carbon_dragon
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Everything posted by carbon_dragon
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I notice B&H is no longer selling many Kodak chemicals. I was going to do a little bit of film photography and I have some chems in powder but was looking to buy a little more. I was trying to go for D76, Kodak Rapid Fix, Kodak stop bath, Hypo Clear, and Photo flo. I understand Kodak is not in the best of shape these days. I would be develop some Tri-X mostly (I still have some in the fridge). Any suggestions for where to get chemicals, OR what to substitute? Ilford maybe but where would I get the appropriate instructions for Tri-X? Thanks. UPDATE: I did find some at B&H by going outside to google and searching there and linking back into B&H. Not sure why I couldn't search inside. Even so, maybe you can still help me by telling me what you might be processing Tri-X with these days if anyone is.
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Mirrorless Monday, Oct 05, 2020
carbon_dragon replied to Sanford's topic in Mirrorless Digital Cameras
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Desperate to get out of the condo, I went to members day at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and took some pictures. This one was taken with my M10, Leica 90/2 APO.
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Some thoughts on the A7C
carbon_dragon replied to Karim Ghantous's topic in Mirrorless Digital Cameras
We're not quite down to the old Leica CL (full frame, interchangeable, fits in a very small belt pouch or a big pocket) but we're close in this camera as well as others, all missing some feature (size or interchangeability or full frame). Seems like a good step for Sony though, especially in the next generation. -
One of the ways Leica cameras typically excel (in my opinion) is that their menu system tends to be easy to understand and not too complex. That is typically true of all of them. On the other hand Sony is pretty much the opposite (gigantic multilayered menus that are a bit hard to follow, though you can do all kinds of things). I guess I'm saying most Leica made cameras would probably qualify (possibly excluding the LX100 derived DLuxes not sure).
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Very nice, Leica owners really owe some thanks to a company that can do what Leica can't. Of course Leica could probably have contracted with the company to do this so that M9 owners weren't just out of luck. The fact that they didn't even try isn't encouraging. Glad there is a way to fix them (or turn them into monochroms). Thanks for the post. The description of the corrosion was helpful too.
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Checking Light meter accuracy- Did I do something wrong?
carbon_dragon replied to johnmikka's topic in Beginner Questions
If I'm not mistaken, were you to bring your camera close enough to the subject and focus only on an 18% grey card and then compare that to the incident reading (and the meters were both calibrated) I think you'd get close to the same reading. One thing you could do is to take a picture with both readings. Looking at the pictures (keep careful notes) you will see what is correctly exposed in the pictures and what each one misses. An incident meter isn't "fooled" into giving you a bad reading on a bright white subject or a dark subject, but it assumes you want to expose as if the subject is 18% grey. So if the subject IS white, it will be white in the picture (ditto black) BUT that doesn't mean that the white won't be blown out or the black blocked up. It depends on the dynamic range of the scene. So using a reflective meter you can spot meter the shadows/blacks and the highlights/whites and determine if your film (or sensor) can handle it. If not, YOU can choose whether to preserve the highlights or preserve detail in the shadows. Neither of them guarantee a good picture. Camera makers have been working on "matrix metering" and its descendants to analyze the scene (highlights and shadows) and "guess" what the best meter reading should be (rather than you doing it). Some of them are quite good, but actually using a normal meter (reflective, spot, or incident) requires you know what they measure and learn how to use them correctly. -
Falling out of love with my Leica M2
carbon_dragon replied to clark_roberts's topic in Leica and Rangefinders
I used a Canon 7 for a while. Good little camera but as good as it was (even had a light meter built in), I still preferred the M2. -
Falling out of love with my Leica M2
carbon_dragon replied to clark_roberts's topic in Leica and Rangefinders
Just remember that Contax RF lenses will mount to Nikon bodies but if what people have told me is true, the focusing system isn't the same so they might not focus correctly. If you try to use them anyway, I think wideangles are more likely to focus than telephotos. I have 2 Contax IIAs personally. But the Nikons are actually better, more durable cameras. -
Falling out of love with my Leica M2
carbon_dragon replied to clark_roberts's topic in Leica and Rangefinders
After WWII when Leica's patents were invalidated, a lot of companies built copies including Nikon. I know it looks like a Contax rangefinders, but supposedly the internals were more like Leica. That said, the Nikon rangefinders kind of went away because the Leica Ms were just SO good. Given how many more lenses you can find to fit the M2 than the Nikon (which only kinda sorta takes contax RF lenses since the rangefinder focusing system was supposedly different), I'd go with the M2. That said, the Nikons are really nice looking and supposedly really well made. If you are happy with it and you can get enough lenses to satisfy you, go for it. Repairing it will probably be harder with the Nikon too but not as hard as it would with an ACTUAL contax rangefinder. -
This one was pretty unimaginative -- I'm not sure it was even given a name at first. It's now known as the Konica 1 I think. Nice little cheap camera that sold in the Base Exchanges of Air Force Bases after WWII (that's where my Dad bought it). I used it for years and still have it. Fixed lens, but a good one.
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Many Contax cameras (especially the SLRs) are basically unrepairable these days. It's going to be very hard to find anyone who has the parts. But good luck.
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I've always liked the R8 but I'm past the age where I could carry it and at the time I decided to try a camera like this, I selected the Contax RTS III. The lenses were way cheaper at the time! But I've always liked the way the R8 looked.
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Photo Editor
carbon_dragon replied to RobertKeenum's topic in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing
Historically Photoshop CS3 but lately, I've been trying to transition to Affinity Photo. -
I'm wondering if slide scanning technology is still being developed and fielded or if you can only do good scanning with OLD scanners like mine and the one you show at Goodwill.
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What is a coke bottle lid? Not a bottle cap? Maybe this is something that didn't get made in the US?
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I went out to my local State Park last Saturday. I go to this park (or did before the Pandemic) a fair bit because it's the closest park I have. I've NEVER seen it that crowded and almost no-one was wearing a mask. I just didn't feel comfortable. It was really really hard to stay away from people. I used my most comfortable mask (basically a sports mask) and even so I was nervous the whole time. There was never a time I felt I could remove the mask.
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Anyone know how my ancient Nikon Coolscan V (still working, thanks Vuescan) compares to modern scanners (flatbed or otherwise)?
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What camera(s) are you using this weekend?
carbon_dragon replied to Mike Gammill's topic in Classic Manual Film Cameras
Well I live in Atlanta and have lived in Ft. Worth, New Orleans, Pascagoula, Orlando, and St. Pete. So I know what things are like in the American South. I'm just out of practice and it caught me by surprise because Atlanta is not usually New Orleans humid. It was yesterday though. -
What camera(s) are you using this weekend?
carbon_dragon replied to Mike Gammill's topic in Classic Manual Film Cameras
This is what I have used recently (mostly around the house). Today was SO humid after our rain over the last few days. Luckily we're a bit north of the twin hurricanes. Leica M10 with the 90/2 Summicron and the 7Artisans 50/1.1. Taken with my iPhone 6sPlus. -
Admittedly, not a traditional landscape, but I'm kind of limited to my house. Leica M10, 90/2 Summicron.