So, after some time messing with film cameras and shipping the film off to be developed, I've decided to finally try my hand at doing some self-developing. I do not have a dark room, but I do have a "dark bag" and developing tools.
To experiment for the first time I decided to use a 35mm roll in a Kodak Retina. It's a cute little camera, collapsible with a small set of bellows, and is really quite enjoyable to use.
Despite the camera feeling good in the hands it's a little cumbersome to use; the controls are all on the front of the lens, so modifying the camera for the situation requires more than just some quick thumb flicks and modifications.
That notwithstanding, I'm really all about testing developing film. For this particular experiment I used a one-stop developing and fixing solution from CineStill called "DF96." It takes about four minutes in the developing cannister, then about another five minutes washing. Alas, it appears that I did not fill the cannister full enough, nor did I leave it to sit inverted long enough. Live and learn, I guess.
The lens on the camera can be changed, though the only one I have is 50mm. eBay seems to have a variety of them which might prove interesting at some point - something to share with the family for Christmas ideas!
Camera: Kodak Retina II
Film: Ilford 400, 35mm.
Developer: CineStill df96
My other film cameras:
- Kodak Duaflex II
- Kodak Tourist
- Agfa B2 Cadet
- Agfa Pioneer
- Brownie Special Six-16
- Kodak Flashmite 20
- Exakta VX
- Graflex 22
(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me.
(c) Victor Wiebe
About Me
Sometimes photographer. Wannabe author. Game designer. Nerd.
General all around problem-solver and creative type.
Creator of What I Learned Today Hive community: https://peakd.com/c/hive-131257/created
Blind Skeleton
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Friday Night Concert: 6:00pm EST
Love Ilford 400
Be careful, once you start developing your own, the bug will get you!
I used to love developing my own. All my film cameras are in America right now and with young kids, it's probably unsafe to keep those chemicals around. But as soon as they grow a little and I get more time, I'll be jumping right back into it.
Anyway, you got pretty good results!
Oh, the bug has hit! I really don't want to use a lot of chemicals, so the df96 seemed like a really good solutions, but then I found some instructions for developing with beer, or instant coffee, both of which require fixer. So. Now I have fixer, too. Hopefully you'll be able to get back into it soon, too, but I agree that the fewer chemicals in a house the better.
Thanks for the positive feedback! I have more cameras and at least 10 more rolls of film to go through.
💚💚💚
wow
love to see this first film developed by you. you got great results and seems like this camera is working very well for you.
i never used this step developer.
maybe one day will try
good luck for more rolls films :-)
Thank you! I'm going through a list of about 20 cameras one by one and learning the uniqueness of each of them along the way. It's really quite a fun thing to do. Many of them support film other than 35mm or 120, so I have a number of adapters. Stay tuned!
good luck ! glad to hear that you're enjoying doing this 💚
Yay! 🤗
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