chyeo said:
Measuring cylinder 600ml: $12 x 3 [Ruby]
Measuring jug 1000ml: $15 [Ruby]
Wetting agent: $6 [Konota]
I got a simple 1000ml measuring container (for cooking/baking use) from my neighborhood grocery for only
$2.50. As for wetting agent, I used 2 drops mama lemon + 1 liter water ... works great. And you do not need that many measuring cylinders - just get a few empty containers in your kitchen to hold the chemicals after you measured them. (I use PET bottles since I can easily funnel the reusable chemicals back into them)
If you want to shorten washing time and remove hypo from the fixed negs, you'll need the HCA too ($9.50 for 1 pack). But if you just want to try out developing for fun, you only need the developer and fixer. That's all you need, really.
My suggested and certainly *basic* poor man's kit is therefore:
Dark Bag: <$28 [Ruby]
Developing tank: $20 [Ruby]
Cheapo measuring jug 1000ml: $2.50 [Econ minimart]
TMAX Developer: ard $16 [Ruby]
Ilford Rapid Fixer: $8.50 [Ruby]
A couple of empty PET bottles: $0 [Home]
[Optional]
Film picker: $8 [Anywhere]
Long Thermometer: <$15 [Ruby]
Kodak HCA (powder): $9.50 [Ruby]
Wetting agent: $0 [Mama lemon!]
So your basic kit will just cost you $75 ... more than half of the cost is one-time cost so it's quite affordable. I list film picker as optional because you can use other methods for picking the film out (check out Offstone B&W forum) and any thermometer will do so it's also optional. But if you have spare cash for these things, by all means buy them!
Have fun shopping!
sfhuang