Need a dedicated timer!

[tom.w.bn]

As a timer for development of the films I use the stopwatch in my mobile phone. Worked great so far. Today while I was waiting and agitating the phone rang so I couldn't see the timer anymore and to make it worse I had to take the call because it was an important work number. I tried to count in my head and talk simultaneously. Failed of course. Film is hanging right now and it doesn't look optimal but still ok.

I definitely need a dedicated timer!

Anyone else with such real life problems?

[JayGannon]

I use "Apimac timer" on my laptop, it speaks to me at my inversion intervals very handy while wandering around a room with a dev tank.

[Roger Hicks]

For decades I've used mechanical timers, because if they run down, it's a LOT quicker to rewind a clock than to put a battery in, even if the battery is right beside it.

Cheers,

R.

[ItsReallyDarren]

I used to use my phone as well but I has this paranoia that I would not only drop it but drop it in the one place that has lots of liquids. I picked up a 60 minute kitchen timer but the extremely loud buzz would scare the hell out of me after I had settled into a calm and relaxed routine. I now use a digital timer.

[jmcd]

I love my Gralab with large sweeping hands that glow softly in the dark.

[oftheherd]

Originally Posted by jmcd

I love my Gralab with large sweeping hands that glow softly in the dark.

2nd that. They can also be used with an enlarger.

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

If I need a timer I'll use one of 1) a phone (Android) 2) A Durst Coltim (mechanical time with little pins to set stops) 3) A large antique mechanical wall timer from Junghans 4) A mechanical egg-timer 5) a wrist watch with seconds hand..

All depending upon what I need the timer for.. For hand inversion processing of B&W since its really only the developer I need to worry about.. its non-critical.. For more complicated processes I've probably used the Coltim, despite its simplicity, more often than any of the other "solutions" I have.. For paper development in a Nova.. Its develop to completion but I still need a timer to tell me when the time has been sufficient so I can move things to the next bath--- all while I'm probably doing something else.. Here I've found the wall timer and an electronic timer--- or its equivalent program--- that I can tap to send a signal after X minutes to be quite useful..

[nikon_sam]

Paterson makes a timer with three separate timer displays you can use one at a time or all three...it has a clock and a stopwatch...
I bought this years ago at Calumet...it wasn't cheap but it's very portable and uses only one AAA battery...3.5"x 2.5"x 1"
I use it for film and prints...easy to set and reset...
I also have a Gralab 300 but it needs to be plugged in and I tend to move around when developing film...

[robklurfield]

I got a used Gralab on eBay for about $25.

[sepiareverb]

Gralab 300. Simple, reliable and easy to both set and read.

[Matus]

I have a mechanical wristwatch with stop watch ability. I did not get for development (it was a semi present ), but it works great for that. I do not develop sheet film in trays anymore as that would not work (second hand has no luminous material).

Truth to be told - there are cheaper timers than a swiss wrist watch, but it does the job

[tom.w.bn]

Thanks for your input. I looked at the Apimac timer application but I don't feel comfortable to have the mac next to the chemistry. Didn't have those thoughts with the mobile phone because that's more or less a throw away article for me.
The GraLab Timer looks good.

[sonofdanang]

The Massive Dev Chart is available as an app for the iPhone.

The app is excellent - one of the few that I've bothered downloading.

It has, among many other things, a very good timer that will run in the background if the phone rings. The timer allows you to save your preferences including developer, dilution, film stock, etc... It'll do the display in a dim green light (can't remember what it was called) that we used when we did film by inspection and a red safe-light for printing. Aural warnings for agitation intervals are included along with pause and reset functions. One of the really nice features is a dilution computer: Dial in the ratio and then enter the total solution volume or the starting amount of water and it will provide the missing volume.

Being on the road pretty much all the time, I like it when I can combine sensible technology in a way that keeps the load down.

[Arjay]

If you still have an old Palm PDA somewhere, then Foto Timer might be just what you need - a dedicated timer program that considers all processes in film developing including signals for agitation.

There's even a tutorial for setting up chained timers for the various process steps.

I wish something like this were available for my Nokia mobile phone under Symbian OS ...

[Bob Michaels]

Tom: I have used a US$5- digital kitchen timer from a big box discount retailer for almost ten years. It has never let me down yet. And, if I do drop it and it breaks, I can replace it for another $5-.

I could get a Gralab 300 for probably free from my friend who owns a used photo equipment store, but why bother? It would just take up space and work no better.

[sepiareverb]

I have those timers too Bob, they are great. I most often use them when running sheet film as I can start them and just wait for the beep. Those Gralabs do have a very annoying and extremely loud buzzer when they hit zero.

[ItsReallyDarren]

Originally Posted by sepiareverb

I have those timers too Bob, they are great. I most often use them when running sheet film as I can start them and just wait for the beep. Those Gralabs do have a very annoying and extremely loud buzzer when they hit zero.

The handful of Gralabs I've used before had a switch on top that turned the buzzer off. Too bad there wasn't a halfway switch that lowered the intensity of the buzz.

[Freakscene]

I used to develop Fuji Neopan 400 for the length of the Television song "Marquee Moon". But then I came back from Russia with 60 rolls of film and by the 6th listen (working with two five roll tanks) it all started to get a bit weird.

Now I use a timer.

Marty

[tom.w.bn]

Originally Posted by Freakscene

I used to develop Fuji Neopan 400 for the length of the Television song "Marquee Moon". But then I came back from Russia with 60 rolls of film and by the 6th listen (working with two five roll tanks) it all started to get a bit weird.

Now I use a timer.

Marty

This is a nice story

[Bingley]

I've got a Timex Ironman sports watch w/ an interval timer. I program it to cover the amount of time needed for each step of the development process. Works much better (for me) than having a separate timer.

[tom.w.bn]

The solution is easy and I already have it. Stupid me ;-) Found out today that my little mp3-player has a built in stopwatch and countdown. It has a clip so that I can attach it to something far away from the chemistry and a touch-display to start and stop. But thanks for your input.

[wgerrard]

I can't be bothered to set and reset timers for my kitchen sink processing, so I use a little digital clock that displays minutes and seconds. Doing the math in my head on the run isn't difficult.

[tom.w.bn]

Originally Posted by wgerrard

I can't be bothered to set and reset timers for my kitchen sink processing, so I use a little digital clock that displays minutes and seconds. Doing the math in my head on the run isn't difficult.

That wouldn't work for me. I have an awful short-term-memory. After five minutes I had to guess if I started at 17:43 or 17:44, or was it 17:42.

[tlitody]

Originally Posted by tom.w.bn

That wouldn't work for me. I have an awful short-term-memory. After five minutes I had to guess if I started at 17:43 or 17:44, or was it 17:42.

Plenty of wrist watches have timers in them !!! Just google "cheap chronograph watches"

I never understand why people make such a song and dance about dev and print timers. A watch is strapped to your wrist so you can walk off and leave your stand development running and still have your timer with you. If you need beeps to remind you there is something to do then you have a problem.

[tlitody]

I use my wrist watch. Or a cheaper solution is just don't answer the phone when your are developing something.