Hello from Helsinki

...so hi all.

I'm a 43-year old guy from Finland. I used to be an avid photographer in my late-teens/early twenties, I had a b&w darkroom and was very much into all that. Then the digital stuff started coming out and I never got the hang of it really, so I pretty much sold all my gear and just took photos with whatever digital compact we happened to have around the house.

Now a couple of weeks ago I found a Canon A-1 body while digging through some boxes at my work which were destined for the dumpster. It was in a very nice condition and I started thinking should I do something with it. So I bought a 1.4/50mm lens for it from eBay. Then I remembered that a friend of mine had been asking if anyone wanted an old Durst M601 enlarger he had lying around in his garage... it started snowballing from there, and now I'm here writing this

I bought some chemicals and papers today, as well as 35mm and 120 film (I also have a couple of vintage 6x6 cameras). I've noticed that the prices have really gone up on the processing materials in twenty years! And not being the richest guy around I'm always looking for the diy-solutions to doing things for less money, and that is one of the reasons I'm here on this forum now, I have a ton of questions about how to be frugal while making prints etc.

Other areas of interest are pinhole cameras and alternative printing procedures, but first I'll just try to get my first roll of film processed and a couple of prints to show for all the hassle.

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Welcome Home Onkeltuka !
From The Covid Capital Of The United States.

~ Ron
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Welcome to APUG! Moro !
Helsinki is very photogenic, I was there for 4 weeks in 2009, great architecture, and interesting people. I was looking also for the "special look" from movies from Aki Kaurismaki, but no ... that is long gone.

Thanks everybody!

darkosaric said:

Welcome to APUG! Moro !
Helsinki is very photogenic, I was there for 4 weeks in 2009, great architecture, and interesting people. I was looking also for the "special look" from movies from Aki Kaurismaki, but no ... that is long gone.

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Yes I think it was lost during the 80's or so... there's still a few small bars here and there where you can get "the vibe". I just actually visited the Moskva Bar last September or so just a week before it was closed for good, it was a small bar that Kaurismäki himself owned at least in part. The barkeep was true to her part as we had to wait for her to finish her cigarette before we could get our beers

Hi from over in Kallio

I guess for prices you are refering to Fotoyks, they are indeed a bit on the expensive side for film and chemistry, although Ilford paper there isn't too bad.

To save some money and get access to a better selection of paper i usually bulk order at Macodirect twice a year and it saves quite a bit even though shipping is dear to Finland.

As for frugality with printing, i'd take a look at the cheaper (and good quality at that) Foma papers.

locutus said:

To save some money and get access to a better selection of paper i usually bulk order at Macodirect twice a year and it saves quite a bit even though shipping is dear to Finland.

As for frugality with printing, i'd take a look at the cheaper (and good quality at that) Foma papers.

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Thanks for the tips! I bought some basic chemicals and Ilford papers yesterday from Interfoto, but will shop around more when I get through those.

Welcome to Photrio from Japan - it's always nice to have new members! I was in Helsinki back in March, but unfortunately did not have enough time to explore the city (it rained the entire time I was there anyway). ;-)

onkeltuka said:

Thanks for the tips! I bought some basic chemicals and Ilford papers yesterday from Interfoto, but will shop around more when I get through those.

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Hello and welcome! Foma film is pretty decent too (like an Aldi Agfapan) and if you shoot 35mm bulk loading will save you a lot of money. I got my hands on some short dated 30 metre rolls of Neopan 400 a while back which kept me going for years.
Good luck and enjoy your photography!