Changing Up My Darkroom and Home Studio

[Nokton48]

HRU Makiflex Std Mic-X 240 f4.5 Tele-Arton by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makiflex Standard camera 240mm F5.5 chrome barrel mount Schneider Tele-Arton at F22. One pop of Broncolor Pulso C171 monolight strobe with Broncolor Pulso Beauty Dish. No fill. 8x10 Fuji HR-U XRay film cut into 4x5s straight Microdol-X replenished in a tray development by inspection under custom red light. 4x5 Lisco Regal holder. 8x10 RC Aristo #2 Multigrade dev Omega DII with diffusion Omegalite head.

MINR XRay Test 1 210mm Componon F22 Two Pops C171 by Nokton48, on Flickr

18x24cm Kodak MIN-R Mammography film cut into 4x5s. Sinar Norma Broncolor C171 with Broncolor Pulso Beauty Dish. Two strobe pops with Sinar Norma Shutter, multiple pops are no problem. Schneider chrome Componon lens at F22. Lisco Regal 4x5 film holder Legacy Mic-X film dev 8 mins at 68F Aristo 8x10 #2 RC print Multigrade dev This is fun

HRU Pulso Test 210 Componon f22 12 pops MicX by Nokton48, on Flickr

Testing my new Broncolor Pulso C171 375 WS Monolight with restored 80x80cm Pulso Softbox about three feet right. Silver Gold reflector on left. Fuji HRU XRay film 4x5 Sinar Norma 210mm chrome Componon Norma Shutter Mic-X replenished straight developed in a flat bottomed Cesco tray. Lisco 4x5 film holder F22 I popped the strobe twelve times to build up the density The Grey canvas background I painted myself; Just recently put it back up


HRU test 2 Norma Handy Sinarsix MicX by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's a quick test on 4x5" Fuji HR-U Xray film developed in Microdol-X.

I took this at f16 and Schneider says to close down two stops to eliminate barrel vignetting by the center filter. Next time f22 as a maximum. Camera was focused by homemade hyperfocal chart.

Next time I will also test Sinar Norma 103mm glass discs (in med yellow-green and also dark yellow) plus the center filter. Stabilizing the camera makes it about 100X more useful to me. This was an extremely windy pure sun key day about 12:00AM. The additional colored filtering should improve the foliage tonality.

 

[Nokton48]

restored 4x5 Sinar Norma 360 Imagon by Nokton48, on Flickr

Almost fully restored 4x5 Sinar Norma #1. New tapered bellows from Custom Bellows in the UK (they made the original bellows for Sinar Norma), Sinar Norma shutter freshly CLA'ed, flash cord replaced, and new light trapping applied. The Sinarsix meter is functioning 100% and is a Godsend for ambient light shooting. So far every exposure has been exactly on the nose as far as exposure, even with movements and filters. Exposure accuracy and shooting speed go way up with the TTL Sinarsix

The 360mm H5.8 Rodenstock Imagon in barrel I bought from photo machinist Glenn Evans it came with the custom made Glennview lensboard, properly spaced neatly so the rear cell dosen't strike the front end of the Norma Shutter. The green Imagon filter and H5.8 disc are attached, The smaller Rodenstock Imagons do not need forward spaced to work with the shutter.

 

[Nokton48]

Nearly Restored 5x7 Sinar Norma by Nokton48, on Flickr

Since we are all locked down I have been working on restoring my old Normas, as they are more than sixty years old, they need some attention. This is my 5x7, I have put in some new light sealing foam in the front and rear standards, and also new foam in this new to me Sinar Norma Shutter. I sent the shutter out for cleaning (it was sticky inside) and replaced the sync cord, although for whatever reason, it is still not firing with strobes. I will get it sorted eventually, for now I will use my other Norma Shutter with my strobes in the studio, it fires 100%. The lens is a Sinar Norma 121mm F8 Super Angulon, forward mounted with copal shutter built-in, and full Norma Auto Aperture automation. This is the most deluxe way you could get this lens from Sinar at the time. Looking forward to shooting more HR-U XRay film with this new to me camera. Should make fantastic split-grade VC RC prints from the HR-U XRay film.

Also new in the studio are these background clamp weights from Savage, which keeps my seamless paper from rolling up by itself, and keeps the background tight and smooth looking. I can roll up or down in ten seconds any of my three colors of background paper, I have blue, black, and white. All three shown staggered against my studio back wall.

 

[Nokton48]

Auto Makiflex 21cm f4.5 Heliar 120 6x9 Maki Back 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Auto Makiflex 21cm f4.5 Heliar 120 6x9 Maki Back 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Auto Makiflex #3 with 21cm f4.5 Auto iris Makiflex Heliar. 1/60 F11 Ilford FP4+ 6x9cm Makina Back ADOX BORAX MQ Developer 8x10 Arista #2 RC print Multigrade developer. Full sun Key Day. Waiting for the Lily in my front garden to fully open up. I am enjoying looking through the 21cm Heliar.

 

[Nokton48]

Norma Test 115 Grandagon-N Efke PL D76 by Nokton48, on Flickr

4x5 Norma Test 115mm f6.8 Rodenstock Grandagon-N Efke 100 D76 1:1 Polycontrast RC in Dektol 1:2

Taken from upper level parking garage across the street

 

[Nokton48]

Reno continues 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Reno continues 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Reno continues 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

70mm Kodak Surveillance 60 exp ADOX Borax MQ 11 min 21C by Nokton48, on Flickr

Hasselblad A70 film back comes through again

60 6x6 cm exposures on one roll. 70mm Kodak Surveillance film about shot at about EI 250. ADOX BORAX MQ 11 1/2 mins 21C. Kindermann 70mm tank and reel WOW it's heavy. SSSLLLOOOWWW to fill and dump, you have to tilt the tank at a 45 to fill it or it just blows all over. And balance a one gallon brown glass bottle at the same time. Not fun!

I cut these into strips of twelve to dry. Then into VueAll 70mm plastic print pages or those 120 pages from the UK also fit perfectly

 

[Nokton48]

25th Anniversary 500CM 100 F3.5 Planar Neopan 400 ADOX Broax MQ by Nokton48, on Flickr


25th Anniversary Hasselblad 500C/M 100mm F3.5 T* black Zeiss Planar A12 back Fuji Neopan 400 ADOX BORAX MQ dev 8x10 #2 RC Multigrade dev
I really like Neopan 400 120. I am down to my last twenty rolls in the freezer.

 

[Nokton48]

500CM 30 DIST Fuji Neopan 400 ADOX BORAX MQ by Nokton48, on Flickr

25th Anniversary Hasselblad 500C/M with 30mm F3.5 T* Fisheye Distagon Fuji Neopan 400 in A12 back ADOX BORAX MQ Arista #2 8x10 RC Multigrade developer Omega DII with Omegalite diffusion head.

 

[Nokton48]

25th Anniversary 500CM 100 F3.5 Planar Neopan 400 ADOX Broax MQ by Nokton48, on Flickr


25th Anniversary Hasselblad 500C/M 100mm F3.5 T* black Zeiss Planar A12 back Fuji Neopan 400 ADOX BORAX MQ dev 8x10 #2 RC Multigrade dev
I really like Neopan 400 120. I am down to my last twenty rolls in the freezer.

 

[Nokton48]

Modified 70mm Patterson System 4 reel does two 70mm plus one 35mm by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is a Patterson System 4 Tank I purchased in the UK from Ebay. I cut down two of the reels so that only the central post and the end cap remained. The rest of the two reels were cut away and thrown out. I used self tapping stainless screws to secure the reels onto the rods squarely and strongly. The result is a trimmed down set of 70mm spaced reels, so I can run two 220 lengths at once. Also I can add a 35mm reel on the end so that helps as I always have a roll or two of 35mm to process.

On the right is the same thing for the smaller Patterson single reel tank. Good to have both.

 

[Nokton48]

Peco Profia No 2 Wide Lensboard 135 Symmar by Nokton48, on Flickr

This is Plaubel Peco Profia #2 with 4x5 Graflock Sliding Back. PS1/356 165mmx165mm to 120mmx120mm Recessed Reduction Adapter. Product Number 97441 $22.00

PN1/344 Lensboard 120mmx120mm for 75mm Super Angulon lens used with PS1/356 Recessed Reduction Adapter Product Number 97301 $4.50

 

[Nokton48]

Developing Long Roll 70mm by Nokton48, on Flickr

70mm Kindermann dev tank filled with Kodak Surveillance film up to 70 exposures now ready to develop. Single Paterson 70mm reel hacked by me to fit) fully loaded with 24 exposures Kodak Aerial Recon Film (this is the razor thin stuff comes in 500 foot roll). Tall Paterson System 4 (hacked by me) holds two 70mm 24 exposure length rolls, plus a roll of 35mm Eastman XX movie film.

This Kindermann tank is a chemistry hog (requires nearly a full gallon) and is -very- slow to fill and dump. Allow at least a minute for filling and draining. Also weighs a ton when full. A unique tool.

All tanks are fully loaded and ready to soup. This is a bit of film! and will help clear some backlog

 

[Nokton48]

Kingswood Gardens Hassy 30mm Distagon Fisheye 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Frog Pond, Kingswood Gardens, Mansfield Ohio. Kodak 70mm Surveillance Film, ADOX Borax MQ dev, Hasselblad 500C/M 30mm T* Distagon, Handheld exposure. Arista #2 8x10 Matte RC paper, Multigrade dev. Processed in 70mm Kindermann Dev Tank

Kodak Surveillance reminds me a lot of the older Tri-X emulsion.
The sun was just out of the frame upper left corner. The circular garden works well with the Hassy Fishy lens.

This was a fun shoot! More from this trip forthcoming.

 

[Nokton48]

Darkroom Renovation Phase II 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Darkroom Renovation Phase II 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Darkroom Renovation Phase II 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Setting up the 8x10 Kodak Rubber 3 1/2 gallon Deep Tanks. Will start with DK-50 and DK-50 Replenisher, which I bought from a local camera store closing up.

 

[Nokton48]

4x5 100TMX Kelly Lighting Impaflex 60 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Auto Makiflex #2 210mm f6.8 Kern Arau Process lens Kodak TMX100 Readyload Polaroid 545 holder D23 10 mins at 72C 8x10 Arista RC #2 Multigrade dev 1:10 F32 at 1/15 Broncolor Impact 21/41 strobes Impaflex 60 softboxes grid spot on background

Special THANKS to Charjohncarter for sending me this film to use

 

[Nokton48]

Kelly LF lighting Broncolor Balloon Fill Only F16 EI 100 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Another digital test shot, building up Tim Kelly lighting in my smaller portrait space. Here I have exchanged the 60x60 Broncolor Pulsoflex Softbox, with the biggie globular Broncolor Balloon head, on a 300 ws Broncolor Impact Monolight. Light measured with Broncolor FM2 digital strobe metered measures F16 at Ei 100.

The idea with this light is an overall soft directional fill, lighting as much background as possible. In these close quarters the Balloon head is definately the way to go, I can't imagine a softer light source with this one. Of course it falls off from side to side, just like windowlight but artifical. A good upgrade from using a small soft box, it didn't light enough of the set for my uses.

This is my other cool James Bright canvas painted 9x12 foot background. I'll be changing up my background setup soon but it's going to be a bit of carpentry involved but well worth it

I'll be adding more lights to build this set up further

 

[Nokton48]

HRU Makiflex Std Mic-X 240 f4.5 Tele-Arton by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makiflex Standard camera 240mm F5.5 chrome barrel mount Schneider Tele-Arton at F22. One pop of Broncolor Pulso C171 monolight strobe with Broncolor Pulso Beauty Dish. No fill. 8x10 Fuji HR-U XRay film cut into 4x5s straight Microdol-X replenished in a tray development by inspection under custom red light. 4x5 Lisco Regal holder. 8x10 RC Aristo #2 Multigrade dev Omega DII with diffusion Omegalite head. The flat grey canvas background I painted myself.

 

[Nokton48]

Beauty Lighting 790mm F14 Apo Ronar 5x7 Norma by Nokton48, on Flickr

Setting up to use the big 790mm F14 Apo Ronar on the 5x7 Sinar Norma. 47 inches of bellows extension equals 1 1/2 stop bellows factor. Will try some horizontals, using HRU XRay and also Ilford Ortho Commercial.

 

[Kino]

Wow! Nice!
You have enough GAS to light up the Eastern Seaboard!

 

[mshchem]

Beauty Lighting 790mm F14 Apo Ronar 5x7 Norma by Nokton48, on Flickr

Setting up to use the big 790mm F14 Apo Ronar on the 5x7 Sinar Norma. 47 inches of bellows extension equals 1 1/2 stop bellows factor. Will try some horizontals, using HRU XRay and also Ilford Ortho Commercial.

I love the Blad with the A70. You're gonna need a couple feet of extension tubes for it too. I love it. I have similar problems.

 

[Nokton48]

Wow! Nice!
You have enough GAS to light up the Eastern Seaboard!

Thanks Kino. Having a blast.

Digitest Balloon Beauty Light and Fill by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

I love the Blad with the A70. You're gonna need a couple feet of extension tubes for it too. I love it. I have similar problems.

mshchem,
I was able to crop all the orchids from side to side with the 350mm Planar with an 8MM extension tube. Handheld five or six bracketed shots Several different emulsions.

Also tried Minolta SRM and SRT with 200mm to 35mm Rokkors and yellow or YG filters. ERA100 and Eastman 5231 Plus-X motion picture film

 

[mshchem]

mshchem,
I was able to crop all the orchids from side to side with the 350mm Planar with an 8MM extension tube. Handheld five or six bracketed shots Several different emulsions.

Also tried Minolta SRM and SRT with 200mm to 35mm Rokkors and yellow or YG filters. ERA100 and Eastman 5231 Plus-X motion picture film

Beautiful photo. Great setup! Keep doing good works.

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks mschem,

Easton Stilt Girl 21mm Rokkor QH XX by Nokton48, on Flickr

First Exposure. Difficult to catch at the "decisive moment". SRT with mirror lockup engaged, 21mm Rokkor QH Eastman XX 5222 Minolta Yellow filter D23 1:1 This lens has replaced my 19mm Canon RF lens. I think I like it just as well.

Easton Stilt Girl 21mm Rokkor QH XX 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Second Exposure. I yelled out " ONE TWO THREE" and got it just right this time Difficult to catch at the "decisive moment". SRT with mirror lockup engaged, 21mm Rokkor QH Eastman XX 5222 Minolta Yellow filter D23 1:1 This lens has replaced my 19mm Canon RF lens. I think I like it just as well.