Fujicolour 200

Non-expired Fujicolour 200. Much better. Where's the poo?

Also, these last two images came with my first use of a UV filter. I'm not sure whether it's had any effect (common opinion seems to be that UV filters are good for protecting lenses, nothing else). Might have an effect when we're out & about in NZ/Tasmania, what with all the extra UV we get down here at the mouth of the ozone layer hole.

Fujicolor 1600HG (expired '92)

Chalk this one up to a learning experience - if it's 17 years old 1600iso, it's probably going to have grain the size of rabbit poo.

A bit of despeckle in GIMP will tidy it up a little, but then you lose sharpness & a bit of definition. Still, passable for small prints; not worth the gamble for special occasions.

If anyone knows what the HG stands for in Fujicolour 1600HG, I'd like to know.

wedding shots

To be used on the wedding day - separate from our official photographer, of course. The idea is that these will be left beside a guest book. When guests get the urge to leave us a note (hopefully not "I kill you scums"), they will be urged in turn to take a photo of themselves using one of these bad boys. The photo will then accompany their note when we can be bothered getting the photos developed.

These disposables are loaded with Rollei Retro 400, which as I understand it is a true B&W film that imitates the look of 35mm films from the 50s & 60s: fine grain, high contrast, etc. Some examples can be seen in the dedicated Flickr group. I'll entrust this to Black & White Photographics on Invermay Road for development.

I also picked up some Rollei Pan 25 for use at a later date. I'm thinking a trip into the highlands, but I'm undecided. Not until after the wedding for that one.

Incidentally, I have always pronounced it "rol-eye" (as it's a German company), the person I spoke to at Vanbar favoured "role-ee", even picking me up on my "error".

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super

A recent trip to an antique/second hand dealer & I found one of these beauties. I didn't buy it at the time, but I have my eye on it. Not sure whether $85 is a good price, but it did seem to be in awfully good nick, the shop owner assured me the shutter is functioning. If it's still there following the honeymoon, I'll be spending my had-earned on it. Provided it works properly. There was another camera (folding camera, takes plate film but comes with a DIY 120 back - looks nice, although I have no guarantee it's functional) in the window which has been there for at least two months, so that gives me confidence that stock moves slowly there...

My god is it heavy though! I think I read it's mostly brass & steel, which I guess would account for it's considerable heft.

The other objects of desire are either a TLR of some kind, or a Fed 1/Zorki 4.

Crane

Fujicolor 1600

I recently purchased some Fujicolor 1600 film. I used it quite liberally on Christmas Eve in my future-parents-in-laws' eternally slightly dim house. It is quite noisy, which I should have been expecting anyway. Useful for be able to shoot in available light, but the colours are fairly muted and the noise is just, well, distracting. Chalk that one up as a learning experience.

Expired film bonanza

A friend visited on Christmas Day & gave me a small cache of expired film from the local constabulary's fridge. As they no longer use film in their operations, I am assured it won't be missed.

1 x Kodak 400 (colour/b&w? expiry?)
2 x Kodak Plus-X Pan 125 (exp. 1992)
2 x Kodachrome 64 slide (exp. 1989)
2 x Kodak T-Max 100 (exp. 1990?)
2 x Kodak T-Max P3200 (exp. 1989)
1 x Kodak Pro Image 100 (exp. ?)
1 x Kodak Tri-x 400 (exp. ?)
2 x Fujicolor Super HR 1600 (exp. 1988, 1995)
2 x Fijucolor Super HG 1600 (exp. 1988)
4 x Ilford Delta 100 (exp 1996)

Not a bad haul. Of course, as they expired a minimum of 12 years ago, the results may "vary". I've put them all in the freezer until I can figure out what to do with them. My benefactor assures me they have been sitting in a police fridge as far back as he can remember, so I can only hope they have survived the ravages of age well.

The 3200 I'm not even sure I can use. The Minolta only meters up to 1600, so I'd be guessing the right exposure. I was thinking of trying it in the Vilia, which has a maximum f4 and shutter speeds from 1/250 to 1/30. It could work. We'll see.

He's also going to see if his department are willing to part with one of their superfluous Bronica kits for a small fee. Of course I'll have to consider whether the cost is worth it, but I have had my eye on a Bronica system for some time now, and if I can avoid having to buy from the USA, or even buy it after having actually seen the product, I'd be much happier.

Christmas is a good time of year.

Weekend before last was the Launceston Swing Patrol Christmas Ball. Lots of fun had by all who attended. I should have attended with tripod - our local photo lab's fastest speed in stock is 400iso, so I had to try to be steady. Some come out okay, some not so...