I've had the bug for some time to dabble in film photography after about 30 years, particularly astrophotography. I will soon have the chance to get my hand on an Olympus OM-1, tripod and shutter cable.
I know it is the digital world, but I'm just putting it out there..... is there anyone that still does film for the fun, challenge or nostalgia (or all three). I would love to set up my own dark room again.
If so I'd love to hear more about your journey, and where you get your supplies, film, chemicals etc.
Cheers,
Stephen
Last edited by WattleHill; 06-06-2025 at 07:47 AM.
A long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away...) I trained at TAFE in NSW with film, and learned to develop and print my own film.
While most of my gear has long gone, Ted's Cameras still maintains a small amount of film processing equipment for sale to home users, and there's a lab called Rewind Photo that deals in a bit of film gear. Photo Resource in Victoria is another.
You've given me a wave of nostalgia. Good luck with it!
I still have some darkroom stuff that I would like to pass on to anyone interested. Development tank, trays, gelatin filters, easel etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WattleHill
Hi everyone,
I've had the bug for some time to dabble in film photography after about 30 years, particularly astrophotography. I will soon have the chance to get my hand on an Olympus OM-1, tripod and shutter cable.
I know it is the digital world, but I'm just putting it out there..... is there anyone that still does film for the fun, challenge or nostalgia (or all three). I would love to set up my own dark room again.
If so I'd love to hear more about your journey, and where you get your supplies, film, chemicals etc.
I process my own B&W by loading into a tank in a changing bag and doing the wet stuff in the laundry sink.
There aren't many film options any more.
For B&W, Fuji Acros has almost no reciprocity failure. HP5+ is probably the next best. Neither of them see much H-alpha.
For colour films (negative or slide), Fuji wins here too. The newer Kodak Gold 200 is looking promising.
The best thing that you can do for film photography is get to a dark sky.
Below is Crux on 4"x5" film, the moon on glass plate, Orion with a Box Brownie, and M42 with a de-lensed Box Brownie at prime focus of an ST-80 telescope.
I have some colour 35mm stuff too but need a better scanning option.
What absolutely baffles me is seeing stories of film photography having a resurgence and reading where people basically state it's just luck if you get a decent image, not if you know anything about photography, luck has nothing to do with it other than perhaps lucky timing on occasions. People have been getting great images with film cameras for well over a century (my oldest camera is 1917). Basic knowledge was a requirement pre automatic cameras (Kodak Brownie?)
I recently acquired a Rondinax 35U development tank in basically new condition and I'm interested in playing with some home processing after I actually check whether the tank leaks or not. I last did B&W developing when I was in high school, we had photography as a sports option complete with dark room. That's well over 50 years ago. I think I have an old enlarger under my house but I don't have room for a dedicated darkroom.
As for cameras, I have a huge range of 35mm, rangefinder and SLR cameras and lenses, Nikon, Mamiya, Yashica, Pentax, Canon, so many cameras ( I collect junk...Er... Cameras). If I want to go up to medium format I have a huge amount of those too right up to my favourite RolleiCord, several Ensigns, Voightlander, Zeiss (they may be 120 and 35mm) Several will be 120 which is a pain to process with the paper backing but I would like to play with my collection of 35mm SLR Nikon's again one day since I have several suitable lenses and still use primarily Nikon gear. Not sure I can still get the stupid battery my near new F601 I bought in 91 takes, at least my F801 takes AA batteries, the F401 I was recently given I'm not sure on battery, possibly dedicated. My FE2 needs parts to complete it and until I get the parts I can't get the rear cover open where I think the original parts have been put (film compartment) for safe keeping it's non functional unfortunately.
I also recently acquired 2 Nikon FG cameras with glass in good condition and a Cosina with a couple of lenses, some other 35mm stuff I don't remember off the top of my head.
I'll slip it on the end of my list of stuff I have to do one day..........
Location: '34 South' Young Hilltops LGA, Australia
Posts: 1,462
I agree with Leo. I did extensive film photography, had my own darkroom, and including some astrophotography.
The hardest part was trying to get sharp focus. Liveview makes this so much easier. But I understood the media film as slides or negs and printing paper responses and I could always pre-visualise how the image would come out.
Back in the 80's, Kodak TP 2415 had a very low ISO but was one of the few films that was red sensitive. I believe it is no longer produced. Current offerings don't have much red sensitivity, or didn't when I used them for AP 30-40 years ago.
SteveinNZ2 listed some. I have never used Fuji Achros. HP5 is ok for stars and blue reflection nebulosity but records almost nothing of a Ha emission nebula.
Frankly, having done both I cannot understand why for AP, anyone would want to blindfold themself and tie both hands behind their back?
What absolutely baffles me is seeing stories of film photography having a resurgence and reading where people basically state it's just luck if you get a decent image, not if you know anything about photography, luck has nothing to do with it other than perhaps lucky timing on occasions.
Frankly, having done both I cannot understand why for AP, anyone would want to blindfold themself and tie both hands behind their back?
Joe
A while back, I dug through some old negatives, of (among others) eclipses and comet Hale-Bopp. It occurred to me that I was looking at a physical trace those events and objects had left. I think I understand why some would want to use film. In 3 years' time, a total eclipse of the Sun will occur right here, a mere kilometre from the centre line. among the many ways we'll attempt to record the event, I am considering a capture on film.
Location: '34 South' Young Hilltops LGA, Australia
Posts: 1,462
Quote:
Originally Posted by N1
A while back, I dug through some old negatives, of (among others) eclipses and comet Hale-Bopp. It occurred to me that I was looking at a physical trace those events and objects had left. I think I understand why some would want to use film. In 3 years' time, a total eclipse of the Sun will occur right here, a mere kilometre from the centre line. among the many ways we'll attempt to record the event, I am considering a capture on film.
Hi Mirko,
I've observed and photographed 15 total eclipses, the first five on film. Considerations photographing an eclipse on film are different to deep sky astrophotography because: -
1. Reciprocity failure is not really an issue in eclipse
photography as it is with deep sky photography
2. Prominences and chromosphere are very bright
during an eclipse so lack of red sensitivity is not
an issue as it is in deep sky astrophotography.
3. Pure digital capture provides much cleaner images
of an eclipse and modern high end digital sensors have
vastly bigger dynamic range than film does.
Film..............Dynamic Range
Slide.....................5ev
Colour Neg............7eV
Monochrome.........9eV
Modern sensors 13-15eV
The attached photo was captured with a single exposure, no compositing with my Pentax K5, a 15 year old APSc camera body. My full frame camera has an even bigger PDR.
So yes sure do some film photography as a side project but modern digital sensors outperform film in PDR by about 5-9eV(30-500 x greater PDR)
