bag from Freestyle
Because I’m crazy I use this in darkness, or dim light. It’s to get the roll from the can into the tank. Another purpose is for loading film into the camera, I find it adds another 1-2 frames.
Bottle Opener or Film Retriever
If you have a habit of spinning the film back into the can, you’ll need to open it with a bottle opener. I reuse my film cassettes, so while rewinding my film, I listen for when the film lets go, it sounds like fabric ripping, or Velcro, when it gets a little tough to rewind, that’s the spot you should have your ear to the camera back, then I pop it open so I can just pull the film out, preserving the cassette instead of ruining it with the opener. If you go to far, and want to keep your cassette, there’s always the handy film retriever.
Processing Equipment
Lavatools PT12 Digital Thermometer
This allows for quick reads. The Paterson 12” color thermometer is great too, I have both and use the Paterson for reading my developer. Developer is the most important to get exact. The digital thermometer reads quicker, and I use it for the Bleach and Fixer since they are 4° more flexible. If the Lavatools is off by a degree, it’s not going to be a big deal. The more thermometer’s you have, the less washes you need to do, the less you worry about cross-contamination.
Keeps temperature constant for heating up solutions.
Rubbermaid 12 Quart Food Storage
Holds 4 glass amber bottles along with an ANOVA .
I like the blue nitrile gloves, but stores are most likely out during CVOID season. The white medical gloves, some leaves a powder behind so probably don’t get those. The latex gloves work fine and are essential to developing because chemical drip out and you don’t want hazardous chemicals on your skin causing burns, irritation, and other damage.
Any kitchen timer will work fine. I use the timers from Dollar Tree, I don’t feel bad about getting chemicals on them. Your iPhone is not a $1,000 timer. Your iPhone was not made to take bleach and get soaked in various chemicals. At this price you could probably pick up a few and have all the times set beforehand.
I use these pulling film out of the reels, I hang them up on my ceiling fan cord, or I make a line in my bathtub with wash cloth suction hangers. I will bring a floor fan and blast it, drys the film in about 15-20 minutes.
Safety
Mask
Mixing with a mask is a safe precaution, the salts and chemicals I am providing are fine grains, it’s toxic if you accidentally inhale. It also stops the fumes, which hang out in the air for a while, so to cut down on that, please wear a mask. Bleach has the worst smell of them all.
Eye Protection
You don’t want to end up flushing out your eye if you rub your eyes, or arm rub your eyes forgetting you poured a solution and a few drops went down your arm. Eye protection is good insurance to have.
Drop Cloth
For obvious reasons, a plastic bag from the grocery store works, or a plastic or cloth drop cloth work as well. A towel can also be used in place. Plastic you can hose off and reuse.
Storage
32 oz. Amber Boston Round Glass Bottles from Amazon $23 for 6
Best deal I’ve found with mouths open a little bit wider than Photographer’s Formulary. Usually they are $8 a bottle at photographic supplies stores, so you’re basically getting 3 free bottles.
Negative Handling
Lint-free, made well. I’ve bought one from Freestyle and a different kind from B&H and they were both horrible and ran small in size. They were uncomfortable and cheaply made. I found these on Amazon, and they are made much better than anything I’ve found at actual photographic supplies stores. The cheapest pair at Freestyle is $7, here you’ll get 12 pairs for less than $12 and they are made better.
Chances are you have one of these for your camera, or an anti-static brush for the negatives. I recently discovered using a black light will see dust really well. Shining a light on the negative can help show dust too. It’s better to use dry air instead of canned air. Canned air you’ll have moisture, and you’ll have to keep buying once out. The air blaster won’t need to be replaced.
Recommended
Arista Premium Plastic Developing Reels from Freestyle
These have a large plastic leader so it’s easier to catch. The Paterson ones work fine, these are easy.
I can’t believe that Wal-Mart microfiber cloths actually do a good job. I’ve used the same 3 for the last 3 batches of film. I can attest to no streaks and I believe I can get some mileage out of these. A good batch for the money.