robertneger

I have a darkroom that I haven't used in years. I have been doing 35 mm digital photography however lately I have been scanning old color and B&W negative with surprisingly good definition, mostly 2 1/4 square negatives and some 35 mm.
My dilema is that I have a Hasselblad 500 CM system and want to use these great lenses again. I have an Hasselblad adpator for a Contex 35 mm camera that allows me to attach my Hasselblad lenses to the 35 mm film back (that I never used!)
The digital backs for a 500 CM (V series) are really hard to find and when you find them there is the issue of software. Hasselblad is coming out with a new digital back for 7-8 K dollars
Should I consider shooting B&W and developing the film in my darkroom?? or do I bite the bullet and spend a lot of money on a digital back for the Hass.??
I also have an 8 x 10 Ansco View camera, the same model that Ansel Adams used.
I was thinking of developing 8 x 10 film in trays and making 8 x 10 contact prints. I would also need the darkroom.
The other delema is that my wife of 50 years is coveting the space that my darkrook occupies!
If I disband the darkroom what should I do with my two enlargers and all the other gear??
In short, I am confused in Burlingame California.
I wanted to thank everyone for the great advise I received and continue to receive on whether to use non-Cannon ink on my P9000 Mark II printer, very helpful, thank you
Bob Neger or Ace.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Bob, personally, I would not give up the darkroom. In fact, if you can move your computer setup in there, that would be ideal. Once you move out of it, you'll be out of it forever.
--Bob

Quixdraw Loc: x

I gave up my darkroom quite a number of years ago when I moved. Regret not having one. Still have a place to put one, and all the equipment, but digital is seductive, everything still all together in boxes. I'd keep at it and edge back into it a little at a time!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I much prefer digital for color photography, and that's what I do now. But B&W darkroom prints have a quality to them that digital can't match. I got a film scanner so I could digitize old negatives, but I can't get the quality that my old darkroom prints of the same negs have.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Wow, I have a similar situation. Two enlarges though no desire to ever use again. I have many negatives and still shoot 35mm and 4x5". I scan the film and go digital from there. I mainly shoot digitally now. I also happen to be in California as well. Anyone interested in one or two 4x5 enlarges and other printing equipment free. Available for pick up only. Private message if interested. So. Cal. Eastern L.A. Co.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Keep it. I do 4X5 with press and view cameras a few times a year. Tray develop the film and contact print four at a time. Then put the omega D2 to work. Would love to try 8X10. - Dave

BebuLamar

If you have the room then don't. Although I don't use it any more I think if I still have it I can use it for copying and a bunch of things. But I don't have the room.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I gave up my darkroom 50 years ago. I missed it for about 30 years. Then I got into digital. If I had a darkroom now it would be full of boxes.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Don’t give it up! I have a darkroom and two dichro enlargers that I use occasionally. B&W silver halide prints DO look different/better to my eye, and 8x10 contact prints are in a whole class by themselves. Hang on - you’ll get nothing for all that darkroom equipment that you assembled and paid big $ for, but the magic of seeing the print come up in the developer can’t be duplicated. Just the personal view of an old fart who has been developing film and printing for 60+ years...

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I'm with Bob. I regret giving up my darkroom many years ago & not reestablishing it when I moved. I processed film for a number of years but, gave that up eventually.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

After a couple of moves in the last fifteen years we have downsized and I no longer have access to a full darkroom and wish I did. I suggest you hang on to yours as long as you can. I still use film but I scan it and developing it does not need as much working space. And because I'd rather not develop color I leave that to digital.

I recently tested a couple of Hasselblad lenses on full frame digital sensors and was surprised to see that they are just as good in the center of their image circle as my best 35mm lenses. But they are not better. Their size and weight is just too much to be practical for the small format.

Although medium format digital prices are coming down most have a format of 33x44mm, not significantly larger than full frame, and they are not compatible with our 500 c/m lenses. Unless someone comes up with an adapter that's going to end up being very expensive.

BebuLamar

I don't have the darkroom any more but I still have a Jobo tank and a changing bag for developing film. I wish I still have the enlarger to use as copy stand and the dichroic color head to use as light source for slide copying plus it's a good variable light source for exposure testing.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I loved my darkrooms. I loved doing all my own developing and printing, monochrome and color. Being a chemist, I loved mixing all my own chemicals, monochrome and color. Nothing was ever more exciting than seeing images come up. I miss it all.

However, digital has film beat every way. I get far better results today in less time. No one has yet shown me how film is better than digital and I am waiting for that day. I like the people who shoot film because it is "better" or "more authentic" just to scan the negatives and finishing off with Lightroom.

I think this post is all about nostalgia and that is fine. For those of you who are saving your unused equipment, how many of you will every really go back to the darkroom? And if you do, how long will you stay there? Let's be honest now. You have all really moved on. Get rid of the equipment but keep the memories.

uhaas2009

Let’s put like this- you don’t know what you want and if you don’t make your mind up than your wife will make the decision for you......lol......Why you go back in your darkroom and why aren’t taking your cameras out and taking pictures? Do it for yourself before you decide.