Film Photography Podcast – Episode 76 – February 15, 2013
The internet radio show for people who love to shoot film! Large Format Update, John Sexton News, Olympus “O” Product, Darkroom Tips, Canon T70 35mm SLR Camera Giveaway and MORE! Roll Call – Michael, Mat, John, Leslie, Lauren and Strudel!
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Show Notes
Film Photography Podcast – Episode 76 – February 15, 2013 – Show Notes by Alex Luyckx
The winter months are drawing to a close, but the gang is all here! Hosting today’s show is Michael and Mat with Lauren Bagley, Leslie Lazenby (From The MECCA and Imagine That), and super daschund The Strudel. On today’s show – an update on Large Format, Updates on what John Sexton is doing, the retro-styled Olympus O-Product, Darkroom Tips, a Canon T70 giveaway, Listener letters, and more!
Kicking it off big Mat gives an update on his large format work, and his shiny new Sinar P2 (pictured above) – The P stands for Perfection. Mat’s been busy shooting the Impossible Project PQ film, which is simply wonderful according to both him and Leslie, a large format shooters dream.
He’s also been working with the Fuji Provia 100F film he got at the PDN PhotoPlus Expo, and continues to plan and promote his upcoming large format colour project. Starting off with X-Ray film, then moving into PQ and Chrome films. Mike reminds him to get a model release when shooting models! Mat continues to show off his Sinar P2, this beautiful monorail camera makes his Eastman Commercial feel like a Debonair, and it even comes with a meter probe! John comments that is really helps take the fear out of shooting 8×10, although Mat thinks it’s more like cheating. Interested in shooting Large Format or trying it out, Mat and Scott (of Aperture Tremont) are hosting workshops this year, so shoot an email to Mat and see about setting up a one-on-one session, also send any questions you have his way (he’s quick on the reply). Mat’s email is mat@filmphotographypodcast.com.
Looking for a good way to get into the Canon FD system? Why not sign up for this month’s giveaway, a shiny Canon T70 with a Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 lens. This fantastic 1980s Single Lens Reflex camera works both fully automatic and manual, and won the European Camera of the Year and Good Design Awards in 1984. It’s a favourite camera of both Mike Raso and Dane Johnson. Interested? Sign up in the giveaways section today! Although it only comes with one lens, there are lots of FD lenses out there at good (cheap) prices.
above: 1986 US Canon T70 TV Spot!
Continuing on the T-Series thread, Mike’s been buying up and testing as many T60 cameras as he can (for future resale in the FPP Store). The T60 underdog of the T-Series, made by Consina for Canon, and it makes a fantastic beginner 35mm Single Lens reflex camera.
The mailbag is overflowing this show…listener Mary Virginia writes in from 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle in snowy Alaska (it gets to forty below in January up there). She’s an avid photographer and shoots both digital and film, even has a Mercury camera but is afraid to bring it out into the cold weather, preferring her Nikon D300 (which is weather sealed). She asks what camera would work well in those sorts of conditions. She thinks a Nikon FM2n would work, however the gang doesn’t think it’s a good idea. You’d need a good solid camera, weather sealed, a Nikon F4, F5, or F6 would be your best bet, they’re designed for such extreme conditions – just keep it in your coat when you’re not using them to keep the batteries warm, or use an off camera battery pack. Mary also asks about upgrading her scanner. Mat mentions that Petapixel released an article on a DIY scanning rig that using an off camera flash, a digital SLR with a macro lens that produces excellent results. But if you want a dedicated scanner Epson V500, V700, or V750 would be a solid choice.
Another listener writes in that his son has recently picked up photography, and now he wants to join him. He found a Brownie Model 3 at a camera store. It takes 124 film, and he wants to know if 120 film would work. John and Mike remind him to pick up the camera and test to make sure it actually works before even thinking of buying it. Test the shutter and seals and such like. The film situation might be tricky. 124 film was discontinued in 1961 and is much wider than 120 film. You can see a comparison here of 124, 120 and other roll film spools. It would take modifications to the level of Dane and Mark to even start trying to run the camera on 120 film. The best bet is to pick up one of the cheap plastic 35mm cameras at the store for five bucks to try out some lomography style photography.
above: One of the Retro Commercials rolled into this FPP episode. The Kodak Ektralite 10 camera. A favorite of Michael Raso and available in the FPP Store!
Jeff from Albany writes in about his rediscovered love of Instant Photography and has been using Fuji FP-100c and FP-3000b in his Automatic Land Camera. However Albany is still in the grips of winter and he’s concerned with the 25F temperatures and how the film will react, and can he leave the peeling until when he gets home? To combat the cold use the Polaroid Cold Clip (we have them in the store), and keep the film close to your body, then you can peel the prints off when you get home. Another listener, Samantha asks about instant photography also, and wants to know if the only place to get pack film is the expired stuff on ebay. The answer is simple, Fuji still makes fresh stock colour and black & white pack (Type 100) film and both are available right here at the FPP store as well!
FPP’s Paige Davis takes a quick step into the studio to bring news of what John Sexton is doing. John Sexton is the former assistant to Ansel Adams (1979 to 1984) and still works with Ansel’s estate and is a well known consultant to the photography industry. John is also a well known photographer in his own right, having won multiple awards and maintaining an amazing body of work. His famous workshop series is going into its 23rd year in 2013. Check out his website for more details and a schedule of upcoming workshops!
Ooooo, Leslie reaches into her bag of toys and brings out the Olympus O-Product. Released in 1988 the camera was limited to a production line of 20,000 units in celebration of Olympus’ 70th anniversary. 10,000 of those cameras were sold in Japan and sold out in 2 weeks. The 10,000 for the US market didn’t fare that well. Leslie however loves the odd little camera; it has a more emotional design than a rational design, squares and circles. It’s uncomfortable to use, but makes for a great conversation piece.
The odd little camera features a 35mm f/3.5 lens and takes regular 35mm film. They pop up occasionally on ebay, but make sure you get all the accessories and the box for it to make it worthwhile.
Continuing on the running theme of getting your Darkroom’s details in order Mat today talks on temperature control, although not as rigid in b&w developing it’s imperative for colour development. Not only is the temperature of your chemistry important but the temperature of the room you’re developing in (bathroom, kitchen, laundry room) or if you have a proper darkroom. Having a thermostat in your home is a great place to start, keep the temperature constant, and if you’re using a bathroom, wait after taking a hot shower to start developing. To keep tabs on your chemical temperature Freestyle has a variety of thermometers available, from expensive, to cheap. Another device that you can install on your sinks is a mixing valve which helps keep the temperature of the water within a safe range, and makes it easier to control the water temperature. Just remember consistent temperature = consistent results. Another good resource Leslie adds is the book “Do It In the Dark” which is a basic primer on film developing and printing.
And that’s all from us for the camera portion, as we continue on into the music part featuring several local artists and FPP friend bands such as the Pink Delicates, and Smoove Sailors!
This show’s Inner Groove features Ballard Pop! Kilsy, Pink Delicates and The Smoove Sailors!
above: Kilsy performing Peculiar Star on Fox TV! Mike Raso says “Grab the album Bonita O”!
That’s it, but don’t fear we’ll be back in two weeks, until then write us by email ( Podcast@FilmPhotographyProject.com ) or snail mail ( FPP PO Box 152, Butler NJ 07405 ) Post your images in the flickr pool, and if you feel so inclined, click on the ‘donate’ button to keep these shoes coming!