The four-letter F word
FILM! So I got most of my darkroom supplies early last week and started doing developing:
Delta DEMCS Mix-Up Cup (Set of 10)
General Brand GBTDSS1.75 Stainless Steel Dial Thermometer (1-3/4")
Delta DEDQ Datatainer Storage Bottle with Liquid Level Clear
Kodak KOHC1102G HC-110 Developer (Liquid) for Black & White Film
Ilford ILISB500ML Ilfostop Stop Bath (Liquid) for Black & White
Kodak KOKG Kodafix Solution (Liquid) for Black & White Film & Paper
Kodak KOPF200P Photo-Flo 200 Solution
It was a good thing I had three different types of developing reels on hand, because it wasn't until the third type that I was finally able to get the 120 film on the reel at all. Working with the chemicals isn't bad, either: they are all well-diluted and only one of them (fixer) has a foul odor. The picture below was from my first self-developed roll, a 120 shot from my Yashica-D TLR.
Last weekend I took some shots with an Argus Shur-Flash box camera and my developing was horrible, yielding only one viable negative. I think perhaps I might have let in some stray light by accident while trying to get the film on a reel and fogged my film; I don't think it was the camera's fault. After all, I was hunkered down in the bathroom at night with a robe over my head in an attempt to have total darkness. The changing bag that should arrive in the mail tomorrow will make the process considerably more foolproof (and Otter-proof). Also I'm getting more film stock: 35mm, 120, and 4x5, plus negative storage sleeves.
Since an old Pentax Spotmatic SP camera I had proved to have a faulty shutter but two perfectly fine M42-mount lenses, I ordered off eBay a Pentax K-1000 in mint condition that I can use with them (with a special adapter, but now I can use newer Pentax K-mount lenses too). It's a sturdy little 35mm film SLR with fully manual controls (no autofocus, no self-timer, no aperture-priority or shutter-priority modes, etc.). Judging from the serial number, this particular specimen likely has a 1984-1989 date of manufacture. I'm halfway through a roll in it and in my Mamiya TLR at the moment.
Thursday morning I go my oral surgeon to have two teeth extracted from the top of my mouth to make room for the crowded ones in the center to shift into single file horizontally. It boggles my mind that I have to have two perfectly healthy incisors removed. Can't they just move them around where needed? So tomorrow will be my last day of work for this week and I should be recovered enough on Monday to return.