A Silver (halide) Lining
it's been a few weeks since I made a blog post, I've been caught up in building websites, learning about video, and also suffering from the general malaise that seems to come at this time of year. However, this does not mean that I have had no ideas for blog posts. Quite the contrary, it seems the less I blog, the more ideas I have. Anyway, I'm hoping to rectify this so here goes with the first one.
My last few blog posts included lots of talk about the discontinuation of Quickload and the end of large format and film photography as we know it. However, there have been quite a few small bits of news that have reassured me that film photography and large format will be around for some time. Firstly, Fuji have announced a new film camera; the Fuji GF670 is a medium format, fixed lens rangefinder (an 80 mm prime lens) which allows photographs to be taken either as squares or as 67 (actually 4X5 ratio). Whilst this does not have any implications for large format photography, it does show that Fuji have a continued interest in film photography (probably).
The second, and for me more important piece of news is that Kodak have released a new film in 4X5 and 8X10 formats. Kodak Ektar 100 is a negative film, supposedly very similar to Kodak Portra but with more saturation than Portra VC and better scanning capabilities. The announcement of the film itself isn't particularly important, what is important is that it signifies Kodak's continuing interest in the large format market.
Between these two pieces of news, we have a strong indication that film will be around for some time to come and that at least one of the major film producers still has a continuing interest in large format. And I suppose one of the good side effects of the discontinuation of Quickload is that more people can now use sheet films such as the new Ektar, Portra and other films (and for a substantially cheaper price than Quickload).
I have also been buying various bits of new photographic equipment. The main item being a Panasonic GH1, a micro-4/3 camera with excellent video capability. I have the new RF 75 Lee filter Kit also which has so far worked very well indeed. One thing to bear in mind with the Lee RF 75 system, is that the hard grads are very hard indeed; I would recommend purchasing a soft grad as well. I have also bought a PhotoBackpacker rucksack which so far has proved a lot better than carrying heavy loads. I will try to write a review of these new items over the next week.
Oh, and I've also been playing with speech to text converters (Dragon Naturally Speaking) which is taking this blog down as I speak it at (almost) full speed. Definitely faster than I can type anyway.
Finally, I'd like to take the opportunity to tell people that the large format workshop in April is nearly sold out, there are only a few places left so if you are interested I would recommend booking now. Myself and Dav have spent some time putting together a small video to promote the workshops which I'm editing this week. Working with video content is a whole new ballgame but one which I am trying nonetheless. I will probably write a short blog post about the video production at some point, although it might not be interesting to many people, it might help me remember what the hell I've done from one day to the next. My phone off and then thealt. you an hour of work okay until you how much else at my sister's (heh... don't leave the speech conversion on when you are on the phone!!)
p.s. Found a comparison of Ektar 100 and Velvia 50 here
Highlight this Comment Guy24/02/2010, 20:59
Hi Tim - think there's a few verbal typos at the end of the para on the LF workshop. Very interested to hear what you have to say about the photobackpacker...
Highlight this Comment Tim Parkin24/02/2010, 21:43
heh.. thanks Guy - as noted, I should really switch the speech conversion software off when I'm on the phone.. :-D
Highlight this Comment Charles Young24/02/2010, 23:55
Hi Tim, I've seen some people commenting it's possible to use the RF75 with LF, what's your take on that?
Highlight this Comment Alastair Moore25/02/2010, 03:10
Have been reading your blog for a short while, as I found it on a google search for more info about the Paterson Orbital processor (which I'm now in possession of). I've been shooting large format for about two months now, having sold up my old digital camera system (Nikon D700 with a collection of relatively expensive lenses!) and gone completely film. So blogs like yours are very handy for me!
I had a brief spell with the Panasonic GF1, but sold it last week after owning it for 2 months. I really liked the idea of it but in practice, I found it wasn't compatible with the way I take photos. I found holding the camera at arms length to view the viewfinder was no fun at all, and wasn't prepared to spend the money on the (apparently crappy) EVF attachment. I've bought an Epson V700 scanner instead.
So currently, I'm all film - I shoot a Sinar F2 4x5 and a Mamiya RB67. My colour film goes to the local lab, who processes my sheets superbly in an hour or two and I dev all my black and white sheets and film. I don't have to wade through hundreds of JPGs/NEFs anymore, I only have to wait marginally longer to view my shots than I did with digital, all of which makes me happy!
That said, I made a drunken purchase of an old Nikon D100, which I'll attach a 50mm f1.8 lens to and that will be that.
As someone new to large format shooting, it was pleasing to read that Kodak are announcing NEW sheet film types as opposed to announcing the discontinuation of sheet film types.
Anyway, keep posting and I'll keep reading :)
Highlight this Comment Tim Parkin25/02/2010, 09:18
Hi Charles,
It is quite interesting that many LF lenses have a front element of 67mm or less which does mean that they are usable. I know of a couple of people who have been using them, Jon Brock in particular has had them on his Fuji 240 I believe. The hard grads are equivalent to a very hard 100mm grad (which is a good thing when using longer lenses). The only thing is, you can't stack filters at different angles (I'm not sure how many people do this though).
Highlight this Comment Tim Parkin25/02/2010, 09:25
Hi Alistair,
Good of other film users! I'm a happy user of both film and digital and can see some advantage in using digital (i.e. mainly quick, cheap experimentation and feedback) but the quality is still better with medium and large format film though, I have to agree.
This doesn't mean that digital is a bad thing - I can't imagine only using film as I've learned a lot through digital photography.
Here's hoping for more good news for large format/film news (reintroducing astia would be nice).
Highlight this Comment Sean Lewis26/02/2010, 15:17
Hi Tim,
The PhotoBackpacker, what an splendid piece of kit. I've had mine for over a year and found it the most comfortable pack that I've used. They are great for flying too, you can take those compartments containing camera and lens's out placing them in a shoulder bag and putting your clothes in the backpack. Eases on the faffing and fumbling at the airport!
The Kodak Ektar 100 looks interesting, I think I'll give it a go when it's about. It looks like Kodak may be the way forward if the unthinkable happens in the Fugi camp.
Viva la film!
Sean
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