Source for fogged 8X10 paper for use as paper negative?

[edcculus]

I've been contemplating making a simple 8X10 pinhole camera for use with paper negatives. Does anyone know a good source for cheap old/fogged paper? I did a few searches on Ebay and didn't find anything worth really jumping on. Any suggestions on search words? I tried Fogged Paper, 8x10 photographic paper fogged etc, but nothing noteworthy came up.

While I'm on the subject, does anyone have links or plans for a simple 8X10 pinhole camera? I'm not looking to spend much money. While exchangeable backs would be nice, I'd probably start with a camera I could load in the darkroom, take out and shoot, then bring back to process.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Some photographer "flash" their film in their camera to reduce contrast. Maybe you can do the same for paper? You'll probably have to do some experimenting.

Here's a link to plans for an 8x10 camera
http://pinhole.stanford.edu/foamcore.html

 

[jp498]

There are plans on line for building cameras from metal cans (think paint cans). I'm sure that'd be cheap for darkroom-reloading.

 

[edcculus]

I was mainly looking for old/fogged paper for the cheap factor. I know un-flashed paper can get a bit contrasty (which I'm not necessarily opposed to). I figured fogged/old paper would be a win-win. No need to pre flash, and a good deal to boot.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

If the paper is too contrasty and you don't have fogged paper to lower contrast, maybe shoot with a yellow filter with MG paper.

 

[removed account4]

I was mainly looking for old/fogged paper for the cheap factor. I know un-flashed paper can get a bit contrasty (which I'm not necessarily opposed to). I figured fogged/old paper would be a win-win. No need to pre flash, and a good deal to boot.

hi there

keep your eye open in the classifies here
sometimes people give away ( for the price of shipping ? )
search ebay using the words "expired paepr"
and you will find some

good luck !
john

 

[jcoldslabs]

Searching for "fogged paper" auctions probably won't get you very far because most people selling old paper, at least in my experience, find it at estate sales and such and don't know if it's fogged or not.

I'd say search for regular photographic paper instead. You'll get more hits and will probably find some large lots of 8x10 paper for cheap. Last month I picked up a bunch of photo paper from 1988 that really isn't fogged much at all, but another recent purchase of Kodak paper from 2004 was fogged pretty badly, but it's great for paper negs! Counting on old paper to be fogged is a crap shoot. As mentioned above, you can always pre-flash your own.

Good luck,

Jonathan

 

[rawhead]

What's a "good deal" for you, per sheet, besides shipping? (I'm in Boston). I have bins full of old paper that I've amassed over the last couple years buying photo gear and the seller insisting I take all the other crap, too (like photographic paper). I don't have a darkroom so the've just been sitting around doing nothing. Now, 8x10 I can use for contact prints, so I'm a bit reluctant to just give away, but if the price is right I can fetch a few boxes and send your way PM me if you're interested.

 

[edcculus]

Thanks guys. Another member PM'd me and offered to send some paper that was fogged and useless to him for me to test.

 

[Film Guerilla]

I can't recommend fogged papers for pinhole or maybe my test was just too over exposed with added reciprocity compensation.

I just made an 8x10 pinhole camera and tested it with an old foggy Agfa Brovira (this is for my lith printing). 2 sheets were fogged/overexposed. 1 is almost black and the other one has some details but really foggy grays.. It might be the added over exposure as well. I will test more sheets on my 8x10 pinhole using the fogged papers before i paint it. I will keep you updated on my experiments.

By the way, just to make sure i could create a good paper negative i will be buying some papers from Adorama. You should check that as well.