srt101fan

Mixed feelings... For a number of reasons I hadn't actually used the darkroom in many years... but it still was a sad event....

But I kept my film developing gear. I'm thinking of firing up my trusty ole Minolta SRT-101 every once in a while and go shoot some B&W film and then scan the negatives for digital image processing.

Any of you still do film but scan the negatives instead of creating prints in a darkroom?

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

When I got rid of the enlarger, I kept my film processing gear too. It doesn't take up much room.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've still got my 5. Two Jobo processors prepare the negatives. Although, I don't do much printing these days. Most of my prints are done digitally. However, I still won't part with my wet equipment. I'm sure I'll use it again sometime in the future. My personal work is pretty much split 50/50. The few clients for whom I shoot it's still digital 90% of the time.
--Bob

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I kept my Film Developing gear also. Was never satisfied with the tonal range of the scanned negatives compared to my enlarged prints. All the old stuff is now gone. I do miss the smells of the stop bath and fixer.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I still have my Durst 6x6, Schneider lenses, and lots of wet equipment, although I don't know whether I'll ever use them. Depends on what (long in the future) retirement holds for me, I guess.

I sold my 4x5 enlarger many years ago because I needed the cash. At least they're extremely cheap in today's market.

FWIW, I still shoot film on occasion, but have it sent out for processing and scanning.

Andy

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I sympathize. In 1986 I built a dedicated darkroom with a 6' x 3' x 1' stainless steel sink, ceiling exhaust fans and a temperature controlled faucet when we moved into a new house with a basement in Illinois. There was plenty of built in counter space for equipment, shelves for chemicals, desk, and bookcases, ... Had a lot of really nice gear collected over years. Used it as a darkroom for about 20 years, but less and less every year, then finally bit the bullet and moved towards digital. The equipment was there, but I rarely used it and pushed it off to the side for more computer equipment. When we decided to move in 2015, I ended up throwing out all of my equipment along with a bunch of expired chemicals. Shed some tears over good memories. Packed up my negatives, slides and prints and moved here near Houston where I built a lightroom / workroom in an extra bedroom. I have to admit, I am getting better results today using LR and PS than I got in the darkroom, and that's a good thing, but I am nostalgic.

10MPlayer Loc: California

I still have the processing stuff but I don't think I'll ever use it. I got rid of the enlarger a LONG time ago. For some reason I kept the developing trays. Who knows why. When I do b/w film I'll take it to a shop that does quality processing. Thankfully we still have a couple of options here.

srt101fan

So, mixed feelings for you too! Yeah, many good hours spent watching the magic show of an image mysteriously and gradually appearing on a white piece of paper! With a drink on the shelf and music from installed extension speakers (I could also listen to TV programs) it was a good time!

Funny you should mention getting better results with digital. I was never a good printer (Hell, I was never a good photographer!) and I could, at times, drive myself crazy printing the same image over and over again; exposure wasn't right, contrast wasn't right, etc. I'm now seriously learning photo editing (Affinity Photo) but I still find myself doing things over too often. But at least I'm not burning up expensive photo paper!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Although I don’t use it every week, I am NOT giving up my current darkroom. When I added on to our last house, I insisted on a dedicated darkroom and built it out, including cabinets, sink, etc. When we moved and sold the house, The new buyers kept it as a large pantry, and I sadly left the custom temperature controlled SS darkroom sink that I actually sheared up myself (but I farmed out the welding).

In our current house, I converted a full bath to the wet side (my big rotary print washer amazingly fit into the shower stall perfectly), bought a long fiberglass sink from B&H and built nice Oak cabinets. I have two enlargers in the dry side in the next room - a motorized dichro Bessler 4X5 and a smaller Bessler Dichro 67 (which I need to get rid of, but nobody wants). I’m sure that when I pass and the house is sold, the buyers of the house will rip it out, but as long as I’m alive, it stays - I built it, and I iove it. My son teaches photography and graphic design and is pure digital, but periodically we get togather to develop and print the old fashioned way, just so he has that experience and perspective on our craft.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

This makes me sad, but happy. I also built a temperature controlled sink and full darkroom (using AA's plans), using readily available parts, but left it behind when I moved. We have a one bath 1840 house, and I don't think my wife (although she's an avid photographer) would appreciate me making such a conversion today. The old wet process is fun that can't be duplicated digitally, although I admit that working in my darkroom from my easy chair, with a cocktail at my side, while sitting with and conversing with my wife, has its own appeal.

Andy

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

LAMP !! Like with many things... make a lamp out of old equipment. Click image heading:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/306455949625881107/?lp=true

Inglese

I use film a lot and much prefer it to digital. I haven't used my enlarger for ages but scan the negatives as others here

BebuLamar

Since I never shoot B&W and when I got rid of my enlarger I shot slides instead. I don't scan them but rather project them.

1963mca

My darkroom printing gear is all stored away collecting dust. Should just get rid of it as I can't imagine ever printing again. However I do develop my own film from my Nikon F4 and Mamiya RB-67 Pro-S, and scan the negatives on an Epson V750, that works great.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Awww....it is sad. The darkroom is half the fun and creativity of it all.

I don't scan my negs, I still do wet prints.

When I can't do that anymore I'll send them out to be developed and printed if possible, when that's not possible I'll go digital.