A few years ago, I started experimenting with developing Tri-X in Rodinal. Posting on a different forum, my early post were receiving less than favorable reviews, so I asked for assistance. A member gave me the some recommendations which helped me get to my goal of a decent negative. I reduced the ISO by one stop, got rid of my yellow filter and was gentle with my agitations. Those suggestions reduced visible grain and improved tonal range while still giving me the sharpness Rodinal provides.
Thank you for the testing and posting your results. It always good to have a path to follow. Lately I've been using Adox XT-3 but still have Rodinal on hand and like the results.
These were from last year but since both my scanning gear and technique have gotten better, I scanned them today. M4-2, Voigtlander 35 1.4 Nokton Classic SC V2, Tri-X @ ISO 200, Rodinal 1:50
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, McMinville, Oregon:
From a distance this pic is acceptable. But looking at it closely it is not sharp anywhere due to shutter shock/mirror slap that this camera is notorious for. Unless speeds are above 1/60 sec you will not get sharp sharp pics.
Bummer. Size and feel is just great, and it is such a cute little SLR. But I think it's time for me to sell this one on as I don't mind carrying a little extra junk in the trunk if it means I can use speeds 1/60 and under.
From a distance this pic is acceptable. But looking at it closely it is not sharp anywhere due to shutter shock/mirror slap that this camera is notorious for. Unless speeds are above 1/60 sec you will not get sharp sharp pics.
Bummer. Size and feel is just great, and it is such a cute little SLR. But I think it's time for me to sell this one on as I don't mind carrying a little extra junk in the trunk if it means I can use speeds 1/60 and under.
I'm sure you've played with (probably have) an FM2/FE2/FM3a. Their shutter release is nice. Their wind action feels cheap (like winding plastic gears...).
I am always so pleased with the F6 shutter/mirror feel/sound. So (relatively) quiet and smooth. The price you pay for it being such a large lad.
_jim_ wrote:
I'm sure you've played with (probably have) an FM2/FE2/FM3a. Their shutter release is nice. Their wind action feels cheap (like winding plastic gears...).
I am always so pleased with the F6 shutter/mirror feel/sound. So (relatively) quiet and smooth. The price you pay for it being such a large lad.
Yeah, I've been through all those, and they are much better to use than the FG. Actually I should say they don't suffer from shutter/mirror shock!
But I sold them all off settling on the F2 (AS and plain prism), F3P and F6. Those to me are the high water mark for Nikon film SLRs. I bought the FG later because I was curious and the deal was too cheap to refuse!
The dampening in the F6 is legend - wait for it - dary. And it is absolutely bonkers that an amateur about to break any moment P&S like a Contax T2/3 costs more than an F6.
edit - forget to mention I also use two N80s. At $20-$30 each how could I not! Great camera.
Desmolicious wrote:
Yeah, I've been through all those, and they are much better to use than the FG. Actually I should say they don't suffer from shutter/mirror shock!
But I sold them all off settling on the F2 (AS and plain prism), F3P and F6. Those to me are the high water mark for Nikon film SLRs. I bought the FG later because I was curious and the deal was too cheap to refuse!
The dampening in the F6 is legend - wait for it - dary. And it is absolutely bonkers that an amateur about to break any moment P&S like a Contax T2/3 costs more than an F6.
edit - forget to mention I also use two N80s. At $20-$30 each how could I not! Great camera....Show more →
I got an F100, FM2, F3 and some manual zooms in a generic pelican case for $300 at a garage sale some years ago...can't imagine getting so lucky now...
The F3 wind action is the nicest of any camera that I've ever used.
theHUN wrote:
I am exposing at ISO400 (box speed), and I shoot an array as shown below to determine base + fog, what exposure gives density = 0.1 (= film speed), and Zone 8 density. https://geza.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-10/p604621648-5.jpg
So if I meter at ISO400, and Zone 1 (4 stops below normal exposure) gives me a film density of 0.1 then the film is indeed ISO400. On the other hand, if I only get a film density of 0.1 with an extra stop of exposure then the film speed is in fact ISO200.
This is amazingly technical and impressive. Thank you for sharing. People are smart.
A couple of years ago I lucked into 3 x 100' rolls of T-Max 400 near expiry. I developed a lot of it with Rodinal. Generally, I metered for 320 and developed for 400. The results were very nice - rodinal sharpness, with T-Max gradation and resolution. I could use this combo forever.
Jenny by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Nikon F2, Nikkor 55mm f/3.5, Kodak T-Max 400, Rodinal 1:50
Jenny by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Zeiss Ikon ZM, Voigtlander 35mm f/2 Ultron VM, Kodak T-Max 400, Rodinal 1:50
Molly by Jim Fischer, on Flickr
Zeiss Ikon ZM, Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton V1 SC, Kodak T-Max 400, Rodinal 1:50
_jim_ wrote:
This is amazingly technical and impressive. Thank you for sharing. People are smart.
A couple of years ago I lucked into 3 x 100' rolls of T-Max 400 near expiry. I developed a lot of it with Rodinal. Generally, I metered for 320 and developed for 400. The results were very nice - rodinal sharpness, with T-Max gradation and resolution. I could use this combo forever.
Was looking up my old Tmax400 pictures assuming I was using the same combo, but it was actually D76. I might need to come back to developing B&W ....
Desmolicious wrote:
The Rollei Prego AF35 is the Samsung AF Slim re-badged.
Superb cameras.
Yes, I was looking for a Samsung AF Slim after you had recommended it a while back but found a good copy of the Rollei Prego AF 35 instead. I like the Schneider designed 35mm f/3.5 lens in it (I believe it's a Tessar-type). The sound/noise in focus, shutter, film advance is a bit loud and I have to disengage the auto-flash setting every time I turn the camera on. Other than that, it's an excellent P&S.
