Pinhole Film Tests With ORTHOTOPOSCOPE SS Camera

by EveNSteveOctober 31, 2017November 2, 2017

Running a test with my new ORTHOTOPOSCOPE SS camera (6×12) and a non optimized pinhole of around F70 (optimized is around F130 for the 25mm focal length). I am looking at the following films with EI from approx 100-1600 all in developers I have found that works best for maximum compensation and best overall tonality with each specific film. Reciprocity corrections were kept to just a gerous doubling to time— with this type of camera and work I like to keep it simple if possible. Exposures ranged from 1 second to 30 seconds all handheld as that is my standard way of shooting with a pinhole system.

400TX • Diafine
400Tmax • 510 Pyro
Delta 3200 • 510 Pyro
Fuji 400CN • C41
Portra 400 • C41
CineStill 800T • C41

All test results will be converted to B&W as that is my current need with these materials.

UPDATE: So I’ve looked at the film and I am very drawn to the Porta 400 and VERY drawn to the Cinestill 800T when both are converted to B&W. The regular B&W film was amazing but due to the pinhole capture I had a lot more range of possibilities in the conversion process that really helped to bring out crazy tonal separation in the two color negative materials.

Film and Journalism Incompatible? Seriously?

by EveNSteveSeptember 30, 2014

“The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” – Mark Twain

Film is very much alive! Despite bogus “experiments” like this one:

Click on the audio link below to hear my take on it:

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

PS- I’ve decided to start a new category here on FR just for posts like this…. Numbnuts

Cine Still Film Review

by EveNSteveMay 21, 2014December 15, 2015

Cine Film

Click on the play button to here my quick review of this film.

From the FAQ page at CineStill Film

Use CineStill 800Tungsten when photographing:
– tungsten/incandescent light
– candle light
– fluorescent light
– mixed tungsten and fluorescent
– mixed tungsten and limited daylight

Avoid using CineStill 800Tungsten (or expect a unique look) when photographing:
– open shade
– cool light
– daylight overpowering tungsten
– heavily backlit images
– strong window light
– content including intense points of light (christmas lights, chandeliers, neon signs, bright windows)

Here is a difficult test shot I did… I was quite impressed and this is pushed to EI 3200!!!!!! Max usable EI in my opinion is around 6400 with a 2 stop push….

News From Kodak on Film Production Materials

by EveNSteveJune 13, 2013

Kodak

So in case you missed the hysteria: Kodak is no longer going to make acetate which is a base material for most roll films… HOWEVER!! this does not mean the end of film for Kodak. Kodak reportedly has several years worth of material on hand, their sheet films are on ESTAR base material- which they still produce- and they are looking for additional vendors to fill their acetate needs when their supply runs does out… again not for several years. This is really not as big a deal as some would suggest. Other sources of acetate exist- there will be a lot more news like this in the coming years from all current film makers, so we as film shooters need to take it in stride and not freak out – yet! For now just go shoot some freaking film!

Link to article:

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/About/The_Storyboard/4294971668/index.htm

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Film Testing

by EveNSteveMay 5, 2013

So I very recently got a Leica MP Black Paint a la carte with a matching black paint Leica 35mm F2 ASPH Summicron… Nice! But what film? I’ve been shooting a lot of 4×5 film recently, mainly Kodak 160 Portra and there is NO way a 35mm negative was going to give me the tonality or depth of color that I had grown acustomed to. So what to do?!

Here are the results of my first tests…. Kodak 400TX processed 1:100 at 68F for 20 minutes with gentle agitation every 3 minutes. The negatives when scanned on my Imacon scanner at 6300 dpi were fantastic- I love grain! I made a test print at 28″ x 40″ on Canson Aquarelle 310 on my Epson 9900 using the BW mode and it was spot on. But…. was it perfect? No. Since this first test I have run many others and now feel that a bit more agitation is needed, perhaps one gentle inversion per minute. I also have ran a test with D76 1:1 using my JOBO and the results were quite nice but the grain was not as crisp as the Rodinal.

So today I am running one last test as I am leaving tomorrow for a week of shooting from FL to VT (will mainly be shooting 4×5 color but want the Leica for my reportage work.

My test today will use PMK developer which I used a lot back in 2006-2007 and I remember how amazing the never ending highlights were…. more as that test concludes.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Kodak and Pro Film

by EveNSteveMay 1, 2013

Kodak

Kodak announced yesterday :

“Eastman Kodak Company today announced a comprehensive settlement agreement with the U.K. Kodak Pension Plan (KPP), its largest creditor, with respect to its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. Under the agreement, which will be filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Kodak’s Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging businesses will be spun off under new ownership to KPP.”

But, you ask, what does this mean for the future of Pro films like TX400, Portra and Ektar? The answer- direct from my friends at Kodak is:… nothing! All pro films both still and motion are not affected by this agreement. Furthermore, this agreement should give Kodak a better financial footing (exit chapter 11!!!!!) and help to keep film production in Rochester alive for the forseable future- a very good thing.

Now take a deep breath and go buy and shoot some film!

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Link to press release:

http://www.kodak.com/ek/US/en/Kodak_Announces_Comprehensive_Settlement_with_U.K._Pension_Plan_Moving_Kodak_toward_Exit_from_Chapter_11.htm

Cape Cod 2013

by EveNSteveApril 20, 2013April 20, 2013

Just finished a great trip to Cape Cod with my oldest daughter. Many wonderful conversations about film and exposure and getting her comfortable using her “new” Rollei 35S. It was very interesting watching her tune into the light and it’s subtle changes and thinking about how it would look on film- she was much more engaged to the whole process than when I see her shoot with a digital camera. Yes I am very proud!

LF Kickstarter – Travelwide 4×5 Camera

by EveNSteveApril 14, 2013

Of course not the first camera of this kind and I do worry about the build quality BUT at $100 for the camera (lens and accessories are additional $$$$$$) it is quite interesting.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderlust/travelwide-45-camera

As I said others options do exist and many with a better build quality and additional options, however, anything to keep film and LF alive is cool by me! Ive been shooting a lot of LF in the last few months… but more on that and a review of some LF films and processing options in a few weeks.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Fuji Stops Motion Picture Film Production

by EveNSteveApril 6, 2013

As previously announced, Fujifilm has stopped production of the majority of Motion Picture Film products by March, 2013.

http://www.fujifilm.com/news/n130402.html

Kodak of course still makes motion picture film so no worries for now!!!!!*

We all knew this was coming and Fuji has also discontinued many great still films this last year(+) as well- I for one am not happy! Hey Fuji (USA)… if Fuji Japan makes a film why not make it available in our US market as well (I am thinking of the Fuji 160NS in 4×5)…. I’m sick of having to order films from the EU and beyond. At least Kodak Portra 160 and 400 rock and are easy to get here in the US and beyond… check out my reviews here on FR on these two great films.

Portra 160

Portra 400 Many articles….

*“LOS ANEGLES, Feb 21, 2013 —The 2013 Academy Award® best picture nominees include six movies that were shot on Kodak film: Argo, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and Les Miserable.

In the 84-year history of Oscar®, no Academy Award®-winning best picture has ever been made without motion picture film.”

Viva la Revolution!

New Kodak Professional Portra 160 Film Review

by EveNSteveFebruary 21, 2011

When Kodak released the Portra 400 a few months ago many of us speculated that a new Portra 160 would be just around the corner… and guess what? Kodak has announced today that Kodak Professional Portra 160 will be released starting in March 2011 in: 35mm, 120/ 220, 4×5 and 8×10… fantastic!!! Click on the audio-play button to listen to a 13 minute in-depth review of this new film (I tested 120) and be sure to look at the sample images provided below while listening to the audio… What a nice way to start the week!!!