I recently bought a copy of the still rare Filmomat.
"The fully automatic film processor for your living room. For 35mm, medium format (120/220) and large format (9x12, 4x5", 5x7") - from bw negatives to color slides."
Automatic film processor | Deutschland | Filmomat
This machine is manufactured and distributed by a young guy in Munich/Germany. Located in Vienna/Austria I have tested it developing my very first color film and I am very satisfied with handling and results.
This is my review. I want to state explicitly that there is not any business relation between me and the vendor than being a customer :)
Filmomat – it does not get better!
I simply could not wait until the weekend to test the machine.
So I grabbed my Olympus in my lunch break and went out into the neighbourhood to have the first candidate for the Filmomat.
35 pictures were quickly taken and I started off in the late afternoon.
In the changing bag, I cracked the Portra film cartridge with the cartridge opener. As always, the end of the film has be cut with a round edge, so the film is not caught in the reel. I managed to do that – surprisingly – well ;-) Before, I had to practice a little on the Jobo reel, as it has to be fed in a different way than the Paterson, which I have been used to for decades.
Then I started the filling of the Filmomat. It takes quite a lot of water for the water jacket to temperate the film tank and the chemicals. Additionally it needs rinsing water, which goes into the rear part. Litres flowed. Then the film tank is attached and connected with the cable. This way, the tank is agitated and the reel bumped of the base of the film tank. Here, the developer and the bleach/fixing bath are already filled. The latter one a brown sauce. Better put on protective gloves and goggles. The Filmomat is now started, now it heats up the water jacket to reach the process temperature intended for C-41. Fever: 38 degrees. Wait, watch and be amazed. The machine hums, an active fan makes sure the power supply unit is cooled.
Another perspective
Filmomat in action. The Tetenal C-41 process has started. Now the film tank has to be pre-flooded. At the bottom the total remaining time.
The set temperature has been reached. Above the present temperature of the water jacket, below the temperature of the chemicals. The Filmomat makes sure the temperature is kept and has a couple of tricks in its programming to make sure the cooling-off of the chemicals between the runs is compensated. Hats off!
The Filmomat’s inner water world. In the front the heating element, behind the water filter. The water jacket is circulated permanently. Behind it on the right the floater, which switches off the heater if the water level is too low.
Used process water is pumped off. A bucket should be ready at hand. The wastewater hose is attached to the Filmomat and is part of the scope of delivery.
Here the bleach/fixing bath is running.
Done, goal is reached. The first colour film developed myself! No, wrong, it was the Filmomat!
A perfectly developed Portra 400, no scratches, optimal density. It cannot be done better.
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More details are available on my site:
Filmomat - Colour film development with style in the living room
Filmomat – Preparations for the first colour film development (C-41)
Filmomat - Boarding completed!
Filmomat – my conclusion
Filmomat - the pictures
