Nokton48
Veteran
The 500EL/M and 70mm sounds like the perfect combination Dan. Although, I would personally be prepared to sacrifice the ability to easily change screens by having a 500EL, if only for the benefit of knowing I am shooting 70mm with (basically) the same set up three guys called Anders, Borman and Lovell used, in 1968. That would be wonderful.
EL's used to be dirt cheap, like $100 I always wondered why? And a 9 volt transistor battery powers it for quite a long time without any harm.
Having an EL/70 fits into my retro 60s vintage equipment locker.
The_Darkness
Member
I'll be developing the first roll tomorrow, scan and post on Thursday. I've been waiting on more chemicals shipped to me. I ended up just going with stainless steel pots from Amazon for each stage of development. Unfortunately, I was unable to find, from many sources, a diameter size just slightly larger than the spool. The ones I found are like 2" larger.
I calculated costs to be $76 per 70 exp, which is $76 for the film, $21 for chemicals, coming out to 0.72c per frame, which is cheaper than the equivalent 70 exp in 120 being developed at the local lab...and my negs don't come back with random scratches.
The_Darkness
Member
These are from my first trip with the Hasselblad to the Channel Islands back in March. This was my first time shooting the Hassy underwater. These are from the first roll and I'll be developing another roll tonight.
About these images...the kelp forests, which makes diving California one the best areas on the plant, are dying off due to the explosion of the purple and red sea urchin population after their predators, the giant sunflower stars (6 BILLION) have died off due to a nasty "wasting" disease from Alaska to Baja. I'm volunteering on a research project to cull the urchins in an area in Monterey Bay to see if the kelp forests can repopulate. On this dive and subsequent dives, it was refreshing to see some kelp forests surviving. Ask you can see in image #3, the urchins around the kelp base and devoured it. They have decimated the ecosystem turning it into an apocalyptic scene.
About these images...the kelp forests, which makes diving California one the best areas on the plant, are dying off due to the explosion of the purple and red sea urchin population after their predators, the giant sunflower stars (6 BILLION) have died off due to a nasty "wasting" disease from Alaska to Baja. I'm volunteering on a research project to cull the urchins in an area in Monterey Bay to see if the kelp forests can repopulate. On this dive and subsequent dives, it was refreshing to see some kelp forests surviving. Ask you can see in image #3, the urchins around the kelp base and devoured it. They have decimated the ecosystem turning it into an apocalyptic scene.
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Wow , these are great! Thanks for sharing. How do you estimate exposure underwater?
The_Darkness
Member
Nokton48
Veteran
Yes these are great. I'd like to see that underwater Hasselblad, is it a Superwide? This is getting cooler and cooler. These look sharp and good DOF. Some here prolly want to know what developer you are using. Did you find the UK neg pages you were seeking? Please post more from future rolls.
Quite lovely
Quite lovely
The_Darkness
Member
I was able to load 3 cassettes with the 50' roll. So nice to have the bulk loader. Easy peasy. Pictured is the SWC outfitted for the u/w housing and Zeiss corrector lens piece 1 of 2.
I caught a dive trip out to the Channel Islands over the weekend. Pictured is the Hassy housing 2nd generation with the the Zeiss corrector port that is matched to the lens on the camera. Most people thought I was shooting video. LOL! One guy was being judgy questioning why I would bring such an old camera underwater. Haha. Because that's what is was designed for!
I caught a dive trip out to the Channel Islands over the weekend. Pictured is the Hassy housing 2nd generation with the the Zeiss corrector port that is matched to the lens on the camera. Most people thought I was shooting video. LOL! One guy was being judgy questioning why I would bring such an old camera underwater. Haha. Because that's what is was designed for!
The_Darkness
Member
I'll post more images of the housing later. The HP5+ is working well so far. I use the DD-X 1+4 at 9 min. The conditions weren't ideal IMO, but were good for CFWA (close focus wide angle). I haven't gotten around to the negative pages yet.
Nokton48
Veteran
SWC underwater must be perfect. I only had the 80mm Planar underwater myself. Couldn't afford any other lenses when it was new What is your depth and visibility?
What is your depth and visibility?
The_Darkness
Member
Hmmm Can't open the links.
SWC underwater must be perfect. I only had the 80mm Planar underwater myself. Couldn't afford any other lenses when it was new
What is the depth and visibility?
I reported the images from a previous post a while back.
Which housing did you have? I use the SWC in the 500c housing since we don't have the SWC rear section. For the shutter release lever in the viewfinder shoe to clear the top, I just remove the prism that is used for the 500c viewfinder and then eyeball the framing.
I was around 35ft down with maybe 10-15' vis. These were taken off Santa Cruz Island back in March.
Nokton48
Veteran
Back in the seventies I had a brand new 500C/M in an Ikelite Plexiglass boxlike housing. Rated to 165 feet. Also had an Ikelite Honeywell Strobonar 700 Housing that helped with Ektachrome-X Superslide A16S back. I sometimes put a mild red wratten CC gel over the flash for shooting at longer distances. In the Bahamas Andros Island visibility was about as good as it gets. Often I would like a wider lens but sometimes used a Proxar for closeups.
I also had a couple of Nikonos II's back then and those were a lot of fun
I also had a couple of Nikonos II's back then and those were a lot of fun
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I have an underwater light meter. This model is a spot meter.
Thanks! Geesh, in all my years, I was never aware these existed.
Nokton48
Veteran
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ikelite-underwater-housing-super-8mm-155145684
What I owned back in the seventies was a stock Ikelite Hasselblad 500C/M housing, ordered from a local dive shop from Ikelite catalog. Similar to the one shown here but with many Hasselblad interconnects and embellishments. And it has a black tube type magnifier which bolted to the top of the housing and allowed full frame reflex viewing. I found it to be neutrally buoyant even at 100 feet and easy to handle underwater. This housing wasn't inexpensive I remember it listed for about $600 back then. Not as cool as the Hasselblad housing but it did the job for me at the time. Sure wish I had the 70mm back then!
What I owned back in the seventies was a stock Ikelite Hasselblad 500C/M housing, ordered from a local dive shop from Ikelite catalog. Similar to the one shown here but with many Hasselblad interconnects and embellishments. And it has a black tube type magnifier which bolted to the top of the housing and allowed full frame reflex viewing. I found it to be neutrally buoyant even at 100 feet and easy to handle underwater. This housing wasn't inexpensive I remember it listed for about $600 back then. Not as cool as the Hasselblad housing but it did the job for me at the time. Sure wish I had the 70mm back then!
The_Darkness
Member
Exposure wise, I think they turned out okay. Some of the close-focus wide angle shots were tricky while trying to maximize DOF with the given lighting. I was just reading that the Ilford HP5+ 400 pushes well and up to 3200. I'm going to start experimenting with doing so in 120. I've been using the Ilford DD-X developer, which has been working well, but I've come to realize it's pricey at 1+4. I also started experimenting with the PMK Pyro as it has been mentioned several times in Ansel's books.*
Any words of wisdom?*
Any words of wisdom?*
Nokton48
Veteran
PMK Pyro is without question my favorite developer for all the Ilford films, and a bonus is that is one of the most economical to use over time. The tonality and "Eberhardt Effect" is outstanding. The Bible on PMK+ is "The Book of Pyro" by Gordon Hutchings. I'm just on my second copy after a long hiatus. The negs print with a delicacy that is really tangible, particularly the mids and highs which can blow out with other devs. Great choice! You will lose a bit of shadow speed with Pyro, although I add a "dash" of AMIDOL to make PMK Pyro+ and a real honest speed gain of 1/2 to 1/3 of a stop. Not a lot but it helps a lot in some cases. DDX is good for pushing so you might want to stay with that when you need to increase EI, like if you are operating right on the edge. The ambient lighting in that 15' visibility ocean is soft and beautiful in B&W. You are on to something with this. Push the envelope.
The_Darkness
Member
PMK Pyro is without question my favorite developer for all the Ilford films, and a bonus is that is one of the most economical to use over time. The tonality and "Eberhardt Effect" is outstanding. The Bible on PMK+ is "The Book of Pyro" by Gordon Hutchings. I'm just on my second copy after a long hiatus. The negs print with a delicacy that is really tangible, particularly the mids and highs which can blow out with other devs. Great choice! You will lose a bit of shadow speed with Pyro, although I add a "dash" of AMIDOL to make PMK Pyro+ and a real honest speed gain of 1/2 to 1/3 of a stop. Not a lot but it helps a lot in some cases. DDX is good for pushing so you might want to stay with that when you need to increase EI, like if you are operating right on the edge. The ambient lighting in that 15' visibility ocean is soft and beautiful in B&W. You are on to something with this. Push the envelope.
Thanks for the encouragement!
I have a few other mentors...Chuck Davis (student and friend of the late Ernie Brooks), Captain Tim Doreck, Devon Thompkins who does the housing servicing, and the people at Backscatter. Everyone has been encouraging of my pursuit to shoot this system. The "old times" in the game glow with enthusiasm to see a young gun keeping the old ways of the art going and are always offering their wisdom. Only a few here and there haven't been so positive. One cranky old guy on a recent dive boat trip to Anacapa couldn't help but comment, "why would you bring that old camera underwater??" Me: "Um, cuz I can and that's what it's designed for..."
The_Darkness
Member
Here are a few more images from Catalina Island.
The conditions were rapidly deteriorating and it was getting surgery. One of my fondest memories was floating in the kelp forest timing the surge to the moment when the direction would change and there was a split-second pause to pull the trigger. I was perfectly neutrally buoyant, dialed in with my inhalation and exhalation. I would float back and forth in the surge. I was alone in a moment peace. I would briefly close my eyes and just float.
The conditions were rapidly deteriorating and it was getting surgery. One of my fondest memories was floating in the kelp forest timing the surge to the moment when the direction would change and there was a split-second pause to pull the trigger. I was perfectly neutrally buoyant, dialed in with my inhalation and exhalation. I would float back and forth in the surge. I was alone in a moment peace. I would briefly close my eyes and just float.
^^^^ I wish I could see your photos... tried with FireFox, Safari, Opera, and Edge with no luck.
The_Darkness
Member
How bout now? I had linked the images from my Google Drive. Now I linked them from my Google Photos.
Nokton48
Veteran
Gorgeous Cool Stuff. Love it. This is Art.
Pyro + will give you a smoother neg especially in the mids and highs. Plus "Mackie Lines" due to the adjacent effect, which enhances the overall tonalities. Makes sense to use it here. I'm going back to using it myself after thirty years.
I'll be running some 220 length rolls here shortly. 1992 WL Surveillance Kodak, 1982 vintage Plus-X Pan, fresh Rollei 400s, and fresh Ilford HP5+.
I like the Garibaldi peeking from behind the kelp floor
Pyro + will give you a smoother neg especially in the mids and highs. Plus "Mackie Lines" due to the adjacent effect, which enhances the overall tonalities. Makes sense to use it here. I'm going back to using it myself after thirty years.
I'll be running some 220 length rolls here shortly. 1992 WL Surveillance Kodak, 1982 vintage Plus-X Pan, fresh Rollei 400s, and fresh Ilford HP5+.
I like the Garibaldi peeking from behind the kelp floor