my glass i was at: John's Philly Grille

[Paul Lange]

Seeing your photos Brian made me get off my arse and buy some film yesterday. It was 3 for 2 in Boots so I bought Ilford HP5 & XP2 as well as Kodak BW400cn. I've also got 2 very cheap cameras coming a Eyelux Amica and a Halina 35X with a Sekonic light meter. Got them both for hardly anything. I also have a Chinon K1000 clone as well. Lets hope I don't balls the exposures up!

 

[Brian Moore]

Are the marks from the sprocket holes stress marks or developing marks?

First, thanks for your comment about the shot, Pete. As to the marks, those are developing marks. (It was 120 film, by the way, so no sprockets.) The first time it happened I thought it might be due to forgetting to tap the developing tank on the counter to dislodge air bubbles. However, despite my proactive efforts to tap tap after agitation, I still get the marks.

I use a plastic developing tank and reels. Don't know if that makes a difference. I seem to always get marks of some kind or other with 120 film. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It doesn't happen with 35mm. I'm not too bothered about it to be honest, because I think it lends an older look to the image sometimes, which suits well when the camera is pre-WWII. Mind you, I would like to know the actual cause so that I could avoid it in the event that I valued processing a clean and pristine neg.

Anyway, thanks again, Pete.

 

[Brian Moore]

Seeing your photos Brian made me get off my arse and buy some film yesterday.

Paul I take that as a very fine compliment. Thank you!

I don't use Ilford much (although I expect I'll use more of it in the future) but I know a lot of people love it. As to the Kodak film, that's nice stuff. And the nice thing about it is, although its black and white, you can take it back to Boots for processing since it uses C-41 chemistry.

I'm not familiar with those cameras but one of the beauties of using cheap film cameras is the unpredictable results. (If you're like me though, you'll have to resist the urge to look at the back of the camera after each exposure.) I wouldn't worry about making a bollox of the exposures. Film is very forgiving, and if in any doubt use the Sunny 16 rule. (Or Cloudy 8, depending on conditions.)

I sincerely hope you enjoy your film shooting experience and I look forward to seeing the results. Thanks again!