CDG
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2005
- Messages
- 62
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Wickenburg, Arizona
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
OK, so I know that the guys who shoot medium and large format are supposed to be the super film-geeks... :hail: However, please bear with me as photography is one of my more "minor" hobbies. I love all things mechanical, and recently came into a deal I couldn't miss- a Spartus Full Vue TLR box camera, with flashgun, origional literature, and bulbs. Judging from the front facia of the camera, it's one of the "newer" ones made through the 1950s. This camera uses standard 120 medium format film. It appears to be fully functional.
Now the most basic question is, which film to start with on this camera? It's a box camera. I've read from extremely uncredited sources that shutter speed is around 1/45, however I don't know that for sure. Watching the shutter, it is certainly no faster than 1/60th.
Next I want to complicate things up a bit- I've been thinking about just investing in a tank and some spools of my own. I like to shoot black and white film a lot in my 35 mm Nikon. Specifically, I used to get free film from my high school photo class- Ilford process 400 ISO. It seems like Ilford B&W is fairly common, and fairly cheap to buy chemicals for.
The question I'm getting at is whether or not it is possible to share chemicals and tanks (obviously one would need different spools) for an Ilford lab.
Lastly, how does the process type impact the cost of development? I was looking online and was noticing that while film is pretty cheap, development can run 15 bucks or more per roll. Who is a reputable company to develop medium format film?
Now obviously as I said, I am not really taking medium format too seriously. The Spartus Full Vue is an old TLR box camera, known to have light leaks. I've seen some really neat shots taken with one, however, and thought that buying this camera would not only satisfy my urge for the weird and wonderful, but might also give me the perfect excuse to get those developing tanks I've been talking about for some time now. Might also give me a good segway to eventually invest in some nice medium format gear sometime too. A fully equipped chemical darkroom with enlargers would be nice too, but one steup at a time...
Your thoughts and wisdom are appreciated. I'm most interested in film recommendations, but your thoughts on home-developing are also appreciated. Thanks!
Now the most basic question is, which film to start with on this camera? It's a box camera. I've read from extremely uncredited sources that shutter speed is around 1/45, however I don't know that for sure. Watching the shutter, it is certainly no faster than 1/60th.
Next I want to complicate things up a bit- I've been thinking about just investing in a tank and some spools of my own. I like to shoot black and white film a lot in my 35 mm Nikon. Specifically, I used to get free film from my high school photo class- Ilford process 400 ISO. It seems like Ilford B&W is fairly common, and fairly cheap to buy chemicals for.
The question I'm getting at is whether or not it is possible to share chemicals and tanks (obviously one would need different spools) for an Ilford lab.
Lastly, how does the process type impact the cost of development? I was looking online and was noticing that while film is pretty cheap, development can run 15 bucks or more per roll. Who is a reputable company to develop medium format film?
Now obviously as I said, I am not really taking medium format too seriously. The Spartus Full Vue is an old TLR box camera, known to have light leaks. I've seen some really neat shots taken with one, however, and thought that buying this camera would not only satisfy my urge for the weird and wonderful, but might also give me the perfect excuse to get those developing tanks I've been talking about for some time now. Might also give me a good segway to eventually invest in some nice medium format gear sometime too. A fully equipped chemical darkroom with enlargers would be nice too, but one steup at a time...
Your thoughts and wisdom are appreciated. I'm most interested in film recommendations, but your thoughts on home-developing are also appreciated. Thanks!