I'm doing something wrong, but what?

I've done a bit of digging and found this site http://www.dxfoto.com.br/fortepan-100/, which includes a sprocket hole shot on Fortepan 100 which shows frame numbers in the rebate.

Well it stands that the leader was developed. Perhaps not fully, but developed. Add in the point that two frames delivered images. So what is left is underexposure from the camera.

I have a roll of color being developed now. The first half of the roll I used flash and the camera's meter. The second half (done this morning) was using my Sekonic 308S to meter.

At this point (and I'll see when I pick up the roll), I believe it is a camera metering/battery and/or underdeveloped issue. I think if it is a developing issue, I wasn't far off though.

I'm getting about 2 stops of underexposure readings from the camera compared to the Sekonic. I have tried 2 different batteries - a fresh Wein MBR625 (1.35v), and a 625A (older but still good). The Wein should give me the correct readings, according to this: http://www.smallbattery.company.org.uk/sbc_px625.htm but it seems to be giving the same readings as the 625A.

I'm going to move this issue over to the Rangefinder Forum section, and see what folks have to say. As for the mechanical operation of the camera (film advance, shutter, aperture, etc.,) all is working correctly.


As for the under-development of this roll, how much longer would you guys have gone with developing this? Just trying to get some ideas to help tune my developing in general.

Well, color negs are back, and the ones that I used the Sekonic on came out fine, so it's got to be the meter in the camera/battery. Off to the rangefinder section i go....

Thanks everyone!

Just caught up with this thread, and glad you could narrow it down to a camera/battery problem. I stuck a 1.4V hearing aid battery in an Olympus OM-1 recently. It's meter then gave the same readings as my Seckonic 308s. I think it was designed to use the same mercury battery as your camera. It may be worth a try. The hearing aid batteries are not expensive.
Alex

I can't help still suggesting that the ancient film is sh*gged out, rather than the development side of things (assuming that your HC110 is not as old as the film, of course). Try to check your development technique with fresh film.

When you start printing I will also strongly advise that you find fresh paper and chemicals before you get lost in a mass of problems due to your materials.

I can't help still suggesting that the ancient film is sh*gged out, rather than the development side of things (assuming that your HC110 is not as old as the film, of course). Try to check your development technique with fresh film. That leader was far too thin. At least you can now be reasonably sure of the shutter timings on the camera being adequately good.

When you start printing I will also strongly advise that you find fresh paper and chemicals before you get lost in a mass of problems due to your materials.

MartinP said:

I can't help still suggesting that the ancient film is sh*gged out, rather than the development side of things (assuming that your HC110 is not as old as the film, of course). Try to check your development technique with fresh film. That leader was far too thin. At least you can now be reasonably sure of the shutter timings on the camera being adequately good.

When you start printing I will also strongly advise that you find fresh paper and chemicals before you get lost in a mass of problems due to your materials.

Click to expand...

Just a follow up. I think MartinP is correct.

I did some extensive 'controlled' testing of the camera's meter with my Sekonic 308s, and a number of different batteries (PX625A, Wein MBR625, hearing aid 675). All of the batteries, except for the PX625A are new. Each time, the meter was within 1/3 stop of the Sekonic. I was diligent in using a tripod to keep the camera in the same spot after each battery change (a pita the way the battery is locatedon these things), and held the meter next to the camera on the same plane. I was surprised how consistent the meter was with all three batteries.

Along with that, the color roll I had developed (at Walgreens mind you), while exposure looked good, the film had a strong magenta cast to it, which I believe is an indication of tired film. After thinking more about how I was using the camera, I think lots had to do with error user, and me just nt being familiar with the camera. My earlier post about the camera being 2 stops off from the Sekonic was me thinking backwards, as I was taking incident readings instead of reflective readings (ok, so I don't use my Sekonic enough, except when using strobes). Dumbass.

So I now have a roll of the 400ASA Fortepan that I have used and developed successfully in other cameras, and I set the ASA on the camera 1 notch lower then 400, and I'm using the camera's metering. When I have the results from that roll I'll update again.

BTW, I bought another Rollei 35, this one has the Sonnar lens. These little cameras are addictively collectable.