Sunday 30 December 2012
Fuji GW690III Overview-Review
These cameras were the last to bear the name Fujica. First released in November 1978 as a professional unit with interchangeable lenses that were subsequently updated to a fixed lens. They came in several formats from 4.5x6, 6x7, 6x8 and 6x9. The GW 6x9 was first released in 1985 and came with a fixed lens. The video above gives a nice insight into a range of camera that became known as the Texas Leica.
Like to thank Mike Thomas for his insight into this camera.
Labels:
120 format,
6x9,
film camera,
fuji,
gw690. camera Texas Leica,
medium,
negative,
video
Friday 30 November 2012
Print washing
Wash tray |
For some
time now I have been looking for a way to improve my print washing. This is more to do with how well
they are washed when I have a batch of half a dozen or so processed prints. At
the moment I use a homemade tray that is sloped, with running water coming in
at the top and is dammed at the bottom to create a reservoir before flowing
through holes that control the level. But this only allows me to wash a couple
of prints at a time which needs to be agitated now and again by hand. The
solution would be a slot style washer.
This has
been a thorn in my mind for sometime, that now needs to be removed. So before I
build a new one I should do some research. I started off by asking a question
on FADU
First of all
we need to go back a step to the fixing process, because what you do here has a
big bearing on how well and quickly your prints are washed. I prefer to use a
rapid fix which is a plus point but it needs to be timed correctly. Next it is
a good idea to place the newly fixed print straight into a water bath and
agitate for a minute before placing in the hypo clearing; which is a must for
FB papers in reducing wash time. ( I no long use Hypo clearing because my new wash method has shown it's not needed) When it comes to RC papers I exclude the Hypo
as the papers absorption rate is next to nothing.
When I
embarked on this research I had not envisaged how complex the wash process was.
I suspect not many others give it the consideration it needs either.
Labels:
darkroom,
Fiber Base,
martin reed,
paper,
photography,
print,
traditional,
vortex,
washing
Thursday 8 November 2012
Out of date HP5+ develpoed in ID11
Lomo Fisheye two |
As
far as I can remember (going by recent events that’s a bit dubious)
this film is about seven years out of date. With this in mind you
would of thought I should have picked a camera that allowed ISO
adjustments. I didn't! Lomo's fisheye 2 was the camera chosen meaning
that the HP5+ would have to be exposed at box speed (400 iso) Unlike
a lot of people I don't have a problem with box speed and anyway it
is in the best tradition of the toy camera cult along with Light leaking
cameras, plastic lens, unpredictable focus and a lot of fun.
After
all these years I still get the little bit of apprehension as I do a
quick check of the film just before the wash stage. I need not have
worried as I remove the reel from the developing tank I can just make
out a line of rectangles along the film. The proof of the pudding
will be when I print them.
I am very pleased with the way these negatives have printed. There is no sign of grain even though they have been enlarged to fit 9.5”x12” paper. I have used Silverproof matt paper at grade three and processed in Moersch 6 blue tone developer. Which produces a rich blue black that does not translate very well from scanned pictures.
Labels:
darkroom,
developer,
hp5+,
id11,
lomography,
paper,
process,
silverproof,
toy camera
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