Ars-Imago Lab-Box Daylight Developing Tank (135 and 120 Modules included)

Product Description

Never before has it been this easy to process your films if you use this multi-format, daylight-loading film development tank.

Most analogue photographers have two options when it comes to processing the film they shoot - develop the rolls yourself or take them to your local lab. Until now, being away from home, without a darkroom or a changing bag has meant extreme difficulty in getting a film developed.

With the brand new Lab-Box from Ars-Imago, you can process 35mm or 120 film from start to end in full-daylight, thereby dispensing with the need for a darkroom.

Lab-Box is the most comfortable and quickest tool to develop your own films in full daylight, anywhere and at any time, bypassing the need to load the rolls in the dark. It is a multi-format tank that allows developing film from start to end, thanks to the two interchangeable modules and its multi-format reel enabling the processing of both 135 mm and 120 mm films

Features
Universal and Modular: with one tank, it is possible to develop both 135 and 120 film rolls, by merely switching the loading module.
Compact and Portable: its small size allows for easy carrying, in a bag or a backpack.
Quick and Easy: film rolls can be loaded and developed in daylight, through an intuitive and straightforward process.
Versatile and Professional: it is perfectly suitable for beginners, but will also meet the needs of more experienced photographers, offering the possibility to experiment with different developing processes.

Modules
The 135 Module has a film slot where you position and fix the 35mm cassette. You then clip the film and close the lid is closed. Then rotate the outer knob (or use the crank handle) to load the film onto the reel. Once fully loaded, an internal blade will cut the film, separating it from the cartridge.
The 120 Module has two compartments: the top one where you place the film, which is then automatically loaded in the bottom one. Once the lid is closed, pulling out the black backing paper, through the split on the back, will automatically load the film in the second, lightproof compartment. Then you can open the lid to clip the film and afterwards close it again to rotate the outer knob and loading the film onto the reel.

Development Agitation
With Lab-Box, it is possible to choose to partially or fully submerge the reel in liquid, to experiment with different kinds of agitation. Once the chemicals are inside the tank, it is possible to agitate them as required by rotating the outer knob which will turn the reel, allowing the correct movement of liquids, for a uniform development.

Continuous Agitation
Filling the tank with 270 ml of liquid, you will only partially submerge the reel. The film has to be agitated continuously during the whole processing time by turning the outer knob.

Intermittent Agitation
Filling the tank with 500 ml of liquid, you will fully submerge the reel. The film can be agitated intermittently during processing time by turning the outer knob.

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Customer Reviews

By Lucy on 25th January 2022

"Bought the lab box with both modules; it’s the best thing I’ve ever bought to develop my film. Especially when you can’t be bothered with a changing bag. The box takes about 500ml of each chemical. I was initially worried about the film sticking together in the box but each roll I’ve developed have come out great. "

By JacquesPrince on 25th June 2021

"I don't develop a lot of B&W film. Maybe once a month. I've tried others that require you to work in the dark. Needless to say I don't get enough practice to have a consistent rhythm and consistent results. I've also damage film in doing so. This Lab-Box cuts through this. Ok, you can only do 1 x 35mm film at a time, but that suits me perfectly. Some say you waste chemicals. No you don't. You only use 300ml of developer and agitate constantly. It's therapeutic. It's easy to use. No feeling in the dark. You see what you're doing. Read the instructions. Pay careful attention that the cutting blade is down when you wind on the film and wash and thoroughly dry after use and check it's fully dry before next use. Price: Its a bit expensive, but I don't need a change bag and don't have the stress. Does the job very well."

By ThomasH on 22nd June 2021

"Great for the starter or for when on the move. Makes single development easier and that is what you are spending the premium on. The quality of the product is questionable especially for the price. Watch the tutorials online before use, be careful and make sure to dry it all when you have finished as it rusts. I found the "Crank Handle" to be a good upgrade (Which should have been included with the base unit.) Do not waste your money on the "Professional Lid" unless you want a £69 temperature probe."

By KongWayCheng on 29th May 2020

"Fantastic piece of gear. Easy to use and very handy in the field."

By GlennAshbrooke on 22nd April 2020

"Fantastic bit of kit, so quick, easy and fun to use for both 135 and 120 format. Fast and professional service from Firstcall- Photographic, highly recommended "

By RichardOlbrich on 3rd March 2020

"A good design, materials of construction could be a more sturdy. A very steep learning curve resulted in me ruining my first film. You have to realise that the loader will deliberately pinch the film as it loads (as otherwise it won’ go on to the reel). If you don’t realise this you will be extremely alarmed and think that something is going badly wrong. It is not, that’s how it works and its fine. The first time I used it (and the handle is essential by the way for agitation) I did not realise how quickly the film loads onto the reel (compared with my previous experience over 30 years ago using the traditional reels in a black bag). So I thought I’d jammed the film! (Well you can guess at the rest). However once I tested the whole loading system out with a test film (my ruined film) and got used to the alarming noises as the film winds onto the reel, it was a piece of cake. Very easy to use, once you know how. I’ve just used the 35mm system so far. I’m giving it a 3 star because of my concerns over build quality - considering the high price - and the relatively poor instructions included."

By Norman Jolley on 5th August 2019

"Had been using vintage 35mm and 120 daylight tanks until the LabBox came along. It is quite an improvement over the original tanks, easier to load and use. If I had a LabBox earlier, would have saved a lot of film that was destroyed in the old tanks. I like it and actually look forward to using the LabBox."

By Glenn Taylor on 12th July 2019

"Have just used the Lab-Box for the first time on a roll of 120, the speed and ease of loading the spiral left me a little uneasy to the point that I check the loading in a changing bag. Overall on the first use I very impressed. My only mistake was to stop removing the backing paper before I should have done, you do need to watch for the first frame counter of your particular film format. "

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