Can we talk about film?

[cjsuk]

While C41 seems trickier that B&W, it's more simpler because it's a standardized process and is impervious to agitation defects. The only problem is keeping the relatively high temperature for the entire duration of the color development (first bath) but, if you're not going to print, modern developers have a handy table for adapting the development times to the desired temperature. That said, what I just said is valid only if you choose to not print from the negatives as prolonging the development time messes up something in the negative and you can't correct it with normal filters.
Sorry, I can't remember exactly what the problem is.

Remember to have fun!

Yeah that is one of the problems. You can sort that with a sous vide or slightly better tank system though. The other main problem is the short life of C-41 development chemicals. So you tend to have to shoot a lot of rolls and get through them quickly.

Also all too much for my limited attention span!

 

[cjsuk]

Ok it gets deeper and deeper thanks to eBay.

I bought my first film camera again, a Praktica MTL50 for the sum of £30 delivered. It's completely mint condition, came with a pentacon 50mm and zeiss 135mm lens, flash and carry bag (!).

Took it out at lunch time for a quick walk around on a roll of HP5 and did the dev just after work.

There is a project in the insanity here. The camera and lens were made in the former GDR/DDR. I am off to Berlin in March so wanted a film camera from the GDR era to shoot things on. Wonder what will come back!