Owning Multiple Cameras

[jann1033]

if you like chromogenic films (c41 b&w films like kodak bw400, xp2, etc.), you'll absolutely love the tone and scanability of true mono films!! once you try them you won't go back to chromogenic)



all you need is a dark area or merely a changing bag - somewhere to load the film into the tank. in a pinch, you can even use a few doonas/blankets draped over you while you're sitting down - just remember to take off your watch

if you are using a Petersen tank (i highly recommend it since it's extremely easy to feed compared to the old stainless steel reels, fits both 35mm and 120 film, and it's light proof) you can sit in the living room and develop while you watch tv. as Bob says, there is nothing like the smell of chemicals. but you can now get odour-free fixer (the chemical that generally has the smell that you remember from school days).

digitaltruth.com has a great list of development times for various films and developers. i use both d76 and hc110. hc110 is nice for the casual developer since it lasts forever and you don't need to mix anything ahead of time, nor do you need to store bottles of 'stock dilution' like you do with other developers (fortunately i have a shelf in the laundry room).

i don't do any printing at home - i scan them in and print via the computer/photo lab. when i want to do traditional printing from my negs, i'll go to a darkroom in town.

all you need is a tank, a thermometer, developer, fixer, some white vinegar (as a stop bath - it's not necessary, but it means you can reuse your fixer several times), and i recommend wash-aid which greatly reduces your rinse times. after that hang somewhere (preferably in the shower to help eliminate dust on the negs). it will cost maybe $35 usd to get you started, if that.


edit LOL @ dektol comment!! btw have you seen Epson 3800 prints? i think that's next on my cards.... not cheap to operate, though
edit#2 what am i doing up at 4:24am?!

oblio you done me wrong..one more thing i really don't need to start doing
bob, you might have something there.... if people will buy cologne that smells like brittany spears, why not?.

 

[ukcatfan]

if people will buy cologne that smells like brittany spears, why not?.

Now come on Jann, I was trying to eat lunch

 

[cryssi]

I was just going to post that we have a D200, SD400, I have an old Rebel and DH has an old Nikon (have no idea what model). We don't ever use the film slrs anymore. The SD400 is at MIL's house. We take the D200 everywhere. I want to get the $125 Canon underwater housing for the SD400 so I can take pictures while snorkeling at Castaway... , but we'll see if DH lets me get that after he buys me that 70-300mm that everyone is talking about...

I must've missed the thread about B&W film, but I wanted to pipe in with I loved the grain of Ilford XP2 (and the fact that I didn't have to be in the darkroom all night long...well, don't get me wrong, I loved the darkroom and kind of miss it here in this digital world). Back in my photography class, we did mural prints, and I shot with xp2...very nice! But then again, I don't really care for grainy pics...lol

DH's grandfather actually HAD an enlarger! He was totally going to get it for me (back when we started dating) but he found out that his grandfather had gotten rid of it! If I had that, I probably would have built a small darkroom in our house (or at least modified the laundry room to double as one...that would have been cool!). Developing film was kind of a pain and took a long time, but I sure did like making prints...

Anyway, guess I'll be sticking with photoshop these days, and to the OP, yes, go aheand and get your 2 cameras...

 

[Groucho]

if you like chromogenic films (c41 b&w films like kodak bw400, xp2, etc.), you'll absolutely love the tone and scanability of true mono films!! once you try them you won't go back to chromogenic)

I've used mostly "true" b/w film - this b/w-as-color was just stuff that I happened to get for free. Thanks to the pile of film I got for free, I haven't bought any in quite a few years - most of it "expired" 2003 or so but seems to still be giving decent results. And there are still a few dozen rolls left... but only 3-4 b/w ones.

all you need is a dark area or merely a changing bag - somewhere to load the film into the tank. in a pinch, you can even use a few doonas/blankets draped over you while you're sitting down - just remember to take off your watch

Well, I'd probably want prints from all these, so if I'm going to pay for prints anyway, I'll probably be inclined to just pay for the developing, too.

I certainly understand where you're coming from - hey, I still change the oil myself on our new cars even though it's barely cheaper than paying someone to do it, just for the feel of getting in there and doing it myself - but I just don't do enough film work, much less b/w film work, to justify developing it myself.

If I found myself doing more, I might be inclined to take advantage of my friend's darkroom and enlargers... But at this point, I just don't have the time, there are too many other hobbies demanding my time!