Abandoned Depot QL-17 and Kodak film

[Greg McCary]

Here is one from the other side of the old depot. Taken with my Canonet and Kodak 400 iso B&W film. The metering system of the Canon is rather primative and I haven't shot much B&W before so comments are welcome?

[JFischer]

There's something so amazingly strong about this image, such that I much prefer it over the other you posted from the re-shoot (not that that was bad - they're both brilliant - just different!)

I'm not entirely sure what it is, but to me this image feels more 'raw' and fits in very well with the subject of the picture. Your eye is drawn to the dilapidated building, before being dragged up the picture by the train track. It all just seems 'right' and works very well. Pleasing to the eye!

Given you say you've not shot many B&W pictures before, I'm very impressed by this image. Think it's excellent .

J

[swmdrayfan]

I think J's right, Greg. This has a definate appeal. Very earthy.....somewhat reminiscent of a 20's/30's image. I like it.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Very nice Greg, your composition is pin point on this one. I love the placement of the tracks and building. It does have a very old school look to it. The only thing it is missing is a steam engine and a few people in old suits and dresses. I am going to give you an A+ and two thumbs up :thumbsup: :thumbsup: .

Great shot.

Print and hang this one.

[PrevailingConditions]

Greg, you have my vote on this one as well. I prefer this to the other versions you have posted so far. I like the composition better and the black and white treatment gives it a real old feel which matches the building well.

PC

[gahspidy]

Well done, Greg. this is the best of the bunch. Comp is good and the old feel of the b&w goes well with the subject.

[starriderrick]

Very nice,Greg.
It has a great warmth.

[readingr]

What more can I say - Excellent - Love the oldy worldy style.

Roger

[Xia_Ke]

Great shot Greg! Love the "old school" feel to this shot! I keep seeing those Canonets for super cheap. Might have to pick one up now

[Frog]

Really has that 'old photo' feel.
Hate to be the one that picks at something but I think the bush at end of building would do better if you bumped the exposure on it..
That is a nit pik as I really do like this one.

[Greg McCary]

Great shot Greg! Love the "old school" feel to this shot! I keep seeing those Canonets for super cheap. Might have to pick one up now

Thanks everyone for the comments. The picture is straight out of the camera with no processing.
Frog, I agree with you about the bush/tree and have since worked on it and brought out some detail.
Aaron, the Canonet is a great film camera to learn exposure on. You really have to use your head. I do anyway. The metering system is primative. Just be careful and get one that works. If you get one on ebay only deal with people that have 100% feedback. The QL17 is a very compact camera and the lens is very fast.
Greg

[schrackman]

Here is one from the other side of the old depot. Taken with my Canonet and Kodak 400 iso B&W film. The metering system of the Canon is rather primative and I haven't shot much B&W before so comments are welcome?

The metering system may be "primitive" but if you have the proper battery (with the right voltage) you can take perfectly exposed pictures every time with the Canonet. This camera is a sleeper. Doesn't look like much (although I think it's cute), but it can take some great photos!

I like your picture and I actually think it works better coming from your Canonet than your digital, but I'm afraid the image looks a tad washed out on my screen. I've shot Kodak 400CN with my Canonet and one can get great results with it, but I've noticed one has to watch the highlights with this film. Frankly, the best B/W film I've found for the Canonet thus far is FP4+ 125 shot at 80ISO and developed in Rodinal at box speed. Ilford PanF 50 works great too. I didn't like my results from TMax 400. There are still many other B/W films I have yet to try, like HP5, or Tri-X, but I'll get to those one day. My flickr link below will give you some good examples of the Canonet using various films.

It seems to me your exposure was a tad too high, or you shot in or toward the sun, or the lab may have overdeveloped your roll, or your scanner (like mine) doesn't always do a great job. Do you have other examples from your roll to share? I would love to see some of your other photos from this roll!!

BTW, follow this link to see some of my favorite shots using Kodak 400CN: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=26870

[Greg McCary]

Thanks Ray for the tips. This is Kodak 400NC. I have seen your pictures and I am impressed with them. The first roll I shot was a stop over exposed so I stopped down the aperature on this roll. The first battery I had nailed exposure almost every time. But I have changed brands and it seems off some. But again I haven't shot much B&W but I will try a roll of the FP4-125. Where is the best place to buy it?

[Greg McCary]

The metering system may be "primitive" but if you have the proper battery (with the right voltage) you can take perfectly exposed pictures every time with the Canonet. This camera is a sleeper. Doesn't look like much (although I think it's cute), but it can take some great photos!

I like your picture and I actually think it works better coming from your Canonet than your digital, but I'm afraid the image looks a tad washed out on my screen. I've shot Kodak 400CN with my Canonet and one can get great results with it, but I've noticed one has to watch the highlights with this film. Frankly, the best B/W film I've found for the Canonet thus far is FP4+ 125 shot at 80ISO and developed in Rodinal at box speed. Ilford PanF 50 works great too. I didn't like my results from TMax 400. There are still many other B/W films I have yet to try, like HP5, or Tri-X, but I'll get to those one day. My flickr link below will give you some good examples of the Canonet using various films.

It seems to me your exposure was a tad too high, or you shot in or toward the sun, or the lab may have overdeveloped your roll, or your scanner (like mine) doesn't always do a great job. Do you have other examples from your roll to share? I would love to see some of your other photos from this roll!!

BTW, follow this link to see some of my favorite shots using Kodak 400CN: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=26870

Where was the Fox picture taken at? We have a Fox theater in Atlanta.

[schrackman]

Thanks Ray for the tips. This is Kodak 400NC. I have seen your pictures and I am impressed with them. The first roll I shot was a stop over exposed so I stopped down the aperature on this roll. The first battery I had nailed exposure almost every time. But I have changed brands and it seems off some. But again I haven't shot much B&W but I will try a roll of the FP4-125. Where is the best place to buy it?

Hi Greg,

400NC? Isn't that discontinued film?

If you go to vintagebatteries.com you can find 1.35v replacement batteries for your Canonet. That way your meter will work right every time.

I get my FP4+ from a local camera store, but you can get it online from B&H or most any other photography site that sells film. Remember, when using this film set your Canonet's ISO/ASA to around 80 (there's no setting for 80 so you have to just guess where that would be between 50 and 100), have your film developed at the box speed of 125 in Rodinal. If you like, I can give you the email of the guy who developed my last roll of it. He does a great job.

Right now I have some Acros 100 b/w in my little Agfa Parat-1 half frame camera. Can't wait to see how those turn out! I'm almost done with the roll. Being that this is a 36 exposure film I'll actually get 72 frames! And I'm hoping to get a couple good dyptichs out of it as well.

I still want to see some of your other pictures from your roll, so please post some more! If not here, then in Viewfinder.

Oh, and the Fox theater is in my hometown of Banning, CA. They did a small write up of it here: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2238/

[Greg McCary]

Hi Greg,

400NC? Isn't that discontinued film?

If you go to vintagebatteries.com you can find 1.35v replacement batteries for your Canonet. That way your meter will work right every time.

I get my FP4+ from a local camera store, but you can get it online from B&H or most any other photography site that sells film. Remember, when using this film set your Canonet's ISO/ASA to around 80 (there's no setting for 80 so you have to just guess where that would be between 50 and 100), have your film developed at the box speed of 125 in Rodinal. If you like, I can give you the email of the guy who developed my last roll of it. He does a great job.

Right now I have some Acros 100 b/w in my little Agfa Parat-1 half frame camera. Can't wait to see how those turn out! I'm almost done with the roll. Being that this is a 36 exposure film I'll actually get 72 frames! And I'm hoping to get a couple good dyptichs out of it as well.

I still want to see some of your other pictures from your roll, so please post some more! If not here, then in Viewfinder.

Oh, and the Fox theater is in my hometown of Banning, CA. They did a small write up of it here: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2238/

It's Kodak BW400CN Sorry for the mix up. We only have one camera shop here in Rome. I will stop in and see if they have it, And yes please PM me the e-mail address.

[schrackman]

It's Kodak BW400CN Sorry for the mix up. We only have one camera shop here in Rome. I will stop in and see if they have it, And yes please PM me the e-mail address.

Yes, that's the same b/w film you see me using on that link. It has it's uses but it doesn't give me the older, classic look that I like in BW.

By the way, don't leave yourself stuck to one f/stop setting when shooting an entire roll. Don't be afraid to mix it up a bit with different shutter speeds and aperture combinations. Set your digital camera to aperture priority to tell you the proper shutter speed if you don't trust your Canonet's meter. What's the worst that could happen but come out with a bad roll? LOL

Oh, and PM sent!

And by the way, I mentioned that I didn't like Kodak TMax 400 with the Canonet. But I got to thinking that perhaps the lab messed up my negs. I know my exposures were correct, but the whole roll seemed overexposed. Here's probably the best shot out of the whole, but I had to do some salvaging in photoshop to get it. It just doesn't have the look I was expecting from TMax, particularly since I've seen other photos with the same film.

[Tuna]

Very nice, Greg. The angle you chose provides good depth. I just bought the QL17 and am looking forward to shooting another roll with it. The first roll produced the cat shot - an advantage over the GSN is the option to go fully manual after taking the shutter priority reading.

Tuna

[schrackman]

Very nice, Greg. The angle you chose provides good depth. I just bought the QL17 and am looking forward to shooting another roll with it. The first roll produced the cat shot - an advantage over the GSN is the option to go fully manual after taking the shutter priority reading.

Tuna

Aw, Tuna, you should have let me know you were looking for a Canonet. I would have traded mine for your Leica. :smilewinkgrin: