Photo_Smith
Well-known
I found one for £2.50 a little while back-how much is the going rate?
Roger Hicks
Veteran
From my linked piece, "The Paterson Orbital is no longer available new but turns up frequently at camera fairs and on eBay. Prices vary wildly: anything from a fiver/7.50 euros/$10 or so to ten times as much, or more." I don't think prices have changed much, but you did very well at two pounds fifty.
Cheers,
R.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Anywhere between what you paid and $140.00 when I was looking from memory!
I eventually stumbled over one new in box on Ebay for around seventy dollars and jumped on it because it was the cheapest one I'd seen in a couple of months of searching.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Keith,
Strewth!
And that's not a pseudo-Australian affectation: it was in common use in the UK when I was a boy. I believe it to be an abbreviation of "God's Truth!"
Cheers,
R.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
That's an Aussie expression I quite miss actually Roger ... don't hear it a lot now.
The 'F' word dominates ... sadly!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Keith,
Gosh. Another cliché bites the dust. EVERYONE outside Australia knows that between "Strewth", "Bloke" and "Cobber", you only need about 10 other words in Strine. Of course this was largely due to the Adventures of Barry McKenzie in Privater Eye, which I've just learned was banned in collected form in Australia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_McKenzie
Cheers,
R.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Photo_Smith
Well-known
Stone the crows....
Kenj8246
Well-known
Before this thread digresses--as they seem to do --into a syntax/vocabulary/colloquialism discussion, thanks for all your replies and suggestions. While I can get two sheets into a two-reel plastic tank without resorting to tricks, I'm pretty sure I've chosen the Mod54 gizmo. Looks like it might work with a minimum of fuss. Pricey but, then, it's just money, right? Will let y'all know how I get on with it.
Kenny
--into a syntax/vocabulary/colloquialism discussion, thanks for all your replies and suggestions. While I can get two sheets into a two-reel plastic tank without resorting to tricks, I'm pretty sure I've chosen the Mod54 gizmo. Looks like it might work with a minimum of fuss. Pricey but, then, it's just money, right? Will let y'all know how I get on with it.Kenny
ruby.monkey
Veteran
Just be careful not to load the film in the wrong way round, or else it'll scratch the emulsion to buggery.
Kenj8246
Well-known
Good tip. I sometimes have a fit getting a fingernail or something under the edge of the film in the holder to extract it; my hands are rather large and 'fat-fingered'. Guess I just haven't stumbled onto the right trick yet.
Kenny
Kenny
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Kenny,Before this thread digresses--as they seem to do
Kenny
With all the 6-sheet loaders I've used -- and I've tried several -- I find it safest to load and process just 4 sheets instead of 6. Yes, 6 is fine if you're careful, and the Mod 54 is easier than most, but I'd still go for batches of 4 rather than 6.
Cheers,
R.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Kenny,Good tip. I sometimes have a fit getting a fingernail or something under the edge of the film in the holder to extract it; my hands are rather large and 'fat-fingered'. Guess I just haven't stumbled onto the right trick yet.
Kenny
Look for Linhof plate/film holders. They have a little arm to push the film out.
Cheers,
R.
Kenj8246
Well-known
Care to share why? I think I can understand why but I'm curious as to your particular calculus....
JohnTF
Veteran
I've know some rather obsessive friends who after exhaustive (one year) testing, gray cards, densitometers, etc., concluded the only even processing of sheet films was with a soft paint brush loaded with developer applied from one end.
I did say obsessive, right?
We used tray processing, with developers that required shorter times. We also used the big block tanks that took a lot of soup and processed a dozen sheets, probably in Dk60a, back in the day. Oh, and the dip tanks, I once had a stainless steel set with water bath for Ektachrome-- about two moves ago.
Roger, the Czechs copied the Linhof holders, for the next time you are having a pint in Prague. Found some NIB at Skoda Foto in the used department.
It used to be an adventure there, outfitted Zu with an entire darkroom, had a Taxi to the door, and Bob's your Uncle, she quickly had her own set up, Meopta 6x9 and the works, less than a Benjamin with tax and tip.
Used to have a lot of new and used Jobo kit, some still in storage if I decide to go back and soup some film.
Unfortunately, you don't see much darkroom gear at the shows, there is a current revival attempt at some rental space with classes downtown on Superior Ave. , Igor, myself, and a few others try to help them out when we see gear. If you see gear at a show now, it is often left in the room when the vendor departs without selling it.
Regards, John
I did say obsessive, right?
We used tray processing, with developers that required shorter times. We also used the big block tanks that took a lot of soup and processed a dozen sheets, probably in Dk60a, back in the day. Oh, and the dip tanks, I once had a stainless steel set with water bath for Ektachrome-- about two moves ago.
Roger, the Czechs copied the Linhof holders, for the next time you are having a pint in Prague. Found some NIB at Skoda Foto in the used department.
It used to be an adventure there, outfitted Zu with an entire darkroom, had a Taxi to the door, and Bob's your Uncle, she quickly had her own set up, Meopta 6x9 and the works, less than a Benjamin with tax and tip.
Used to have a lot of new and used Jobo kit, some still in storage if I decide to go back and soup some film.
Unfortunately, you don't see much darkroom gear at the shows, there is a current revival attempt at some rental space with classes downtown on Superior Ave. , Igor, myself, and a few others try to help them out when we see gear. If you see gear at a show now, it is often left in the room when the vendor departs without selling it.
Regards, John
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Much easier to avoid cross-threaded loading, scratching and touching. That's all.
Cheers,
R.
JohnTF
Veteran
That's an Aussie expression I quite miss actually Roger ... don't hear it a lot now.
So that's what my pal was saying in Cleethorpes?
J
KM-25
Well-known
I had a Mod54 insert for my Paterson tank when first experimenting, while it was ok, I had thin based films like Rollei IR400 come disloged and stick together and got streaks and unevenness now and then on other films. With gas at $4.00 a gallon, film at $1.25-$2.50 per sheet, I am amazed at how people try to cut corners here. I started getting really great and consistent results once I got a 3010 Expert Drum and used it on a cheap Beseler motor base.
I now have two 3010 drums and use them on a Jobo CPP2, incredible negs every time.
I now have two 3010 drums and use them on a Jobo CPP2, incredible negs every time.
Nokton48
Veteran
For thirty years I have used a Unicolor 8x10" Print Drum, and a Unicolor Uniroller. Develops four 4x5's, two 5x7's, or one 8x10. I also have an 11x14" Print Drum that will do two 8x10's, which I seldom use, but very nice to have. And a 16x20 Print Drum as well.
All of this has always worked well for me.
All of this has always worked well for me.