Leading Holiday Item on Amazon in the Camera Category: Film

Specifically, Fuji Instax Mini 8 film. From the Amazon year end press release, to quote:

Holiday Best Sellers (Amazon.com only):
...
Camera: Fujifilm INSTAX Mini Instant Film Twin Pack - White; GoPro HERO4 SILVER; AmazonBasics Head Strap Camera Mount for GoPro

Thanks again to the eagle eyes at Petapixel for finding this nugget. These cameras are inexpensive and easier to find at retail than the 8x10 large format cameras. As reported earlier, the Impossible Project is producing instant film for large format cameras.

The Instax film is about 6x4.5cm in image size and costs around a dollar a frame. The colours appear realistic and the camera is easy to use. The exposure is adjusted by a ring on the front of the camera to a position that the exposure system on the camera lights up with a small LED to indicate where to set the exposure ring. The shutter is fixed at 1/60th of a second. There are 10 exposures in a pack and the camera can be had for under $100. More upscale models are available, like the Mini 90 Neo Classic, for slightly more. The Neo Classic models feature settings more advanced photographers would prefer, such as Bulb exposure, double exposure, macro mode and more. Also, unlike the Mini 8 Models, the Mini 90 has a tripod mount.

Check out the Wide Instax film, at 10.6x8.4cm (just over 4x3.25in), this is a larger format film for the Instax wide format cameras, Models 300, 210, 200. The Model 300 camera is oriented more for intermediate to advanced photographers and is well under $200.

An Affordable 4x5 Development Tank

Timothy Gilbert of Stearman Press has devised a simple and effective system for developing 4x5 large format sheets. If you have been looking at large format, there is certainly an abundance of 4x5 cameras and gear available at retail and auction alike. Their experiments using 3D printing has produced a model that is thought to work effectively with only 400ml of solution. The loading system is straightforward, just two film holders, similar to what is used to load the camera. From these prototypes, a Kickstarter campaign to fund, develop and produce the tank is underway and now fully funded.

As with any Kickstarter campaign, there is risk that the project might fail. Reading through the proposal, it seems that the project has a grasp on what needs to be done, just not the details to make it a success yet. There are some tricky plastic moldings that have to be done to complete the tank. The initial price per tank is US$47, with an estimated US$90 per tank after the initial run.

Man Sees Snow, Loads Camera with Film

Before going to bed, Pavel Kosenko looks out the window and sees snow falling. In a flurry of activity, he loads his camera with HP5+ film and goes out on a photo shoot of Moscow. Talk about dedication to the art and to silver film. Photography is just something one does, even on a moments notice. Thanks for the photos Pavel Kosenko.

Wet Plate Portraiture, The Auckland Project

Our friends in photography, Petapixel, reported on The Auckland Project. A collaborative project between Paul Alsop, an alternative process photographer, and Luke White, a commercial photographer, both in New Zealand. Checkout some of the collodion wet plates from the sittings.

Amongst the obstacles to be overcome are, the effective ISO 0.5 of collodial plates, setting up 12,000W of lighting, getting the space (provided by Luke White) to set up a large format camera and temporary darkroom, and the elusory nature of the collodion process.

The story at Petapixel offers a slight variation on the original blog posting.

Posting for Ansel Adams' Former Position

The US National Park Service is posting a position for a large format, B&W film photographer to document the parks and landscapes of the country. This is similar to the task the Ansel Adams himself carried out over 60 years ago. The applicant must be a US citizen. The job entails travel and about 5 to 10 nights overnight travel a month. For more information, see theposting online.

Update from the LRF - December, 2015

The continuing saga of Film Ferrania continues, with Making the Rewards - Part 3. After many months, the Big Chiller and Little Chiller are installed, new fencing around the factory perimeter is installed and a power transformer with line conditioner is also installed. These are all the remaining touches to the next step of inspection by the Italian government. The project did not reveal when it might start production of transparency film yet, but one can only suspect that that will be next.

Many a Kickstarter project has been felled by fewer problems, so there is still risk. While the initial Kickstarter rewards were first released in January, no film has been produced yet. If the founders stay strong, one can expect production to start as soon as possible. Hopefully, Film Ferrania will put Italy back on the map for producing silver gelatin film.

Previous news on the Film Ferrania project:

• October, 2015: LRF Engines Restarted!
• July, 2015: News form the LRF
• April, 2015: Film Ferrania Delayed By Harsh Winter
• March, 2015: Film Ferrania Starts Toward Making Film
• February, 2015: Film Ferrania in the News

B&H Flash and Lens Sale

Until December 5th, 2015, B&H has a Friday Flash and Lens sale. Checkout the deep discounts on lenses, like the Lens Baby Composer Pro, or the Rokinon 8mm Ultra Wide Angle fish-eye lens. The latter will cast a circular image on 35mm film. Be sure to check compatibility of the lens with your camera body.

The sale is over Friday, so take advantage while you can!