Today I decided to install the additional water filters I had bought for the darkroom in Germany. I've had odd problems with water quality over the past year which the main 100µm filter is not dealing with, so today I installed a 5µm filter on the temperature controlled feed to the negative and print washes and an activated carbon then 5µm filter to the negative processor. Reagents are usually prepared with deionised water but I can now also use mains water filtered to 5µm should I wish. Now all I need to do is develop some films to see if the it has improved the situation - although it was intermittent before anyway. Here's the finished installation

New water filtration unit to film developer



Additional filtration (blue) to washing system



The blue unit is a standard industrial water filter but the second came from eBay in Germany and had been a dosing system for a medical X-ray unit (but the filter housing are standard). I removed the solenoid valve and pressure regulator from the unit as it was set for too low a pressure (I use 4 bar) and I need to change the pressure gauge for one in the right range. All flushed through and ready to go!

Very cool, Pete. Most I can fit into my lifestyle is a changing bag and a two reel canister.

Do you develop color film at all?

Not any more Brian and never did in the German darkroom (although I think there is some old E6 chemistry kicking around). For colour I now only use digital although I have been tempted a couple of times. But if I'm going to scan negatives anyway the appeal isn't there.

That's one sweet looking set-up Pete

So how much dev do you do a month?

It varies hugely Chris. This month just a few rolls of 120. But in November I processed a lot of 5x4. I'm about to start a couple of film-based projects and so I guess I'll be processing about 5-10 rolls a week of 120 and in March I want to do some more work on 5x4. I haven't done any printing for a few months and have a backlog but in February I will be doing some in the UK and in March a load here in Potsdam.

In both darkrooms the setup is aimed at convenience. I use the film machines if I just have a couple of rolls otherwise I use deep-tanks if it's a bigger campaign.

this thread really makes me realise why the odd spot of dust on a photo bothers you ... you obviously have a serious commitment to getting flawless photos!
This is an impressive set up imo
One day... I wil have something similar! and the dust will be gone for good!!!

It's not so much 35mm or even 120 but dust on 5x4 where you only have one shot that really drives the obsession! And it is always somewhere where spotting is really tricky!!

Have you posted any large format work on the forum before Pete?

Not from film I don't think as I don't have many prints from 5x4 scanned. I'll have a look and see. If not, over the next few months there will be some new ones. And a fair bit from 6x6 as three of the project ideas I have are film based.

6x6 the medium format, or is there a 6x6 large format too?
I can see how this could be confusing to people, I'm a bit confused an I claim to know a little about this sort f thing