pmk developer

Rollei Retro 400s Film Review

by EveNSteve

Click on play button to listen to the review:

Images: click on each to view larger….

SchaubTest400sEI400Diafine4_4

Schaub400sTesting

Film Data Sheet: Click Here

additional reading: www.martinzimelka.com/pages/Rollei_Retro400s.html

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

 

Testing Delta 3200 in Diafine and PMK Developers

by EveNSteve

A quick example of Delta 3200 at EI 800…

Delta 3200 at EI 800 (example in PMK)
Delta 3200 at EI 800 (example in PMK)

A. Processed in Diafine 5 minutes in A and 5 minutes in B at 70F.

B. PMK 1:2:100 at 9.5 min at 75F. 30 sec inital inversion followed by 1 inversion at each 15 sec till completed…. and YES I do do the after bath.

For more information on PMK just do a google search or search here on Figial… same for Diafine.

These are crops from a 42″ x 42″ file. The PMK has finer grain but the Diafine is def nice as well.

CropDelta3200atEI800Compare

Viva la Revolution-

Stephen

Note: Test image made with a Rolleiflex Wide TLR with #2 Rolleinar focused at 11″ @F4.

 

 

Back to Paris… Again

by EveNSteve

So I am heading back to Paris tomorrow provided I can make it to Boston to get my flight!

Paris Bound

On my last trip to Paris 5 weeks ago I shot with the Leica Monochrome exclusively…. on this trip it will be my Leica M4 film cameras exclusively! Hint… my next big article here on FR.

I have also been testing a lot of film and developer combinations the last 5 weeks… a lot! I really like the Bergger BRF 400+ in Caffenol CL and Caffenol CH with EI in CL out to 3200+. Rodinal provides a very crisp negative and Xtol is another good choice at 1:1. Another film I have been testing a lot is Delta 3200 processed in PMK double strength… nice range of tones and usable out to 6400 and perhaps 12,800 with proper shadow metering. Today I am running a test looking at the Delta 3200 in PMK with 1.5 strength as at double the highlights get a bit hot at lower EI’s… I want it all- 400-6400!!!!!! Stay tuned!

Oh and the Bergger BRF400+ in PMK is around 200-400 with a beautiful tonal quality. I have heard many people compare the Bergger  to Tri-X… Yes, but only if you are talking Tri-X from the 1970’s and even then it is more like XX than TX. It is very low contrast film which is a good thing for scanning and has a softer rendering then most modern films… perfect for a classic look. In Diafine it is nice but the grain needs a bit of a kick in PS with some structure and a “S” curve to add depth- in Diafine a usable EI of 1600 is not a problem.

Viva la Revolution- Stephen

Another Week Goes Bye!

by EveNSteve

It’s been an exciting week here in Vermont…I have been testing a new (new to me) film by Fuji (Acros 100, 120mm) in PMK developer for purposes of scanning and the results have been outstanding! And if the almost-not-there grain and beautiful creamy highlights are not enough for you consider the amazing reciprocity failure (or lack of it) this film has…no compensation necessary for long exposures until 120 seconds (2 minutes to most of us)… and no development change to boot. WOW! I will post examples in a few days but for now go order this film so we can keep it in production! No really, go buy this film NOW!

Almost forgot to mention that the packaging and handing of this film is really sweet…no band to lick thanks to Fuji’s peal-off sealer on 120mm film…very cul, very Japanese.