Ever developed your own film?
Tintype is a variant of wet plate. If you don't want wet plate, you're left with dry plate.
More importantly - why? What is it in plate photography that appeals to you?
It's mostly the cost of it all. Film gets expensive and I like the idea of being able to shoot for nickels and dimes, especially if I make my own emulsion from scratch.
It's mostly the cost of it all. Film gets expensive and I like the idea of being able to shoot for nickels and dimes, especially if I make my own emulsion from scratch.
I shoot 4x5 for around a dollar a sheet (it's probably more now, I haven't bought any this year) on Fomapan/.EDU Ultra. You can shoot 8x10 for barely more than that if you use X-ray film.
From what I've seen, you can't even buy the glass to coat for less than that. Emulsion making, hand coating, glass plate, and especially wet plate is its own pursuit -- not an economy measure.
If you think film is expensive...well, B&W film...wait until you price dry plates, especially 8x10 size. If you want to get into dry plate or faux tintype today, your only real option is Zebra Dry Plates. At this point, I'd be really surprised if you could find any of Jason Lane's plates in stock anywhere. Hopefully, Jason will be back in production sometime this year, but I've exchanged a couple of emails with him...let's just say, I wouldn't hold my breath.
I haven't checked prices recently, but back when I bought my stock of 8x10 Foma 100 from fotoimpex it was around $2 per sheet, even with shipping to the states. Pretty reasonable for 8x10 film, IMO.
Granted I guess I could buy clear acetate sheets and make film to forego the cost of glass.
I may just see about buying a 50 pack of Foma 100 and EDU Ultra 100 and see which ones I like best from there. Accepting that 4x5 is just plain expensive may just be the hard, right choice.
I don't think 4x5 is particularly expensive if you shoot Fomapan.
Coating acetate or other plastics is a whole different ballgame than glass. It's far more complex.
Also, glass is pretty cheap. I always used plain float glass for photo purposes. Cut to size at home, burr edges and enjoy.
They're the same film. Get whichever one is cheaper.
Also, I don't think 4x5 is particularly expensive if you shoot Fomapan. You generally don't go out and shoot 36 frames of 4x5 on an afternoon. Since you generally shoot less in the same timeframe, the costs don't add up too much.
Also, I still think you're massively underestimating the complexity of manufacturing your own plates. Sure, it's possible, but it's a long and steep learning curve, and even if/when you've got it under your belt, you'll be spending a lot of time making materials that you could otherwise spend making images. It might be a good idea to reflect a bit where your heart lies - in making images, or spending time in the darkroom playing around with materials.
I noticed the litho film, and I may buy a pack of that for experimenting. I definitely will try x-ray film again. Maybe with some latex gloves this time, though.Last time I bought .EDU Ultra 100, (a year or so ago) it was still around $1/frame, a little more in 25 sheet, a little less in 50. The only films I've seen cheaper in 4x5 are litho films (intended for making printing plates with half-tone screens, super high contrast) or cut-your-own from 8x10 X-ray (which itself was about a dollar a sheet). That's comparable to Kodak or Ilford 120 (8 6x9 frames for about $11), but with more than twice the image area of 6x9.
Shouldn't it be cheaper over time? I wouldn't think it's more expensive to make your own emulsion, and I could re-use the plates. Granted I guess I could buy clear acetate sheets and make film to forego the cost of glass.
I may just see about buying a 50 pack of Foma 100 and EDU Ultra 100 and see which ones I like best from there. Accepting that 4x5 is just plain expensive may just be the hard, right choice.
I noticed the litho film, and I may buy a pack of that for experimenting.
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