Lurker comes out to post

[LenB]

Hello Photrio community,

I joined here in 2018, but haven't posted until now.
One thing that motivated me to post is to acknowledge what a great resource this is!
If I search something photographic online, I often get pointed here.
The depth of knowledge is great. I've only scratched the surface.

I got seriously interested in photography 50 years ago. I know, right!?!
That interest led me to Toronto Metro University (formerly Ryerson Polytechnical Inst.)
I eventually finished with a degree in "Colour Technology".
I'm grateful for that opportunity and it led me to a career in darkroom printing, photofinishing,
Custom lab "Image assembly or photo comp." as they called it, graphic arts repair, and then photofinishing equipment repair.

I've retired, and I've been rebuilding my camera collection and am nearly ready to use my darkroom.

I have a large backlog of film to process, and lots of ideas of photo projects.
I never thought I would process colour film at home, but I've ordered a Kodak kit.

One of my crazy photo project ideas, is to shoot and process some 250 long exposure rolls of film.
If anyone has a way to process that length of film, let me know.

Eventually I will find the right place and post something about that.

Cheers!

Len

 

[BrianShaw]

Welcome, Lurker Len!

 

[MattKing]

Welcome from nearby!

 

[mshchem]

Good to hear from you. 250 exposure rolls, Brilliant! I have an old aerial film processor, everything from 35mm up to something like 9 inch wide film. It's like the old Morse movie film processor. Simply winds the film back and forth in a couple gallons of developer. Simple
Then there's the giant reels, but those are tricky!
Keep posting.

 

[gordrob]

Welcome to Photrio
I have both the Pentax Spotmatic Set 250 and the Canon FN100 roll film backs and film loaders but have only been able to use the Canon FN100 because I have never been able to track down a reel system that would take the 250 frames. I have a Nikor reel and stainless steel tanks that take the 100 exposure rolls from the FN100. It is "fun" to load 15 feet of film onto the reel and process. I have the Nikor film loader that takes the reels for the 250 frames length but haven't used it yet because I haven't been able to track down the stainless steel reel for it.

 

[koraks]

Welcome aboard @LenB! Is there any particular reason you've decided to announce yourself now? Mind you, I'm not complaining - quite the opposite! Just curious what brought you out of hibernation, as it were.

 

[Don_ih]

If anyone has a way to process that length of film

I have never been able to track down a reel system that would take the 250 frames

What about one of those Lomo UPB tanks? It can take 100' of 35mm film. 250 exposures is 30 feet?

 

[Tel]

A friend of mine from Concordia in Montreal has been working on this: https://labcaf.ca/

 

[Don_ih]

A friend of mine from Concordia in Montreal has been working on this: https://labcaf.ca/

Looks like that's been inactive for 5 years or so.

 

[gordrob]

What about one of those Lomo UPB tanks? It can take 100' of 35mm film. 250 exposures is 30 feet?

I wasn't aware of the Lomo tanks. I will have to keep an eye out for one of them.

 

[Don_ih]

@gordrob they don't load the way a plastic spiral does. It's a bit fiddly but it's something you can probably get used to doing, after a while.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Congrats on stepping out of the shadows
Lower mainlander? Van Islander? North coaster?

 

[LenB]

Hi everyone!
Thank you for the welcome and the replies.

See! I asked a question and have learned a lot right away.
@Don_ih, I had no idea that the Lomo unit existed. Same with the Nikor tank and reels.

@MurrayMinchin, I moved to the East coast of Vancouver Island from the lower mainland close to 2 years ago.

@MattKing, I was living in Maple Ridge most recently but lived all around, but not in Delta.
I spent a fair bit of time in Delta. I had a challenging problem with a machine there.

@Tel, That project looks very interesting. I have been thinking of my own (different) approach.

@mshchem, Ooooh! That sounds like what I had envisioned.
If I can buy something that works right away, I will. If not, something like you describe here will be my first approach.

@gordrob, I would be happy if I could process 100 frames at a time. I may look into that. 250 exp. is preferable.

@koraks, I hadn't been able to dedicate my time to photography as much as I would like, until recently.
Over time, I have accumulated what I need for a modest darkroom. Now, I am nearly able to use it so I get keen on learning more.
I also found my way here when I started looking for darkroom sink designs.
I'm looking forward to adding 5x7 to my camera formats. A CCB 5x7 camera is a week or two away.
And lastly, something I did want to buy appeared for sale here, and I was not able to buy it, because I hadn't posted.

I have "several" 35mm cameras, like a lot of us here. My base system is the Canon F1n of the 70's. 2nd gen. if you will.
I have two 250 exposure backs but have never used them.

Lately, I have been enjoying the use of an Olympus Pen FT i was given as a gift recently.
Another 625 battery user! Such a nice little camera though.

Cheers everyone and thanks again for the messages.

Len