Wish-List: $50 Limit

[David Lyga]

You just might be able to squeak by with a backup Nikkormat body with normal lens. It's a stretch but there actually are parts of the country where you could do this for $50. - David Lyga

 

[destroya]

not an accessory but i just bought a mint condition nikon N80 for $40. or else get some velvia 50 or 100 before prices hit the moon

 

[dynachrome]

A nice looking Zeiss Compendium if you like books. A bellows. Extension tubes. A reversing ring. A two element close-up lens (or two) with the right filter size. A cable release. A slave flash unit. A focusing rail.

 

[rwreich]

Thank you again for the great ideas - I am intrigued by the thought of developing at home. It certainly would save money when compared to going to the local Custom B&W lab. In fact, I think this would make film much more affordable in the future.

 

[polyglot]

Thank you again for the great ideas - I am intrigued by the thought of developing at home. It certainly would save money when compared to going to the local Custom B&W lab. In fact, I think this would make film much more affordable in the future.

I strongly urge you to do this, even if no one gets you the bits for Christmas. You should be able to get everything you need for basic daylight processing of 35mm and 120 for about $80 - see $47 list above, $20 for dark bag and $3 for digital aquarium thermometer off eBay. And you need some way of measuring stuff; the cheapest approach is plastic kitchen measuring-jugs and (for highly concentrated devs like Rodinal) a 50c syringe (no needle) from the pharmacy. Then you're Dead Link Removed and will pay $0.50 per roll instead of $10 to $20 for processing.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Self developing setup is is great idea!

I would also opt for some nice large photo books.

 

[rwreich]

I agree that a darkroom setup would be the best use of resources, regardless of what the gift exchange holds.

Thank you for the advice and encouragement. I'll let you know how it goes.