The initial projects, K.I.S.
The DIY Pinhole cam on a tripod with viewfinder
The Cracker Tin Pinhole Cam- Since I have a fully functional darkroom now, I wanted to start simple. Simple for me, was to make a pinhole camera out of a PR Cracker can. These cans are a little larger than the typical 2lb. coffee can, but with a snug metal lid. I used some old, expired AGFA photo-paper as the ’negative’. Yeah, there will be a post about this too. It was the first time I actually put photo-paper to developer in over 40 years
Cracker Tin DIY Pinhole paper negative of Flamboyan Tree
First of the Formal digiNeg Tests- A few months later, that was followed by my first digiNeg tests done from an Epson P400, as outlined in the first darkroom post. I was very happy with the results. It gave me what I needed to define how I wanted to move forward. Proof that the process would be repeatable.
Test print of digiNeg contacted to photo-paper, resting in rinse water tray
The A24 8×10 DIY Box Camera, Trial Run- Then there is the A24 8×10 box camera I built, after having scored a couple of apochromat lenses from the past. This was accomplished by running panchromatic (Kodak Panalure) B&W photo-paper through it. I did have to seal up a few light-leaks to the back, but all good now.
A digital positive made from a scan of a B&W paper-neg, captured on the A24 8×10 box camera and the 210mm F9 apochromat. Exposures were between 1/2 a second to one second so wind can be a problem.
It’s ‘sort of done’. I took it as far as a functional camera, but it’s taken years away from other stuff, like making prints. There will be a custom box built around it. That’s what’s left. Of course the A24 8×10 build will be featured in yet another series of posts, in the very near future. Most of it is already written.
About two-thirds into the A24 8×10 DIY box camera build
Intro to Developing C-41 Color Negatives- This first effort at developing film was aimed at developing a bunch of exposed film I had collected over the years, Had no idea if any of was exposed or not. There was also a roll or two of 35mm shot in the Mamiya RB67. That worked good so I’ll do it again. I’m sitting on a bunch of expired, unexposed, but refrigerated B&W 35mm, 120 and 4×5 film. And some 10×12 X-Ray film I’ll cut down to fit the A24 8×10.
First run of C-41 color-neg through new film drying cabinet
That pretty much covers all the assorted lab work done to date. L8r, Rob
