Light, Shadow and Instant Film.

Speed Graphic Grafex Optar 135 f4.7 FujiFilm FP-100c - The mid-day sun pouring into my living room on a cool Autumn day. The Speed Graphic makes a great instant camera using the Polaroid 405 instant back. Framing can be challenging using the 4x5 format optical viewfinder of the Speed Graphic due to the 3x4 format of the pack film used in the 405 back. Someday I need to spend some time making a mask for the viewfinder more accurate.
Scanned using a HP Scanjet G4050 using HP's OEM scanning software.

Savory Caffenol and Color Film

Kiev 60 Arsat 80mm f2.8 Fujifilm Pro 400H  NPH Caffenol-C-M plus 20g Table Salt - I could not resist the afternoon light coming through my office window and illuminating these chains... This high key subject was a good chance to develop some C-41 Process color film in Caffenol. I decided to go with the savory flavor of Caffenol, with a little salt in the mix, the recipe is as follows;
1 liter Water
54 grams Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
16 grams Vitamin C granules
40 Grams of Instant caffeinated instant coffee
20 gram iodized table salt
Add ingredients in order given, stirring in between until fully dissolved. Use immediately and discard.

Development time 20 minutes with agitation for the 1st minute and then 3 inversions each minute after.

The Caffenol/Color film did a nice job of stopping the highlights from getting blown out, due to caffenol's base fogging and staining. The negatives were a little denser than a would have liked, a 15 minute development time may have been more appropriate. We will see next time.

Scanned with an Epson V500 Photo using Epson's OEM software.

Desert Ghosts

 Adox Golf Cassar 75mm f4.5 Ilford FP4 Plus Caffenol-C-M OK so they are not ghost, I continue to fight the battle of the bellows pins first mentioned in my post Of Pin Holes, Electrical Tape and The Big Ass Peach. I enjoy using the Adox Golf so much I refuse to retire it to a shelf as a display only camera. I want this one as a shooter. The effect in this case, if not desired, was certainly interesting, resembling spirits past roaming a desolate landscape. Time for more work with the flashlight and electrical tape.

More Desert Caffenol

Adox Golf Cassar 75mm f4.5 Ilford FP4 Plus Caffenol-C-M - Another shot from my trip to the Sonoran Desert, being a life long East Coaster, the desert landscape seems more like Mars than the United States. Unfortunately, the short nature of my business trip did not allow the time to truly explore this alien land, but getting one roll in was enough for now...

Object of Desire - FujiFilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic

image copyright Fujifilm

It is official, Fujifilm wants all my money, every dime. Above is the new Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic, an absolutely drop dead gorgeous analog instant camera. Behind those classic good looks, Fujifilm has built in creative features rarely found in an instant camera. Bulb time exposure, double exposure, macro and brightness control are all included on this little beauty. The Mini 90 should be available in the United States in early 2014, but in the mean time, check out the special product site here Instax.com Mini 90.  The Fujifilm USA press release can be found here.

After Desert Coffee

Adox Golf 75mm f4.5 Cassar Lens Ilford FP4 Plus Cafenol-C-M - A shot from the Sonoran Desert just outside of Phoenix in Carefree AZ.. The combination of Ilford FP4 Plus and Caffenol-C-M, did an outstanding job controlling the contrast if the desert mid-day sun. Despite battling bellow pin hole issues, I love shooting with my Adox Golf, it remains my favorite pocket medium format camera.
Scanned using an Epson V500 Photo using Epsons OEM Software.

From the Archive - School Days

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Tri-X Kodak HC-110 Dil. B - In 1984, Pre-Columbine and other famous school shootings, bullet holes in High School's windows did not seem to cause much concern. This was captured at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton VA.. There were usually multiple windows with bullets holes, shots coming from the outside. All appeared overnight, with malice shown for the school itself, not the occupants within.
Scanned using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using SilverFast SE Plus Software.

Catching Up - The Lomography Petzval Portrait Lens

Another Great idea from the Lomography Society, a modern take on the classic Petzval Lens.
Check it out on Kickstart The Lomography Petzval Portrait Lens.

Come into my parlor....

Nikon FE2 Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista 76 - This American Funnel Spider has occupied a corner of my bedroom window for over a year. This summer she seems to have double in size. Her body is just over and inch long and with her legs she measures just over 3 inches. A thin layer of silk is between the spider and the glass of the window I was shooting through, creating and interesting diffused silhouette effect.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast Software

The Intrepid Explorer...

Nikon One-Touch L35AF2 Nikon 35mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - From the first roll through my Thrift Store treasure Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. I was lucking to find a willing model. He following around and posed at every opportunity.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

Test Shot Nikon One-Touch L35AF2

Nikon One-Touch L35AF2 Nikon 35mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - From the first roll through my Thrift Store treasure Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. The quality of the Nikon 35mm f2.8 is clearly evident, great sharpness and just the right amount of contrast for the Nikon "snap." The One-Touch will definitely go into my arsenal as a day to day carry camera.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

The Nikon One-Touch L35AF2

A recent 99 cent Goodwill Thrift store find, presenting the Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. The second generation of Nikon's fixed lens compact auto-focus camera, the One-Touch is near and dear to my heart as it appeared on the scene about the same time I start selling cameras in the early 80's. The One-Touch was a solid shooter with a great quality Nikon 35mm f2.8 lens, built in flash, clam shell lens cover and self timer. Features also included a self time, DX film coding, motorized film advance and rewind, and auto film loading. Though I never owned one while they were selling back in the 1980's, I could not pass this one up when I found it sitting on a shelf in a Goodwill store from 99 cents. Images from the first roll to follow.

Specifications:
Type of Camera
35mm compact camera with autofocus, auto exposure, auto pop-up flash, auto flash exposure, auto shutter lock, auto film loading, auto film speed setting, auto film advance, auto film rewind, auto film rewind stop and auto ready lens cover.
Film
Only DX-coded 35mm film from ISO 50 to ISO 1600, and non-DX-coded ISO 100 film. (All non-DX-coded films are automatically set to ISO 100)
Picture Format
24mm x 36mm
Lens
Nikon lens 35mm f/2.8, four elements in three groups
Shutter
Programmed electronic shutter; also serves as diaphragm blades
Viewfinder
Reverse-Galilean Albada-type bright-frame viewfinder; 0.52X magnification; approx. 85% (at infinity) frame coverage; -1 dioptry
Viewfinder Information
Picture frame marks, parallax compensation frame marks, autofocus frame marks, focus symbols and focus indicator needle
Focusing
Active autofocus system (0.7m to infinity); focus locks when shutter release button is depressed halfway
Exposure Metering
Using CdS, programmed automatic exposure control from EV 6 (f/2.8 at 1/8 sec.) to EV 17 (f/17.5 at 1/430 sec.) with ASA/ISO 100 film
Film Speed Range
ASA/ISO 50 to 1600 (set automatically as described above)
Film Loading
Film automatically advances to first frame when shutter release button is depressed once; film advance indicator pole rotates to show film is properly loading and being advanced
Film Advance
Film automatically advances by one frame at 0.8* seconds per frame when shutter is released; stops automatically at end of roll
Film Rewinding
Via sliding rewind lock switch and rewind button; approx. 20 sec.* per 24-exposure roll; automatically stops when film is rewound
Frame Counter
Additive type; automatically resents to "S" when camera back is opened; counts back while film is rewinding
Self-Timer
Activated by setting lever and depressing shutter release button; 10-second delay with indicator light
Built-In Flash
Automatic pop-up type with ready-light; guide number 10 (ASA/ISO 100, m), 16 (ASA/ISO 25, ft.); shutter locks if flash is not charged; recycling time approx. 6 sec.*
Battery Life
Approx. 100 rolls* of 24-exposure film (without flash); approx. 10 rolls* of 24-exposure film (with flash for each exposure); shutter release locks when batteries are exhausted
Power Source
Two 1.5V alkaline-manganese AA-type batteries (NiCd batteries cannot be used)
Dimensions
125.5mm(W) x 73mm(H) x 48.5mm(D)
Weight
Approx. 320g (without batteries)
*with fresh alkaline-manganese batteries at normal tempertures