janet_morley

Steve, I just purchased a reversal ring and was playing around with

it this weekend. I took about 6 color chots outside that I had

devoloped and I really like it! I put some black and white in the

camera and took some shots of my daughters cat's eyes. I also bought

some spiratone extension tubes, three in all. I'm hoping the brand is

a good one, but was willing to give it a try because like you said

they are just tubes. I am now currently shopping (on ebay) for a 55mm

2.8 micro lens, but I'm cheap so I may have to wait a while for that.

I'm looking forward to getting the tubes (they haven't arrived yet).

Thanks for the information! If you think of anything else you want to

share let me know. Janet

Try manuals2go.com. I recently bought an F3Hp from off Ebay and it

didn't come with a manual and I bought one at that site.

John, anytime you feel like writing about macro photography please

feel free!! I printed your response so I can absorb all the

information. I'm sure it will help me in figuring out what equipment

I need, and if you want to write about stacking lenses etc. by all

means do so! Thanks again everyone. Janet

Pete, I used the 28mm on the bellows because it was the lens that

came with the F3. I bought the bellows on Ebay and as soon as I got

it I grabbed the first lens I could get my hands on and tried it out.

It must have been that I had it extended too far, because I couldn't

see anything at all in the viewfinder-it was all black. I thought it

must be one of two things, I'm doing something wrong, or the F3 isn't

the right camera to use with the bellows. (by the way, the F3 is new

to me too) Maybe I'll try my old Nikon N2000 on it as I'm used to

that camera?

Richard, I'll also try the 50mm instead of the 28mm and see if that

helps me. The reason I was looking for more than the bellows is they

say they are unhandy and delicate to carry in the field. I go for a

lot of Nature walks, as we live in the country, and wanted to do some

pictures of frost, or snowflakes. I was watching the sale of a couple

of 55mm macro lenses on Ebay and I was thinking of getting one. I

just wanted to get funtional, useful equipment. Thanks for your

replys. Janet

I have an older Nikon F3HP and have been trying to do some macro photography with a 2x converter and a sakra 75-200mm 4.5 lens. The results are unimpressive, so I want to purchase the best equipment I can afford (even if it's used) but have no idea what I should get. I have other lenses-28mm 2.8 nikon- and 50mm1.8 nikkor. I also purchased a used bellows, but when I put the camera and 28mm lens on it I couldn't see anything but black through the viewfinder.

I was watching the sales of 55mm macro lenses on Ebay, and also extension tubes, but how about reversal rings etc. Any ideas?? I'm lost. Thanks Janet

I guess I could have been clearer in my developing techniques. I

follow the directions for the TMax film with TMax developer which

states it needs more vigorous agitation. I tip upside down and give

it one half turn, 5 times in ten seconds. This works well with 2

rolls, but not 1. I guess I'll need to shorten the development time

for a single roll. Now all I have to do is figure out how much

shorter, Or shoot more film! Thanks everyone. Janet

When developing one roll of film in my two roll tank I tend to get varying results. Usually over developed or right on. Is this because of the extra room in the tank and the chemicals can move more vigorously? I don't like to wait too long to develop rolls, but maybe this is my best bet? I usually use TMax 100 in TMax developer at 68' for 7 min. and agitate 5 times every 30 sec. and get very good results (with 2 rolls). Maybe shorten the developing time? Janet

Ok, this is a description- It has a dial to set your ASA on it and

another dial-1.9 to 16 with a needle inside it. It almost looks like

a meter.Low and behold, there are batteries inside!On the dial with

the ASA there is also a partial sun icon, a sunny icon and the letter

E plus numbers from 12 to 64. It is a screw mount, and the lens

opening in the back is only about 1 inch dia. But one thing has me

stumped. If it's for a movie camera, why is there a cable release in

there? It looks new. I see no scratches or wear on it. Janet

Has anyone heard of a Vario-Switar 100 POE 1:1,9f=16-100mm lens for Bolex H16 cameras? My brother picked it up at a garage sale thinking I could use it and I don't know if anyone uses Bolex cameras anymore or even the format of such a camera. It's in new condition and I hate to see it go to waste. Just wondered what it would be used for and if I should just toss it. Thanks, Janet

Ricardo, I'd love to get a nice mamya medium format, or even try a

4x5 but to get lenses and accessories for it I would have to sell my

house! Plus I would have to get a new enlarger for a 4x5, I don't

think the old beast I have now would cut it. It's an old Bessler (It

could be the one I used it in high school!)

What are my options for corrections or at least magnification on

the viewfinder. I know there are a couple of choices but am unclear

on what they are. I wear glasses for everything ie distance and

reading and was wondering if I was trying to focus through the wrong

part of my glasses, but it all looks the same through the

viewfinder.? Maybe I should ask an opthamologist instead. (grin)

Thanks so much for your help. Janet

Well, it looks like I'm the proud owner of a Nikon F3 HP with a SB-16

speedlight and a 28mm f2.8 lens E series! Don't know if the lens is a

good one or not or if the price I paid was good ($575.) but now I'll

have to stock up on film!! Can't wait to get shooting!! and it's not

even on it's way yet! Thanks everyone! I'll let you know how it

goes. Merry Christmas to me...Janet

Thanks for your quick responses! I currently have a bid on a F3HP on

Ebay. I thought I remembered an article I read in one of the mags

that said it was a very reliable camera. I would love to be able to

buy an AF camera, especially since I'm pushing the half century mark

and the eyesight changes, but I have to stick with the manual focus

so I will have lenses! I just bought a bellows for macro work to play

around with fairly cheap, and I have a 50mm, an 80-200mm and a 2x

converter, lots of filters and yes, I have a flash, but its an off

brand cheap one. I also have a cheap spot meter I bought in

highschool when I used the old Yashika TLR. I use the zoom the most

for macro work and nature walks, as I like the cropping ability. I

bid on the F3HP for the depth of field preview capabilities. I really

need to start over and relearn properly, instead of hit and miss with

the settings! I'm disappointed too often in the darkroom with my

negs. Janet

I'm going to apologise in advance for this question because I'm sure you get way too many of them. I want to buy a versatile camera body I can use my Nikon lenses with. I currently own a N2000 Nikon and I'd like to be able to get a little more creative with my photos. (for instance, I can't even use a cable release on mine) I was wondering what you might suggest for a good working camera. My budget is limited to about $500. It would be a great help to know an approximate worth also. I like macro work, but also do some portrait and scenic. Please reply, I've just discovered E-bay and am ready to SPEND!!! Thanks Janet

No offence guys, but this is why I rarely post questions on this

site. Some of us are amatures, and tender hearted ones at that. Who

knows, Karri might be another one hooked on photography after writing

her paper and giving it a try. Believe me I love humor and sarcasm in

it's place, but not when it's hurtful. Kudos Sir Richard for being

human!

Gene, I found an old Bessler model 23c in a photo shop that has some

used equipment. It came with a 50mm bessler lens. It's the same type

of enlarger I used in high school too many years ago! I bought it for

200.00 and love the old beast! It does a really good job on 35mm

prints up to 11x14, and some really sharp negitives even larger. Look

around and don't pass up the old ones!

I have the same problem with my plastic Paterson reels and always

assumed it was from my well water, which is on the hard side. I have

found that if, when I cut my film from the spool I make sure not to

cut it into the feeder holes. Make a clean cut, that helps. I also

make sure the ball bearings are free before I start. I use photo flo

in the tank, maybe I'll try rinsing out of the reels too.