Film processing for an idiot
Posted 15/02/2012 - 19:56 - Helpful Comment
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You need a developing a tank, an accurate mercury thermometer, some big glass or plastic bottles and the three chemicals if you want to do it yourself. Just follow the instructions that came with the film or look at the 'tech sheets' on the Kodak website. Its not at all difficult but it would be worth sacrificing a roll of film to practice loading the tank. This you do, of course, in absolute total darkness but there are daylight loading tanks available.
I've no idea what you mean by 'which I know is processed in the same way as a colour film in a little white cannister.'
Everything I know about film photography I read from the instruction leaflets that came with the film and the developer. There is nothing onerous, difficult or mysterious about any aspect of it.
On the other hand just send the film off to a reputable B+W processor.
I've no idea what you mean by 'which I know is processed in the same way as a colour film in a little white cannister.'
Everything I know about film photography I read from the instruction leaflets that came with the film and the developer. There is nothing onerous, difficult or mysterious about any aspect of it.
On the other hand just send the film off to a reputable B+W processor.
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Posted 15/02/2012 - 20:23 - Helpful Comment
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Ken is right - you don't need a much kit or even space to develop negatives.
If you want to save the effort and If your roll is Kodak B/W film designed to be processed in the same way as colour, then you don't even need to send it off as any high street developer like snappy snaps or jessops (or whoever) will be able to develop in the same way as they do colour films - probably in less than an hour. The Jessops I have used in the past charges £4 to just develop the roll. They will also provide scans on CD for a little extra. B/W which needs a different processing to colour I tend to send off to ilford photo lab, who take about three days via post (they will also provide scans on a CD). I tend to just get the negs developed and then scan them myself (although that's just because I happen to have access to a decent scanner) and then tweak them in photoshop (good for getting rid of dust and scratches)... but that's just me
If you want to save the effort and If your roll is Kodak B/W film designed to be processed in the same way as colour, then you don't even need to send it off as any high street developer like snappy snaps or jessops (or whoever) will be able to develop in the same way as they do colour films - probably in less than an hour. The Jessops I have used in the past charges £4 to just develop the roll. They will also provide scans on CD for a little extra. B/W which needs a different processing to colour I tend to send off to ilford photo lab, who take about three days via post (they will also provide scans on a CD). I tend to just get the negs developed and then scan them myself (although that's just because I happen to have access to a decent scanner) and then tweak them in photoshop (good for getting rid of dust and scratches)... but that's just me
Posted 15/02/2012 - 22:55 - Helpful Comment
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An mz7 and fa-50 is a perfectly reasonable combo!
Is your film Kodak bcn400? If so, then whack it into boots or jessops to get it devved, scanned and printed - it uses the same chemicals as normal colour film. If its t-max or tri-x then it's conventional b&w film. While this is easy to process yourself, it's worth checking you want to shoot more film before buying the kit. I Ford lab as mentioned above will process this and do lovely prints!
Is your film Kodak bcn400? If so, then whack it into boots or jessops to get it devved, scanned and printed - it uses the same chemicals as normal colour film. If its t-max or tri-x then it's conventional b&w film. While this is easy to process yourself, it's worth checking you want to shoot more film before buying the kit. I Ford lab as mentioned above will process this and do lovely prints!
Posted 16/02/2012 - 11:27
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As 'gartmore' as suggested above, but if you have no darkroom, a large changing bag is useful while loading the film into the developing tank.
Not everything in life is Black & White, If only it were!
Kind Regards,
Rees
Kind Regards,
Rees
Posted 16/02/2012 - 11:31
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Quote:
There is nothing onerous, difficult or mysterious about any aspect of it.
Even I can do it. Probably still could if I dug out the kit from the back of the cuboard under the stairs (my darkroom)There is nothing onerous, difficult or mysterious about any aspect of it.
regards
Bernard
PS if you get into it big time you can (or could) buy big rools of film (I think 200ft was the norm) and rewind your old cassettes
B
Just checked - Ilford B&W and Kodak Colour materials still available in 30.5 meter rolls, thats roughly 800 exposures worth
Posted 16/02/2012 - 12:02
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I agree that there's nothing mysterious about the process, but there's lots of ways how you carry it out can affect the final outcome. Presoaking, the degree and frequency of agitation, choice of developer type, temperature of development....all can alter the end result.
Such subtelties are not for the beginner though, and just keep a clean and repeatable process and you should be fine.
Such subtelties are not for the beginner though, and just keep a clean and repeatable process and you should be fine.
Best regards, John
Posted 16/02/2012 - 13:18
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There was an image and article in one of the mags last week, with a woodland path image shot on Kodak BW400CN chromagenic film - it was lovely and creamy with soft grey highlights, giving a smoky low contrast look. The photographer said he had deliberately set the camera's ISO dial 1 stop too low to achieve the effect (I think it was that way round! :shock
Can anyone elaborate on that?
Can anyone elaborate on that?
Posted 16/02/2012 - 13:18
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Just to begin by saying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with a MZ-7 and a 50mm f/1.4. It is an excellent combination and you may be surprised by how it compares to digital. Providing the scans are done properly you could even see a quality improvment!
Processing using colour chemicals is not for the beginner or the feint hearted. You either need specialist equipment or to get your temperatures and timings spot-on. Black and White is another matter and there is far more leeway than you can imagine. In fact it's quite difficult to damage a B&W film unless you do something badly wrong.
I think you can process Kodak CN films in B&W chemicals but it's not to be recommended. But go out and buy yourself some Pan-F and see how B&W photographs should look!
And just to add, there is nothing like the feeling of taking out a roll of film and looking at the negatives. It gives you far more pleasure than downloading from a memory card.
Processing using colour chemicals is not for the beginner or the feint hearted. You either need specialist equipment or to get your temperatures and timings spot-on. Black and White is another matter and there is far more leeway than you can imagine. In fact it's quite difficult to damage a B&W film unless you do something badly wrong.
I think you can process Kodak CN films in B&W chemicals but it's not to be recommended. But go out and buy yourself some Pan-F and see how B&W photographs should look!
And just to add, there is nothing like the feeling of taking out a roll of film and looking at the negatives. It gives you far more pleasure than downloading from a memory card.
Posted 16/02/2012 - 13:31
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Pentaxophile wrote:
It's OK to take the film out if you just want to look at the perforations!
greynolds999 wrote:
And just to add, there is nothing like the feeling of taking out a roll of film and looking at the negatives. It gives you far more pleasure than downloading from a memory card.
Just remember to develop them first! And just to add, there is nothing like the feeling of taking out a roll of film and looking at the negatives. It gives you far more pleasure than downloading from a memory card.
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Posted 16/02/2012 - 13:53
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#1 Then you've got a suitable strip to practice loading your tank with
#2 You've learnt something, you'll probably never do again
Bernard
#2 You've learnt something, you'll probably never do again
Bernard
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803 posts
15 years
Worcestershire
I am completely ignorant what to do next- I have an exposed roll of Kodak black and white film which I know is processed in the same way as a colour film in a little white cannister.
I want the photos scanned to disc- but I thought some prints might be quite nice too.
I've looked in the back of B&W Magazine and have been on a few of the websites- I am not sure what I need to "buy".
I take it as read that I need to "gen up" by reading about it- I would like to get the film in the post ASAP but would also be interested in any recommended reading for someone like me who has basic grasp of digital but no real knowledge of film.
Any recommendations from you very helpful people