Hi All

I have a 35mm spiral developing tank. Looking at the chemicals available I see that there are many that have been around for years (Microphen etc). Does anyone know of one that suits just occasional use -I'm thinking of shelf life of any stock solutions made up. Ideally I'd like to use a concentrate and add just enough to process one B/W film. I have some very accurate volumetric measuring devices.

Ideas/suggestions for black and white film devloping chemicals would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Geoff

Thanks Ken. I'm a little reluctant to buy second hand unless I knew the scanner had not had excessive use but its good to know that the Minolta does secure the negatives so well.

A general question to anyone who scans negatives - if you wanted to go to A4 size and had a good inkjet printer would the results via the scanner be as good as those returned by mail order D and PO houses? I wonder if these commercial mass D and P businesses use scan and inkjet rather than conventional enlarger. If they do use digital scans to rpint from then maybe a film scanner would be very comparable?

Geoff

With the various scanners mentioned how much of a problem is film curl? I have just got back a newly developed film which has been cut into strips of 4 35 mm negatives.

Using my cheap veho scanner's strip holder the end negative is not properly held leading to that part being out of focus.

I imagine the best solution would be for the negatives to be sandwiched between glass plates?

Thanks again for all your comments

Thanks for the thoughts. All very helpful. I can't see anywhere to buy the Minolta film scanner from. Does anyone know if its available under a different name or model number?

Having both a K10 and a KX I have found that I actually get more "keeperd" from the KX when it comes to fast moving sports scenes.

I now use the Kx on 11 point auto focus. Just a personal preference and maybe proof that my eyes can't beat the focus accuracy of the Kx technology while still keeping up with the action. The K10 might also be as good in its "novice" focus settings but then the chance to use higher isos on the Kx means faster shutter speeds and less camera shake.

Pentax DSLRs are improving and developing. Perhaps the "cons" mentioned above will be addressed in future models. All tools have their limitations but the KX and the KM are both well able to give great pictures and so often the greatest handicap is the guy who presses the shutter.

Hi All

I'm thinking that scanners (film and flatbed) will have improved at the same rate as digital cameras. Does anyone have any thoughts on or experience with a suitable scanner which might save me having to set up a wet dark room to make more creative use of 35mm black and white negatives?

I have a veho slide scanner which gives images which are ok for e-mailing but maybe not for decent sized prints.

One computer magazing mentions a C*non flatbed (9000F) as being a top choice but doesnt review it as a photo tool.

Hello Puma

The 50-135 is a great lens. I'd say well designed for portraits in natural light.

I got mine for use in floodlit sports where sometimes the telephoto end is not long enough at 135 mm so heavy cropping becomes the way

So its a great lens if you need that focal range.

I wonder what others will say or where they find it to be an invaluable lens.

Thanks for the pointers guys. I'll try some shots over the weekend. Then all being well I'll be looking for a medium telephoto manual lens.

I'm certain I'll find many thoughts on pentax film lenses in the pages of this forum.

Cheers

Hi All

I'd love to be able to make better use of this lens on my K10. I now understand that there is no way of getting the camera to stop it down.

Has anyone ever tried cutting the lens aperture strut that protrudes at the rear of the lens? The digital bodies dont seem to be designed to activate this mechanism. It seems to em that if this lever wasn't there the lens aperture ring could be used to fix thre aperture. At 1.7 the DOF is just too small for some subjects.

I realise that such surgery would invalidate the lens' guarantee but I guess its already 29 years out of its waranty!

Thanks

Hi Giofi
I also have the Sigma 70-300 which i bought at the same time as my K10. It has the advantage over Pentax 50-300 in that it allows for some macro work.

On balance I prefer the Pentax zoom. Seems to be a little sharper at the 250-300 mm end.

Maybe others have experiences which will help you to decide? No doubt zoom lenses have advantages and disadvantages. Folk will have their own views concerning the compromises.

When I look at my past football pictures the main issue has been the accuracy of the focus - followed by camera shake or subject movement.

As I mentioned above the KX seems to give me better focus and surely works well with the 50-300 mm lens.

Geoff