Got my first 120 film back this morning.

[ChrisC]

Wow! (is there anymore than needs to be said?)

Granted, all the photos were taken in my rather un-inspiring backyard just to test things out, but the quality and detail is absolutly astounding! My digital camera is suddenly being pushed well back into the wardrobe!

Now I feel I'm ready to move on to developing my own B&W film to save time and cost. Now comes the time to open up the wallet again, then to stock up on film, and to buy a decent quality scanner!

This sure is an expensive, but rewarding hobby!

 

[Dean Williams]

Hi Chris. Glad you're happy with the first shots. I think you'll find that when you start doing your own processing that you will reap more benefits than just a savings in time and cost. True, you will save money by doing your own developing and printing and you can get things done as fast as you want, but the main benefit is the quality of your prints when you do them yourself. You get to choose the film developer for your style and you pick the type of paper for your prints. Any interpretation you have in mind is yours to create. It's a gas. Go for it!

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Yep, that's right. If you think it's a great feeling getting your 120 film back from somebody else, just wait until you can do it all yourself. It's all about having control and doing it exactly the way you want it done. And congratulations on your first 120 shots, too!

 

[joeyk49]

I had my first two rolls of 120 processed without prints, so that I could see how badly I screwed up without forking over cash for prints. I was reasonably pleased (with my untrained eye) with the appearance of the negatives.

I selected a few of the shots that I thought went well and ordered prints; they show up tomarrow. I can't wait to check them out.

I have just a few more minor aquisitions to make to get my darkroom up an running. Then, I'm hoping, the real fun begins...

 

[SuzanneR]

Last spring I bought my first medium format camera. It was used, so I shot a roll of film and sent it off to make sure it was working... didn't yet have the right sized reels. Boy, they really blew me away when they came back. And it wasn't much of a photo! Now I've processed about thirty rolls, and each time I open the tank it's exciting! Good luck with it.

 

[sergio caetano]

Chris
Forget the scanner, buy an enlarger.

 

[papagene]

Ditto to what Sergio said... an enlarger is soooooo much more fun!

gene

 

[ChrisC]

Chris
Forget the scanner, buy an enlarger.

To be honest, I've definatly toyed alot with the idea. But I'm currently 20, and still living at home. I'm borderline ready to move out, so I don't want to have the hassle of having to either A. set up a darkroom here, only to have to tear it all down again when I move out, or B. have to worry about darkrooms when I do move out. And it could be a hassle should I decide to move off-shore too.

When I eventually buy my own place, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll have a darkroom in it somewhere, but right now I think the versatile and space friendly option of a good scanner would better suit my needs.

 

[Shmoo]

Hmmmm, and when you decide to buy an enlarger, be sure it's capable of using 4x5 negatives...once you play with larger negatives, you'll want bigger negatives...

 

[bobfowler]

Wow! (is there anymore than needs to be said?)

Granted, all the photos were taken in my rather un-inspiring backyard just to test things out, but the quality and detail is absolutly astounding! My digital camera is suddenly being pushed well back into the wardrobe!

Now I feel I'm ready to move on to developing my own B&W film to save time and cost. Now comes the time to open up the wallet again, then to stock up on film, and to buy a decent quality scanner!

This sure is an expensive, but rewarding hobby!

Just wait until you see your first roll of chromes. You'll be looking for a projector REAL fast... ($$$)

 

[fparnold]

My response to seeing 120 chromes was to wonder what 8x10 chromes would look like. My shoulders gave the rest of my mind a *whack* at the thought of carrying an 8x10, so I've stuck with the light table and loupe route.

 

[Rolleijoe]

So true

Hmmmm, and when you decide to buy an enlarger, be sure it's capable of using 4x5 negatives...once you play with larger negatives, you'll want bigger negatives...

Yep, so true! Except in my case, I went the opposite direction, started in 35, went to 4x5 then to 120.

As for enlargers, I just bought an Omega Super Chromega-D Dichroic enlarger, and will be getting into printing my own color prints. I'm keeping my Omega D-III and Omega B-22 enlargers as well.

Just wait till you make the switch to Zeiss lenses!!! You'll want to go back and re-shoot EVERYTHING!! : )

 

[laz]

Hmmmm, and when you decide to buy an enlarger, be sure it's capable of using 4x5 negatives...once you play with larger negatives, you'll want bigger negatives...

for that matter you should skip the enlarger and get yourself an 8x10 view camera; that's where you'll end up I assure you!

 

[htmlguru4242]

I definetely know what people are saying here. I started with 35mm, and worked with it for awhile, until I discovered an old 120 camera, which I loaded up and shot a roll in. I was impressed by the amazing quality from a 1950s Ansco Viking 4.5 loaded with TMax (ick) film. I've since shot many rolls of 120, and, now that I've gotten some 4x5 film, I'm ready to drop some cash on a 4x5 camera. Let's hope that I never see a 5x7 or 8x10 neg., or I'll want one of those, too ...

 

[Changeling1]

I was your age when I bought my first enlarger (brand new Beseler 23C XL). The enlarger still works as new 30 years later and will probably make it through the next ice-age! With that enlarger I made prints in bathrooms, closets, bedrooms, and a few other places. A darkroom doesn't have to take up much space or have a direct water supply (although that's nice). Having film processed and prints made by labs costs more today than ever with B/W prints costing more than color prints. You could learn basic B/W
printing in a day and be making decent prints in no time. You could save a whole lot of money and have a blast at the same time.

 

[P C Headland]

Lovely aren't they?

My first 6x6 folder has invited friends round over the past year or so, so now we have 6x6 and 6x9 folders, and a MF SLR and a 9x12cm and a 5x4".... Good job 10x8 film is expensive and the cameras heavy!

Seeing your first roll of MF slides is truely a wonderful experience!

When I load one of my 35mm cameras I can't help thinking how tiny that negative looks

 

[benjiboy]

Worried

My response to seeing 120 chromes was to wonder what 8x10 chromes would look like. My shoulders gave the rest of my mind a *whack* at the thought of carrying an 8x10, so I've stuck with the light table and loupe route.

It's not so much what the 8x10 slides would look like, what worries me is what would the projector look like ?

 

[roteague]

Last spring I bought my first medium format camera. It was used, so I shot a roll of film and sent it off to make sure it was working... didn't yet have the right sized reels. Boy, they really blew me away when they came back. And it wasn't much of a photo! Now I've processed about thirty rolls, and each time I open the tank it's exciting! Good luck with it.

Now you know how I feel everytime I see a 4x5 transparency on the light table ............... it blows your mind.

 

[Ole]

Getting a 4x5"-capable enlarger for printing MF negatives is - dangerous.

I was very happy for very many years with my Opemus 6 enlarger, which goes up to 6x6 negatives. If I had had a 4x5" enlarger, I would have started LF a lot earlier - and would I then have bought a 5x7" enlarger? Would I have been happy without one? Could I fit a 12x16" enlarger into my darkroom? Do I need one?

It's not so much what the 8x10 slides would look like, what worries me is what would the projector look like ?

Ever see an overhead projector?

 

[benjiboy]

Never thaught of that Ole.