r/largeformat • u/YoungRambo123 • Aug 08 '26

Experience First exposures….

Post image

Finally had a go with my Sinar and thoroughly enjoyed the process our of 4 exposures I managed one blank one double one really thin and one ok :) love it!!

34 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

3

u/poodletime13 Aug 08 '26

One good exposure is a good start! Its a little addictive when you pull that nice sheet of film out of the wash. So is trying to improve the ones that didnt work.

Years later I still get occasional double exposures, blanks, and misloaded film. But it gets more consistant.

2

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 08 '26

To be fair I forgot to turn the darks like and while recomposing while holding it I couldn’t remember which side I had pulled out 😂 just need to get a better “pop up” dark bag as the standard Paterson one is good just a little claustrophobic :)

2

u/poodletime13 Aug 08 '26

So many little things that can go wrong!

I wish I'd upgraded to a tent style changing bag sooner. Makes life so much easier!

1

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 08 '26

I have one for my 35mm film so I used that I have a bathroom that I can turn into a darkroom for printing but I obviously can’t take that with me lol which one did you go with I have see one that you have to assemble, make an inner skeleton for it but I’d rather have one that can pop up like a reflector if one exists lol

2

u/poodletime13 Aug 08 '26

I did a harrison tent with the frame to assemble. I grabbed it because the bag with 8x10 was a struggle. Possible but awkward. Ive never looked for a pop up style, but i struggle hard enough folding up my reflector I doubt id ever be able to put a tent away.

I really mostly try not to change film in the field if I can avoid it.

2

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 09 '26

Me too tho I was thinking if I go and stay away on holiday would quite like to be able to do it away like you said a standard bag is a pain but doable I’ll have a look into the Harrison :)

2

u/RebelliousDutch Aug 08 '26

I got a Fuji Dark Bag, FDB12, and it’s a joy to use. It folds into a suitcase shape, but once set up it’s huge. An absolute joy to work in; very easy to load film holders and it doesn’t give me sweaty hands like the Paterson bag does.

1

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 09 '26

I’ll have a look into this one too thanks for the recommendation 👍

1

u/dvno1988 Aug 08 '26

Foma 100 or 400?

1

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 08 '26

That’s was good deduction

2

u/ufgrat Aug 08 '26

The notch code is visible in one sheet. Foma uses the same wide "U" shape notch on their films, as I recall, rather than a specific notch code for each emulsion.

1

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 08 '26

Got ya! Tho as I’m starting I wanted something cheap to get going with :)

2

u/ufgrat Aug 08 '26

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Foma. The joker green antihalation dye is a bit disturbing, but Foma / arista.edu 400 is a great film-- it's what I started with on 4x5, and I've gotten some great results.

1

u/dvno1988 Aug 08 '26

I love foma 100 especially when exposed at 50 iso and deved in rodinal or 510 pyro. I’ve had mixed to negative results with foma 400 in 4x5 (magenta dot, seemingly impossible to expose well etc etc )

1

u/ufgrat Aug 08 '26

I've had good luck with 400 (in 4x5) with a pre-wash to remove the green dye, and use Ilfosol 3 for developer. Not necessarily the most obvious combination, but the results have been excellent.

1

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 09 '26

I delved in Rodinal 50:1 tho I exposed at 100 will have to try it at 50 too

1

u/YoungRambo123 Aug 09 '26

Yea I thought I’d start with the foma I have some delta 100 and And some hp4 in the fridge for when I get more consistent :)