If the Lab-Box was about freeing you from the darkroom, the new M-Box is about freeing your hands as well. Ars-Imago has announced the M-Box, a motorized accessory designed for the Lab-Box daylight tank. This add-on allows film photographers to automate agitation during development while using their Lab-Box. It features rechargeable batteries, USB-C charging, and three different rotation programs. The M-Box brings precision and convenience to home development in a way that feels easy to use.
We reviewed the Lab-Box in 2019, and a few quirks aside, we found it to be a convenient tool for new film shooters. It removed the fear of film processing and made it possible to develop rolls on your kitchen counter. The M-Box is the next step in improving this product. It takes the most repetitive part of development, agitation, and puts it on 3 selectable autopilot speeds.
What Is The M-Box
Featuring a matte black finish with bright orange accents, the M-Box is a compact portable add-on that connects to the Lab-Box using a magnetic coupling and quietly manages the agitation part of your home film development. Instead of manually cranking through each stage, you can now choose from three rotation programs:
- Program 1: Continuous slow rotation at 40 rpm. This is ideal for fixing and washing, and it saves energy.
- Program 2: Intermittent fast rotation at 80 rpm. This works best for the development stage. You get 4 seconds of movement every 16 seconds for more consistent results.
- Program 3: Continuous fast rotation at 80 rpm. This is suitable for 35mm development or when you need a quicker cycle. It goes without saying that this option consumes the most amount of battery
The M-Box has a single knob for power and mode selection. It comes with rechargeable batteries (wow, that’s rare) and also has a battery indicator on the top, so you don’t run out of juice midway through your development.
A Much-Needed Addition For The Lab-Box
Controlled agitation is one of the best ways to produce smoother and more reliable negatives. Film development at home usually requires constant attention, but with the M-Box, you can save yourself some time and money. Once you attach this to your Lab-Box and choose the appropriate program for your desired stage of development, you can disengage temporarily and make better use of your time. This convenience also comes with more consistent results, which is what film shooters always need. For those who shoot often (or even occasionally), the motorized rotation means better use of chemicals. Less waste, fewer mistakes, and more reliable results all add up to more cost savings.
Back in 2019, the Ars Imago Lab-Box demonstrated that film development could take place outside of a darkroom. The M-Box shows that even the repetitive, sometimes boring parts of the process can be made more cost-effective and efficient. With three agitation modes, rechargeable power, and simple controls, this device makes film processing easier, more precise, and less stressful for Lab-Box owners. You can purchase the Ars-Imago M-Box for $139 / €139.
Images seen in this article were provided for use by Ars Imago
