Developing Film Made Easy: @Joecool Tests the Lomo Daylight Developing Tank

Getting into home film developing might seem intimidating, but with the Lomo Daylight Developing Tank, the process becomes accessible to everyone—even without a dedicated darkroom. Lomography community member @joecool took on the challenge and tested this compact tool. The verdict? A smooth experience, a few handy tips to keep in mind, and an irresistible urge to try color development next! He shares his impressions, advice, and a detailed review of his experience.

Camera: Pentax 17
Film: Lady Grey ISO 400 35mm
Developer: Ilfosol 3
Fixer: Ilford Rapid Fixer
Development Method: Agitation

Hi @joecool! How was your overall experience with the Lomo Daylight Developing Tank? What did you like most about it?

It was very positive! I liked the satisfaction of achieving a rewarding result much more easily than I had imagined.

Did you encounter any difficulties or challenges while developing your film?

The only real challenge I faced was extracting the film leader. But well, that’s a necessary step before developing, and it’s not specific to using this tank in particular. I’ll need to get the hang of it (and in the meantime, a huge thanks to the team at Nation Photo Monge for helping me out!)

Less critical but still worth mentioning: on one of the rolls, we rushed a bit when cutting the film leader into a tapered shape. As a result, the film got stuck in the reel at the start of insertion, and we had to take apart the tank as best we could to start over properly. Nothing too serious in the end, but it’s very easy to avoid by being careful when trimming the leader (a nice rounded cut works perfectly!)

What do you think of the design?

Great! Its compact size makes it easy to carry around. I’m actually planning to get one for photography workshops with my nieces and nephews this summer on the other side of Europe—maybe even for a photography workshop in education.

Was this your first experience with home film developing?

My only experience before this was paper development (direct exposure on photo paper, cyanotype) or developing sheet film (as part of a spectroscopy lab!) using basic tanks in complete darkness. So yes, this was my first time developing roll film—and it went really well!

I did it as a duo with a colleague and good friend. We developed two rolls. For the first one, I took the lead, carefully following the instructions like a good student, pausing the tutorial video between steps. For the second roll, my colleague handled everything. This time, we deliberately went through the process without checking the instructions or videos, just to confirm that it really wasn’t complicated. And we got our confirmation! Now I really want to try color development.

Do you have any tips for others who want to use it?

Make sure to prepare everything beforehand: get the necessary chemicals, identify the correct order of use and timing for each solution, and gather all the required equipment. Also, think about what comes after development—have something ready to hang the film for drying and a proper way to store it afterward. There’s nothing complicated about it, but good preparation ensures a smooth process, especially for first-timers who haven’t developed a routine yet.

By the way, I have to give another shoutout to the team at Nation Photo Monge for recommending the website Digital Truth, which provides the correct development times for different films and chemicals. In my case, I used these settings.

Would you recommend it to beginners?

Absolutely!

A huge thanks to @joecool for testing our Lomo Daylight Developing Tank. Check out the rest of his shots on his LomoHome!

Are you ready to take the plunge? Start developing your film yourself, anytime, anywhere!

2025-04-17 #gear #people #b-w #film-developing #first-impressions #lomo-daylight-developing-tank Share Article