Dilemma: I fell back in love with 35mm

keithwms · Jan 19, 2012

Everybody wants you to keep your stuff. Well I don't know, I have two rooms of the house jam packed with stuff that I seldom use. It's not good! :confused:

If there's anything worth hording right now it's film If unused gear is tying up your cash that you might otherwise use to get the film you'll need for the long haul, I'd say go for the film. The value will go up. And camera prices have been in steady decline.

On the other hand, if you don't need the funds for other debts and investments, then sure, why not keep the gear.

I see really great films vanishing before my eyes; I am spending a lot more on film and paper now than gear.

Klainmeister · Jan 19, 2012

I'm keeping the camera because I only spent maybe 1/2 for what it's worth, so it's not really tying anything up. I foresee a huge film purchase come tax refund time.

I think I am set for 35mm cameras (Minolta Hi-Matic 9, Nikon FE, Canon AE-1, Canon FTbn) and medium format (Mamiya 7II + 4 lenses), and a LF (Crown Graphic 4x5). Gas just sucks sometimes. I just need to perfect using these tools before any further investments in cameras or lenses.

I fear Fuji and their film division, but I have also learned that Pan F+ is amazing in Pyrocat and to print. So there's always that. The US just needs to make some progress on the British Pound and we wouldn't complain of prices!

I want to bulk load 35mm, but I fear I don't see any of my preferred films in bulk.

Anyone use Foma films? They look more old fashioned, right? That might be fun in 35mm as well. I need more grains!

keithwms · Jan 19, 2012

Buy bulk films *now*. Well, I take that back, it depends on your currency at this moment. For the US, it's sensible to buy now. Our damn currency is far too strong and getting stronger. Our trade deficit is going to be historic by the time all is said and done with the Euro.

Pumalite · Jan 19, 2012

keithwms said:
Buy bulk films *now*. Well, I take that back, it depends on your currency at this moment. For the US, it's sensible to buy now. Our damn currency is far too strong and getting stronger. Our trade deficit is going to be historic by the time all is said and done with the Euro.

You call your currency strong?
JAJAJAJAJAJA

BrianL · Jan 19, 2012

Why I settled on my Bronica ETRS that I can load with 35mm and 120. I found that films in different sizes of the same type can have different charactoristics when developed and printed. I do have a 35mm rangefinder when I find I need the looks different due to a different lens formulation or just need a smaller camera to walk with.

Klainmeister · Jan 19, 2012

Well, I do have a 35mm for the Mamiya as well, 1:2 aspect ratio panoramic. Just can't imagine the purpose though, since I could always just crop down...

Danielle · Jan 19, 2012

If you love your medium format gear, hang on to it for you may want to use it every now and again. Or as I do, use both for 35mm has its uses for being quick at times.

I'd never sell my RB67, but it was also a 21st birthday present years ago so it also has more sentimental value to me than just being a beautiful 6x7 too.

semi-ambivalent · Jan 19, 2012

keithwms said:
...And camera prices have been in steady decline.

I haven't been watching camera prices very much but those prices I do watch (MF Nikkors) have been going up in price; especially the sexy primes like the 35mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2. Even the humble (but magical!) 105 f/2.5's have been up. KEH has a lot of sale prices in place right now, and they know more than I do, so who's reading the future? Perhaps there's a lot of pent up selling now that the other shoe has dropped in Rochester (as if they're the only game in town).

"I'm too busy to read today's paper, so I get tomorrow's... My stocks have done OK."

Steven Wright

s-a

keithwms · Jan 19, 2012

semi-ambivalent said:
I haven't been watching camera prices very much but those prices I do watch (MF Nikkors) have been going up in price; especially the sexy primes like the 35mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2. Even the humble (but magical!) 105 f/2.5's have been up.

Yep, but I think the better Nikkors are kind of in a special category. They are finding a second (or third?) life on DSLRs and there is really good compatibility among almost all the Nikon bodies. It wouldn't surprise me to see the value stay more or less constant. Where I think I am seeing the biggest drop is medium and large format stuff.

Anyway, It's just anecdotal evidence that I have, I'm not watching overall prices like a store owner would, of course.

blockend · Jan 20, 2012

If you want gallery standard images, 35mm monochrome and good technique can deliver. For colour negative prints medium format helps with sharpness and saturation.

markbarendt · Jan 20, 2012

keithwms said:
Wet plate stuff can be done on the cheap, no need to forsake one to do the other.

What about shooting slides in 35mm and enlarging to wetplate...

That's a great idea.

markbarendt · Jan 20, 2012

Klainmeister said:
But hot damn, how come nobody told me how sweet the Nikon FE is. I mean seriously!

For me, the FM2 holds that sweet spot.

Klainmeister · Jan 20, 2012

Well, I have been loaned a 4x5 back for wet plate, so now I just need chems. I would really like try enlarging chromes onto the plates, since many of my backcountry shots I would also shoot at least 1 roll of chrome as well. 11x14 plate? that'd be schweeeeet!

keithwms · Jan 20, 2012

Bear in mind that some of your enlarger optics may cut out too much UV to get a quick exposure, you'll have to test. Worst case, just equip yourself with a lemp with more UV component and process lens optics.

(A lot of glass cuts out at ~350nm, fused quartz allows you to go down much further)

Also bear in mind that wetplate emulsions are far from panchromatic, so you have to shoot your slides startegically. Blue filtering might be a good idea- let the film handle the issue of continuity of tone.

Klainmeister · Jan 20, 2012

It's a Color head with a Componon-s...thoughts?

rakeshmravi · Jan 20, 2012

semi-ambivalent said:
I haven't been watching camera prices very much but those prices I do watch (MF Nikkors) have been going up in price; especially the sexy primes like the 35mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2. Even the humble (but magical!) 105 f/2.5's have been up. KEH has a lot of sale prices in place right now, and they know more than I do, so who's reading the future? Perhaps there's a lot of pent up selling now that the other shoe has dropped in Rochester (as if they're the only game in town).

"I'm too busy to read today's paper, so I get tomorrow's... My stocks have done OK."

Steven Wright

s-a

Why just lens? Even the exotic Nikon FE camera in perfect condition can still fetch ~200 bucks. The only time I see 35mm films gone would be when the 645 MF digital becoming mainstream and ever kid on the block has one (like the D90s now). And that is not happening in 5-10 years time. Even then then the 66 and 67 will still be in demand.

keithwms · Jan 20, 2012

Klainmeister said:
It's a Color head with a Componon-s...thoughts?

I dunno offhand. Just try it, giving as much white light as you can. If your exposures are still really unreasonable then there will be a way around it. Offhand I don't know what the peak sensitivity of your emulsion will be. 350-400. Probably right on the ragged edge but fine.

Show the results please!!!

Klainmeister · Jan 20, 2012

Will do, I've learned that Cyan at 15-25 makes a pretty solid white, so maybe I'll aim for that. When I actually do this test (I have lots of other non-photographic money eaters at the moment) I will definitely post some notes, initial thoughts, etc.

Dilemma: I fell back in love with 35mm

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