All categories
Business & Offices
Electronics & Media
Fashion & Accessories
Groceries & Essentials
Health & Personal Care
Home & Living
Kids & Family
Sports & Outdoors
Search in ZoneOffer
Loading...
If you love the tactile feeling of silver prints drying under a lamp and the gentle chemical smell of a darkroom, you’re not alone. Black-and-white photography remains a living craft in the UK, supported by a network of specialist retailers, mainstream camera shops, and vibrant second‑hand marketplaces. Whether you’re building a home darkroom in a spare room or upgrading an educational lab, this guide will point you to the best places to buy enlargers, chemistry, paper, and accessories — and show you how to shop smart in a market that blends vintage gear with modern supplies.
Wex is a go-to for many UK photographers wanting reliable stock and fast turnaround. They carry new enlargers, trays, safelights, timers, and a wide selection of paper and chemistry from major brands. If you like a clear returns policy and product reviews to help your decision, Wex is worth browsing. They often list replacement parts for popular enlargers and accessories that suit both beginners and intermediate darkroom builders.
Once a high‑street name, Jessops still serves UK customers online and in select stores, stocking a blend of modern photographic supplies and essential darkroom items. You’ll find basic trays, tongs, and multigrade papers alongside film and cameras. Jessops can be a convenient starting point if you want standard consumables from trusted brands without hunting specialist shops.
Park Cameras has a reputation for knowledgeable staff and a decent range of photographic equipment. They sell darkroom papers, chemical kits, and essential accessories, and they often cater to photographers who want to upgrade their gear with specialist items. If you prefer calling a shop to confirm technical compatibility before you buy, Park Cameras is known for helpful customer service and product advice.
Analogue Wonderland is a specialist that focuses on film photography and analogue processes, including darkroom supplies. Expect a deep selection of photographic paper, developer and fixer powders and liquids, and curated, hard‑to‑find items for the analogue enthusiast. If you’re chasing a specific emulsions type, safelight filter, or oddball paper size, specialist shops like this are gold mines.
Ilford — marketed under HARMAN Technology — is a leading name for black‑and‑white paper and chemistry. You can buy direct from their UK channels or find their products stocked by the retailers above. Ilford’s Multigrade papers, developers like ID‑11, and toners remain industry benchmarks, and their technical datasheets make it easier to get predictable results in the darkroom.
Beyond the national retailers, look for independent shops and labs that support analogue photography. These include regional camera stores, photography labs that sell consumables, and a handful of online boutiques that focus on film and darkroom chemistry. They often stock boutique brands and offer bespoke advice — perfect if you want to experiment with alternative processes like palladium printing or toning.
If you’re hunting used enlargers, rare objectives, or mismatched easels, UK marketplaces are the first place to check. eBay UK has a steady flow of second‑hand enlargers (Durst, Beseler, Omega), lens boards, condensers, and timers. Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are great for local finds you can inspect in person, and specialized Facebook groups often list spare parts and swapped gear. Buying used is a cost‑effective route, but always ask for clear photos, serial numbers, and, where possible, a short video of the equipment working.
Begin with the basics: an enlarger that fits your negative formats, a set of developer/stop/fixer chemistry, paper (try 8x10 inches or 5x7 inches for testing), trays, tongs, a safelight, timer, thermometer, and a washing setup. For 35mm work, a compact enlarger head will do; for medium or large format you’ll want a larger negative carrier and a more robust stand. Start simple and add items like an easel or a grading filter set as you refine your process.
Paper choices and chemicals shape your prints. Ilford Multigrade papers or equivalent give flexibility with grade filters, and developers like Ilford ID‑11 or Kodak D‑76 offer reliable results. Fixer ensures archival stability; choose one rated for archival permanence. Remember to buy a safelight filter appropriate for your paper type and keep a thermometer to control development temperature — even a few degrees in Fahrenheit can change contrast.
New enlargers have modern conveniences and warranties but can be pricey. Vintage enlargers, from Durst to Beseler, are abundant in the UK and often built like tanks. If you buy vintage, check for smooth vertical travel, a working condenser or diffuser head, and the availability of replacement bulbs and lenses. Many photographers prefer a used Durst or Omega body with a freshly serviced lens; it’s often cheaper and perfectly serviceable for decades.
Lenses make a surprising difference. A sharp enlarging lens designed for the format you use yields cleaner, more contrasty prints. Condenser heads give punchier contrast, while diffusion heads are gentler and more forgiving. Negative carriers should hold negatives flat without scratching the emulsion. If you work with multiple formats, look for a system that supports changeable carriers or consider buying a separate head for larger negatives.
For consistency, buy established brands from trusted UK suppliers. Ilford, Kodak, and Harman products are widely available at Wex, Park Cameras, Jessops, and specialist shops. Analogue Wonderland and similar specialists stock a broader range of developers and toners. For quantities, you can buy starter kits that include developer, stop, fixer, and paper; these kits are great for beginners and avoid the hassle of measuring dozens of bottles at once.
Chemicals should be stored in a cool, dark place to prolong their life. Keep powders dry and liquids capped to avoid evaporation. Mark containers with the date you opened them — many developers remain usable for months if stored properly, but once contaminated with used water or exhausted by exposure, they lose activity faster. Small plastic jugs and dedicated chemical labels are cheap insurance against mix‑ups.
You don’t need to spend a small fortune to start printing. Buy a reliable used enlarger and a quality enlarging lens, then look for bargains on trays, tongs, and timer. Multigrade paper lets you experiment without buying many filter packs. Consider mixing concentrated chemicals yourself from powder to save money in the long run. DIY solutions like light‑tight curtains around a sink or a repurposed chest freezer for temperature control can keep costs down while you build experience.
New darkroom users often underestimate temperature control and ventilation. Keep development temperatures steady in Fahrenheit and ensure adequate ventilation when working with fixer and toners. Also, don’t skimp on a safelight; the wrong filter or placing it too close to paper can fog prints. Finally, avoid cheap lenses for critical enlargements — savings here can cost you sharpness and tonal quality.
Enlarger bulbs, timing motors, and lens repairs are often handled by specialty technicians or camera repair shops. Some UK retailers offer spare parts for common models, but for very old gear you may need to source parts from specialist sellers or salvage parts from multiple machines. Join UK photography forums and Facebook groups to ask where to get specific parts — the community often knows who can service a vintage Durst or rebuild a condensers system.
If you’re unsure which enlarger suits you, take a short workshop or book time at a community darkroom. Many cities in the UK have print rooms and community labs where you can test different enlargers, papers, and chemicals before investing. Meetup groups and local photography clubs also organize analogue shoots and print sessions — perfect low‑cost ways to build confidence and try gear in real conditions.
Before you press buy, check: (1) compatibility with your negative sizes (35mm, 120, 4x5 inches, etc.), (2) condition of optical glass and mechanical parts, (3) availability of replacement bulbs and belts, (4) whether the seller offers clear photos and testing guarantees, and (5) how easy it is to return or exchange if the item fails within a short period. For consumables, check batch numbers and expiry guidance on developer powders.
Setting up and maintaining a darkroom in the UK is an achievable and rewarding pursuit. From major retailers like Wex, Jessops, and Park Cameras to specialists such as Analogue Wonderland and direct Ilford channels, you have a rich set of options for buying both new and second‑hand gear. Take your time choosing enlargers and lenses, stick to trusted chemical brands, and lean on community labs and workshops to test equipment before committing. With the right suppliers and a little patience, you can build a darkroom that turns negatives into prints you’ll be proud to hang on the wall.
| Darkroom | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Disicide Concentrate 500 Ml | kr. 85,- | |
| Toshiba Spare 6lj50841000 | kr. 465,- |
