By Mark (A “Have a Nice Trip” Customer).
Have you ever looked at a finished roll of film and wondered if you could develop it yourself?
That was me.
Hi… I’m Mark!
For a long time, home developing felt like one of those mysterious parts of photography that was best left to experts in darkrooms wearing white coats. The more I researched it, however, the more I realised that modern home developing kits have made the process far more accessible than many people imagine.
So, after a bit of research, a boost in confidence, and a willingness to risk one roll of film in the name of learning, I finally decided to take the plunge and develop my first roll of black and white film at home.
Spoiler alert: it worked!
My Home Developing Setup
To keep things as simple as possible, I purchased a Lomography Daylight Developing Tank.
The biggest attraction was that it removes the need for a dark bag, allowing the entire process to be completed in normal room light.
For chemicals, I chose a Cinestill Home Developing Black & White Kit. The simplicity appealed to me, especially as a complete beginner.
For my first attempt, I used a test roll of Ilford HP5+. If I made a mistake, I wasn’t going to lose anything precious.
Was I Nervous?
Absolutely.
The funny thing is that the process itself is surprisingly simple. The nerve-racking part is knowing that your exposed film is sitting inside the tank and you’re entirely responsible for what happens next!
Once I started, though, I quickly realised that home developing isn’t nearly as intimidating as it first appears.
How I Developed My First Roll
Step 1 – Loading the Film
Using the Lomography Daylight Tank, I fed the film into the tank using the winding handle. There is a bit of prep required for this so later in the blog you will find a quick video explainer about how to prepare your film and the tank.
(Quick Update since blog was posted)… if you cut a more defined V shape into the film leader it should load into the tank without jamming – this is contrary to the advice given in the Lomography video.
Once loaded, the film loader is removed, leaving the film safely enclosed inside the tank ready for development.
Step 2 – Developing
I poured the pre-mixed developer into the tank up to the fill line and secured the lid.
I then set a six-minute timer on my phone.
For the first 30 seconds, I continuously rotated the tank to agitate the film. After that, I placed the tank down and agitated it for around 10 seconds every minute until the timer finished.
Step 3 – Rinsing
Once development was complete, I emptied the developer and rinsed the film with tap water.
I filled and agitated the tank four times.
During the final rinse, I added a capful of wetting agent. While optional, it’s highly recommended because it helps water run off the negatives and reduces the chances of drying marks.
Step 4 – The Big Reveal
This was the moment I’d been waiting for.
I opened the tank and carefully pulled out the film.
Success!
Seeing your images appear on the negatives for the very first time is a fantastic feeling. If you’ve never experienced it before, it’s hard to describe just how satisfying it is.
Step 5 – Drying the Film
I used a film squeegee to remove excess water before hanging the negatives to dry in my shower.
Top Tip… Many people recommend using a bathroom for drying film because tiled rooms generally contain fewer airborne dust particles than other parts of the house and so less chance of contamination.
Scanning the Negatives
The following day, once the negatives were completely dry, I scanned them using my Kodak Slide N Scan Film Scanner.
The scans were saved to an SD card, which I then transferred to my phone.
From there, I made a few simple edits using the phone’s built-in editing tools.
The whole process was surprisingly straightforward.
The Results
One of the things that impressed me most was how quickly everything came together.
I shot the film during the day, developed it at home that evening, and had finished negatives in around half an hour.
For someone used to waiting for lab processing, that felt almost magical.
Here are a few of the photographs from that first roll.
Was It All Plain Sailing?
Not quite.
The only issue I experienced was loading film into the Lomography Daylight Tank.
Occasionally the film would jam while winding. After some investigation, I discovered that other users had reported similar experiences online.
The good news is that I don’t think this is a deal-breaker.
After a couple more practice runs, I noticed that the jam tended to occur around frame 26 on a 36-exposure roll.
My workaround has been to cut the film at that point, develop the section already loaded into the tank, and then load the remaining section separately.
With practice, I’ve managed to reduce the loss to just a single frame.
It’s not ideal, but it’s certainly not enough to stop me using the tank.
Would I still recommend it?
Yes.
Would I recommend practising with a few test rolls before loading something important?
Definitely.
Some of you may be phased by the procedure / process with the tank too so I’ve found this video explainer that goes through it all step by step.
Five Things I Learned From My First Roll
- Home developing is much easier than I expected.
- Preparation is more important than experience.
- Seeing negatives emerge from the tank is incredibly satisfying.
- Black and white film is a great place to start.
- Practice quickly builds confidence.
Would I Recommend Home Developing?
Without hesitation.
It’s not for everyone, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with sending film to a professional lab.
But if you’ve ever been curious about developing your own film, don’t assume it’s too complicated.
I certainly did.
Now I’ve developed several rolls myself, and I’m already looking forward to the next one. and I’m also thinking of using a traditional developing tank so that I can develop 5 films at once. I couldn’t have imagined that when I first started this journey.
If you’re shooting with an Olympus Trip 35, why not try taking the experience one step further?
Load your own film.
Shoot your own photographs.
Develop your own negatives.
Then enjoy the satisfaction of seeing the entire process through from start to finish.
Thanks for reading, and keep snapping!
Mark
Quick Questions for First-Time Home Developers
Do I need a darkroom?
No. Systems such as the Lomography Daylight Tank are specifically designed to avoid the need for a traditional darkroom setup.
Is home developing expensive?
The initial equipment purchase costs more than a single lab development, but the cost per roll becomes very reasonable once you’re set up.
Is black and white easier than colour?
Generally, yes. Most beginners start with black and white film because the process is more forgiving.
How long does it take?
Once you’re familiar with the process, developing a roll can take around 30 minutes, plus drying time.
Would I do it again?
Absolutely.
Editor’s Note
Have A Nice Trip would like to thank Mark for sharing his first experience of home film developing.
Mark is a regular contributor to the popular Facebook community “Olympus Trip 35 Users” and frequently shares his Olympus Trip adventures, particularly his impressive low-light photography.
If you’ve enjoyed reading Mark’s story and would like to support his fundraising efforts for Leyton Orient F.C., you can contribute via his JustGiving page below.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-moulds-10?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
“As both a long term Leyton Orient supporter and season ticket holder, being able to run on behalf of the work that Leyton Orient Trust seemed like a great idea. Running has always been a huge part of my life, so being able to combine that passion with raising money for Leyton Orient Trust was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
The Trust does incredible work across East London in Waltham Forrest, Hackney, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets. Every donation will help them continue creating opportunities and making a genuine difference to people’s lives. Thanks, Mark”
Check out the Serviced and Refurbished Olympus Trip 35’s for sale in the website shop… https://olympustrip.co.uk/shop/
Keep up to date with what we are doing or join with other Olympus Trip 35 enthusiasts – follow our Facebook Page.
