My Bencini Koroll's trip to the local photo studio

[phisc]

On Never-FreeBay, I got a new (haha) Bencini Koroll 24 a few weeks ago

and, to test it, I put a roll of Kodak Portra 400 NC in it. I shot

the 20-odd pictures it gave me and brought the roll to my most

up-to-date local lab. I think that is the only local lab that will

scan 120 negatives. However, the Bencini Koroll is a half-frame (ca.

30 x 45 mm) 120 camera; see

<http://www.collection-appareils.com/Bencini/html/korol.php> for

example... though your French will help in understanding the English

on that site. That format presented problems.

 

As it turned out my negatives were all very thin, teribly

underexposed, but there were some images and I had asked the lab to

scan and print everything for me. They had a lot of trouble as their

new 120 scanner/printer only understands 645, 6x6 and 6x7. It could

not be coaxed into understanding the odd size and poor negative

separation the Koroll produces. So it scanned the film as if it was

6x7 and I got six or seven entire prints. Likewise the scans were all

awry. Too bad -- some of my nicest shots seemed to be scanned &

printed as only slivers of shots.

 

Obviously there aren't many half-frame 120 users about. But I wonder

if anyone else is having trouble with the most up-to-date C41 shops

and their very non-manual machines.

 

By the way, the shots are very soft in focus with low contrast. I'm

going to put another roll through and pay better attention to exposure

(and winding, to ensure better separation); perhaps I'll post some

shots in a week or two.<div></div>

[phisc]

Here is a typical "6x7" scan of the negative, showing parts of three shots. Sorry for the large images...<div></div>

[phisc]

Oh, one more. I'm including this for the out-of-focus area. The aperture is square (at f/9) or oblong (at f/16: odd shape, oblong, I think). I suppose that contributes to the nice pattern of bokeh in the upper portion of this picture. I took this one by holding the Koroll in one hand, sadly for composition well away from my eye, and a modern flash in the other hand. With the shutter set at B, I held the shutter open for about a second, firing the flash during that second. The Koroll does have a pc socket, but I didn't have a cord at hand.<div></div>

[gib]

I found the results intriguing, especially the two frames of the man. Seems like you have a

dilemma, the camera seems to be worth using, but there is this scanning problem.

 

My experience in odd sized medium format and lab limitations is with an Agfa Billy Record

III (6x9). They hd no way to make enlargements of negatives larger than 6x7.

 

I get the lab to process the colour negatives, leave the roll uncut. I use an Epson Perfection

2450 scanner and its template for medium format. This template is simply an open

channel with the correct dimension (6 cm) for the width or "height', if you will, of the film).

It has no pre-set mask for the various 120 dimensions (6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, or 6x9). At the

moment of pre-scanning, I adjust the dimension of the scan to match the 6x9 frame of

the negative my camera and I have shot. It seems to work fine. I am still mastering how to

use the Billy and how to process my own BW 120 film myself.

 

I don't know if that helps but, that is all that comes to mind. The 2450 is several years old

now. It had a good rep for 120 scans, not so good for 35mm. If you have a mind to do

your ownscanning, you might look for a scanner with a similar "maskless" 6x? template. I

can't help you with Epson's current line of models.

 

regards

 

Bill, in Ontario

 

PS I just posted some Leica IIIf photos at www.bluetyger.ca (one of my personal web sites),

I used the 2459 for those scans.

[phisc]

Bill: that's a very sensible approach and one that should have occurred to me. I own an old Acer flatbed with a transparency adapter. I was using it about six years ago for my 6x9 and 9x12cm negatives but I haven't used it in years. It's only a 1200 dpi scanner but that's better than nothing. I'll give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion.

[m_elek]

1200 dpi is plenty for medium format. 800 even works well too, as long as it's a good quality scanner.

[pascal_labrouill_re]

<p>Hello Philip,<br>

I am an happy French <a href="http://www.network-error.com/photo/camera/camera-en.htm#bencinikoroll">koroll Bencini</a> user ... I love this half frame 120 format,... and use it with overlapped images.<br>

you can have a look at some <a href="http://www.network-error.com/photo/albums/search.php?action=search&type=detail&where[]=keywords&keyword=Bencini_Koroll">Koroll images</a> in my Album :</p>

<p><a href="http://www.network-error.com/photo/albums/">http://www.network-error.com/photo/albums/</a></p>

<p><br>

Technically, I use an espson 3170 flatbed scanner ... no photo lab scanning problem on my side :-)</p>

<p>Best regards,</p>

<p>Pascal</p>

<p>NETWORK ERROR /Photo <br>

<a href="http://www.network-error.com/photo/index-en.php">http://www.network-error.com/photo</a></p>

<p>.</p><div></div>

[phisc]

Pascal:

They are beautiful pictures. I like how you've figured out a way to use the possibility of overlapping shots to make those real and faux panorama pairs. The contrast you've achieved is much greater than what I did -- I blamed the lens, but perhaps it was the film. What kind or kinds of film are you using?

[asia_werbel]

Hi!

A friend just leant me her grandmothers Bencini Koroll 2 this afternoon and i've been looking it up on the web. I found a company in uk which might interest you (depending on where you are based) http://www.on-line-shops.com/shop3x.php?shopid=96352050

Also can anyone tell me whether you can put 35mm film into this camera? (like the holga?)

thanks,Asia

[pascal_labrouill_re]

Philip,

Yes, this strange "half frame 6x6" format is made for overlapping. Overlaping is quiet easy with the 2 red windows of the Koroll Bencini ... I try to imagine .. time overlapping ... space overlapping ... self auto overlapping :-)

 

To answer your question : KODAK PORTRA 400VC

[phisc]

Asia: I doubt there is any easy way to put 35mm film into the Koroll. I suppose it is _possible_ to wind some 35 mm film onto a 120 spool, preferably with the backing paper intact (otherwise you cannot use the windows for winding effectively). With a second 120 spool to take it up, you'd be able to shoot pictures, hoping you understand what part of the viewfinder is actually registering on the film. But I don't think it would be worth the trouble: you'd also have to rewind it back into a 35mm cannister... more trouble. The camera was made for 120 film which is easily available and easily developed in most cities. Whether you can get your images printed is a different problem, as above.

[asia_werbel]

Philip, Thanks for your reply. I have found an online developer and printer of 120 (and unusual vintage) film. I've yet to see what the prints will look like but will post them here. If anyone is interested the company is: http://www.on-line-shops.com/shop3x.php?shopid=96352050

 

thanks again!

Asia