[AnalogTubes]

I still have a Cambo 4x5, RZ67 Pro and a few Nikons and can't remember when I last shot film.

I think you guys have inspired me to do something this weekend.

[nathanm]

Unfortunately my very first roll of 120 (thanks to Buddy's Rolleicord loaner ) was DOA.  Totally clear strip.  Well, that's what happens when you use expired developer!  I felt like such a dope.        Oh well, the 2nd roll went fine as I went back to Diafine as I should have from the start.  Third and final roll of Efke 25 is currently loaded which I hope to shoot this weekend.

Nice camera, although the focusing range is limited.  Also the image reversal on the groundglass feels more weird in handheld mode than with a tripod-mounted view camera.  I think I'd want something with normal orientation for a handheld camera.  Pretty hard to find something in the Rollei price range, though.  Okay, so Holgas...but I am not sure I want to go quite that Lo-Fi.

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Nathan, yeah that's one thing that is totally suck.... you don't know what you going to get out of it until you finish developing the film 

     Yes, the reversal image feel weird... at least is not up side down also like 4x5 cam. Actually the more expensive Rolleiflex have prism option but these are not that common. And what the point of that on TLR (Twin Len Reflex) anyway.... looking down is just a classic way anyway with these cam

    If you want to have MF that with normal view and easy to carry there is the Pentax 67, it is like a super sized 35mm SLR... I've use this before and beside different way of loading film it work just like 35mm SLR. Don't know how much these go for these day price wise used I know it ain't cheap like Holga for sure 

   Anyway, you are welcome to hold on to the Rolleicord longer if you want to

Take care,
Buddy

[Levi]

I heard Nikon and Canon are going to start making film cameras again.  I just could not resist.  LOL! 

[smbrown]

For me, I kind of stopped taking pictures when digital came along. Seemed to me that much of the mojo kind of left when film left. I have shot over the years with Hasselblad, Maymia and other medium formats, also 4x5 and of course 35. I hate to see the total swing toward digital, but then again, I still prefer my vinyl over CDs.... 

[nathanm]

If I had to shoot film in a professional manner with high volume I would definitely not like it; the efficiency of digital cannot be denied.  But shooting as a hobby\for art's sake, then film makes sense. 

But it sure would be fun to shoot with a Betterlight back on my 4x5.  Anyone got a spare 15 grand laying around?  You can do cool stuff with 'em:



http://www.betterlight.com/misuse_feature/misuse.html

[Delta Wave]

Digital is never going to be "better" than film until the average person is able to afford a digital camera with a full-frame sensor.

If digital is so much better than film then why is Imax shot on 120mm?

[nathanm]

Okay, I finished off the last of the Rollei rolls.  This Efke 25 in diafine was pretty nice.  I look one light meter reading in the sun and settled on 1/50th @ ƒ11 and pretty much stuck with that.  Diafine sure is forgiving.

Thanks so much for the loaner Buddy, it was extremely useful for me! 



Flickr Set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathanmarciniak/sets/72157624926219483/with/5070447201/

[SET Man]

Hey!

    Your welcome Nathan. Hope you had fun the Rollei Some nice pictures there.

    Look like my Rolleicord was out in the wood and fresh air instead of the concrete jungle here in NYC.

     I have used Efke 50 but haven't try the 25 yet. Maybe I will pick up a roll and take a walk around the city.

Take care,
Buddy

[nathanm]

I think I may have to pick up some Efke 25 in 4x5 size.  My recent shots with Tri-X I thought were too grainy.  Not that you can tell so much from web images, but in working on them in Photoshop the surface texture was a bit too ragged for my tastes.

In that barn image in my set there was a photographer exhibiting.  (some of those I took during a local art event)  She had a bunch of infrared stuff which looked tempting.

[SET Man]

I think I may have to pick up some Efke 25 in 4x5 size.  My recent shots with Tri-X I thought were too grainy.  Not that you can tell so much from web images, but in working on them in Photoshop the surface texture was a bit too ragged for my tastes.

In that barn image in my set there was a photographer exhibiting.  (some of those I took during a local art event)  She had a bunch of infrared stuff which looked tempting.

Hey!

   I love the Efke 50 but it is a bit slow for me, not something I will use often. Well, the Efke 100 is pretty nice too.

     Anyway, the Tri-X were not a fine grain film to start with. But I actually like it... well that's depend on how you and what you use to develop it. If  I remembered correctly the best result I've got was Tri-X rated at 250 with No.8 Yellow filter and develop in Xtol.... I shorten the time a bit but not much depend on what I shot. I still use the Tri-X but unfortunately the Xtol now only come in 5 liters pack... a bit too much for me so I'm back to D76 now.

    Anyway, I'm talking about developing film for printing and not for scanning. So, I don't know. You can ask 100 photographers how they develop Tri-X and you will get 100 ways of doing it

Take care,
Buddy

[nathanm]

Diafine is the only developer I've used which gives a very noticeable difference in the contrast of the negative.  I am not 100% sure I like it; it's a bit muddy in the mids, but I am 100% sure I like how it doesn't go bad!  My problem is that I don't shoot regularly, so when I do I don't want to have a bunch of expired chemicals laying around.  So far my jugs of Diafine are working great.  The other developer I liked was PyroCat HD, which gives you a nice stained color.  All the mathematics with this chemistry stuff really strains my brain, however.  It's all just kind of a fun experiment, the results are not super critical cause with scanning you have a lot of latitude to play with.  But it's always nice to have a good looking negative.

[JohnR]

I like Tri-X because of the tone. I don't think I would use it if I wanted detail. Having said that, I don't do my own developing...

[SET Man]

Diafine is the only developer I've used which gives a very noticeable difference in the contrast of the negative.  I am not 100% sure I like it; it's a bit muddy in the mids, but I am 100% sure I like how it doesn't go bad!  My problem is that I don't shoot regularly, so when I do I don't want to have a bunch of expired chemicals laying around.  So far my jugs of Diafine are working great.  The other developer I liked was PyroCat HD, which gives you a nice stained color.  All the mathematics with this chemistry stuff really strains my brain, however.  It's all just kind of a fun experiment, the results are not super critical cause with scanning you have a lot of latitude to play with.  But it's always nice to have a good looking negative.

Hey!

   Hmmm... I see. Have you ever use the good old Kodak D76 with Tri-X? This is my go-to dev now. It comes in 1 liter package and last 6 months... I think... in full bottle with no air, just squeeze the air out if you can.

     Rate the Tri-X at ISO 320 for 35mm and develop it normally in D76, this should be almost foolproof.

     Well, everyone have their own way of developing film and also agitation believe it or not.

I like Tri-X because of the tone. I don't think I would use it if I wanted detail. Having said that, I don't do my own developing...

    Yes, that is what I like about the Tri-X too. It is a classic.

    John it doesn't take much to develop your own B&W film. A developing can/tank with reel, measurement cups, developer, stop bath, fixer, hypo, Photo Flo, timer or a watch and thermometer. Oh! well, it doesn't sound like much if you already have everything I guess. 
   
     But it can be fun and rewarding but it can also be a headache at beginning. 

Take care,
Buddy

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Look like my life with film is getting a bit harder now. 

   Went to B&H yesterday to pick up B&W films and chemicals. Since I don't do much B&W developing these days I like to buy Kodak 1 liter package of D76, fixer and hypo. To my surprised there were no 1 liter pack of fixer on the shelf. So, I asked the sale rep maybe it sold out or in the back. He checked and told me that look like it had been discontinued!

   Well, look like Kodak now only sell 1 gallon pack of fixer and hypo. I guess it won't be long til they discontinue the 1 liter pack of D76 

Take care,
Buddy