Paterson Universal Tank — 2 Reels .

The Paterson Universal Tank is the standard starting point for developing film at home. Two reels, handles both 35mm and 120, and it does the job without fuss.

The tank comes with two adjustable auto-load reels. Each reel uses a ball-bearing ratchet system that winds the film onto the spiral as you twist — no darkroom required for loading, just a changing bag. Once the film is loaded and the lid is on, you can pour chemistry in and out in daylight. The lid is designed to pour without leaking, so you can invert for agitation without worrying about spills.

It processes two rolls of 35mm at once, or one roll of 120. That covers most of what you'll develop. If you shoot 35mm exclusively, it does the job. If you shoot 120, it's the same tank. You don't need a different setup for different formats — just adjust the reel.

If you're developing your own film for the first time, start here. It's well made, widely supported, and the reels are among the easiest to load consistently.