Photo 1 looks nicer to my eyes.
Where do I get this stuff? I'd like to chop down to 2x3. 7 cents an exposure? Count me in, scratches and all.
So I keep getting shunted to that thread when asking for specifics.
It's 500+ pages long.
If someone has knowledge they can share without having to sort through War and Peace it would be kind to share it.
I'm in that thread but it's humungeous.
I'm starting to roll with this and that's why I'm documenting it here.
Look at Ebay vendor XRayExpress, that is my source, I just ordered four more boxes. So am set that is 2000 4x5 sheets total for under $200
I was getting it from, ZZ Medical, and CXS Online.
It first started off as a technical thread, with images. Then someone started a thread for just images. It was confusing having the two threads, so the moderators merged them. Everything you need to know is there. There really isn't much to know other than the stuff comes in single, and double-sided. Double-sided has to be handled with care... best to develop in hangers or smooth, flat-bottomed trays. The green latitude double-sided is my favourite. I shoot it at EI 80-100. Responds very well to green and yellow filters. Kodak Ektascan B/RA is single sided and very sharp. X-ray film has a blue base, and rounded corners. Double-sided has not notch codes, as it's not necessary. Single-sided does. You can use whatever developer you want, although it will have to be diluted, as the film is high contrast. I use pyrocat-hd and dilute it twice as much than I do for conventional film. I process double-sided in a flat-bottomed tray, with very gentle agitation.
Go through the LFF Xray thread with a cup of coffee, and copy/paste away!
This is what I was looking for. Very useful information.
So starting out, I'd like to find cheap, fast and single sided. I'm going to be messing up a load of sheets.
I use these bulbs from Lowes (they are only 3 watt but very bright) and with also a 1A Deep red filter in front.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Energetic-Watt-EQ-A19-Red-LED-Light-Bulb/1000623747
No fogging with sensitive dry speed plates. So also fine with X-Ray and Ilford Ortho.
Thanks Jason Lane (the dry plate Guy) for steering me this direction.
I've still got a box to experiment with, but I have to ask, why is there such a HUGE difference in price between x-ray and 'normal' 10 x 8 / 5 x 4 film? I understand there's a lot more R+D costs, advertising etc. for our photographic manufacturers, but surely there shouldn't be as much difference in price as there is?I just ordered four more boxes. So am set that is 2000 4x5 sheets total for under $200
why is there such a HUGE difference in price between x-ray and 'normal' 10 x 8 / 5 x 4 film?
Thanks Donald. That all makes sense but one can still live in hope of a price REDUCTION to bring them all in line with x-ray film.Volume of production, likely. Despite medical X-ray converting almost entirely to digital, the few remaining users who haven't converted, along with industrial users who haven't or can't, probably consume twenty times as much film in a year as all the large format photographers still working. Further, there are only half a dozen different films, some of which are the same emulsion coated on one or both sides of the base -- this cuts down both R&D and production costs.
"How do you set up with the 1A filter?"
Just make sure you get the one with the mounting brackets attached, so you can properly aim the safelight.
Kodak 1A Grey Bullet Safelight 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr
This one is 7-8 feet from my film loading formica table, with Beselar Rotatrim rotary cutter. 3W Lowes red LED inside a Kodak Grey Bullet Safelight. Kodak IA deep red filter in front of the LED.
Kodak 1A Grey Bullet Safelight 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr
3W Lowes red LED inside a Kodak Grey Bullet Safelight. Kodak IA deep red filter in front of the LED. As recommended by Jason Lane (the dry plate Guy). Thanks Jason!
This one is 7-8 feet from my developing tray in my darkroom sink
Volume of production, likely. Despite medical X-ray converting almost entirely to digital, the few remaining users who haven't converted, along with industrial users who haven't or can't, probably consume twenty times as much film in a year as all the large format photographers still working. Further, there are only half a dozen different films, some of which are the same emulsion coated on one or both sides of the base -- this cuts down both R&D and production costs.
Hey, it looks very lovely!
Thanks Blythenti
This morning I have loaded three 4x5 Graphmatics with HR-U, one more to load, have to recharge my Dyson dust gun!
Also I am loading four Graphmatic 2x3's I use that with my Sinar Norma Rapid Adapter Back. I can get nine 2x3 sheets from an 8x10 HR-U. I have five boxes now of HR-U so that is 4500 2x3 exposures
Also I bought a box of the Fuji RX 8x10 100 sheets, which is a high speed double sided, comes in a blue box.
The HR-U is medium speed green box double sided.
Anybody here try the high speed blue box Fuji RX?
Not to offend, but I don't have a way to box it up and safely transport it.
It is delicate stuff, the emulsion is incredibly thin
,Some of the other reasons that X-ray film are cheaper is that it is considerably cheaper to cut, package and distribute.
Not to mention the fact that extending the sensitivity of materials that aren't naturally sensitive to red light adds cost and complexity.
Working under red light is a lot cheaper and easier than working in total darkness.
And being able to limit your marketing and distribution efforts to a few specialized wholesale vendors is a lot cheaper too.
In addition, and correct me if I am wrong, I believe that the native resolution of X-ray film is lower than photographic film. X-rays have longish wavelengths, which means they are great for penetrating solids, but relatively lousy at resolving fine details.
If you are going to use X-ray film, it probably helps to read up on how it is employed in medical applications.
X-rays have longish wavelengths, which means they are great for penetrating solids, but relatively lousy at resolving fine details.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?