Thanks to lensflare I have a Hasselblad X-Pan to play with for a little while. I popped a 400ASA Neopan into it and off I went. I shot any old rubbish because I wanted to try it out and not worried at all about the results.
I have found this is a useful way to approach the first films though any camera because it avoids frustration when it does not go right
So I took the first film out it tonight and off to my little basement developing centre (AKA the utility room) Useful because it has a sink and no window. Perfect!
I was a little dubious about this one because a) I've not done any 35mm B&W for ages and though I can get MF film onto a Patterson tank spiral I did wonder how 35mm would go. Not a problem second attempt and on it went. Not too difficult at all. In went the developer and a bit of shimmying about ensued. Now this is where the other dubious bit b) comes in. I have not developed a B&W in some time and I was not too sure about the efficacy of the developer that had been lying about over the summer even if it was in a black bottle.
Out came the dev, wash, wash, wash and in went the fix..........then more wash, wash, wash......the moment of truth. How would it look.........would I have the exposures anywhere near right, would it look all nice and full of tones albeit the wrong way round................................
No. It was purple. Magenta even.
I've made some fresh chemicals, loaded up the X-Pan again and off I go again.....:bonk:
It IS fun though, I'll get it right in the end.
I have found this is a useful way to approach the first films though any camera because it avoids frustration when it does not go right
So I took the first film out it tonight and off to my little basement developing centre (AKA the utility room) Useful because it has a sink and no window. Perfect!
I was a little dubious about this one because a) I've not done any 35mm B&W for ages and though I can get MF film onto a Patterson tank spiral I did wonder how 35mm would go. Not a problem second attempt and on it went. Not too difficult at all. In went the developer and a bit of shimmying about ensued. Now this is where the other dubious bit b) comes in. I have not developed a B&W in some time and I was not too sure about the efficacy of the developer that had been lying about over the summer even if it was in a black bottle.
Out came the dev, wash, wash, wash and in went the fix..........then more wash, wash, wash......the moment of truth. How would it look.........would I have the exposures anywhere near right, would it look all nice and full of tones albeit the wrong way round................................
No. It was purple. Magenta even.
I've made some fresh chemicals, loaded up the X-Pan again and off I go again.....:bonk:
It IS fun though, I'll get it right in the end.