Bought Techihara - only two mistakes the first day!

matti · Feb 4, 2007

I just bought my first 4x5 camera, a very nice Techihara with a Nikon 150/5.6 together with some new fidelity film holders.

Two times when I put back the dark slide after exposing the film, the film came out the wrong way of the darkslide. I have tried loading the ruined film in the light to pin down what I can be doing wrong, but I don't get it. Anyone have an idea? I also noticed that some of the pictures come out a bit rotated, so obviously my negatives aren't correctly inserted...

I have a question to people owning a Techihara: the bellows look very thin and light. Do they hold up well?

The second mistake was when I developed my first shots in a normal Paterson tank, with rubberbands around the negatives. I forgot to put in the centre column, and of course fogged the film... stupid me.

I also found out there are so many accessories you need with lf. So if I had any money, I would buy a real tripod, a dark cloth, a real back pack, a step wedge, some more film holders and a better loupe than my super cheap plastic scratched one.

/matti

Anupam Basu · Feb 4, 2007

matti said:
Two times when I put back the dark slide after exposing the film, the film came out the wrong way of the darkslide. I have tried loading the ruined film in the light to pin down what I can be doing wrong, but I don't get it. Anyone have an idea? I also noticed that some of the pictures come out a bit rotated, so obviously my negatives aren't correctly inserted...

Make sure you're inserting the film into the little groove in the holder and laying it flat.

The second mistake was when I developed my first shots in a normal Paterson tank, with rubberbands around the negatives. I forgot to put in the centre column, and of course fogged the film... stupid me.

I've done that even with rollfilm! For sheets I have finally settled on tray dev in 5x7 trays - six sheets a pop and a really peaceful quarter of an hour in pitch darkness!

I also found out there are so many accessories you need with lf. So if I had any money, I would buy a real tripod, a dark cloth, a real back pack, a step wedge, some more film holders and a better loupe than my super cheap plastic scratched one.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists) has some details about a cheap loupe I made with an enlarging lens. It works better than most loupes I have tried.

-anupam

Monophoto · Feb 4, 2007

matti said:
Two times when I put back the dark slide after exposing the film, the film came out the wrong way of the darkslide. I have tried loading the ruined film in the light to pin down what I can be doing wrong, but I don't get it. Anyone have an idea?
/matti

We all have that problem occasionally. The problem is that when you are inserting the film into the holder, it is not going underneath the metal clips on the sides of the holder.

Here's how to avoid the problem. After loading the film into the holder, and before returning the darkslide to the fully closed position, try flicking the film with your finger. If it is in the holder properly, you can feel that it is restrained equally on both sides. But if it is not under one or the other of the metal clips, you will sense that side flopping out. In that case, just back the sheet out of the holder, and reinsert.

matti said:
I also noticed that some of the pictures come out a bit rotated, so obviously my negatives aren't correctly inserted.../matti

Don't fully understand the question. Do you mean that the rebate on the sides of the film is not exactly even all around? That's also not unusual. A trick there is to gently tap the hinge end of the holder against the heel of your hand before loading it into the camera.

Enjoy your Tach - LF is a lot of fun, and you will be amazed at how many ways you can screw up. It's all part of the adventure, and the bottom line is that success in LF is based on being anal about absolutely everything.

raucousimages · Feb 4, 2007

Welcome to the club. Do a search for "mistakes" and you will see the mistakes we all still make. Frustrating but very rewarding.

Robert Hall · Feb 4, 2007

Yes, congrats on the 2. I'm sure you will find many more to make. As said, welcome.

matti · Feb 4, 2007

Thanks all for the hints,

anupam, I actually used my 50 mm Industar-lens as a loupe last time. With a film can providing focus it will be even better!

/matti

coriana6jp · Feb 4, 2007

Welcome to the LF Mistakes Club!

So far you seem to be off to a pretty standard start. Never had the film come out with the dark slide, but a few weeks ago when shooting and climbing on very little sleep, I managed to pull the darkslide and film holder out of the camera with half exposing the film.

Forgot to close the lid on a box of sheet film before turning on the lights, ruining the entire box. After loading my holders.

The list goes on and on!

Gary

dphphoto · Feb 4, 2007

I'm with everyone else on this. You've only just begun! But you don't learn without making mistakes.
I tray develop. My last "big" mistake was realizing, after I got the film in the pre-soak, that I'd forgotten to pour out the fixer. Luckily, I found the bottle in the dark.
I don't know about the bellows on the Tachihara, but the one on my Wista feels like it should come apart in your hands. Except that it hasn't in 12 years.
Enjoy the LF journey. Dean

Bob F. · Feb 4, 2007

matti said:
Two times when I put back the dark slide after exposing the film, the film came out the wrong way of the darkslide. I have tried loading the ruined film in the light to pin down what I can be doing wrong, but I don't get it. Anyone have an idea? I also noticed that some of the pictures come out a bit rotated, so obviously my negatives aren't correctly inserted...
/matti

The first point was probably caused by you loading the film in to the slots for the darkslide instead of the film slot. When loading film, I only pull the darkslide about 1/3rd of the way out so it soon becomes obvious if you have slid the film into the wrong slot as you load it.

To avoid the second point, give the bottom edge of the film holder a tap in to the palm of your hand just before you load it in to the camera. This will settle the film and also prevents it moving during a long exposure: shutter opens, 1/2 second later film drops down, 1/2 second later shutter closes - stuffed shot...

As already said, you will be amazed at the number of ways of messing up a shot with LF!

Have fun, Bob.

singram · Feb 4, 2007

Matti,
Welcome to large format! It does take a bit more practice to get things done correctly, but it is well worth it for that big negative.

Use those exposed non developed films to practice loading your film holders in the daylight. Next do it while watching TV or whilst not looking at your hands. Finally practice again in the darkroom environment that you will be loading the film holders. It takes a little time and patience to get the "feel" right when properly loading film holders.

After I load each film, and before closing the dark slides, I find the film code notches and use my fingernail to pick up the end of the film. I also sometimes shift the film side to side gently to make sure it is seated. Those two moves usually let me know if I missed one of the guides.

Don't get too wrapped up in the equipment thing. I shot with a Crown Graphic for a long time until I was able to afford the camera you now own.

Some advice on film and holders: Carefully clean the holders after each and every load with a dust gun and static brush. After you load the film, put the holders in a ziplock bag (usually 4 or so fit in a gallon bag). This keeps the dust out of the holders, and makes your spotting and printing a whole lot easier down the road.

Best of luck,
steve

steve

matti · Feb 6, 2007

singram said:
[...]

Use those exposed non developed films to practice loading your film holders in the daylight. Next do it while watching TV or whilst not looking at your hands. [...]
steve

Steve! I just did that today. And guess what? I forgot the practice film in the holder, and exposed that so it came out totally blank. I didn't make the same mistakes today though.

/matti

Jon Shiu · Feb 6, 2007

Hi, here's a tip on making sure to get the film under the side rails: with the holder sidways and slide up, put your thumb and forefinger of your non-loading hand on the start of the rails. Then you can guide/feel the first part of the film going in to the rails properly, while pushing with the other hand.

Jon

photographs42 · Feb 6, 2007

In addition to what Steve and others said, this little hint helps a lot. When loading film, pull the dark side about 1/3 out and place your hand so that your thumb and second finger are at the end of the flanges that hold the film in the holder. With your other hand guide the corner of the film closest to you into the slot by your thumb and then swivel it from there so the top is under your finger. This way you can feel the film go into the proper slot. If needed, your index finger can hold the flap out of the way.

Jerome

Oops! Sorry Jon. I was typing while you were posting.

buze · Feb 6, 2007

I do as Jerome & Jon do and it solved the occasional misload.

In the list of mistake, pulling the darkslide without closing the lens you opened for focusing must be a classic. A more pervert one is to shoot using the cable release, then start to doubt you had armed the shutter... (especialy with some ambient noise when you can't hear it click...)

singram · Feb 7, 2007

How about pulling the dark slide on the REAR film instead of the FRONT film. We should mount pinhole apertures on our ground glass so that when we do this we can have nice photographs of ourselves by mistake.

steve

P. Yee · Feb 7, 2007

A common mistake I make when hurry, I forget to set the correct aperature before taking the picture. Result is an overexposed negative.

katabatic · Feb 10, 2007

I have had a Tachihara (actually branded as a Calumet Wood-Field-the original one, not the newer XM model) for about 20 years and the bellows is still fine. Only problem has been that the front lens standard has always been a bit wiggly even when tightened down hard. So if there is any wind, there is a problem. Never have figured out how to solve that, other than sending it back to Calumet for repair, which I have been too lazy to do....

buze · Feb 10, 2007

Could someone make a list of stuff to check for on a Tachi 8x10 to see if it's up to scratch ? I hear more recent versions have rubber washers etc. What to check and/or ask for ? Corrosion of the metal ? Screws breaking under strain ?

Bought Techihara - only two mistakes the first day!

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