FlyPenFly wrote:
Developing in my small Manhattan apartment will unfortunately be impossible.
Hmmm? It's B&W, not C41 or E6. If you have a kitchen sink you can develop B&W negs. Actually a small bathroom sink is sufficient. You don't even need a darkroom, just a changing bag to load the reels - or load them at night in your closet.
Tanks, reels etc. are practically free these days. People can't give them away.
Ken
P.S. If you are in NY though you should have lots of options for people willing to develop if you give them enough money.
kwalsh wrote:
Hmmm? It's B&W, not C41 or E6. If you have a kitchen sink you can develop B&W negs. Actually a small bathroom sink is sufficient. You don't even need a darkroom, just a changing bag to load the reels - or load them at night in your closet.
Tanks, reels etc. are practically free these days. People can't give them away.
Ken
P.S. If you are in NY though you should have lots of options for people willing to develop if you give them enough money.
Indeed, I do all my own B&W in my 1 bedroom apartment, I'm even setup to wet print up to 11x14, although I almost never do wet prints.
Oh, I should note that if the FE2's too much money the plain FE offers essentially the same capabilities as an OM2 for lower cost than an FE2, plus it retains the ability to take the FM3a screens for a nice viewfinder upgrade and can use non-AI lenses. The FE2 adds a much more capable shutter than either the OM2 or the FE.
Personally I'd be looking at an FE or FE2 with a 50/2, you should be able to source one on CL for no more than $150 complete for a chrome body (black is usually more expensive) (well, really I'd be getting an FM or FM2, I prefer them to the FE series. In fact my current kit for film shooting is that pair of bodies plus a 28/3.5, 50/1.8E and 105/2.5)
I've been wanting to see what the ZF's are like with film (and street) for ages and have been playing with a loan F3.
but am buying a F801s (n8008s). I did buy an F5 but the thing is too heavy to carry as a 2nd body.
I have the room but only use the sink. Changing bag/developing tank and reels/hose/squegee/thermometer/clips/sleeves/bottles/ shelf in the fridge and a bucket load of fun.
The illness is at full term and I'm only just at the beginning and scanning is nice for sharing but I want the pics for me (greedy me) and will setup for printing.
I once said to myself that if I went to film it would be mf but I think I'll stay in 35mm.
Consider also that the F3 has a pretty loud shutter. Louder than the OM 2n. So, for street photography the OM is better. The Nikon, however, takes one of my favorite 50's of all time, the Nikkor 50mm f/2. It has the special rendering you're looking for, and is inexplicably inexpensive. but rather than the F3, I'd echo the recommendations for an FE, FE2 or even an FA. Now that has a bright viewfinder and a quiet shutter!
It should be no problem for you to develop B&W in your apartment. You can load the reels in a changing bag, mix the chemicals and develop in your bathroom. That's what I did when I used to shoot B&W. I don't anymore and sold most of my stuff including an OM-2n and 28/3.5 to a friend who was taking a B&W class at school for dirt cheap. I still have a tank and a couple of reels if you are interested.
It's not particularly difficult to develop B&W on your own but I can understand if you don't want to deal with storing all that stuff at home, apartments around here can be tiny. The few labs that do B&W are quite expensive. Another option to consider is taking a class at FIT or some other local photography school for darkroom access.
I have owned nearly every Olympus OM body, as well as about 12 - 13 different OM lenses, including a lot of the fast and expensive lenses. I have also used quite a few Nikon bodies and Nikon lenses. My only film body currently is a Nikon FM with a 35/2, 50/2 and 105/2.5 lenses. I love the simplicity of the Nikon, and the lenses are farily cheap and digital compatible. I like the Nikon system better for simplicity, reliability, digital compatibility, availability, etc.
But if you want a beautiful, gem like camera, I don't think anything is nicer to use or hold than a black OM-1 or OM-2. The OM-2sp is a great camera as well. I loved the 24/2, 28/2, 50/1.4 and 100/2.8 lenses. (I look back at old images and the 28/2 was incredible for b/w for some reason.) Find the 50/2 Olympus macro if you can. Supposed to be one of the best 50mm lenses ever......
Also, for what you want, go with the older single coated Olympus optics. I think they have more character than the newer multi-coated Olympus lenses. I owned the Olympus 100/2, which was one of their newest, most expensive lenses at the time.... and I liked the results from an old 100/2.8 single coated lens better.
I had several Olympus bodies and lenses in the early 90s, just before I switched to Contax. The lenses may underperform on digital, but they work very well with film. You will love the size, weight, huge bright VF, and the shutter dial on the lens mount.
I'd choose the Olympus, just because it's smaller. But if you want a Nikon, get a smaller one like an FM2 or FE2 instead of the F3.
Lens-wise I'd take a sharp 50/1.8 or 50/2 over most 50/1.4 versions, regardless of brand. They generally have nicer bokeh, lower distortion and the difference in sharpness doesn't matter that much on film.
And of course I'd develop at home. It takes 15 minutes per film or so and costs close to nothing. Scanning is the worst part of the hybrid workflow, but the prices for getting film developed and scanned with decent quality is ridiculous, at least over here in Europe, and you'll probably spend less money over time doing it yourself if you get a scanner of your own.
