Meet the AI purchase advisor built into every page of the Neo Analog Lab store — a floating chat panel that helps you find the right film, paper, chemicals, and darkroom gear by asking what you shoot and how you work.

What the advisor can do

Help you shop smarter

Describe what you're up to and the advisor scans the live catalog for the best match:

  • Format: 135 (35mm), 120 (medium format), or sheet film
  • ISO / speed: from ISO 50 to 3200
  • Black & white or color: monochrome, C-41 color negative, or E-6 slide
  • Negative or slide: the advisor knows the difference and recommends the right chemistry
  • Experience level: beginner-friendly films and easy-to-handle paper for starters; specialist stocks for advanced printers
  • Budget sensitivity: asks about budget when relevant and compares price-per-roll

Every recommendation is tied to current stock. If the best film for your use case is out of stock, the advisor tells you why it's relevant and suggests the closest available alternative.

Answer technical questions

Switch from shopping to technical mode by asking about processing. The advisor draws from an index of ILFORD and Kodak technical datasheets:

  • Development times for common film-and-developer combinations (ID-11, DD-X, XTOL, Microphen, Perceptol, ILFOTEC DD, and more)
  • Dilution recommendations and capacity notes
  • Temperature and agitation guidance from official datasheets
  • Push and pull processing limits and adjustments
  • Exposure and reciprocity corrections for long exposures

Every technical answer cites the source document so you can cross-check the datasheet yourself.

Speaks your language

The advisor replies in the same language you use to ask — English, 日本語, or 简体中文. The catalog stays locale-aware so product names, specs, and prices always match the page language.

Where to find it

Look for the chat button in the bottom-right corner of the store. The advisor is available on the homepage, catalog pages, and every product page. On a product page it already knows which item you're viewing and can compare it to alternatives.

Example questions to try

Not sure where to start? Copy one of these into the advisor:

  • "I'm shooting 120 portraits indoors with natural light. What film should I buy?"
  • "Which B&W film is best for a beginner?"
  • "What's the development time for HP5 Plus in DD-X at 1+4?"
  • "I need paper for contact sheets and quick proofs."
  • "Compare Delta 100 and FP4 Plus — which one should I choose?"

A few things to know

  • The advisor works best with specific questions. "I need 135 color film for street photography" gets better results than "tell me about film."
  • It only recommends products from the Neo Analog Lab catalog. You won't see suggestions for items the store doesn't carry.
  • Technical answers are limited to the datasheets in the index. If a film-and-developer combination isn't covered, the advisor will say so rather than guess.
  • You can start a new chat anytime — each conversation is independent and the advisor won't mix up questions from different sessions.

Ready to try it? Look for the chat button on any catalog page and ask your first question.