I want to set up my own Darkroom.

Crown's_Photography · Mar 18, 2025

Hello everyone, I got into photography when I was a freshmen in high school and have not used a darkroom since graduating (graduated in 2004). I use digital for my business but film has been my medium of choice. I shoot both 35 mm and medium format, I love my Brownies and have a few different models. That being said, I want to create my own darkroom and would like some help with figuring out what the best type of enlarger and lens to start with. Ideally I would like to process both color and black and white. I will be using a spare bathroom as my dark room and will have limited space. HELP!! Lol.

Ozzie_Traveller · Mar 18, 2025

G'day CP

What you're describing is much the same that I wanted / did as a teenager, all those (many) yrs ago

If it helps with ideas ...
I started using the bath in the bathroom and as my worktop, via a sheet of 1/2" / 13mm plywood x 3/4 of the length of the bath, thus allowing some space to drop completed prints into the water underneath my work-bench to start their washing process

For an enlarger, I suggest you look for one with a sloping column, so that as you crank upwards, the centre of the image also extends away from the column's attachment to the baseboard

Brands ... any of Durst or Meopta or LPL (the 6x6cm model was a good one if you can find one) - and there are likely to be others around too. Lenses - most enlarger lenses will be 50mm (for 35mm images) and 75mm for 6x6 images, and most are 'pretty sharp to the edges'. Try whatever is on the enlarger before going for an expensive brand-name lens ... you might be pleasantly surprised

Print developing dishes - look for pet litter dishes, they'll be cheaper that 'official' photo dishes
Exposure timers - practice counting seconds, it's cheaper and very effective

A Neg focus device is most useful (again if you can find one), and
For a baseboard - start with a white cardboard where you use a felt-pen to outline the paper sizes you're using, and shuffle this card under the image for composition etc ... then carefully lay the photo paper onto the felt-pen outlines and 'have fun'

Hope this helps
Phil

Crown's_Photography · Mar 19, 2025

Ozzie_Traveller said:
G'day CP

What you're describing is much the same that I wanted / did as a teenager, all those (many) yrs ago

If it helps with ideas ...
I started using the bath in the bathroom and as my worktop, via a sheet of 1/2" / 13mm plywood x 3/4 of the length of the bath, thus allowing some space to drop completed prints into the water underneath my work-bench to start their washing process

For an enlarger, I suggest you look for one with a sloping column, so that as you crank upwards, the centre of the image also extends away from the column's attachment to the baseboard

Brands ... any of Durst or Meopta or LPL (the 6x6cm model was a good one if you can find one) - and there are likely to be others around too. Lenses - most enlarger lenses will be 50mm (for 35mm images) and 75mm for 6x6 images, and most are 'pretty sharp to the edges'. Try whatever is on the enlarger before going for an expensive brand-name lens ... you might be pleasantly surprised

Print developing dishes - look for pet litter dishes, they'll be cheaper that 'official' photo dishes
Exposure timers - practice counting seconds, it's cheaper and very effective
A Neg focus device is most useful (again if you can find one), and
For a baseboard - start with a white cardboard where you use a felt-pen to outline the paper sizes you're using, and shuffle this card under the image for composition etc ... then carefully lay the photo paper onto the felt-pen outlines and 'have fun'

Hope this helps
Phil

Thank you so much for your feedback. I will definitely check out those brands of enlargers. Everything else I can find in kits that are not that expensive. I can't wait until I am able to be in a darkroom again.