Proof... evidence of my first self-souped roll of film in 25 years

[robklurfield]

Having not processed my own film in a quarter of a century or more (gosh, I'm surprised to old enough to use that phrase), I processed a roll of 135 Neopan 1600 (rated at 800). Souped it in Rodinal, one hour stand. I like the results and was surprised at how easy stand developing turned out to be.

For those of you who haven't souped your own film ever or seemingly in span measured by "forever," you should give it a try (or a second try, as in my case). If I can do it, you do it.

I have no intention of wet printing any time soon, so I guess I need to pick up a film scanner. So, more to prove to myself that I can do this, than to impress any of you regular home processing geniuses, here's my proof...

Hopefully, some images from this first roll and others to follow in the next week or so.

Thinking of an Epson V700 for scanning. I also shoot 120.

Thanks to all those of you post helpful processing tips and recipes all over RFF for giving me, whether you realized it or not, the encouragement to pick this up again. I've had a big smile on my face for the past hour, since I unspooled this first roll. Looking forward to many more.

If my M8, which took the two shots above, isn't careful, she/he/it could end up being traded for an MP.

 

[rpj]

Big "ATTA-BOY!"

 

[Steve Ash]

Take care to get the film not to close to the bulb. I got some films curled by doing so.

Regards
Steve

 

[TheHub]

Developing film brings untold joy 🙂

 

[Keith]

A processed roll of film hanging there and no scanner!!!!!!! :bang:

That would drive me totally insane Rob ... get that V700 so we can see what you've got there ... please! 😀

 

[bidnez]

I use the V700 myself - results are good, especially after getting the frames/holders from www.betterscanning.com. 🙂

 

[robklurfield]

The photo is very misleading in terms of perspective. The film is about four feet away from that bulb.

Take care to get the film not to close to the bulb. I got some films curled by doing so.

Regards
Steve

 

[aeolist]

A processed roll of film hanging there and no scanner!!!!!!! :bang:

That would drive me totally insane Rob ... get that V700 so we can see what you've got there ... please! 😀

i've souped 20 36exp rolls (successfully) since june when i started b&w film and havent scanned anything, only printed 2 photos... so that's nothing in comparison 🙂

i just tell people i practice winograndian buddhism

 

[jamesj]

congratulations! i want to get back to souping my own stuff. Its hard thought when there is my wife and daughter in a 2 bedroom apartment and only one bathroom...

But im slowly trying to convince my wife i need to...

 

[Muggins]

Yep, I've got a supportive spouse (until she needs to go while I'm souping, I suspect...), but am still trying to work out how to black out a rented bathroom. I've got a roller-blind of blackout, it's just doing stuff that's completely reversible. Perhaps I should make a tent with it instead?

The film bit is no problem - I have a dead roll of 120 I use for testing winders and so on, and I got it on the spool in the changing bag first time - never done that before! I think the secret is that the old darkroom I used to use was very warm, and I had sweaty fingers. Not this time!

Adrian

 

[robklurfield]

do it. middle of the night, when your gals are fast asleep. an hour alone in that bathroom with a minimal kit. let your nice results convince the Mrs. that this is good for you. I kick myself for waiting so long to get back into this. don't wait. life is short. shoot film.

congratulations! i want to get back to souping my own stuff. Its hard thought when there is my wife and daughter in a 2 bedroom apartment and only one bathroom...

But im slowly trying to convince my wife i need to...

 

[robklurfield]

jamesj and muggins, don't worry about light in those bathrooms. get a changing bag, then you won't need a light-tight room. tell those significant others how much money you'll save on commercial processing. I'm lucky, as my wife used to do this herself before we met, so she thinks it's great that I'm doing it again. I wish I could get her to start shooting some film herself.

My one advantage is that I've got a house with lots of extra space (my kids are out of the house... at least temporarily). After years of seeing me be a workaholic, I think my wife actually likes to see me enjoying photography again. When a new bit of gear shows up now, she only gets angry for a few hours now, instead of weeks. It helps to make stuff for her (some blurb books, frame prints, etc.). now, she actually brags to people about my obsession.

 

[semrich]

Rob, I never developed film before, learned everything I needed to know here on RFF and continue to learn. Got an MP and the M8 sits on the shelf. Shooting lots of film 135 and 120 and having lots of fun. It is as exciting to see the results as you unroll the developed film as is doing it all yourself. No one to blame about bad shots, and all the credit for the good ones.

 

[jamesj]

my bathroom is pretty light tight.
its at the other end of the apartment.
i liked my old bathroom our walk in closet had a door and used to be inside the bathroom so it was 2 doors of protection.

im not to sure on this one but it gets pretty dark. Maybe ill shop on craigslist for some reels and a tank and get some chemicals.

 

[-doomed-]

Good stuff ! It's great to see the negs when you pull them off the reel and hang them to dry. My vote goes to the v700 , I use a v300 to scan my 35mm stuff right now and I should have gone for the v700 instead.
It never gets old though

 

[robklurfield]

my new V700 arrived this afternoon. I have no clue what I'm doing, but here's my first few images. lots to learn. used the epson software to scan these and did minimal PSE work on them. these first few are 135 Neopan 1600 rated at 800, M2, I think CV 15/4.5, one hour stand in Rodinal.

no post-process on this one... and it shows...

lotta grain in this next one...

 

[robklurfield]

 

[robklurfield]

 

[robklurfield]