An excellent presentation by Ilford Photo/Harman Technologies rep Michael Bain

[Sibben]

For B&W it's Ilford all the way for me. It's a conscious patronage. I presently use Rodinal but I might even switch developer just for the heck of it.

 

[baachitraka]

Please do not underestimate 35mm.

 

[MDR]

Chip j DHW Rollei still makes MF film cameras, Holga and Lomography still make MF cameras, Linhof still makes MF cameras, Zero Image still makes MF cameras, Mamiya still sells and maybe still makes MF cameras, Ebony still makes MF cameras and the list goes on and on. There are currently more makers of MF equipment than 35mm cameras not the other way around.

Also baachitraka is right please do not underestimate 35mm. Some of the greatest and most iconic images of the 20th century were made with them, also with MF and LF cameras of course. Some scenes and subjects are better suited to the 35mm aestethics and some to the MF and LF look.

 

[Ian Grant]

The medium format film camera companies are all out of business,

Really, what about Rolleiflex, Fotoman, Gaoersi, Lomo Cosina (Fuji). Pentax, Hasselblad and Mamiya still make cameras, things could change once the glut of second hand equipment has dried up.

Ian

 

[tal bedrack]

recently I'm revisiting 35 mm after doing a lot of shooting and printing with 120. i find that with 35 mm it's easier to accentuate the nature of film more than it is with the larger formats, where it's more about resolution and gradation.

 

[baachitraka]

Please do not forget Holga et al.

 

[Roger Cole]

Please do not underestimate 35mm.

I don't, nor do I dismiss HCB even though it's nothing I aspire to.

But to say "most of the greatest" is either a gross exaggeration or a narrow definition of "greatest."

 

[Truzi]

IMHO there is still nothing quite like a well exposed medium format color slide. For the life of me I cannot understand how someone can claim that color digital is the way to go after looking at a medium format slide show.

They probably havent looked at it. I only recently shot some colour slides in 120 and was blown away!

I was going to respond with that

I'd taken some snapshots on 35mm (negative film), had them processed by a shop that scans the negatives to print them RA-4. When I showed a coworker my snapshots, he commented how they had a "kind of 3-D effect" compared to digital snapshots he's seen printed.

I've another coworker who does some professional work (online and real-life magazine). He's all digital now, since that makes the most sense for what he is doing. He started with film, doing weddings and events. He does still love film, and whenever I mention Ilford he smiles. I like variety and experimenting, but the more black & white I do, the more I am drawn to Ilford (Tri-X not withstanding).

 

[TimFox]

Interesting comment. I showed some 8x10 Ektachrome transparencies to a business acquaintance, and he remarked that they looked holographic.
I love viewing 8x10 transparencies on a good light box: no magnification needed.

 

[analoguey]

Ah... 8x10 transparency...That would be something. I havent even shot 4x5 in colour yet.
A friend while looking at 120 transparencies said ' this shouldnt be scanned, the scanner cant do justice to this, this would be protected!'

I was going to respond with that

I'd taken some snapshots on 35mm (negative film), had them processed by a shop that scans the negatives to print them RA-4. When I showed a coworker my snapshots, he commented how they had a "kind of 3-D effect" compared to digital snapshots he's seen printed.

Yep, there definitely is that wow factor to film.


Sent from Tap-a-talk

 

[Andre Noble]

B&W film, especially slower speed film in air tight cannisters and wrappers keeps for a very long time. Ilford is making s9me pretty awesome emulsions right now in FP4+ and Delta 100 that will likely store well for at least 2 decades if frozen well. Others such as their Delta 3200 will not. Thier B&W fiber paper is the benchmark by which all others are compared. So yes it would be great if they are able to survive far into the future.

 

[omaha]

For the life of me I cannot understand how someone can claim that color digital is the way to go after looking at a medium format slide show.

It seems to me that the history of photography is pretty much one where "ease" replaced "quality" at every step of the way.

 

[Vaughn]

It seems to me that the history of photography is pretty much one where "ease" replaced "quality" at every step of the way.

You can replace 'photography' with 'our society' and still be correct.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Most of the greatest pictures (since the 30s) have been taken on 35mm.

Tell that to Weegee. Or Joe Rosenthal. Or Bill Anders. Or...



Ken

 

[pbromaghin]

It seems to me that the history of photography is pretty much one where "ease" replaced "quality" at every step of the way.

Prime example, one of my favorites:

http://www.shorpy.com/node/4945?size=_original

 

[Pioneer]

Prime example, one of my favorites:

http://www.shorpy.com/node/4945?size=_original

Great link. Thank you very much. I am always amazed, and inspired, by these truly stunning images made so very long ago.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Vince,

So pleased you enjoyed Mike Bains presentation....

35mm remains ( by far ) the highest volume sales by m2.

We love all formats......

Every photograph taken should be judged only on its merits as a photograph not the film format or camera it is imaged on.....in my humble opinion.....

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Great link. Thank you very much. I am always amazed, and inspired, by these truly stunning images made so very long ago.

They knew the value of preparation and time. We seem to be in such a hurry to get something done we miss the subtle things that make a photograph work. Then again preparing a glass plate must have been quite a job in the field.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Coating glass plates in the factory today is still 'quite a job' !

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology limited

 

[pbromaghin]

Coating glass plates in the factory today is still 'quite a job' !

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology limited

Simon, with all the scientific glass plate products you offer, how possible would it be for you to offer them for conventional dry plate photography? Of course it would be a very small market.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear pbromaghin,

Its not commercially viable for the market, we produce plates that are typically small such as 1" x 3" as soon as the size increases the waste factors to produce 'A' quality plates rise significantly and the price would become untenable except to a tiny proportion to end users.

Sorry

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[MattKrull]

Simon,

This is off topic, but I'm really curious:
What is the advantage of a 1" x 3" plate over film? Why do these applications use such a small plate instead of a larger film surface?

 

[Simon R Galley]

The scientific coatings that we do are used in 'hostile' environments such as the nuclear industry, materials testing etc and where optical glass is required as film base would not be capable of recording defined images:

Simon ILFORD Photo HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[pbromaghin]

Interesting Information. Thank you, Simon.