Lab-Box Kickstarter

[RalphLambrecht]

More details on their Facebook page, but they have a lot to explain before anyone plunks down some money!

https://www.facebook.com/labboxfilmtank

the company is known to me and is reliable;this would be the right thing for me, being one-handed;very intriguing.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

"Not many details" seems to be a bit of an understatement. I'm following along because I'm curious, but I expect they'll have a hard time overcoming the simplicity of something like a Paterson tank and changing bag.

After all, the changing bag isn't a terribly large item to store, and is kind of useful for a range of tasks. I'm very curious as to what they have to say about what to do if the reel jams on you while you're trying to load important photos. "Put it in a changing bag or take it to a dark room"?

enough info for me; Im in!

 

[AgX]

If I were new to film processing, this would look like a very attractive alternative to what is already available.

Do you really see a benefit?
As said the Agfa ones likely suffered over time, but then there are stull fully usable Jobo ones.
But more important, is there a benefit from daylight loading that weighs up against the shortcomings of all those tanks?

Interestingly Jobo did not restart producing their latest model.

 

[AgX]

This would be the right thing for me, being one-handed; very intriguing.

enough info for me; Im in!

In case you'll get one, please inform us on it being usable onehandedly.

 

[Renato Tonelli]

Do you really see a benefit?
As said the Agfa ones likely suffered over time, but then there are stull fully usable Jobo ones.
But more important, is there a benefit from daylight loading that weighs up against the shortcomings of all those tanks?

Interestingly Jobo did not restart producing their latest model.

It remains to be seen how the have (or have not) improved on the old models. This is the type of thing that might be attractive to people who are new to film processing, especially students whose living arrangements don’t include a closet...

 

[mshchem]

Why do people want these silly expensive goofy machines?

 

[MattKing]

Why do people want these silly expensive goofy machines?

One of these would have been great in my university dorm room while I was at law school.
No student accessible darkroom at the university, and no sink in my room.

 

[mshchem]

One of these would have been great in my university dorm room while I was at law school.
No student accessible darkroom at the university, and no sink in my room.

I loaded my Paterson tank in my closet of my dorm room. The university darkroom was like all community darkrooms not under my absolute authority. I loved inverting my tank, with (probably ) Microdol-X running down my hands from my beloved System 4 tank.
I still think these are major league dorky. I would not want to be seen using one, so as long as I had the lights off..........Paterson.

 

[MattKing]

When I attended law school in the 1980s at the University of Victoria, my relatively cursory enquiries led me to the conclusion there weren't any darkrooms available to me.
There may have been darkrooms available to students enrolled in programs that included a photographic component.
I didn't pursue it further, because there were commercial labs available for colour film, I could still shoot Kodachrome slides, and my course load was such that I was happy to wait until the summers for any darkroom opportunities (summer job duties permitting).

 

[Helios 1984]

I loaded my Paterson tank in my closet of my dorm room. The university darkroom was like all community darkrooms not under my absolute authority. I loved inverting my tank, with (probably ) Microdol-X running down my hands from my beloved System 4 tank.
I still think these are major league dorky. I would not want to be seen using one, so as long as I had the lights off..........Paterson.

I love to rotate the knob of my Rondinax 35 while listening to a stream of bosa nova in the dinner room. To each his own.

 

[AgX]

This is the type of thing that might be attractive to people who are new to film processing, especially students whose living arrangements don’t include a closet...

But likely for the same money they could get a new changing bag and a used classis tank.
Improvising a dark room depends on the local situation. Over here, many appartments have corridors and toilets without a window and windows often have roller blinds.

 

[mshchem]

I've always loved making the darkroom experience as complicated as possible. It's romantic as hell for me. 1940'S era darkroom would suit me well.

 

[John51]

Why do people want these silly expensive goofy machines?

If it works the way it should and owners perceive a benefit from using it, it isn't silly. If the machine has WAF, (Wife Acceptance Factor,) it isn't goofy.

Which leaves the price. For b+w, a Rondinax would be handy for me as I only soup one roll at a time. I don't have one because of the price. Should one turn up for a decent price when I happen to be flush, I'm in.

If I'm very flush and there's a well reviewed processor available, hello C41 and E6.

 

[Ces1um]

Been following this one for a while. Not sure what the objection to being able to sit down at the kitchen table and casually develop a roll of film is. I'll grant you it's a good amount of cash for the privilege but film photography is anything but cheap. If you're into this hobby, you're spending your money on it. Seems interesting and easy to use. I'd never use it "out on the road". I can't see why anybody would take it to a restaurant patio to develop their film like some of their promotional photos show. It would be a nice tool to use with a monobath though.

 

[thuggins]

Looks like it will solve mankind's existential problem of going in a clothes closet to load film on a stainless steel reel. You really don't need a "darkroom" to load film, you need a "dark room".

Well said! I am constantly bemused at folks who don't seem to have a closet. Perhaps it is a cultural thing. I have two large closets and two windowless bathrooms. But I do understand the closets are uncommon in Europe.

 

[Luckless]

Well said! I am constantly bemused at folks who don't seem to have a closet. Perhaps it is a cultural thing. I have two large closets and two windowless bathrooms. But I do understand the closets are uncommon in Europe.

I'm Canadian, and I have closets, but I can't imagine using any of them to load film. Mainly because they're all full of things, because they're closets for storing stuff, not darkroom space for working with film...

Front hall closet would be easiest to clear, but too small for me to actually get in and have room to move my arms enough to load film on a reel.
Pantry/Closet wouldn't do much good, because I wouldn't fit on any of the shelves.
Bedroom closet would require me to take all of my clothes out before I had space to get in... [And would probably be harder to make light tight than just blocking the bedroom door and window... Stupid old bifold doors in a rental...

Far easier just to use a changing bag.

 

[removed account4]

Why do people want these silly expensive goofy machines?

daylight tanks like this have been around for a long long time. i have an agfa one that is made of bakelight and at least 60 years old.
it probably wasn't cheap when it was sold either LOL

 

[wahiba]

Well I am waiting for mine having paid for it on Kickstarter. Been a while since I paid, but the latest notification is soon. I have a Rondinax 35 which I use. A few years back I sold a 120 Rondinax, could never get the hang of it but always like the daylight loading capability. Yes I have a changing bag and once loaded two super 8 cine films into a lomo tank in it. As far as I remember what I received for the Rondinax 120 was more than I paid on Kickstarter for the new box in 35mm and 120 formats. Taking a first punt on Kickstarter is often a good deal. Trouble with Kickstarter is the delay between ordering and receiving and I think I ordered some 120 film and monotank developer as well. Real fun to find out what appears. I cannot afford to fund the likes of Space X but I like the idea of a punt on some Kickstarter ideas, and I can afford them. I also am awaiting a translucent screen and frame to aid digitising. Guy actually ended up with Patterson making it, hopefully before the end of the year.

 

[mshchem]

I love darkroom gizmos. I buy everything used. If I'm looking to be a "patron" I will buy paper and film from the remaining companies. Hewes and Paterson are definitely worth backing.

 

[abruzzi]

In addition to the "dark space" issue, I wonder if the bigger motivator for this kind of equipment is the issues with loading reels in the dark. I have stainless steel reels that I have tried to make work and I have ruined more rolls than I have successfully developed with them. I eventually gave up and bought a Patterson tank, but I couldn't load that with any reliability either. I replaced the Patterson reels with some that Freestyle sells that have a wider slot to guide the film in, and I get pretty decent reliability with those, but it still f's up with some regularity, and I have to figure out a way to unspool half the roll in complete darkness to start over, which is quite difficult because separating the halves with film half loaded mangles up the film pretty significantly. I know that I am more clumsy than the average person, and plenty of people have no issues with stainless or Patterson, but I'm not the only person that has these issues.

All that said I have found the perfect system that I can always load in the dark--the Kodacraft aprons. But they aren't sold any more. I don't really have an interest in these lab-box type system, but people that have been home processing for 20 years may have forgotten how much anxiety there can be loading those reels when you're new to it.

 

[mshchem]

In addition to the "dark space" issue, I wonder if the bigger motivator for this kind of equipment is the issues with loading reels in the dark. I have stainless steel reels that I have tried to make work and I have ruined more rolls than I have successfully developed with them. I eventually gave up and bought a Patterson tank, but I couldn't load that with any reliability either. I replaced the Patterson reels with some that Freestyle sells that have a wider slot to guide the film in, and I get pretty decent reliability with those, but it still f's up with some regularity, and I have to figure out a way to unspool half the roll in complete darkness to start over, which is quite difficult because separating the halves with film half loaded mangles up the film pretty significantly. I know that I am more clumsy than the average person, and plenty of people have no issues with stainless or Patterson, but I'm not the only person that has these issues.

All that said I have found the perfect system that I can always load in the dark--the Kodacraft aprons. But they aren't sold any more. I don't really have an interest in these lab-box type system, but people that have been home processing for 20 years may have forgotten how much anxiety there can be loading those reels when you're new to it.

Here's my solution. I can load anything now. I have peripheral idiopathic neuropathy, which is a fancy way of saying I have numbness in my hands and feet. I use IR goggles, without these, I would be dead. I never had problems with Paterson reels or film hangers when I was young, but I'm not gifted when it comes to handiwork!



This is a video I made with the recording version of this invaluable TOY . I have 3 of these, 2 I picked up used on the Ebay for about 50 bucks. I strap them to my head with a bungee cord.

 

[abruzzi]

I’ve looked into those, but for now my other options work. I’d also say that I don’t think these options (metal reels, Paterson reels) are necessarily hard, obviously millions of people have mastered them, but there is still an anxiety for new users that might be assuaged by more automated tools.

 

[mshchem]

I’ve looked into those, but for now my other options work. I’d also say that I don’t think these options (metal reels, Paterson reels) are necessarily hard, obviously millions of people have mastered them, but there is still an anxiety for new users that might be assuaged by more automated tools.

Looks like a copy of the old Agfa units. Whatever suits the user

 

[AgX]

Looks like it will solve mankind's existential problem of going in a clothes closet to load film on a stainless steel reel.

Here in Germany (and around) are no built-in walk-in closets. The typical ones are free-standing, have shelves and a bottom you better not try to stand on.

 

[AgX]

I don't really have an interest in these lab-box type system, but people that have been home processing for 20 years may have forgotten how much anxiety there can be loading those reels when you're new to it.

I started without any textbook, let alone video or internet. Let alone a darkroom.
All I got was a new two-reels Jobo tank, a bottle of developer concentrate, a sachet with fixing salt, and a floating thermometer. All went fine.
From my 4th roll on I bulk-loaded. All I had and new of were reloadable plastic cassettes. Again, all went fine.