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Sunset in Goleta

Wow, I wasn't expecting something this good. Tri-X in 120. Definitely portfolio material. Unfortunately due to some screw ups in the drying process this required extensive spotting. Even then...

Camera stuff

Dropped by the camera store to show them where my F80 was failing. That camera worked great for me for about six months, and then the tripod it was on fell into the sand and it's never been the same since, although I don't remember it occasionally drastically underexposing the last couple of times the repair shop has claimed it's fixed. I'm suspecting the time has come to just let it go. Happily there's a used F100 there that would be a wonderful replacement. I haven't decided to buy it yet, but the temptation exists...

Also shot a test roll from one of their Seagull TLRs. Those aren't anywhere near as nice to use as the Rolleiflex I tested, but we'll see if they're up to snuff optically.

Seagull TLRs

Just inspected the roll I got out of the Seagull, and actually it seems pretty good. I didn't notice any meaningful vignetting at f/3.5, which was something I was worried about. I didn't get twelve images on the roll, though, which worries me slightly. Fine details seemed okay at initial inspection, and later examination reveals that the lens appears to be limited by the resolution of the Tri-X I was using.

Seagull test

I underexposed a little, which is an issue--the camera is totally manual. I also only got eleven frames on a roll of 120, when I should get twelve--it appears to start too early. I'm not sure if that's something to do with my unfamiliarity with the camera or not. As you can see, it doesn't seem to generate a true square, instead being a little wider than I was expecting. I'm not sure this is important. Another rock to throw at it is that the user interface was a pain in the neck; you kept having to look at the front of the camera to see what shutter speed and aperture you had set, and the film advance lever didn't do a full 360 except on the initial and final loading; you turned 270 degrees and then had to go back to the start.

As for vignetting and sharpness, well, you be the judge. These are from a 3200 dpi scan. First, the center crop, and then a corner crop. Now I just have to convince myself not to buy it. Somehow.

(no subject)

Wow, I didn't expect to get two nice flower shots. Can't decide which I like better.

Flowers in Ojai #1

Flower in Ojai #2