Film - HELP!!

[retinax]

You probably had your reasons for shooting digital in the first place? Getting your friend's cameras should not have changed them. But if you just want to have some fun with them, do what you like, honestly I don't see the point in asking. Only you can know what you want and I'm sure you do know how to get it. If it were me, I see a point in shooting film mostly for an all-analog workflow, especially if you have a digital body that can use the same lenses anyway.

 

[oftheherd]

I don't know about you. But as I near my 2nd retirement, I hope to get back to taking photos with film and rejuvenating my ad hoc darkroom (can we move that clothes dryer a little to the left) 😛

Film, papers, and developers have changed some over the last few years. So I am also looking forward to a lot of experimenting, just like I did when I was mostly involved in doing things myself some 40 years ago. It was fun learning and keeping up on new films and processing up until about 25 years ago. I want that fun back.

Maybe you might think along those lines too?

 

[presspass]

I do black and white film in my darkroom. All ISO 400 films and D-23 developer. 35mm printing with a Focomat V-35 I bought used decades ago; Ilford RC paper, mostly warm tone and toned with selenium. Nova slot processor. I can be up and printing in less than 15 minutes and it takes less time than that to clean up at the end of the night. Print developer stays good for about a week; fixer and stop bath for a month. I don't do color film or printing. I enjoy darkroom work, especially since it's now not on deadline.

 

[MikeL]

what should I do upon reentering the world of film (and why)?

I'd let your needs drive the tools, whatever your needs are.

 

[Darthfeeble]

I've gotten into MF film in a very small way and find that sending the negs of to a developer and having them scan them to a disc is the easiest method. I'm not gonna develop nor am I going to wet print. No room, no desire, but inkjet prints of the scans are very satisfactory if you get the top of the line scans. It's pricey I know but at my level it is the best way for me.

 

[Ronald M]

If you wish to screw around with inkjet and scanning, be my guest. You are better off scanning, correcting, and sending it to a pro lab for printing.

Best is plug in the old Focomat, mix some chems, and have fun in the dark. I am teaching my son the fine art of printing now. I gave him my M6 and he uses the M8 for digital.