I developed my own film, Look Aaron.....

[photophorous]

I must either have the greatest 35mm reel or the worst 120 reel, because I think 120 is much harder to load. My 35mm reel is made by Hewes, and it has little hooks in the center that hold the first few sprocket holes, so when you start winding the film it goes on straight and easy. My 120 real just has a spring clamp, so it's not held straight. I have a much harder time getting it started. When it's just a little bit crooked it gets all crinkled up. I've never had a crease mark on 35mm, but I've had several on 120.

Paul

[freygr]

Here is another from the same roll. This one I didn't do anything to other than crop and add a border.
Greg

From this print I say that the negative is to thin or dark or not the correct exposure. The film you should see the negative image without any problems. If I have my home internet up I will post some photos of negatives. With film you have so much leeway, as you can take a thin negative and us a high contrast paper and the print will look just fine.

[another view]

I've never had a crease mark on 35mm, but I've had several on 120.

There's a "touch" involved with loading film on a reel, and it's different between 35mm and 120. MF film is almost twice as wide and the film itself is a little thicker (120, at least - never used 220). Sounds like both of your reels are not the same style. Can you get a 120 reel that is similar to your 35mm? I have only used Nikor style reels (no relation to Nikon) which are stainless steel, and the film is only held on by a spring clamp in the middle. Since 120 is so much wider it's a little harder to judge exactly where center is so you can clip it in the right spot, but use the edges of the reel to help guide the film.

I have seen film guides for 120, which are a curved piece of stainless steel. Never tried one, but they're supposed to help keep the film from creasing and keep it centered. Maybe this would help - I've seen them on ebay many times.

[another view]

This is just the humble opinion of mtbbrian, but I think that you'll see a renaissance of sorts in "analog photography" because of constant upgrades in digital technology.

I've been thinking about this a little more. For one thing, it's nice to give the computer a break occasionally... It is tough to be a photographer - especially one active on forums - and not do anything digitally so I think that a scanner is necessary. A digital P&S wouldn't do it unless that's the camera you choose to do serious work with (nothing wrong with them, btw) because then it might only be used for snapshots and you wouldn't have a way of showing your best work.

Fortunately scanners have seemed to hit a plateau (good as they're going to get, or are people not buying them anymore?) so there isn't a need for upgrading them everytime you turn around. A really nice 35mm scanner is about the same price as an entry DSLR, and judging by all of them that I see out and around it's a "reasonable" price for an amateur to spend on a piece of equipment. More reasonable for some than others, but hopefully you get my point... Two years from now there probably won't be a newer scanner made (and if there is it will only have slight changes) but the DSLR may have been replaced twice.

Only problem I have is that with B&W, it's hard not to want to get into the larger formats (6x6 or larger, medium format in particular). You're doing all that work, so you might as well have a big negative to work with. But - now we're talking two grand for a film scanner.

Of course a darkroom with a big enlarger would be great, but I just don't have the option right now. Since I do have a 35mm scanner, I suppose I should "put up or shut up" and try to pick up some more developing equipment. Sold all of it when I was convinced I wouldn't miss it, but times change. Good winter project?

[Xia_Ke]

I just hope this "renaissance of sorts" doesn't happen before I can get my hands on a Hasselblad 500c or 500c/m at a cheap price Just stick with the digital cameras people, stick with the digital...LOL

[mtbbrian]

I've been thinking about this a little more. For one thing, it's nice to give the computer a break occasionally... It is tough to be a photographer - especially one active on forums - and not do anything digitally so I think that a scanner is necessary. A digital P&S wouldn't do it unless that's the camera you choose to do serious work with (nothing wrong with them, btw) because then it might only be used for snapshots and you wouldn't have a way of showing your best work.

Fortunately scanners have seemed to hit a plateau (good as they're going to get, or are people not buying them anymore?) so there isn't a need for upgrading them everytime you turn around. A really nice 35mm scanner is about the same price as an entry DSLR, and judging by all of them that I see out and around it's a "reasonable" price for an amateur to spend on a piece of equipment. More reasonable for some than others, but hopefully you get my point... Two years from now there probably won't be a newer scanner made (and if there is it will only have slight changes) but the DSLR may have been replaced twice.

Only problem I have is that with B&W, it's hard not to want to get into the larger formats (6x6 or larger, medium format in particular). You're doing all that work, so you might as well have a big negative to work with. But - now we're talking two grand for a film scanner.

Of course a darkroom with a big enlarger would be great, but I just don't have the option right now. Since I do have a 35mm scanner, I suppose I should "put up or shut up" and try to pick up some more developing equipment. Sold all of it when I was convinced I wouldn't miss it, but times change. Good winter project?

I suppose though you could have one of these...
A De Vere 504 DS Digital Enlarger and make silver prints from 300 dpi TIFF or JPG files.
I have never seen a price listed for this, but I suspect it would cost quite a bit.
Brian

[drg]

A few random thoughts for those shooting film (I was out this am early for a client using film on an ongoing project)

1. Don't expect every film image to be anywhere near as salvageable as most of the digital images you take.
2. Plan your shots both compositionally and in terms of exposure to force yourself to think about what 'should' be there when you see the results - - - later.
3. Many older cameras have failures or weaknesses and having even an inexpensive, but new, meter will be worth its weight in any valuable commodity to check what you are doing.
4. If you don't know how to ballpark your shutter speed in testing have it done and THEN checked by someone who does know how to ballpark one. They will vary in older cameras by easily +/- 20%. With negative film it falls within the acceptable exposure range, but if you shoot positive/slide film it can ruin exposure after exposure.

MF and LF film can always be contact printed. LF can get real expensive learning how to do that and get an even exposure across the face of the entire photograph!!

LF b/w is a religious experience. Even 4x5 sheets are entirely different than MF roll film.

Learning to process film is a learning curve and you will find out that you can do bad things like wash all the picture down the drain! I hated it when I did that!

Film cameras have one HUGE advantage that is not PC to speak of . . .

The right cameras keep shooting without batteries! You can pry my manual film cameras out of my dead, cold hands.

Best wishes burnin' film!

[Greg McCary]

A few random thoughts for those shooting film (I was out this am early for a client using film on an ongoing project)

1. Don't expect every film image to be anywhere near as salvageable as most of the digital images you take.
2. Plan your shots both compositionally and in terms of exposure to force yourself to think about what 'should' be there when you see the results - - - later.
3. Many older cameras have failures or weaknesses and having even an inexpensive, but new, meter will be worth its weight in any valuable commodity to check what you are doing.
4. If you don't know how to ballpark your shutter speed in testing have it done and THEN checked by someone who does know how to ballpark one. They will vary in older cameras by easily +/- 20%. With negative film it falls within the acceptable exposure range, but if you shoot positive/slide film it can ruin exposure after exposure.

MF and LF film can always be contact printed. LF can get real expensive learning how to do that and get an even exposure across the face of the entire photograph!!

LF b/w is a religious experience. Even 4x5 sheets are entirely different than MF roll film.

Learning to process film is a learning curve and you will find out that you can do bad things like wash all the picture down the drain! I hated it when I did that!

Film cameras have one HUGE advantage that is not PC to speak of . . .

The right cameras keep shooting without batteries! You can pry my manual film cameras out of my dead, cold hands.

Best wishes burnin' film!

thanks for all of the advice. That's why I am here. I have shot film in the past but have never develpoed it. I can use all of the advice I can get. I ruined the first two rolls and had a couple of very good shots on them both:mad2: :cryin:

[Xia_Ke]

thanks for all of the advice. That's why I am here. I have shot film in the past but have never develpoed it. I can use all of the advice I can get....

+1 on that. Any and all film advice is appreciated. It's like a whole new world and I'm LOVING it Thanks drg :thumbsup:

[Photo-John]

Those are beautiful images, Greg. I really like them. The compositions are really nice, as is the tonal quality. You did good.

[threelions usa]

well done to all of those old farts who prefer "doing things the old fashioned way" oh wait ! that's a commercial isn't it ??

(i think those folks bit the dust though ~ dinosaurs !!)




you keep taking and posting, an' i'll keep lookin'.

at least you have ONE person who'll look.

i'm old school, (fairly) recently converted to c.d's over albums and i STILL don't own an I-pod !!

:blush2: :blush2:

i do DO digital though.....

i do have room for a darkroom though, but it would mean i sleep on the balcony...

still the weather today was (and still is) 80-ish so perhaps the outside is the place to be... those mossies though are another kettle of fish...

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Xia_Ke]

Come on 3L, the balcony can't be all that bad living in Houston...LOL My girlfriend has already been forewarned that once I get my Christmas bonus, I'm taking over the bathroom Though you don't need a darkroom to be able to develop and scan negatives

[threelions usa]

Come on 3L, the balcony can't be all that bad living in Houston...LOL My girlfriend has already been forewarned that once I get my Christmas bonus, I'm taking over the bathroom Though you don't need a darkroom to be able to develop and scan negatives

yeah great !! you will come home one day to find the hairdryer/curling iron plugged into the scanner outlet and her razor using the chemical trays to rinse ~ yeuch !!!!



as the past few days have been fantastic. sorta like san diego without the chargers !!

today though up to mid 80's (global warming !!!) but tomorrow a cold front is coming in.

high of 68 lo of 52.

then it's back up to high 70's/ mid 80's down to mid 60's.

this is FALL !!!!!!!!

[Xia_Ke]

My sister lives in Houston and we grew up here in Maine. You aren't fooling me...LOL

[threelions usa]

My sister lives in Houston and we grew up here in Maine. You aren't fooling me...LOL

no fooling !!!

Tue Nov 6 Showers 68°/52° 30%
Wed Nov 7 Partly Cloudy 71°/52° 0%
Thu Nov 8 Partly Cloudy 79°/59° 10%
Fri Nov 9 Scattered Showers 84°/62° 30%
Sat Nov 10 Isolated T-Storms 83°/66° 30%

say no more !!

not much chance of red/yellow leaves etc......... :

:cryin: :cryin: :cryin: