Beginner Advice Needed for Rollei 6008i - Flat/Dull Color in Photos

<p>I have just recently purchased my very first (and much anticipated) medium format camera, a Rollei 6008 Integral. It's in beautiful condition - has only had one owner and limited use (so I was told anyway!). <br>

I am a beginner with medium format but have been doing lots of reading and researching on mastering this amazing system.<br>

I received some rolls of Kodak Porta 160VC with the purchase, but when they were processed (by a local lab), the colors were extremely dull and flat. The lab owner thought perhaps the films were damaged coming from the US to here in Australia (through Customs perhaps).<br>

So I then purchased some Fuji Pro 400 film here in Australia (although still via the post as I'm in a rural area). To my great disappointment the colors were just as dull/muddy.<br>

Could this just be some bad luck with the film I've purchased (expiry dates were all fine with films), something I am doing wrong with my exposures, or......god forbid.....something wrong with the camera (!!)?<br>

I would really appreciate some feedback or suggestions (or gentle reassurance that the Rollei is ok and it's a user problem!)<br>

Thank you all!</p>

 

<p>It might be easier to answer if you post an exemple.<br>

Is the light measuring ok ? Try to measure a clear blue sky. You should get with 100 asa 125/16 or equivalent.<br>

Laurent</p>

<p>A lens with haze or fungus will deliver low contrast results - the haze or fungus should be visible by shining a torch through the lens (off the camera) from the back, the effects should also show in the viewfinder. It's hot in Australia - has your film always been stored correctly? And have you had all the film processed at the same lab? Have you used this lab before? Color neg film will give poor contrast and muddy colors if given bare minimum exposure or underexposure - have your negs got reasonable shadow detail? Are you used to shooting color neg or is this the first time? Can you shoot some b+w and process it yourself as a comparison? As a general rule, color neg film prefers 1/2 to 2/3 stop more than bare minimum exposure.</p>

<p>Without seeing the negs its hard to say but often dull or flat means underexposure, this could be a bad meter or human error. <br>

There is an outside chance that the Lab could be to blame.<br>

My advice is to use a E-6 film meter from a grey card (actually include in the scene) and bracket one stop each side so you end up with Normal -1stop +1stop if the normal looks dark I'd suspect the meter or possibly user error-too much sky etc.<br>

Mark</p>

<p>Thanks very much everyone for your responses. <br>

This is pretty much the first time I've touched a MF so limited experience in diagnosing exposure and metering errors. I've posted an example taken with the Fuji 400 - this is probably the best out of the roll, but doesn't come anywhere near the brilliant green hues of the tree canopy. (I think from memory it was f5.6 1/125)<br>

<img src="http://www.crankdesign.com.au/images/fuji_1.jpg" alt="" /><br>

I have had the film processed at the same lab, (it is quite reputable). Unable to process b+w/any film myself, although I am going to try another lab just to double check.<br>

But if this looks like an obvious user exposure error, please let me know - apologies for my amateurism! </p>

 

<p>Kristyn, who scanned the film? I checked your image in Photoshop, the levels were not quite right, the blue channel especially. Here's the same image after a quick auto-level and a touch of sharpening. I think your camera and film are both OK.</p><div></div>

<p>User exposure error shows up most significantly on the film itself. On the print there migt be a compounding of errors by user and printer ... </p>

<p>So, do look at the film and see how dense (= dark) it is. If wimpy weak: underexposed, if really dark: overexposed.</p>

<p>The pic you show looks terrible. Washed out etc. Unfocused etc ... Looks like there is colored vaseline on the front of the lens. I have no idea ...</p>

<p>Maybe CLA of camera and lens is in order?</p>

<p>How are you calculating the exposure? Camera spot-meter, or external spot meter or Light meter, or Sunny F rule?<br>

I would not depend on the camera meter. Please shoot something with slide-film (already recommended by Mark Smith, above). That will tell you what is wrong without scanning and quickly.<br>

Secondly do a sanity check on the lens please, with slow shutter speeds, just to see the lens is operating fine. Please also check the lens stops down to the level you want -- though that would be an issue here, as you would have seen overexposed film.<br>

The above shot, leaves against the sky, is not the simplest to make exposure calculations. Please shoot in direct sunlight a gray chart or just some wall or the ocean front.<br>

Good luck.</p>

<p>I dunno... nothing to make a fuss about over your first rolls. In my experience, it takes several rolls just to get a feel for new camera- especially moving to a new format. So many variables that need to get narrowed down: <br>

Loading film and handling. Holding cam and releasing shutter. Are you giving processors a clue on your color with a neutral / base image? How about the lens? Are you sure not to fog film when removing. Then there is the whole scanning/ post processing thing.<br>

Think of it in terms of a new car. I am sure a Porshe is a fine vehicle, but I would be terrible at handling until I got use to the car- and I have been driving for 20+ years.<br>

good luck, and have fun.</p>