comments from previous article system:
By Donald Qualls - 01:34 PM, 01-28-2005 Rating: None
Interesting. I've tossed a bunch of Altoids tins because it seemed the hinge leak would require sealing the entire lid with tape every time I loaded them -- but the ability to use 2x3 format film is one I'd missed. Given relative prices and exposure times, I'd be strongly tempted to use the J and C 200 film (though that might require installing a sliding shutter to make exposures shorter than one second practical with a relatively fast pinhole like this one).
What's your source for the Hastings Monobath? I ask, because it's almost identical to one I created a few months ago (originally posted to photo.net Black and White Film and Developing forum and listed on the Massive Dev Chart at digitaltruth.com) -- I used 10 ml more ammonia and processed at 75 F for six minutes with Tri-X and normal agitation (full first minute, then ten seconds per minute); I found the film lost shadow detail, but had normal seeming midtones and highlights, as if it were 1-2 stops slower and pushed back to EI 400. Different films typically require slight changes to monobath formulation, also; different reaction rates in developer and fixer require tweaking the ratios to balance the two processes.
By jking - 10:01 PM, 01-28-2005 Rating: None
My apologies to Mr. Qualls. In my notes when I was researching monobaths, I mixed up his name with Grant Haist, then didn't even get HIS name right :<(. The article is now corrected. Donald Qualls work formulating a monobath from easily available photo chemicals is a really neat piece of work.
By jking - 10:10 PM, 01-28-2005 Rating: None
I painted the inside of the tin and the tin lid black, both to reduce reflections, and because the monobath will corrode the tin plating the first time it is used (I learned that one the hard way). The paint seems to serve as a sufficient light trap around the lid. I put black book binding tape on the hinge side to cover the opening at the tin hinge. It is flexable enough to last at least several photos.
By MikeS - 09:09 AM, 06-10-2005 Rating: None
All this talk of pinhole cameras made me try something. I took an old Kodak 4x5 100 count sheet film box, and made a quicky pinhole camera! Don't think I'll try using it as a processor too tho! Once it gets light outside I will try it out and see how it works!
