First shoot with Voigtlander IIa (my first time using film and shooting manual)

[Ben Jennings]

Here are some of my shots on my first film camera and the first time I have ever shot manually. The scans aren't great due to the crappy negative scanner that I have (ION film 2 PC), it doesn't light the negative evenly hence the light edges and it's only 3MP.

I had the negatives developed at Jessops, who although had them done within an hour, weren't so great. Two photos came back cut wonky and one had a stain on it, not overly impressed at about £7, but you do get a free film and £5 off the next so every cloud has it's silver lining.

The camera I was using is a Voigtlander IIa which I got for £3 of eBay, it has a broken rangefinder, but apart from that I absolutely love it.

Anyway, here are a few shots taken.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I really like these mate!
the crap scanner has actually given a really nice feel to them even if it isnt exactly what you might have intended

my recommendation is always epson flat bed scanners ... the starting slide/neg capable one in their range is currently the v330 which can be had for less than £100

 

[Ben Jennings]

Yeah, at first I was really annoyed by the scanning, but on the plus side it does give a kind of retro feel to the shots. Picked up a few more voigtlanders all for a few quid each but it has been a bit unsucessful really.

Picked up a Rapid D not realising it doesn't take standard 35mm.
Got a Vitomatic II, seller said it was all working but has a jammed shutter, currently now dismantled at home in the hope of a fix, or at least nicking the range finder to put in my IIa. I have been taking lots of photo's of the dismantle so I will hopefully produce some kind of guide.
And today a Vito C and Vito CLR arrived, the C seems quite knackered (so again I think I will dismantle and find out what is wrong, something is not right with the shutter/film winder) and the CLR looks like it might be usable (although I'm not so sure the light meter hasn't suffered from old age).

So hasn't been the best purchases I have ever made but it'll be fun to tinker with them. And considering I have only spent a total of about £25 for 5 cameras I don't consider it a massive loss. And worse case scenario I can either stick them back on ebay or have them as display pieces.

 

[Pete Askew]

I do like that first shot: the negative vignette and motion blur in the tree work well although I'd be tempted to straighten it up a bit.

 

[Brian Moore]

I like the retro feel on these images, Ben. The first one feels particularly retro. (If rendered in B&W it might conjure images by Fox-Talbot or Hill & Adamson.) I love the blue in the sky of number 3. Any idea who makes Jessop's film? Where's it manufactured?

Thanks.

 

[Ben Jennings]

Brian: I'm not too sure who makes the film, I will have a root around at home and see if I can find the packaging. I see what you mean about them looking like Fox-Talbot if they were in black and white, there definitely are some similarities. Cheers for the feedback.

Pete: Yeah I was a bit gutted that that photo was a little wonky, I am gonna have a play and get it straight. I was in a hurry to take that photo, as although the place looks quite derelict there was actually somebody living there, I didn't want them to spot me taking the photo so it was a shoot and run job. The site is amazing though, the person has several camper vans/caravans/trailers rotting away on a plot of land in between loads of posh houses, quite a unique place for it really. Might even ask them one day if I can take some photos around there.

 

[Ben Jennings]

Brian: I'm not too sure who makes the film, I will have a root around at home and see if I can find the packaging. I see what you mean about them looking like Fox-Talbot if they were in black and white, there definitely are some similarities. Cheers for the feedback.

Pete: Yeah I was a bit gutted that that photo was a little wonky, I am gonna have a play and get it straight. I was in a hurry to take that photo, as although the place looks quite derelict there was actually somebody living there, I didn't want them to spot me taking the photo so it was a shoot and run job. The site is amazing though, the person has several camper vans/caravans/trailers rotting away on a plot of land in between loads of posh houses, quite a unique place for it really. Might even ask them one day if I can take some photos around there.