tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83882709845756397682024-03-20T07:09:01.795-04:00Real Cameras Have BellowsMy adventures (and misadventures) with some vintage film camerasJim D'Intinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01044216023963179020noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8388270984575639768.post-21377501338762986152011-06-29T23:04:00.002-04:002011-06-30T07:40:05.554-04:00In the Beginning<div style="text-align: justify;">First my disclaimer: I am not a pro, I'm not even a learned amateur developing and processing black and white film. I recently started using several old cameras that I purchased from eBay. The first is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamiya_C330" target="_blank">Mamiya C330</a> Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera, the second is a <a href="http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/cameras/lf/30901_BuschC.html" target="_blank">Busch Pressman Model C</a> 2x3 press camera, and the third is a <a href="http://bellowsphotography.blogspot.com/p/burke-and-james-orbit.html">Burke and James Orbit</a> 4x5 view camera. All, of course, utilize bellows for focusing. I also have a <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk10d/" target="_blank">Pentax K10D</a> digital SLR, but this will strictly relate to my ever-growing experience using the film cameras, developing the film, and creating prints with a photo enlarger, all done in a home darkroom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">How I started was more out of necessity than desire. I purchased the C330 and a dozen rolls of <a href="http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=6" target="_blank">Ilford FP4 Plus</a> film, and after shooting my first roll of test shots, I tried to find a processing lab and the pickings were both slim and expensive, not to mention most had turn-around times of several weeks. A friend who long ago had a home darkroom told me its quite easy to develop black and white film at home - well, the basics of it anyway - you can spend a lot of time experimenting with different chemicals, processes, pushing, pulling, etc - but getting a roll of film developed equal to or better than a commercial processing lab is easy as pie. So, my initial plan was to develop the film, then pick and choose which shots I would have printed at a commercial lab. More on this later...</div>Jim D'Intinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01044216023963179020noreply@blogger.com0