Epiphany

[curmudgeon]

I shot film from 1955, starting with a 127 Brownie, then with a 35mm folder, briefly with an old Rollei TLR, and then with 35mm SLR's and RF's until I switched to digital in 2002. I finally started scanning my way through my old negatives earlier this year. I liked the look of the 35mm B&W images so much that I put aside the digital camera and started using a Leica RF again - until last week that is.

I finally unearthed some of the old Rollei negatives, scanned them and made a few 8x10 prints on the inkjet. It was the first time I'd seen them larger than a 4x4 print. I was astonished. Nothing I'd ever done with 35mm looked like that.

I should still be using the Leica to document a continuing construction project in the neighborhood but my heart isn't really in it. I ordered a Rolleicord VB that should be here next week. A friend gave me a few rolls of Tri-X. He'll also help me develop them until I get set up to do them myself. I've been using BW400CN in the Leica and having Walgreens develop it. I developed my own film years ago and I'm looking forward to doing so again.

The other thing I am doing is kicking myself for not looking more closely at those 120 negatives all those years ago. Oh well...

--Doug

 

[nikon_sam]

Better late than never...
120 film through some old but beautiful glass = Heaven

 

[charjohncarter]

I sort of did the same thing: years of 35mm with the Rollei sitting in a drawer. Try some Fuji Astia in the Rollei and have Wal-mart develop for $4.88. You'll wonder why you ever left 6x6.

 

[thomob]

agreed. this comment wouldnt impress many on these forums, but i fell so far in love with 120 6x6 after getting my c33, i had to sell my bessa r + canon 50 1.8 ltm to fund the 180 4.5 and a couple other bits.

the immense detail and clarity this format captures cannot be compared to 35mm

 

[paulfish4570]

Doug, you are just in time ... 🙂

 

[Rogier]

Wandering about the same.
Recently sold all the big dslr stuff. Ready to buy an MP with a nice piece of glass. Its such a nice thing to hold. However looking at my Holga and pinhole shots (120 format) make me wander if this will be the right choice for me....
Problem with all the 120 size rangefinder are the slow lenses. And tlr's are all in square format something I am ambivalent about. Perhaps I should just try a Yashica 124 G or so before going any further.

 

[Armoured]

Problem with all the 120 size rangefinder are the slow lenses. And tlr's are all in square format something I am ambivalent about. Perhaps I should just try a Yashica 124 G or so before going any further.

Try a TLR! Square format you get used to and may even like, and they're not expensive.

 

[Rogier]

Try a TLR! Square format you get used to and may even like, and they're not expensive.

Actually I looked into the 645 format. And my eye caught a Mamiya 645 that also has some very nice lenses. Trouble is that I sold the bulky dslr for a reason ....

 

[damien.murphy]

Actually I looked into the 645 format. And my eye caught a Mamiya 645 that also has some very nice lenses. Trouble is that I sold the bulky dslr for a reason ....

Consider the Bronica RF645. Lens choice isn't fantastic, but if you can deal with that and like the 645 format, it might be a good choice for you. Fuji have a few 645 rangefinders also, although the moulded plastic bodies on some of them are quite tragic looking, imo.

 

[alistair.o]

agreed. this comment wouldnt impress many on these forums, but i fell so far in love with 120 6x6 after getting my c33, i had to sell my bessa r + canon 50 1.8 ltm to fund the 180 4.5 and a couple other bits.

the immense detail and clarity this format captures cannot be compared to 35mm

Nice to hear you talking like that. I recall your deliberations before finally buying it. Well done.

Al

 

[Ronald M]

120 is nice. Don`t ever try 4x5 with modern lenses or you will get epiphany #3. The bigger you go, the better it gets. Tri X in HC110 makes grainless 8x10. I can only imagine what T Max100 would be like. I will try some day.

In the mean time, Nikons D3 easily out classes 120 . You can add grain, soft or sharp, monochrome, or color, small or large, can confine it to the mid tones using blend if option. I can make it look like trix 35 in Acufine all the way to T M 100. Guaranteed you can`t see the difference

 

[archeophoto]

I disagree with that! I have a D700. It's a fantastic camera, but in no way does it "outclass" a good 120 slide. If you have a good scanner, you get just as much if not more more detail in a 120 image. I have many Hasselblad and Rollei slides to prove it.

People are to quick to throw around superlatives like "outclass" or "superior" on forums. I especially liked the guy who sees a "clear difference" between a Xenotar and a Planar...

I love my D700, don't get me wrong. But while it always will be a 12mp image, time works for me for my 120 slides. Scanners will get better and better and my Hasselblad slides will still compete with whatever is out there in the digital world in 10 years. But I bet you my D700 will be long gone by then.

120 is nice. Don`t ever try 4x5 with modern lenses or you will get epiphany #3. The bigger you go, the better it gets. Tri X in HC110 makes grainless 8x10. I can only imagine what T Max100 would be like. I will try some day.

In the mean time, Nikons D3 easily out classes 120 . You can add grain, soft or sharp, monochrome, or color, small or large, can confine it to the mid tones using blend if option. I can make it look like trix 35 in Acufine all the way to T M 100. Guaranteed you can`t see the difference

 

[KenR]

MF rangefinders

MF rangefinders

What about the Mamiya 6 or 7? Both are excellent with great lenses available for them. The retractable lens 6 is especially compact in the field and is my hiking camera of choice.

 

[Jerevan]

As mentioned earlier in the thread, Fuji Astia in a Rollei - a match made in heaven! 🙂

 

[robklurfield]

let's see some images from those old negatives.

I shot film from 1955, starting with a 127 Brownie, then with a 35mm folder, briefly with an old Rollei TLR, and then with 35mm SLR's and RF's until I switched to digital in 2002. I finally started scanning my way through my old negatives earlier this year. I liked the look of the 35mm B&W images so much that I put aside the digital camera and started using a Leica RF again - until last week that is.

I finally unearthed some of the old Rollei negatives, scanned them and made a few 8x10 prints on the inkjet. It was the first time I'd seen them larger than a 4x4 print. I was astonished. Nothing I'd ever done with 35mm looked like that.

I should still be using the Leica to document a continuing construction project in the neighborhood but my heart isn't really in it. I ordered a Rolleicord VB that should be here next week. A friend gave me a few rolls of Tri-X. He'll also help me develop them until I get set up to do them myself. I've been using BW400CN in the Leica and having Walgreens develop it. I developed my own film years ago and I'm looking forward to doing so again.

The other thing I am doing is kicking myself for not looking more closely at those 120 negatives all those years ago. Oh well...

--Doug

 

[jpa66]

let's see some images from those old negatives.

I second that! I love seeing old photos that have been left behind or forgotten.

By the way, Rob - I loved the photos that you posted from Europe that were old. Makes me wish even more that I had been able to go there back then ( but I was in high school, alas ).

Jan

 

[robklurfield]

Thanks, Jan. Where are you in Chicago? (A place I long for occasionally, having grown up in and around there.)

I second that! I love seeing old photos that have been left behind or forgotten.

By the way, Rob - I loved the photos that you posted from Europe that were old. Makes me wish even more that I had been able to go there back then ( but I was in high school, alas ).

Jan

 

[Pickett Wilson]

"Scanners will get better and better"

On the contrary. Scanners seem to be going to way of the DoDo bird.

 

[thomob]

"Scanners will get better and better"

On the contrary. Scanners seem to be going to way of the DoDo bird.

true, i dont think any of the big companies are putting any more effort into upping the current technology for scanners.. the market doesnt truly exist for it as much as it once did. (unfortunately)

 

[mfogiel]

An old Rolleiflex with Tri X can deliver splendid results. If you do not need to enlarge it more than 6 times, you can safely scan it on Epson V700 (maybe the Doug Fisher's holders would help)