View Full Version : Diary of a medium format virgin.
Today I learnt my first lesson. The film doesn't wind itself on and if you don't wind it on you take atleast two shots over the same bit of film.:bang:
Then, after taking a second shot after changing position I learn't my second lesson. I no longer have the luxury of autofocus and have to re-check focus before EVERY shot.:bang:
Oh how I get that! My first time out I left the winder on "multi" too. Didn't wind the film on the spool properly and ended up with a completely unexposed film which I then went on to develop brilliantly!
It's addictive though :)
But then you see your negative and remember why Medium Format, despite having some disadvantages on a limited budget - is worth all the patience in the world.
It appears I didn't learn my lesson about winding the film on at all. I asked the wife to let me take her photo and repeated the same trick again.
:lol: Sounds like you're having fun mate :lol:
I'm considering looking into MF myself so a thread like this is spot on for me - keep us updated :thumbs:
Venomator
01-05-2008, 20:35
:lol: ... And still no pictures ... :shrug:
:popcorn:
The diary is a nice idea though ... :D
:p
turbotoes
01-05-2008, 20:43
:lol: ... And still no pictures ... :shrug:
:popcorn:
The diary is a nice idea though ... :D
:p
No, No, he's got lots of pictures, they are just all on the one bit of film :p
Have you got any pics from yours yet Ven?
I've been busy nifty fiftying but I'll get back to the MF now. Might try to get some pics this weekend (weather permitting)
Venomator
01-05-2008, 20:46
:lol: ... :lol:
Nice one Turbotoes ... :clap:
:p
Venomator
01-05-2008, 20:47
Have you got any pics from yours yet Ven?
I've been busy nifty fiftying but I'll get back to the MF now. Might try to get some pics this weekend (weather permitting)
Just answered Kev on the very same question in the original MF thread Ali ... :D
:p
Today I went mountain biking with my Lubitel and my equally ancient russian light meter. I saw what I thought was a nice photo, the wife riding up a tree lined track where the branches met to form an arch and frame the wife on her bike.
Step one, out with the light meter and point it in the direction of the shot.
Step two, dial in the exposure on the Lubi.
Step three, fire.
Only after I took this once in a lifetime shot (there was no way the wife was going to ride that hill again) did I think it might be wise to see how my light meter compares to my DSLR. Brilliant, it was about a stop and a half down on the digi cam. That should make a nice black frame to use as a coaster.
Onwards and upwards (literally) and I stopped to take another shot of the wife riding a path along the side of a steep hill. She was travelling left to right, I pre-focused on the point of capture and then picked up the wife through the viewfinder, and then she was gone. God damn it, I knew she was travelling left to right but I still moved the camera right to left as the sodding inverted picture got the better of me.
And just to top the day off, at the end of the ride I decided to finish the film with a nice portrait or two of the wife. Can you guess what I did? Yes that's right, I forgot to wind the film on between frames :bang:. When will I learn.
Anyway time to get the film off to Colab for developing and see what damage I've done.
On a plus note I showed the camera to my father in law who promptly showed me his Rollicord TLR and Western something or other 5 light meter which still meters bang on the button when compared to my DSLR. I'm going to relieve him of them the next time his back is turned.
Venomator
04-05-2008, 21:55
:lol: ... great day out then Kev ... :shrug: ... thanks for sharing your experiences with us ... made me giggle anyway ... :D
I think you might mean the Weston Master 5 light meter ... :thinking: ... just got mine and think it is a super little meter and relatively easy to use too ... ;)
Look forward to seeing your images from the day ... :D
:p
Today I went mountain biking with my Lubitel and my equally ancient russian light meter. I saw what I thought was a nice photo, the wife riding up a tree lined track where the branches met to form an arch and frame the wife on her bike.
Step one, out with the light meter and point it in the direction of the shot.
Step two, dial in the exposure on the Lubi.
Step three, fire.
Only after I took this once in a lifetime shot (there was no way the wife was going to ride that hill again) did I think it might be wise to see how my light meter compares to my DSLR. Brilliant, it was about a stop and a half down on the digi cam. That should make a nice black frame to use as a coaster.
Onwards and upwards (literally) and I stopped to take another shot of the wife riding a path along the side of a steep hill. She was travelling left to right, I pre-focused on the point of capture and then picked up the wife through the viewfinder, and then she was gone. God damn it, I knew she was travelling left to right but I still moved the camera right to left as the sodding inverted picture got the better of me.
And just to top the day off, at the end of the ride I decided to finish the film with a nice portrait or two of the wife. Can you guess what I did? Yes that's right, I forgot to wind the film on between frames :bang:. When will I learn.
Anyway time to get the film off to Colab for developing and see what damage I've done.
On a plus note I showed the camera to my father in law who promptly showed me his Rollicord TLR and Western something or other 5 light meter which still meters bang on the button when compared to my DSLR. I'm going to relieve him of them the next time his back is turned.
LOL. Great post - really had me chuckling. :lol:
You really need to drum it into your head Kev - take the shot and wind on straight away, try to condition yourself to think of it as one process - you don't do one without the other. You'll still forget now and again though. :D
Today there were some more firsts for the Medium Format Virgin. Today I tried slide film, I've no idea if the camera even works as I've not had the first film developed but I couldn't wait. We went to Bradgate Park in Leicestershire with the dogs and I learnt a valuable lesson. Manual Focussing, Medium Format and two Springer Spaniels do not make for a happy photographer.
Eventually I managed to knacker them out so they'd sit still long enough to have their photo taken. I even mixed it up with some off camera flash action. Nothing like trying to run before you can walk is there.
Anyway I've got three frames left to use and that can go in the post too. I definately need to nick that light meter off my father in law as well.
And i even think I remembered to wind the film on too.
ha haaa, been there done that:lol:
I was quite surprised how many I actually called "successful", I mean anything short of err.....black or white was a triumph in my book:lol:
Just lately, I've been shooting a lot of night shots where my meter cant read and where reciprocity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocity_%28photography%29) rears its ugly head.
So, I've been using this chart (http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm), it looks complicated but I printed it and work out exposure for the scene.....before I leave the house !
It also gives a decent guide for daytime exposure....if you've got nothing else.
So far, the night shots have been bang on:shrug:
Venomator
05-05-2008, 21:14
:lol: ... (again) @ Kev ... I'm beginning to understand precisely how you are feeling m8 ... :suspect:
AND ... Great linky Jox ... :thumbs: ... bookmarked for bedtime reading that little lot methinx ... :D
:p
photostar_1
05-05-2008, 21:21
What a learning curve we are all on! It's fun though....isn't it? :thinking: :woot:
Venomator
05-05-2008, 21:26
Oh YES ... :suspect:
AND ... who confirmed you "really am a GoW" ... :shrug:
:p
Tell me the advantages of medium format please.
Fun, Janice. It's just more fun. No chimping and trying again and again. You just work things out as best as you can go for it, hoping that when you get the film developed you got it right. I've not even been doing it a week and I'm really enjoying my photography more than I have done in a long time.
Venomator
05-05-2008, 21:35
It's bigger J ... and in this case it usually means better ... :naughty:
:p
Fun, Janice. It's just more fun. No chimping and trying again and again. You just work things out as best as you can go for it, hoping that when you get the film developed you got it right. I've not even been doing it a week and I'm really enjoying my photography more than I have done in a long time.
Well isnt that just an SLR like I used to have?
whats the medium format bit about?
Venomator
05-05-2008, 21:39
Your SLR would have been 35mm J ... MF is based around 120 type film and gives a bigger negative ... say 6x4.5 or 6x6 or 6x7 cm ... etc., ... :shrug:
Bigger neg = better quality for enlarging and stuff ... ;)
You can also do it MF in digital now though ... :D
:p
Yep J, the negs are HUGE! So you can scan them and blow them up BIG. Or just have cracking resolution straight from the box.
Yes it's old, yes it's clunky, yes it's unpredictable but all those things make you really think about what you are doing rather than the sheer disposability of digital.
Hmmm I can see the attraction now. But my bank account can't! ;)
Anything bigger than 35mm film is considered Medium Format.
Anything bigger than errr 6x9, excluding panoramics is Large Format
You can compare a 1D sensor @ not quite 35mm with 6x6 film.
Kev's shooting a TLR, its 6x6, Photostar shoots Bronica 6x6, Vens faffin with an RB67 so called because.....yep...you guessed it, its 6x7.
The 6 denotes 60mm, its actually 56 mm square
http://i25.tinypic.com/vnnzpx.gif
Thanks for that Joxby,.... very informative.
So one would need sufficient funds to "run" such a beauty as far as developing costs go and finding out youve made a cock-up! :D
Nothins free......you could sell your digital gear:lol:
Nah, its just great fun, and good or rubbish....it exists as a thing you can see and touch, by nature, it cant be shoved to the back of a hard drive and never exist as anything other than 1's and 0's.
You can shove it in the back of a cupboard, but It'll always be real:)
*removes rose tinted specs*
Finance-
I dunno, everything we enjoy doing costs money.
If you develope your own b/w, its not very expensive, it depends whether you count the route taken to the product as as much the entertainment as the product itself.
Why aren't any of you lot shooting a frame of traveling 6x9 Clack...
Oh I get the cost thing J. I'm developing my own B&W in the cellar and it has not cost me much for a developing tank and some chemicals. Now all I need is a properly exposed film!
Why aren't any of you lot shooting a frame of traveling 6x9 Clack...
I missed the list first time round. The thread has gone quiet too.
You can get TLR's for under a tenner on ebay or if my father in law parts with his TLR I'll probably pass on the one Groucho gave me so somebody else can get the enjoyment. Cost wise you can get the film for a couple of quid a roll especially if you buy in bulk making it about 20p a negative. Sending it off for developing is the expensive bit, about £15 for developing and scanning to disk or printing at about 8"x8". I might look at having a go at developing once things have calmed down on the home front one day.
DLAB7 will develop and mount slide film for about £3 I think and you can either print from that or scan into your PC.
Hi just wondering seeing as you a virgin to medium format, what camera have you got?
With any new equipment, I would read the instructions for the feel of it!
Nothins free......you could sell your digital gear:lol:
Why aren't any of you lot shooting a frame of traveling 6x9 Clack...
Oh no, i have got one them somewhere as well:)
Hi just wondering seeing as you a virgin to medium format, what camera have you got?
With any new equipment, I would read the instructions for the feel of it!
I've got a lubitel 2 which has no instructions although I found some on the internet but the camera is so basic it doesn't need them. To be honest, most of the problems haven't been with a lack of technical understanding on my part it's just getting used to a different way of working and forgetting the procedures.
If I was making this many mistakes with my digital kit I'd prbably be getting the arse with myself but for some reason with this basic film kit I can just laugh it off.
Hi just wondering seeing as you a virgin to medium format, what camera have you got?
With any new equipment, I would read the instructions for the feel of it!
Kev is a bloke :lol:
And it is well known that alll us blokes do not read instructions or maps :rules:, which why we never understand the video recorder :bang: and why we post questions on the interent :help: to find out how our new equipment works :eek::lol:
Great diary Kev really enjoy reading it,
Venomator
08-05-2008, 12:50
The thread has gone quiet too.
:lol:
It's your diary Kev ... are you not keeping us posted with ALL your activities ... :naughty:
Bring it on ... :D
:p
No fool, I was talking about the travelling 6x9 thread. I finished my first roll of slide film last night and it's winging it's way to Guernsey at the minute. I really should wait for the first two rolls to come back to see if the camera (or me) is even working properly but I'm not sure I can resist sticking another roll in it.
It this rate I might look at getting a 2nd hand scanner, it's got to be cheaper than what the labs are charging for burning a CD.
Venomator
08-05-2008, 13:35
I was talking about the travelling 6x9 thread.
:bonk:
Soz ... :cuckoo:
:p
antonroland
08-05-2008, 17:34
Keep it up Kev!:thumbs:
I also want to play with them again but the finances went the way of another body recently.
Hope to join you guys soon - are you doing colour or B&W or both?
I'm guessing that's the cherry officially popped now. I've just recieved my first developed and scanned roll back from Peak Imaging. I've not been able to have a proper examine of them as I'm at work and don't have Lightroom here but so far everything seems pretty much as expected. So here's the results of me losing my cherry you lucky, lucky lot. Can't remember the type of film but it was a Fuji 400 of some sort.
1.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0001.jpg
Yes that's right folks, I forgot to wind the film on and reset the focus after the first shot. This wouldn't be the last time either!
2.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0002.jpg
At least I only exposed it once this time, even if it was over exposed. Guess the DSLR metering is quite the same as the film's requirements in this case. If I remember rightly most of these were shot at 1/250 (max speed of the Lubitel) and F16-22 due to the speed of the film and the amount of light outside. Definately don't need ISO400 all the time when I can only go upto 1/250.
3.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0003.jpg
There'll be no recovering that sky in Lightroom either.
4.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0004.jpg
Can you guess what I did here yet?
5.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0005.jpg
Not too shabby but I'm not convinced about shooting from the hip and looking up at people.
6.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0006.jpg
I think I'm losing my model's attention!
7.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0007.jpg
Isn't this beautiful? No I am not some type of fireplace afficienado it was a test to see if the flash would sync at 1/250. Result. That's with un-modded poverty wizards too.
8.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0008.jpg
SWMBO won't appreciate me posting this but hey ho. It's got a very LOMO feel to it but I'm surprised by the green cast. I would have expected an orange one from an indoor light bulb.
9.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0009.jpg
This in the one where I found my meter was 1-1.5 stops down on my DSLR. I promise you it looked better in my mind's eye.
10.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0010.jpg
Follow the rider, right to left, left to right, bugger. More blown sky, nice eh!
11.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0011.jpg
Quelle surpise!
12.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/3907_001-S1-0012.jpg
Not quite what I had in mind but it was hard to frame with the camera on the bench and me being so close, if I'd stood up I might have spotted the obvious problem though. I quite like the colours though.
Comment away folks, I know most of these would be deleted if they were on my DSLR. I'd have been really p155ed off if I'd taken these on my KM5D but I've had so much fun with these and I now can't wait for the roll if slide film to come back.
LOL. My RB67 is supposed to be double exposure proof, but we'll see. :D
Definite signs of progress, with the last one looking good, but just a bit contrasty, although you'd have had just the same problem with your DSLR in that light - you'd have been better moving into the shade.
I'm glad to see you're enjoying it and not letting these little setbacks deter you. It's a totally different way of working, and you're bound to have problems initially. Just remember.... big oaks - little acorns. ;)
I've just loaded a roll of Provia 100F into the RB and I'm itching to get going. I just get such a buzz out of MF which digital doesn't give me.
skullfish
12-05-2008, 10:38
I thought my Ikonta was double exposure proof to. It certainly gives a little click as you wind it on.
The alarm bells started ringing when I had taken 10 shots, and it read 5 in the window...
Unfortunately it seems the double exposure lock assumes that the user is intelligent enough that, once warned that he has to wind the film on, he winds it on fully... One film down.
(Did get some really interesting shots though)
Nice to see it being used Kev, maybe i should have sent you an old ensign selfix camera i have somewhere, because you only forget to wind on once with it.
It has sharp reminder if you dont, in the middle of the shutter release button it has really sharp spike and if you dont wind on the film when you attempt to press the shutter, this spike sticks up into your finger and can draw blood:gag:
lullz @ spiked button, actually, that's not a bad idea, how about 50,000 volts for blowing highlights with your dslr :lol:
Kev, #8 is ropey because the scanner was having difficulty finding something to scan, they auto correct exposure after a scan, I bet that neg is as dark as a dark thing.....in a black hole...at night.
You'd have to scan it without auto correct to see it how it was, or print it with an enlarger, the noise/funny colour cast comes from the scanner sensor.
Well done Kev! I'm enjoying you little adventure into MF. I had a Lubitel many (many) years ago and funnily enough I managed a few multiple exposures, but mine were nowhere near as 'artistic' as yours :clap: - Love Number 7 - that fire is well cool :gag:
I bet that neg is as dark as a dark thing.....in a black hole...at night.
... with an owl on it.
I quite like the double exposure shots.
I sent a couple of rolls off to DLAB today, prolly quite a few cock-ups expected too.
Venomator
12-05-2008, 22:27
Hey Kev ... :eek: ... well done m8 ... :thumbs: ... at least you've got some recognisable efforts on film to lose your cherry with ... :D
I haven't plucked up the course to attempt loading the 120 in to my RB yet ... :suspect: ... and I have plenty of it to practice with ... :shrug:
At this rate I am not going to have a practice roll or three back from anywhere before my foray into Scotland in June ... :eek:
Good effort m8 I am well impressed ... ;) ... and your diary is a good read too ... :lol:
:p
Got my first roll of colour slide back from DLAB7 today, unfortunately they couldn't/wouldn't scan to CD so I'm off to blow £130 I don't have on a scanner, should be here tomorrow if I get my act together. Quite nice being able to hold them up to the window and see what's there I must say. Looks like there's only one double exposure, some damned aweful self portraits and a couple that I'm actually quite liking (which is unusual for me as I'm a fussy bastad). Stay tuned for the next diary update (with mugshots).
antonroland
19-05-2008, 10:38
I am not jealous at all...;)
Which scanner Kev? I'm chuffed with mine - flatbed scanners have come on out of all recognition.
I've decided to go with the Epson 4490, can only just stretch to that this month so no chance of getting the 4990 of whatever it's replacement is. Did look at a canon 8800 something or other that was about a tenner cheaper but I've read enough good things about the epson to not worry about a tenner.
Nice one Kev
I do like the double exposure ones, maybe we should have a "Double/Multiple forgot to wind on exposure" photo contest :D
I've decided to go with the Epson 4490, can only just stretch to that this month so no chance of getting the 4990 of whatever it's replacement is. Did look at a canon 8800 something or other that was about a tenner cheaper but I've read enough good things about the epson to not worry about a tenner.
The Epson will be great. :thumbs:
You might want to try out this http://www.hamrick.com/ scanning s/w. Works with a multitude of scanners.
Excellent thread, btw, I really must get my old 6*6 out and have another go with it.
Thanks for the link John-oh, I'll see how things go when the scanner turns up. Glad your enjoying the thread too.
Venomator
19-05-2008, 21:05
Congrats on the scanner purchase Kev ... :thumbs:
Intrigued why DLab don't scan to CD ... :shrug: ... did you know this before ... :thinking:
:p
No I didn't know. I bought the development voucher through 7dayshop and then looked at the dlab7 website as I was packaging up the film. I thought it said it was a tenner to scan to CD so stuck a cheque in with the film. I got a call a few days later saying they couldn't scan medium format (didn't give a reason and where I was it was too noisy to get into a conversation about it) and asked if I wanted the film developed and cheque returned or if I wanted everything sending back as is. Looking at the bit of paper that came with the negs I presume they only scan 35mm.
Never mind, it won't be a problem for much longer. How are you getting on with the new camera?
Venomator
20-05-2008, 20:32
Never mind, it won't be a problem for much longer. How are you getting on with the new camera?
Thanks for the update ... :thumbs: ... always good to know these things beforehand ... ;)
I have had a couple of forays with the Polaroid back but tbh have been bit nervous about the whole 120 thing - which is totally daft because we are off to Scotland in just over two weeks and I had planned to practice and get some results back before we go ... :eek: ... maybe this coming weekend will see me playing for real and will still leave me time to get the developed stuff back ... :D
AND ... my Green Holga arrived today ... :woot: ... :naughty: ... another camera not to use as my Son says ... :shrug:
:p
Come on Ven, you have to take the plunge. I'm going to Scotland the same time as you so I might just have to take it along (it's a family holiday and I will be ritually murdered!)
I've got two rolls waiting to develop, I'm off to the cellar tomorrow with my developer..........I may be some time......................
Venomator
20-05-2008, 21:02
Come on Ven, you have to take the plunge. I'm going to Scotland the same time as you so I might just have to take it along (it's a family holiday and I will be ritually murdered!)
I've got two rolls waiting to develop, I'm off to the cellar tomorrow with my developer..........I may be some time......................
:lol: ... thanx for the encouragement Ali ... :thumbs: ... I am not sure I will ever get into the developing thing again but I am determined to take the monster (and every other new toy !) to Scotland and there is no way it is coming back unused ... :suspect:
But any rolls will be packed off for developing and, hopefully, scanning as I am a lazy git ... :D
:p
Right Ven
thats it
its time
cometh the hour...cometh the...snake.:lol:
Get some Velvia, your b/w licence has been revoked due to in-activity.:p
Can't think of a more beau place to shoot landscapes than Scotland, leave the digital in the tent and for one day shoot Scottish landscape on some 100F.
Sometimes ya just gotta hold yer nose and jump in, like when you got your first mortgage......err :suspect:..
ok, you get one roll of b/w to try before Scotland, just to make sure the camera is light tight and exposure is near enough:thumbs:
You can't go and not shoot 6x7 slides, it'd be a crime against humanity.
Venomator
20-05-2008, 21:29
Right Ven
thats it
its time
cometh the hour...cometh the...snake.
Get some Velvia, your b/w licence has been revoked due to in-activity.:p
Can't think of a more beau place to shoot landscapes than Scotland, leave the digital in the tent and for one day shoot Scottish landscape on some 100F.
Sometimes ya just gotta hold yer nose and jump in, like when you got your first mortgage......err
ok, you get one roll of b/w to try before Scotland, just to make sure the camera is light tight and exposure is near enough
You can't go and not shoot 6x7 slides, it'd be a crime against humanity.
:lol: .. :cuckoo:
But seriously ... my currently un-opened film tally stands at ...
PanF+ 50 = x2 rolls
FP4+ 125 = x2 rolls
Velvia 50 = x5 rolls
Plus two opened including one wasted Polaroid pack ... :lol:
So am I prepared or what ... :naughty: ... just gotta get some in the three or four backs I've now got and I can play away to my hearts ... :eek:
And I was gonna try one of each before Scotland so my promise to me is to take at least a full roll of B & W this weekend of any old subject close to hand and get it off to a lab come Tuesday ... :rules:
And I do agree with your can't go and not take 6 x 7 images of the experience ... ;)
Maybe ... :woot:
:p
You could do a wider iso range, your fastest film is 125 and that's b/w, just so you do have a choice.
There are times (as a Bronny shooter) when handholding i........actually, I bet I spend 70% of my time handholding, maybe you can get away with iso 50 if you don't plan on handholding....ever.
I take 5x100 & 5x400 slide, and a cart load of in between speeds b/w, just incase the weather is a crapper, I usually end up buying more slide when I get there:bonk:
What happens is, you shoot a roll, and even though you haven't seen a single pre-view:lol:, you can't put the sodding thing down till you've shot the lot....its so addictive, and thats without seeing one damn photo:lol:, its even worse when you know what you are getting.
I've bought a few rolls of Provia 100, (reversal) because I just love the stuff, with it's fine grain, and it's incredible ability to expose for as long as 2 minutes without any need to calculate added exposure for reciprocity failure, and with no nasty colour shifts either. Some would claim you could go longer, but Fuji themselves say two minutes.
Joxby makes a good point though, 100 ISO can be too slow in many situations, and having a few different speed films is a good idea.
Venomator
20-05-2008, 23:13
You could do a wider iso range, your fastest film is 125 and that's b/w, just so you do have a choice.
There are times (as a Bronny shooter) when handholding i........actually, I bet I spend 70% of my time handholding, maybe you can get away with iso 50 if you don't plan on handholding....ever.
I take 5x100 & 5x400 slide, and a cart load of in between speeds b/w, just incase the weather is a crapper, I usually end up buying more slide when I get there:bonk:
What happens is, you shoot a roll, and even though you haven't seen a single pre-view:lol:, you can't put the sodding thing down till you've shot the lot....its so addictive, and thats without seeing one damn photo:lol:, its even worse when you know what you are getting.
I've bought a few rolls of Provia 100, (reversal) because I just love the stuff, with it's fine grain, and it's incredible ability to expose for as long as 2 minutes without any need to calculate added exposure for reciprocity failure, and with no nasty colour shifts either. Some would claim you could go longer, but Fuji themselves say two minutes.
Joxby makes a good point though, 100 ISO can be too slow in many situations, and having a few different speed films is a good idea.
Very useful tips thanks a lot guys ... :thumbs: ... I have to say I had envisaged having the beast 'podded all the time and thought slower might be better but it does make sense to take some faster slide stuff and keep a back empty jic ... :D
If I can find some Provia I may get some ordered ... ;) ... but 400 seems to be the way to go for faster stuff ... :shrug:
:p
jaz-uk sells 5 packs of Provia 100F on fleabay Rog. Good price and fast delivery too.
Yep- something around 400 ISO for those duller days sounds about right.
Velvia is lovely stuff, but I just find the colour saturation a bit OTT sometimes, whereas Provia is more subtle and gives a stop more speed over Velvia. You should ought to take a roll or two of Provia to Scotland. Doing a Google image search on Provia will throw up loads of sample images.
What's holding you back Ven? Do what I did and write the first two or three rolls off as an experiment. I had no intention of getting any shots to be proud of whatsoever. All I wanted was to get a feel for what I was doing and having no self-expectations (which is unheard of for me) meant I could just get on and shoot.
With digital I'm always lookingat what I've just taken and getting annoyed about what should/could have been. None of that with film, I make a barely educated guess and get on with it and whatever happens happens. I'm sure this mindset won't last forever but I'm making the most of it whilst it does.
Things might be different for you because you have different expectations of your kit than I have of mine but if you write the first couple of rolls of to experience at least you'll get the ball rolling. :thumbs:
Venomator
21-05-2008, 22:15
jaz-uk sells 5 packs of Provia 100F on fleabay Rog. Good price and fast delivery too.
Yep- something around 400 ISO for those duller days sounds about right.
Velvia is lovely stuff, but I just find the colour saturation a bit OTT sometimes, whereas Provia is more subtle and gives a stop more speed over Velvia. You should ought to take a roll or two of Provia to Scotland. Doing a Google image search on Provia will throw up loads of sample images.
Thanx Cedric, I did use Jaz for some of my 120 and will have no hesitation in going back to him for Provia ... :D ... and a five pack should do me fine then ... ;)
Good to have your input ... :thumbs:
What's holding you back Ven? Do what I did and write the first two or three rolls off as an experiment. I had no intention of getting any shots to be proud of whatsoever. All I wanted was to get a feel for what I was doing and having no self-expectations (which is unheard of for me) meant I could just get on and shoot.
With digital I'm always lookingat what I've just taken and getting annoyed about what should/could have been. None of that with film, I make a barely educated guess and get on with it and whatever happens happens. I'm sure this mindset won't last forever but I'm making the most of it whilst it does.
Things might be different for you because you have different expectations of your kit than I have of mine but if you write the first couple of rolls of to experience at least you'll get the ball rolling. :thumbs:
I hear you Kev ... :D ... and this coming fine weekend will see me wasting at least two rolls of good fillum ... :eek: ... your words of encouragement are appreciated ... :lol:
What I will not do is commit to posting any of this weekends results ... :suspect:
:p
Go on! I did :)
If you are looking for B&W you could try Ilford HP5 ISO 400. I'm loving it :)
Venomator
21-05-2008, 22:38
Well I did recently post my first ever MF even if it was only a crappy Polaroid ... :D
Thanx for the tip Ali ... :thumbs: ... might just do that as I used to love HP5 in 35mm format ... ;)
:p
Venomator
23-05-2008, 14:34
Wowsa ... :eek: ... ordered 1 x 5 Provia 100F and 1 x 5 Provia 400X yesterday and they arrived today ... :clap:
Big up to Jaz-uk for extremely efficient service ... impressed once again, I am ... :clap:
Food for though over this coming long weekend ... :D
... and reckon I am well sorted for the holiday now ... probably no time for anything but photography at this rate what with twenty odd rolls of fillum, x2 packs of Polaroid and four cameras ... :eek:
:p
Ahem! As one of the "fairer" sex, I think you had better make some time! :)
Venomator
23-05-2008, 15:49
:eek: ... Doesn't sound very fair to me ... :suspect:
:lol:
:p
Neither will her mood if you bog off togging the whole time!
Thunderous might just about cover it. :bat:
(Just kidding your dear lady might actually enjoy it!)
Ok, so, technically I'm no longer the medium format virgin. I guess now I'm the highly inexperienced, done it once, room for improvement, medium formatter. Doesn't sound the same does it.
Anyway, I finally figured out my scanner, I need to mess about some more as the workflow isn't exactly flowing but here's a selection of my first roll of slide film, mostly shot at Bradgate Park on a ridiculously bright day whihc made me regret having loaded a roll of ISO400 a few days earlier.
1.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/img003.jpg
2.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/img005.jpg
3.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/img008.jpg
4.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/img010.jpg
5.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/img011.jpg
6.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/img013.jpg
7.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/img014.jpg
There's three frames missing where I was shooting myself and they're not fit for public consumption. I haven't done anything to these in photoshop as I really can't be arsed this morning and they're probably not worth the effort anyway. As you will see there was only one double exposure this time (I can assure you the three missing frames were not doubles either).
Looking at the slides against the window I was quite pleased but now I have them on the desktop I'm much less so. I'm generally quite hard on myself and tend to expect too much too soon and the same can be said of the equipment I use. I was hoping for better tbh but I doubt shooting at F22 on this camera was ever going to produce magic results.
What film is it ?
Unfortunately, I find it impossible to re-create the contents of the frame I can see with my eyes, on screen.
Even good scanners just don't cut the custard imo.
Y'know, I'm quite impressed with slide copying, although you don't get the resolution of a scanner, provided you get the correct backlighting my D200 + macro lens really gets close to a good copy of what I can see, without too much pp.
They look a bit flat, the scanner could have washed them out a bit though, you could pep em up a bit with pp.
Theres probably a lot more in those last two that the scanner isn't picking up, even though they are dark.
Props -
for metering with flash
for getting a decent exposure into the sun
for combining springers with photography (marriage made in hell):lol:
These aren't bad at all for shots taken into the light with fill flash. The files are only around 50kb apiece too, so suffering a lot from compression. These will look a lot better with some processing done on them.;)
Venomator
24-05-2008, 22:29
Well I'm seriously impressed Kev ... :thumbs: ... you've got images m8 ... :eek:
Don't be so flippin' hard on yourself man ... it's a brand new medium and you are on the bottom rung ... ;) ... at least you ain't no virgin no more innit ... :D
Don't forget the main thing we're in it for ... :shrug: ... enjoy !
:p
Flipping heck kev, you don't half jump in at the deep end!
Contre jour and springers........at the same time.......
Take it easy and try some simple stuff! A far as I'm concerned, the simpler the better right now!
# 05 is my favourite, these double exposures are great.
Word up homeys it's time for another installment of the highly inexperienced, done it twice, room for improvement, medium formatter.
The camera has been languishing on a shelf for quite some time, working away, moving house and a lack of inspiration have kept me from picking it up for some time. Anywasy I got a text off a mate the other day saying he was doing a 24 hour mountain bike race in Burton so thought it was just the excuse I needed. With the KM5D suffering from an accute case of black frame shutter death and still being away for repair there was nothing for it but to pick up the lubitel with whatever film was left in it, raid the fridge for whatever film was in there and head for the hills.
Nothing much going on during the day so I decided to go home and return at night for some light trails, unfortunately I'd lost my radio triggers in the house move so flash was out of the question. On the way home I popped into Jessops thinking they may have a cable release, silly me, luckily Burton has a reasonably well stocked independant camera shop who happened to have one. Light trails were the order of the night but I've got no idea how they'll turn out the light meter read a big fat zero and I didn't have the safety net of a DSLR to practice with. That could be the biggest waste of film you've ever seen.
You will however, all be pleased to know that not once did I forget to wind the film on and double expose the film. No this time I learnt a new trick thanks to the cable release. To fire the shutter you have to use the cocking lever which is next to the shutter release which is pretty hard to forget when hand. However it's perfectly possible using a shutter release to press the button on the cable without remembering to cock the shutter or remember that you haven't done it. At least I remembered to wind the film on.
Looks the my DSLR isn't the only camera capable of producing black frames :bang::bonk::cuckoo:
CaptainPenguin
19-08-2008, 13:30
Tell me the advantages of medium format please.
Just the shere quality of the images Janice,maybe a Nikon D3 can matchit and certainly a digital Hassleblad would but for 20,30,40 times the cost of an old manual medium format camera.
For those brought up on digital its a whole new world but the FUN at the end of the day is having manually metered and manually focussed you do get a lot of satisfaction when the result turns out to be a good shot.
I dont use Medium Format any more but I am still a manual nerd and often take out my 350D with manual lenses just to make sure I can still get a good shot without the help of auto everything
percymon
19-08-2008, 14:38
Nice diary Kev - i'm waiting for my first roll of 120 from the Broni to come back from peakimaging - hoping it will be here this week. Not sure i'll be brave enough to post the results though :D
What have you got to lose? As this thread pays testament to, nobody is going to expect you to be Ansel Adams or anything like that with your first roll and you'll get some encouraging feedback and pointers from it.
Kudos TP members for not making me chcuk the thing in the bin (or post it back to the person who gave it to me).
percymon
20-08-2008, 11:35
What have you got to lose? As this thread pays testament to, nobody is going to expect you to be Ansel Adams or anything like that with your first roll and you'll get some encouraging feedback and pointers from it.
the results aren't half bad, despite some awful subject matter around Runcorn ! Shall post some tonight once resized for the net.
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