Re: Thoughts from a 35mm FILM junkie


"David Starr" <davestarr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:0338k197fi3q2e3v5mk37krtf9ooiqrsop@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 22:04:28 GMT, "ian lincoln" <jessops@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>>I ask simply cos with digital the main thing you get is control.
>
> Some people equate "control" with "Don't worry about exposure, composition
> or
> lighting; Photoshop will fix it".

To take that attitude would require a professional level of skill in
photoshop. It would also be very slow and painstaking. I've paid £10 for
hand developed slides and they still had a huge dirty mark on it. Obviously
not enough wetting agent used and not washed for long enough along with poor
drying technique.

>
>>If you are simply taking into any store and processing the film straight
>>then it may
>>not be time for digital. I know someone who has two sheds. One for
>>photography and one for his woodwork. Building a shed. Getting it light
>>tight, then fitting ventillation, then running water.
>
> For 30 years, I used the laundry area in the basement (cellar) as a
> darkroom. I
> finally built a dedicated darkroom, with 8ft X 30 inch sink in a corner of
> the
> basement. Total cost was $500.00.

Ok in england only very old and expensive houses have cellars. you can
usually convert the roof space. If there isn't running water in that area
to start with plumbing it in can cost a fortune.

>>Doing own developing and printing in colour is savagely expensive to do
>>properly.
>
> My material cost for color 8x10's is $0.65 each. That's for Kodak Supra
> paper
> and Tetenal room temperature RA-4 chems. Getting the color balance and
> exposure correct is no harder than black & white; just take your time &
> use
> viewing filters.

Its best to use natural light. colour enlargers are typcially more
sophisticated. There was no filter tray on my gnome enlarger at all.

What do paper & ink cost to print a digital 8x10 at home?

Buy the manufacturers own branded stuff and it can be expensive. Almost £1
a sheet of A4. Quality lab A4 sheets can be £7. Some cheapo places can do
it for £3.

A
> Tetenal 5 liter C-41 kit is $55.95 plus shipping, and will process 60
> rolls.
> That's $1.00 per roll. Temperature control can be easily done on a low
> budget;
> it just takes a bit more time.

If you cannot accurately control the temp then you cannot 'learn' what to do
in advance as you have to calibrate your own brain each time you mix up a
batch and do a few test strips.

With b+w room temp is adequate so no heating required. could print a
standard contact *** on standard enlarger and standard time look at
contact *** and gauge the exposures. I could gauge exposures simply by
looking at negs. Couldn't do that with colour. If i went colour i would
spend on the approprate theromostat regulated baths. I have downloaded,
assessed printed cut out and mounted pictures ready to dash out to the club
within 2 hours. Everything would still be sopping wet with film. I also
get to do it all in a well lit fume free environment.

>
>> No point buying the finest camera lenses and then using a cheap enlarger
>> with a lens
>>that was made in a jam jar factory. Look to spend £1500 pounds.
>
> Omega D5-XL with color head, negative carriers, Rodenstock Rodagon
> enlarging
> lenses - 50mm, 80mm, 105mm, and 135mm, and stabilized power supply -
> $550.00 on
> Ebay.

Ebay can be applied to buying 2nd hand digital equipment too.

>
> Bottom line - I'd rather spend 8 hours in the darkroom developing film and
> making prints than 8 hours in front of a computer.

Most of that time is in total darkness. If you don't have an adequate entry
system you are stuck in there until you have made everything light safe.
Not so emcumbered by a computer room.

Can you communicate with pals, check your mail, listen to music play a game
edit a video and print pictures in your dark room? You will find that other
members of the family don't become garage widows to your 8 hour ventures
into the darkroom.

Then there is the disposal of the chemicals, ventilation, skin complaints,
adjusting your eyes back to natural light.


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