View Full Version : it just figures
back alley
08-29-2004, 15:07
the saga continues...
so i finally got my most lovely canon p - maybe you heard?...
went out to shoot with it and of course i 'see' nothing, absolutely nothing catches my eye but i figure i want to see if the thing works so i take some shots anyway.
i have the little gossen pilot 2 and it seems to work just fine, at least my sunny 16 guesstimations are pretty close to what it is telling me.
anyway, i keep checking the meter and marvelling that it's a one handed operation, it's going quickly and seems so much easier than i ever thought it would. actually going kinda fast. i'm on the south side of town near the river valley, trying for some shots of the city skyline. looking ok, tall buildings in the distance framed nicely by near over hanging tree branches.
decide i have enough and start walking back to my car which is several blocks away. at about block 4 i realized that i never once changed the f stop i was shooting at, didn't matter bright sun or cloud obscurred sun. no wonder it went so quickly.
anyway, i drop off the xp2 at my 1 hour lab for my customary develop and scan. they tell me it will be 2.5 hours. fine.
3 hours later i head back only to find out that the computers have decided that they are working to hard and need a break. no negs no scans.
they will call me when things get sorted out.
first the camera is a week late and now the film/scans will be late also.
i see a pattern...should i be scared?
joe:bang:
Hmmm, time for your own home processing again ? :rolleyes:
back alley
08-29-2004, 15:35
soon, amigo mio, soon.
joe
Wow, light fast answer !
As for that, my diafine and tank are both still somewhere between their respective origin and my post office, guess August is not the best month to have things sent by regular airmail...
Patience, I won a bid for lots of that recently...
Also, don't worry too much about the f/stop issue, I remember similar experiences with surprising results...
How do you like the P so far ? And the Sixtino ? I'm delighted with mine, it's so simple, light and easy to use.
back alley
08-29-2004, 15:47
i bought (yesterday) a roll of fuji acros, 100 speed and a roll of neopan 400 speed film and a small bottle of rodinal.
see, i am slowly getting myself in gear for the darkroom.
i also have on hand a nice supply of ilford hp5 and ilfosol s and ddx developer.
when winter hits i'll stock up on my favourite film -delta 3200.
yeah, winter here is dark. dark when you get up, dark as you drive to work, dark as you drive home. dark during dinner, dark when...well you get the (dark) picture eh?
and soon i'll have my own film scanner so doing my own film will be more of an incentive for me.
i'll be back in charge of my images again.
joe
Originally posted by backalley photo
i bought (yesterday) a roll of fuji acros, 100 speed and a roll of neopan 400 speed film and a small bottle of rodinal.
see, i am slowly getting myself in gear for the darkroom.
i also have on hand a nice supply of ilford hp5 and ilfosol s and ddx developer.
when winter hits i'll stock up on my favourite film -delta 3200.
yeah, winter here is dark. dark when you get up, dark as you drive to work, dark as you drive home. dark during dinner, dark when...well you get the (dark) picture eh?
and soon i'll have my own film scanner so doing my own film will be more of an incentive for me.
i'll be back in charge of my images again.
joe
I suppose I'll give a try to Neopan 400 as well, my last XP2 is on the CL now so I need something to feed the Canon 7 with. Most people here like it a lot and seems it scans better than HP5+.
And how is the P behaving ? I'm curious :)
I am with Oscar, how did the P handle? When I started reading your initial post I was afraid to read on for fear of hearing that something was wrong with the camera.
back alley
08-29-2004, 17:00
oscar & rover,
the p is behaving very nicely.
i like the feel of it. it's a bit heavier than the bessa r and i like that. the size is also good for my hands. i'm using the domke gripper strap that came with it and that's a very nice strap but i've become more accustomed to a wrist strap and need to make another. i have the webbing but i'm in need of one of those metal loop through thingies.
anyway, the p's viewfinder is very clear and bright, no fogging at all and so far no flaring when i was shooting. the focus is fantastic, it just snaps in & out, much nicer than the bessa. the framelines are a bit distracting in that i'm not used to which one is which. i keep checking to make sure it's the 50 mm frameline that i'm using. in truth it is much easier without my glasses but alas i need the specs to see properly. do they make trifocal contacts yet?
i have only shot one short roll of film so far but so far i like this camera.
if it checks out and if the seller still has the other one come next payday, i want to buy it also.
joe
Rich Silfver
08-29-2004, 18:33
As I read your post I was 'waiting' to read something like 'and then I dropped it', or 'the shutter suddendly stopped working, or 'and then it just imploded in my hand and got sucked into an alternative universe'....
In a way I'm 'glad' to hear that it was just a delay in getting the film back :)
Happy you like it - and I'm betting on those bifocal contacts in a few years when I'm sure I'll need 'em :)
back alley
08-29-2004, 18:43
man, i guess i should have thought a bit more before posting the way i did.
i certainly didn't want to give people the first impression of something truly dreadful happening.
really, i was somewhat embarassed about not changing the f-stops while shooting and then i was a bit miffed at the lab's computers and i thought i'd be a bit dramatic.
although i do like the sounds of the alternate universe theory...might have to use that one someday.;)
joe
Rich Silfver
08-29-2004, 18:56
I'm sitting here cursing as well actually. Just picked up a film that I had developed at Wahlgreen's here (it was C-41 and I wanted it back today...) - and it looks like cr-p. Horrible colours, fuzzy, etc. Now I'm thinking something more is wrong..maybe the lens got..eh..bad..maybe the rangefinder is out of alignment, etc, etc.
Or maybe Wahlgreen's don't know how to develop Fuji VC 160 film. Scanning some shots right now but....bleh!
Brian Sweeney
08-30-2004, 02:37
Honestly, Joe, not changing F-stops can always be blamed on Human Error...
HOW DID THE PICTURES FROM MY (ehhh.. your new) LENS THAT I CLEANED TURN OUT!!!
Lost in your excitement, besides, with the latitude of film these days...
Even more with XP2, but which f/stop btw ?
back alley
08-30-2004, 04:43
brian,
the film is still in the lab, i hope ready today.
the lens was set to 8 -should have been, i think, at 16.
joe
Pherdinand
08-30-2004, 05:28
ehh, the xp2 box' development advice says, you should use the same development for any exposure between iso50 and iso800... wou won't gt too much problem with 2 stops overexposure i guess.
back alley
08-30-2004, 06:40
it's more the idea that i was forgetting.
ya know, the 'i shoulda known better' thing.
joe
Brian Sweeney
08-30-2004, 13:32
Aren't OUR pictures back yet!!!???
I dropped my rolls off from the "Canonator" and from the Goo'd Canon 135mm Lens. If that Optical Gell works, I will be posting. It is a lot easier than shake and bake.
'Accidentally'... hem... er... well I admit ! I bid on another vented hood for my 40.5mm threaded lenses and ... won it ! :)
Well, let's continue, accidentally, I've come up with a classic camera store who also offers lens repolishing, recoating, recementing, haze cleaning, mirror re-silvering, etc.
It's here http://www.centurycameras.com/polishing.htm may be a good resource for UK/European users...
Hey, I also want to see those results with the P and ex-Brian lens ! :)
back alley
08-30-2004, 15:19
well, i accidently won a series 6 yellow filter yesterday, and last week i won a 43.5 holder/shade for one of the oly rc cams. i blame this wholly on bill m as i had never known much about these things before him and his info sessions.
and brian, 'our' pics are back, i picked them up on the way home today.
i'll pop them into the cd tray when i sign off here.
the contacts look ok though.
joe
back alley
08-30-2004, 16:26
ok folks, this is the first pic from the p & 50 combo.
i croped a bit of the edges and built up the contrast just a touch.
no great art just a test shot.
Sharp and attractive. I like it. Truly timeless. (oh! and sharp and contrasty!)
Nice ! Sharp ! Contrasty !
Damn ! Now I also want a Canon 50/1.8 !!! :D
Brian Sweeney
08-30-2004, 16:39
Yes, Sharp and Contrasty, sign of a Clean Lens that was re-assembled correctly.
SHOW ME EDGES!
I realized that I never moved this lens off of F1.8 when testing it! But hey, if wide-open and close-up is good, the rest normally falls into place.
Yup, everything seems to be working right.
Hey Brian, what can I get from you in exchange of a Oly 35 SPn ??? ;)
back alley
08-30-2004, 16:44
again, a bit of a crop of the edges (sorry brian) and a touch + of contrast.
back alley
08-30-2004, 16:48
brian,
this is the original, uncropped image of the swings.
back alley
08-30-2004, 16:58
and one last shot of my favourite spot to wait for unsuspecting models.
back alley
08-30-2004, 17:00
overall i am very pleased with both the camera and the lens, and of course that great lens shade.
i think i have found my new favourite camera.
now i just need to get contacts...
joe
SolaresLarrave
08-30-2004, 20:54
Joe, I'm sincerely glad it all turned out fine for you. And, about the shots, they're so sharp they sting! :)
If that's f8... you can go happily by f4 when you shoot. Just for that pop-out effect! :D
Congratulations!!!
Rich Silfver
08-30-2004, 21:25
Darn sharp! Nice glass!
Happy to hear that the body feels good as well.
(I'm like that street spot you got going there Joe - maybe you're becoming a local celebrity; 'The-camera-guy' on that street soon ;)
Brian Sweeney
08-31-2004, 02:34
Joe, I'm happy. I normally keep DIY repaired stuff to myself; this is the first CLA'd lens that I let go of. I have read a lot of threads stating that you must use an auto-collimator and optics bench to realign lenses after cleaning them. I have an Auto-Collimator (old 1950's Nikon) and optics bench, but have never used them! Did use the optics bench to calibrate the S2 for Zeiss lenses. I am holding on to the 135 lens though; I want to keep an eye on my experiment. Can't wait till the results come back tomorrow.
Oscar, I will be posting some WTT stuff soon.
Joe the images look tack sharp and the contrast is great. It was a long wait, but worth it! You'll be doing some great work wtih this setup!
Gene
back alley
08-31-2004, 17:54
guys, thanks for 'being there' in my darkest hours, ok maybe a bit thick, but it was much funner having some people to talk to about the wait than with my buds here. they just kinda nod, mumble something and wish i would start to talk about something else.
brian, i'm very pleased with the lens and glad you took a chance on trading with me. i hope you are as pleased with the little konica. i think it's a great camera in it's own right.
joe
Brian Sweeney
09-01-2004, 02:15
Already took the top off of the Konica S3 cleaned the VF.
Nikki and Nina went to DisneyWorld with Nina's sister and husband, AND I GOT TO WORK ON CAMERA GEAR for 10 DAYS! We are talking Canon 7 repaired, two Canonets working, 4 Nikon Helicals cleaned, three Nikon VF's cleaned, two Canon lenses cleaned, Konica S3,....
I am glad that this lens will get good use.
Originally posted by taffer
I suppose I'll give a try to Neopan 400 as well, my last XP2 is on the CL now so I need something to feed the Canon 7 with. Most people here like it a lot and seems it scans better than HP5+.
And how is the P behaving ? I'm curious :)
Taffer
The Fuji Neopan 400, is fantastic stuff. Ever since discovering it abour 6 years ago, I have completely abandoned Tri-X and HP-5. The Fuji Neopans are great films. And for whatever reason, the Neopan 400 negatives print up rather well on the Fuji Frontier "one hour" machines, onto color paper. Which is nice, if you want proof prints or something fast to scan from. That's how the attached image was made.
Russ
Originally posted by Russ
Taffer
The Fuji Neopan 400, is fantastic stuff. Ever since discovering it abour 6 years ago, I have completely abandoned Tri-X and HP-5. The Fuji Neopans are great films. And for whatever reason, the Neopan 400 negatives print up rather well on the Fuji Frontier "one hour" machines, onto color paper. Which is nice, if you want proof prints or something fast to scan from. That's how the attached image was made.
Russ
So far so good Russ !! I developed my first Neopan yesterday and must say I'm impressed, works great for dim light conditions (diafine pushes it to ~640, which comes in handy) and the scans deliver smooth pleasant grain, thumbs up !!! :)
Originally posted by taffer
So far so good Russ !! I developed my first Neopan yesterday and must say I'm impressed, works great for dim light conditions (diafine pushes it to ~640, which comes in handy) and the scans deliver smooth pleasant grain, thumbs up !!! :)
Taffer
I haven't tried pushing Neopan 400, but I hear that it pushes very well. Also, the Neopan 1600, is great stuff too. Yeah, the Neopan 400 grain and tonality are fantastic. Don't be surprised if you never use Tri-X or HP-5 ever again. I have never gone back to them, since discovering the Neopan 400. I use it for my street shooting, and burn it @ 320 through a deep yellow (#15) filter. The image that I attached in the above posting, was shot with it, unfiltered. (overcast skies) I figured you would like it.
Russ
Originally posted by taffer
So far so good Russ !! I developed my first Neopan yesterday and must say I'm impressed, works great for dim light conditions (diafine pushes it to ~640, which comes in handy) and the scans deliver smooth pleasant grain, thumbs up !!! :)
Taffer
Nice shot! What lens? I assume it's Neopan 400..
Russ
Russ, I love those shots of yours above, specially the one with the girl on what seems a memorial, a classic of yours !
Btw I read of all your problems with the gallery, did you try to login with the same user/pass you use for the main forum ? If I'm not wrong, the gallery accounts are automatically created with a script that looks for new users here each 4 hours or so.
Glad you like the restaurant picture, yeah it's Neopan :) Camera/lens, the always surprising Canonet G-III 17 :D
oftheherd
09-20-2004, 03:22
Taffer,
It looks like you got that photo by putting the camera on another table so it didn't look so obvious you were taking the photo. You might want to crop out the table to see how you like it. But what really amuses me about this it what must have been a serendipidous accident, getting the two fried egg yolks between the two people, and the rapt stare of the girl at the same time. Great!
Russ,
Very poignant photo.
Originally posted by taffer
Russ, I love those shots of yours above, specially the one with the girl on what seems a memorial, a classic of yours !
Btw I read of all your problems with the gallery, did you try to login with the same user/pass you use for the main forum ? If I'm not wrong, the gallery accounts are automatically created with a script that looks for new users here each 4 hours or so.
Glad you like the restaurant picture, yeah it's Neopan :) Camera/lens, the always surprising Canonet G-III 17 :D
Taffer
"A classic" Me? That shot was made at the Portland Vietnam Memorial Wall, during the annual Memorial day service. Give me an address and some time, and I'll send you a print. I had to use a different E-mail address, to get into the galleries. Which I really hate. How can I get in, using the same address that I normally log on with? I went out yesterday, and shot my "camera & coffee" snap, but my scans are so shi--y, that I have to have Harold work on it, or forget scanning in the future. I am constantly fighting this scanning crap. Frustrates the hell out of me!!!!!!
Russ
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