OT: Half Frame

[Will]

Hi,

Any body play with Half Frame Camera nowadays?

How do you go post-development? (Scanning or the traditional way?)

Cheers





Will

 

[rbiemer]

The only 1/2 frame camera I own is an AGAT 18k and the local 1hour lab has treated the film differently each time I've used them. One time they printed two frames on each 4x6 cutting off the left and right edges of the pictures with a space in between. The CD I got with the processing was OK. Another time the prints were fine but the CD was odd(two pictures in each scan). And one other time they gave me my film back un-printed and the roll was un-cut as well. I haven't used the camera in a while because of the difficulties I've had. If I did my own processing none of this would be a problem...
Rob

 

[George S.]

The large regional Fuji lab near me that just closed down always properly developed and printed my half frame film, but it took an extra day. ( I used to walk my film into their outlet store at the facility). So, I'd advise you to find a drug or grocery store that uses a Fuji lab and see if they'll send it out to Fuji. (Assuming there still IS a Fuji processing lab somewhere).

 

[vha]

Every place that has a fujufilm Frontier lab has the posibility to print half format, either they

a) know,
b) would admit it
c) would like to do it . .. 😉

when I`m not traveling i do work on thise nifty machines (frontier 350) and with just two clicks and the lab guy can make good prints, but 9x13 (cm) still looks best I think.

If i had not sold the Samurai . . ..

vha.

 

[ZeissFan]

Not exactly half-frame, but a couple of us love the Tenax II -- a prewar 24mm x 24mm camera. I have mine loaded with some FP4+ now and plan to shoot with it over the next two days.

I just skip prints and ask color film to be returned uncut. For b/w, of course, no problem.

 

[CleverName]

I've got a Samurai half frame that I've use a few times. The lab printed two shots on each 4x6 and left the negatives uncut. They seemed a bit puzzled at first when I told them they were half frame but there was an older guy there that knew what to do.
If you scan them yourself the quality is fine for the web. I didn't have the lab scan them so I don't know what they'd do. I havent tried any B&W or traditional printing.

 

[ruben]

I would say that half frame today is very much an issue for home processing and printing (b&w), or lab film processing and home scanning - a good cost\result answer to the free of charge digitalism.

I have been very much interested in purchasing a half frame camera myself, but after a lot of interneting couldn't find a satisfactory model out of the system Pen, which by then was very expensive for me.

Cheers,

Ruben

 

[Traut]

Cost/Insanity Ratio

Cost/Insanity Ratio

What is the lowest $$ for the DL2 so far? I may reconsider the panasonic option if the $$ difference narrows. Thanks

 

[George S.]

ruben,

you might look for a Canon Demi. Not a system camera, but fun to use and small. They come up on ebay regularly.

 

[Doug]

I inherited a Pen FT from my father, and then bought another FT and an FV... and have 20, 25, 38, 40 and 50-90mm lenses. Back in the 60's I had a Petri Half-7 and later a Pen D2, so my darkroom was set up for printing this size neg.

It's been a pain getting (color) processing and scanning from my local pro lab, which uses Agfa machinery. They always double-up the prints and scans, usually cropping destructively to fit. The do fine with the very similar APS size images; it's just that there the 35 half-frame has become the forgotten format. And they can't do 6x9cm either; 6x7 is the limit!

Well, I clearly need to find a good Fuji lab nearby... thanks for that tip!

 

[rovnguy]

I have a number of half frame cameras and they are a real thrill to use. I use C-41 film mostly these days and my lab has no problem dealing with it. I am going to get a bit more adventureous in the near future and shoot some Kodachrome with them. The lab will process it, but I will have them return the processed film to me un-cut and un-mounted. I will scan and mount those that I judge to be good enough.

 

[bobomoon]

I trying to permanently modify a junker olympus xa into a half frame. The xa seems like an easy mod for half frame. The masking seems pretty obvious and for the film advance, I'm going to try filing away some stuff from either an internal gear or film take-up teeth(?).

 

[Poptart]

I'm bidding on a Pen F now on the eBay. I'm so cheap I probably won't win it but I've always wanted one.

 

[Film dino]

I got a Pen F off ebay two months ago & have been using an OM macro lens via the Pen-OM adapter to photograph orchids & other equatorial plants in my dad's collection- see the 3 samples (if you dare) in my gallery. I'm probably breaking the rules by uploading non RF shots.

The Pen F is an easy to use solid, well built machine. Dim viewfinder image, but I like the fact that this image is in "portrait" format rather than the normal full-frame "landscape". I don't know much of the history of the example I've got- i.e. when & if a CLA was done- but the shutter seems to be accurate at speeds down to 15th, judging from consistency of the negs/ slides. Pretty good going for a 60s camera.

I think current film emulsions, film scanner capability & "modern" lenses allow the half-frame format to be exploited in ways which the original designers (e.g. Maitani) would be very happy to see.

David

 

[Doug]

I agree, David... Modern films and scanning can benefit the half frame beyond its original capabilities. I hear the 38mm normal lens is about the the best lens of the series, and I've found the 20mm to be very snappy as well. I do choose this camera for conventional black & white when I'd like an accentuated grain pattern. And this grain has to be crisp, not mushy...

 

[George S.]

Bobomoon,

I'd be interested in how you make out with the XA modification. Please give us a follow-up. I also agree that modern technology does give new life to the half frame format. The results- when properly developed and printed- are far better than we could have hoped for in the mid 60s.

I never found a nice Pen system, but I do have a couple of Canon Demis and the Yashica Samurai. This thread has given me reason to give them a workout...

 

[Film dino]

Sydney flower stall Nov 2005

Sydney flower stall Nov 2005

Pen F 38mm/2.8 @ 5.6. Sensia 200 scanned on a Nikon 5000 ED

 

[furcafe]

Like Mike, I use the Tenax II & also have a Pen F & FV. The subminis are fun & I'm always pleasantly surprised to find how long it takes to use up a roll of film!

 

[Stephanie Brim]

I have two: one that works as is and another that works but needs work. The Canon Demi (original model, older than the hills) is a nice little camera with a nice little lens that works great for candid street shooting because it's so quiet, but the fact that it is zone focus and I suck at focusing those things is a pet peeve. My Olympus Pen EE, also a nice camera, is in almost working condition at this time and the focus-free design is more to my liking. I prefer my Canon P and my Meopta Flexaret to either camera even though they're larger and more conspicuous because I'm never sure what I'm going to get with either camera. I'll probably end up fixing and selling the things.

 

[Doug]

Here's a couple of (non-RF) samples that won't be found in my gallery... The first at the Farmers Market with a Pen FT, 25mm f/2.8, Fuji Super HQ 200. The "Drive Thru" is the same but with 38mm f/1.8. The third, of the stacked car bumpers, is with a Pen FV with 20mm f/3.5 and Kodak 100UC. Nice little rigs!

You guys with the 38mm f/2.8, that's the little "pancake" lens isn't it?