Started in Rome, Italy by ars-imago international, the project hopes to release the LAB-BOX to the world by September, 2017. The company consists of two stores, one near the Vatican in Rome and one in Switzerland, serving film photographers.
Basic cost for one film loading module and the tank is now €79 for the Early Bird reward with one tank of your choice. The campaign is in fact fully funded at over €160,000 of the €70,000 goal. Rewards are going quickly, but the campaign is not over until March 28, 2017.
The unit seems simple to operate and can be used without a darkroom. The film adapter is first attached to the tank, then the film placed into the adapter and the cover placed on the assembly. All in subdued room lighting, not a darkroom. The film is then loaded onto the reel in the tank and processing chemistry is poured in over the top cover. The tank is drained through the front edge of the top, the corner of the tank itself forming a small spout to cleanly pour out.
The tank is ideal to use with a Monobath developer, a single step developer that includes the fixer. With a monobath, B&W film can be developed less than 10 minutes at room temperature. For those who wish, one of the rewards includes the tank, B&W film (your choice of format) and a monobath developer marketed by the company. Another alternative, is a caffenol developer packaged with the tank.
As with any Kickstarter, the more complexity the greater the risk.
