Another Leica IIIF!

Bill Banks · Apr 7, 2006

Hello everybody! I am a new member of APUG and this is my very first post!

Having not used my IIIF for many years, I have just sent it away for a complete overhaul. I bought this camera in 1967 when I was 15 years old but I haven't used it now for at least 20 years. To ensure I can recapture as far as possible, the authentic 1950's style of black and white photography, I have also ordered some Efke/Adox R100 and Neofin Blue from Retro Photographic here in the UK.

My question is, can anybody suggest a starting point for film speed and development time for this combination? I will be shooting mainly with my collapsible 50mm Summicron but also with 35mm Summaron, 90mm Elmar and 135mm Hektor. Initially I'll be using a modern diffuser enlarger, but eventually I will restore an old condenser enlarger from the same period to complete my 'retro experiment'!

Lee L · Apr 7, 2006

This combination has times listed here:

http://jandcphoto.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2

Lee

mtnbkr · Apr 7, 2006

Hey Bill, I think I know you...

Chris

elekm · Apr 8, 2006

There is also the Massive Development Chart. Doesn't cover every combination, and sometimes you just have to make your best guess.

http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.html

df cardwell · Apr 8, 2006

Hey Bill

Great stuff... don't throw out that diffusion head, that's authentic 50s gear !

The hot setup in those brave days was a focomat or valoy, and while they are condensor heads, the condensor sits on top of the neg, bringing the 'lightsource' into contact with the neg, resulting in a semi diffusion. Most of the guys I knew whe were working then either left it alone, or added a little drawing vellum between the anti newton disc and the condensor, making it a diffusion head.... same effect from a durst 606, or quite a few great enlargers from those thrilling days !

You can push the 100 film to 400 if you want to do the early '50s journalism thing.... it took a long time for tri x to catch on !

have fun

don

Lachlan Young · Apr 8, 2006

df cardwell said:
You can push the 100 film to 400 if you want to do the early '50s journalism thing.... it took a long time for tri x to catch on !

How many minutes in D76? (or did they use Edwal 12?)

All help much appreciated,

Lachlan

df cardwell · Apr 8, 2006

Lachlan Young said:
How many minutes in D76? (or did they use Edwal 12?)

All help much appreciated,

Lachlan

here's the goods:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f4018/f4018.pdf

for 'real time data', check out a copy of The Leica Manual, circa 1956... for current films, though, rely on the current kodak info.... it'll work for FP4+ too.

don

mtnbkr · Apr 9, 2006

mtnbkr said:
Hey Bill, I think I know you...

Nevermind, the other "Bill" is Blank, not Banks. Thought you were a guy from another forum...

Chris

Woolliscroft · Apr 11, 2006

Ah these modern cameras, I'm still getting good mileage from a IIIa. For an even more antique Leica approach, try using the 50mm camera lens on the enlarger. It's no coincidence that they both use the same thread.

David.

Bill Banks · Apr 15, 2006

Thanks, everybody. I picked up the camera today and I'm ready to go!

Another Leica IIIF!

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