Wish-List: $50 Limit

[rwreich]

Greetings, APUG:

My family does a secret santa thing for Christmas every year with a $50 limit for which I must provide a wish-list. I really want to ask for some kind of film or analogue-photo accessory. So, the question:

If you were going to try to get the most bang for your $50-buck, what would you purchase?

Details: I already own a Nikon FM2n with several lenses, a good incident meter, and filters. I like B&W film better than color, but I'll shoot whatever.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

$50 gift cert to B&H photo.

 

[sbattert]

100' roll of hp5 plus

 

[rwreich]

Oh, that's the one thing I forgot... Gift Certificates are not permitted. The rules say that only "real" gifts are permitted so that we don't just exchange money.

 

[ignatiu5]

What about a consumable that you've always wanted to try, but never quite enough that it didn't get pushed back behind your regular purchases? Then you can give back a print to your gifter, saying "Look at this film/paper/toner/developer that you bought me. I tried it out and I really like this and this and that about it. This print is for you as a thank you."

 

[rwreich]

A 100' foot roll is a great idea... I suppose hp4 would be just as useful, depending on your ISO preferences.

 

[Bill Burk]

I've never had much luck being gifted film/paper/chems/cameras...

But books are a different story. I have been given some very nice ones over the years and they go a long way...

 

[rwreich]

yes, a thank-you print is completely appropriate, thanks!

 

[rwreich]

Bill, what books have you enjoyed most?

 

[ArtO]

How's about 15 rolls of Tri-X 400?

 

[removed account4]

silver gelatin a user's guide to using liquid silver emulsion ..
and / or a bottle of liquid light, foma, or liquid emulsion from the photographer's formulary.
lots of fun and really easy to use

or 100 feet of fomapan

 

[rwreich]

Art, where are you finding that you can buy 15 rolls for $50?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Some outdated Kodak Polycontrast fiber (scope on eBay), a packet of Arista Powder Lith chemicals, and some Moersch carbon toner.

 

[removed account4]

Art, where are you finding that you can buy 15 rolls for $50?

i think arista edu 400 is tri x and it is 2.49 / roll-24 + 2.69/roll-36

 

[dsmccrac]

Freestyle had lots of stuff, maybe this list is for myself, haha. How about a cheap holga and a couple rolls of 120? (They lots of other toy and pinhole stuff under $50). Or a grab bag of weird films from freestyle u have wanted to try. Do you develop your own film? How about trying some different developer or if you don't develop, a Paterson tank and some developer and fixer. There cyanotype and gum bichromate kits if u are feeling adventurous. ( I do not have a large format camera but have cheated by making a large negative by scanning and printing on acetate.)

 

[ArtO]

Art, where are you finding that you can buy 15 rolls for $50?

Sorry! You're right....bad quick math on my part. It's 3.49 a roll. So more like 14 rolls or 12 if you want to count postage. That's 35mm 24 exp. at B&H as of late last week.

 

[Bill Burk]

The great thing about photography-related books is that you don't have to be specific, and your friends can suprise you... These are some of the books I've received as gifts...

Jerry Uelsmann, Yosemite
James Balog, Tree
Diane Arbus, Revelations
Max Yavno, The Photography of...
Edward Steichen, A Life in Photography

 

[Felinik]

Great idea!

* A bunch of film rolls you've been curios about testing
* Consumables (paper/film/chemicals)
* Photos/Books of your choice/taste

I sure could make a long list, was it me...

 

[danfogel]

+1 for a 100' of HP5 from Adorama, $49.95 and free US Shipping. Dead Link Removed

 

[mark]

Gift cards, while not very personal, are great for folks who have no idea that Pyrocat is not the same as a digital photo magazine subscription.

 

[rwreich]

haha, Mark -

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas and suggestions! I may put it all on the list and see what the giver would choose;-)

 

[LarryP]

if freestyle's arista film is on the list edu is fomapan and premium is tri-x . I'd hate to see the 2 mixed up as it could cause some hurt feelings.

 

[polyglot]

If you're not already developing your own then definitely ask for a Paterson tank, bag of D76 and bottle of rapid fixer (total $47 plus shipping); you'll need to get yourself a $20 darkbag off eBay too. Seriously, this is the best possible recommendation I can make: develop yourself if you are not.

A copy of Way Beyond Monochrome*, or Light: Science & Magic.



* ok, $60 - but we're flexible in our family with the $50 limit; we seem to have the same arrangement as you

 

[EASmithV]

Polaroid Colorpack II

 

[Vonder]

If you're not developing your own color film, give it a try. The basic C-41 or E-6 kit is about 20 USD. You can use a standard thermometer and tank available at Freestyle. I recommend E-6 to start with, because believe me, the first time you take a roll of slide film off the reel and look at all those tiny, beautiful little images... you'll feel magic. That's the only way to describe it.