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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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Yes, I developed my first B/W film!! (Fomapan 100)
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:52 pm
Post subject: Yes, I developed my first B/W film!! (Fomapan 100)
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 5:52 pm
Post subject: Yes, I developed my first B/W film!! (Fomapan 100)
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And it's been a great experience! Many films will follow, and i know i'll get better at it... because to be quite honest: MAN, getting that film on the spool in the dark was a real struggle!!!! And it shows in the results. I had to re-spool it 3 times before i could get it on completely... the first 2 times it blocked, and the film knicked, some traces of lost emulsion, specks and probably my fingers whilst trying to get the film back in.... but hey... i was told that it would take some practice!!

This is what i used: a Paterson Super System 4, Kodak D-76 for 6:30 minutes, an Ilford stop-bath, Kodak fixer for about 5-6 minutes. I washed "the Ilford method" and finally dipped in a bath with a drop of wetting agent and let it dry.

The Fomapan 100 Classic 36 gave me a total of 39 complete exposures!

Please, feel free to comment, if you notice anything that can improve my next roll of film, do not hesitate to mention it! There are some more shots in my flickr stream, used lens can be found in the tags! Thank you!

The camera i used was the Minolta X-700, combined with 3 lenses. The following results came out:

Minolta MD 35-70 :


Latte machiato in a teacup... by TrueLoveOne, on Flickr

Zoutelande (Zeeland, NL) by TrueLoveOne, on Flickr

Sigma Mini-Wide II 2.8/28 :


Park bench (Park Toorenvliedt) by TrueLoveOne, on Flickr

Toorenvliedt Middelburg by TrueLoveOne, on Flickr

Minolta MD 75-200mm :


Garbage (Park Toorenvliedt) by TrueLoveOne, on Flickr

Cinquecento by TrueLoveOne, on Flickr


What really struck me: as good as the Sigma Mini-Wide II is on the NEX, it dissapoints on film! The shots i took with the MD lenses are by far better, more contrast, and in a way sharper. The 75-200mm MD zoom i have never used on digital, but this is a high quality zoom, results were beyond expectation. Have to test in on the NEX soon!

Thanks for lookin!! Wink


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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:34 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 6:34 pm
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Good results, very good for the first try ! Cool


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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:39 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:39 pm
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Thanks Lloydy!


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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:03 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:03 pm
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Congrats!! Fomapan 100 is my favorite film, newest even better.


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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:27 am
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:27 am
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Thanks Attila! I have 9 more rolls, so i can practice my skills!! Very Happy


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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 12:05 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 12:05 pm
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congrats great filling isn't it? But you don't have to get film on the spool in a dark. I never do I had no problems whatsoever. I just trim the end of the film than start getting it on the spool just so it catches and move it to the light thigh bag and just continue from there, much easier.


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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:55 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:55 pm
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Indeed Nurkov, it is a great feeling!! Very Happy

But there is no other way than spooling your film into the Paterson tank than doing it in the dark.... otherwise all your negatives would get so over-exposed that the pictures are gone!
After the film is inside the tank, you can step into the light!


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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:23 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:23 pm
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and yes and no and I do have the same tank and believe me I do not start it in dark, there is a long lead at the beginning of the film and you can start in day light much easier and then move it to darkness saw it somewhere on youtube, works like a charm and is much easier. btw you do not open cassette with the film at all.
here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ-NipI9Oto

not many people know about this but it so much easier, have done it many times and have never exposed any frames because of it.


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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:34 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:34 pm
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Haha! That is as easy as it is genius! Why can one not think about such a simple solution himself??

I just have never seen a "film retriever" ... is there any other way to get it out, or do you rewind carefully?

Thanks for the hint!


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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:48 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:48 pm
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dont get it in fully for a start Smile or get a retriever I did it works but not the easiest thing to use but well worth it. Happy that I could help you with that one.


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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 9:54 pm
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 9:54 pm
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hi

congrats on your dev, it's really another world Very Happy my results on the first dev weren't that good, but when you see image appearing on the negative, you're happy anyway

as for reel issue, well sometimes it took me .... a couple of minutes and tries, close to letting the whole process go, and telling me why bother to put a damn neg on a reel for hours, and doing digital instead. hopefully i'm rather stubborn on that one Wink


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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:08 pm
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:08 pm
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nurkov wrote:
and yes and no and I do have the same tank and believe me I do not start it in dark, there is a long lead at the beginning of the film and you can start in day light much easier and then move it to darkness saw it somewhere on youtube, works like a charm and is much easier. btw you do not open cassette with the film at all.
here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ-NipI9Oto

not many people know about this but it so much easier, have done it many times and have never exposed any frames because of it.


Hi, I have a Johnson's tank and its a little different to the Paterson. I decided to rewind my film not all the way in for exactly the reason Nurkov gives. but I got talking to this old bloke who was interested and spooled it all in! Yes I had the same problems as TrueLoveOne, I ended up leaving about 30cms outside the spiral just wound round the outside with no problems.

I've got a light thigh (sic) bag and Paterson tank(s) coming so It may be easier next time.
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