Topic: Shooting film after 25 years

[ashishtamhane]

Hi guys!

This is Ashish Tamhane from India, a new guy on this forum. I recently got myself a Nikon F90x and took some shots on a Ilford HP5 film. This portrait is of my better half in Crawley, UK. Looking forward to learning film photography from all of you guys.

[Kai-san]

Hi Ashish, you are very welcome here! We need more active film shooters and analogue enthusiasts. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have, this is the place where advice and opinions are freely given. There are many experienced film users on this site, in total there must be hundreds of years of experience collected here. Please tell us more about your gear, if you develop your films, have a darkroom or what you like to shoot.

[ashishtamhane]

. Please tell us more about your gear, if you develop your films, have a darkroom or what you like to shoot.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I recently got myself a Nikon D90x and have an assortment of Nikon prime lenses.

Currently I lack the skills and gear necessary to develop film but would like to do so in the long run. Cost is a major prohibitive factor as in India most of the chemicals seem to be imported which increases their price.

I like to shoot landscapes, portraits and also do some travel photography.

[Francois]

Hi Ashish!
F90x... fantastic choice (OK, I'm a bit sold as I have one too 😉)

Developing film is relatively easy, so it's easy to develop the skills to do so.
As for chemicals, there are ways to do it using mostly locally sourced products. The only thing that is really specific is the fixer (the solution that removes the undeveloped silver from the emulsion). So if you want to find a way, you've come to the right place 😊

[Kai-san]

I do not know what options you have in India, but usually the hardware for developing can be purchased second hand for small money. The chemicals could possibly be purchased cheaper from abroad, depending on import duties in your country. Here they slap 25% VAT on top of purchase price + shipping, and with my local photo shop now being the cheapest solution, the only thing I buy from abroad is bulk film rolls which is not available here. Making your own developer is an option, but that could be a tough start for anybody.

[ashishtamhane]

Hi Ashish!
F90x... fantastic choice (OK, I'm a bit sold as I have one too 😉)

I finalised on the D90x as I already had an assortment of D lenses, which I purposely used to buy as they are compatible with film SLRs.

I am checking with my friend on the chemicals. Hopefully I can source some of them within my budget.

I the only thing I buy from abroad is bulk film rolls which is not available here

I got about 20 odd rolls of Ilford FP4 when I came from the UK

[Francois]

I am checking with my friend on the chemicals. Hopefully I can source some of them within my budget.

If you have a hard time finding pre-mixed chemicals (developer, stop bath, fixer), I have a bunch of formulas for making them at home from more generic products.

[ashishtamhane]

If you have a hard time finding pre-mixed chemicals (developer, stop bath, fixer), I have a bunch of formulas for making them at home from more generic products.

Do you have an article or web page published for this? Might as well check this option too.

[Kai-san]

Here's a link to the caffenol cookbook & bible:

https://www.caffenol.org/2012/11/27/the-caffenol-cookbook-bible/

[Francois]

Caffenol is a bit labor intensive but it does work well.
For stop bath, you can use regular white vinegar (the type you find in the grocery store) and dilute it 50-50. That works well.
Some people just use plain water, but that's slower and can affect the fixer's life a bit.

Here's a formula for a very simple regular fixer
Orwo / Agfa Fixing Bath 301

SOLUTION
Sodium Thiosulphate   250 g
Potassium Disulphite   15 g
   
For films, fixing time: 10 minutes.

Potassium Disulfite is the same as Potassium metabisulfite, Potassium pyrosulfite.

If you want a rapid fixer, it contains a few more ingredients. I can post a formula.

When developing, save the film leaders as you can use them to test the fixer.

I also have developer formulas that are simple to mix. The big advantage they have over Caffenol is that they are shelf stable for much longer.

[Bryan]

Here's a formula for a very simple regular fixer
Orwo / Agfa Fixing Bath 301

SOLUTION
Sodium Thiosulphate   250 g
Potassium Disulphite   15 g
   
For films, fixing time: 10 minutes.

Potassium Disulfite is the same as Potassium metabisulfite, Potassium pyrosulfite.

If you want a rapid fixer, it contains a few more ingredients. I can post a formula.

When developing, save the film leaders as you can use them to test the fixer.

I also have developer formulas that are simple to mix. The big advantage they have over Caffenol is that they are shelf stable for much longer.

How much water for the fix solution?

Here's my recipe for Beerenol.  https://www.flickr.com/groups/3705975@N20/discuss/72157688284327140/

[Francois]

I think it was 1 liter...

There's also the easy-measure fixer

Easy-Measure Fixer

An easy to measure fixer that doesn’t require the use of a scale to mix.

SOLUTION
Ammonium Thiosulfate (60% solution)   ¾ cup   200 ml
Sodium Metabisulfite   1 teaspoon   12.6 g
Sodium Sulfite, anhydrous*   1 teaspoon   8.8 g
Water to make   33 fl. oz   1 liter
*can be raised to 1½ teaspoons if the desired pH is to be over 6.5

Based on Kodak Fixer F-34.
Use undiluted.
Ingredients can be mixed and stored dry.
Mixed dry ingredients can be stored in empty 35mm film canisters until required. A single canister contains enough dry ingredients to mix 2 liters of fixer. If this method is to be used, add the contents of the film canister to 400ml of the Ammonium Thiosulfate solution and add water to make 2 liters.

[astrobeck]

Hi and welcome!
Yeah, some of the homemade recipes are really good.
The caffenol cookbook has been around for a while and I've used caffenol exclusively for the past ten or so years.
lately I've switched to bottled developers just for some change of process, but caffenol and beerol as Bryan mentioned work very well.

Welcome to Filmwasters!

[ashishtamhane]

Hi and welcome!

Thanks! I am currently reading up in the cookbook bible suggested. Will start to hunt for the equipments required and then start to develop the films.