New Affordable Table top film processor !

[Prashanthb]

Hi all, i am upto something interesting these days. My entrepreneurial spirit doesnt keep quite. I was thinking of building a film processor which does BW, C-41 and E-6 one or two rolls(even sheets) at a time(or more). Would be great for people who dont have access to good labs near their places. Also it will be a boon for people who want to see their pictures sooner than wait for weeks for them to return from lab(often humiliated by ill trained lab guys). I know JOBO ATL(and phototherm) is there but paying upwards of US$ 3k or $ 800(used) is difficult for many.

The idea came up from my being wary of travelling for developing and no access to BW and E-6 labs here in India. Do you think there is such a need for it among photographers world wide right now....as labs are closing everywhere and quality/consistency is a question. My plan comes to about US$ 300(approx). One advantage is: it is auto film loading so you dont have to be in dark anymore !!! If i am dreaming please correct me :o

P.S:Oh i forgot to write about this. This processor is computer controlled so you set times thru a simple software with less than a second accuracy.

[mrred]

Hi all, i am upto something interesting these days. My entrepreneurial spirit doesnt keep quite. I was thinking of building a film processor which does BW, C-41 and E-6 one or two rolls(even sheets) at a time(or more). Would be great for people who dont have access to good labs near their places. Also it will be a boon for people who want to see their pictures sooner than wait for weeks for them to return from lab(often humiliated by ill trained lab guys). I know JOBO ATL(and phototherm) is there but paying upwards of US$ 3k or $ 800(used) is difficult for many.

The idea came up from my being wary of travelling for developing and no access to BW and E-6 labs here in India. Do you think there is such a need for it among photographers world wide right now....as labs are closing everywhere and quality/consistency is a question. My plan comes to about US$ 300(approx). One advantage is: it is auto film loading so you dont have to be in dark anymore !!! If i am dreaming please correct me :o

P.S:Oh i forgot to write about this. This processor is computer controlled so you set times thru a simple software with less than a second accuracy.

I would buy one, assuming it worked.

[gmikol]

For $300, I'd be interested, depending on exactly how large, water/plumbing requirements, etc. Especially if it had easy adjustment of individual step times (for push/pull, specialty films with longer fixing times).

You have to figure out if it can be profitable if you only sell 50 or 100 units (I can't imagine there's that much demand for something like this).

Since this is not strictly a hybrid process idea, you may want to talk about this on APUG.org...there's a much larger audience there than here.

Please feel free to provide more details, like, is this a roller-transport machine, or something more like a dip-n-dunk? Temperature bath control? Availability of spare / replacement parts? 35mm and 120?

I would be happy even for 1 roll at a time. I imagine for many, 2 rolls at a time would be sufficient.

Looking forward to hearing more...

--Greg

[Prashanthb]

Thanks for your reply(mrred & gmikol).
My main point of support for this is the fact that many labs are closing all over the world. After sometime, mail order will be the only option apart from self developing. Also in self developing you will not get consistency. So i am assuming that there will be a large demand. Its like this: shoot a roll, come home, place the roll in the machine, fill the chemicals, select the appropriate process on the computer, press start! 20-30 min later a C-41 film will be ready(for drying). This would be a great improvement over the present situation where some have to drive 10-20 miles for developing a roll. Forget all that...the user will be free to do his own thing and precisely too. No building darkroom at home!!
-sure push/pull, adjusting contrast in fine steps is possible. Every action will be programmable or a standard setting can be selected as in C-41/E-6. The best part will be software, so no playing with knobs
-i am still gauging the interest in this. The question which comes up is: Is 300 $ affordable enough to get most film users interested in buying it? 50-100 units is a bit low i feel. around 250/year would be a good figure.
-Dip and Dunk style.Its a robotic machine with actions just similar to using a patterson reel by hand. No touching exposed film part!
-I have planned for a tempered water bath, but also thinking about individual/separate heating the chemicals(no water bath). But this would raise the final price. Only freshwater plumbing will be needed. The smallest size maybe around 40cm by 40cm.
-Have not thought about spare parts in detail still i feel it shouldnt be a problem as the parts will be found in most countries.
-all rolls for sure.......possibly smaller size sheet also. 8x10 machine will be bigger.

Price should be still lower but shipping will eat up a large part

If there is anything more you want to ask, please do ask i will be gald

[gmikol]

Everything you've said sounds good so far. I think a single water bath should be fine for temperature management.

Would this system require the computer to stay connected during the entire process, or would the computer only need to be connected during programming?

This is a daylight processor, right? It doesn't require operation in darkness?

How long would it take you to produce a prototype machine and software?

--Greg

[Prashanthb]

Thanks! The most difficult part in this would be temperature consistency. I will have to do extensive tests. The 'BOX' remains in daylight always. The computer is needed for operation. It can be made independent but that is more difficult. No need of darkroom at home!!! You will never have to depend on any lab/prolab for development. Along with a scanner and a printer you will have a complete system to give you freedom. I may take another 2 months to do this as the software takes time
I will try to do this asap as i have a day job.
Do you give your film to walmart type labs or pro-labs?
In a year how much dollars do you spend on processing only?

[nikon collector]

I'll buy one, so far it looks like you're talking about film, what about prints? I would think if you can do this the leap to printing is not that great. I would buy both.

[Prashanthb]

I am not at all experienced in prints, so i dont know the technical details. However, i know that if i am able to do this device for film i can modify it for prints too.

I want to know more about the demand for such a thing in your countries from as many people as possible.

[i40west]

At $300 I would be very interested indeed.

Having it use an existing computer for control is not only attractive for cost, but it opens up interesting possibilities for customization. Just don't, don't, don't make it Windows-only; that would be a show-stopper.

Also, automatic film loading would not be important to me -- putting everything in a changing bag and loading a (stainless) reel takes me about four minutes, so it's not something I'm worried about.

[Prashanthb]

Thanks Jeremy for your reply!
I know that most photographers use a Mac and i have never programmed on a MAC I can do a Windows and a Linux version. But if i can get a Mac from somewhere, i will do that version too. I know it is not tough, a slight variation thats all.

I wanted to make a single roll version for many young 'digital brainwashed' photographers who think having a darkroom at home is 'uncool'. If it is easy then young ones will be attracted. This point maybe wrong. Anyways, i have decide to make a 10 roll version too!

People keep giving me points about what features you would like in it just a Jeremy said above.

I am keeping a watch on this thread daily!!!!