Results for Silberra PAN 160 Film: Part II

We'll finish looking at Silberra PAN 160.  All images have Photoshop enhanced Levels, Contrast and Brightness.  The first three images are from the Scottsdale Mayo Clinic Nature Trail:

Below, three images from Hwy 87 approaching 4 Peaks:

Those of you that have followed me for a while, realize that T-MAX 400 is my film because I lean towards high contrast.  When I want lower contrast I use Ilford Delta 400.  In both cases I use contrast filters.

I have my favorite films and I ask myself whether it is worth the time to learn about new films?  My favorite B&W: Kodak T-MAX 400, Ilford SFX-200 and Ilford Delta 400;  I also want to spend some more tie with Ilford Delta 3200.  My Favorite Color film for now is Kodak Portra 400;  I am presently testing the new Kodak E100.  

End of Year Wrap-Up Part II: Kickstarters, Indiegogo, Etc..

OK,  this one is going to get a little ugly.  I've had enough experience now with both of these Start-up Groups (and others) to have real opinions about product results.  It's about a 50:50 satisfaction rate.

We'll start with he Positive Things that WORKED:

Film Ferrania & Film Silberra:

I'm still testing these films, but they were either delivered on time, or communication was good and I understood the problems.

Reality So Subtle Pinhole:

Great little camera.  Still figuring out the Range Finding.  Has the smoothest mechanism of any pinhole that I have used.  Film never binds or curls. Will continue to work with the range and will be ready for World-Wide Pinhole Day 2019.

Ay Mariposa Film:

Currently backing this Film and Book Project about how the Border Wall will affect the Environment. My Book Arrived last week:

Now to move on to the FAILURES:

Well, one small disappointment and one WHOPPING BIG FAILURE:

SolarCan:

A small disappointment.  I was an Early Backer.  They have great results posted.  But I got a bad batch of 5 cans.  All of mine failed.  When I contacted them I was told I'd get replacementts.  OK all 5 failed and I get ONE can.

To quote a song,  "There must be some misunderstanding?"  Not sure what I will do with my single can.  It's a novel but one-off solargram camera.  I really prefer to be sustainable and use something that at least theoretically can be re-used a second or third time.


Now for the BIG FAILURE:  The Mercury Universal Camera

This link goes to my "Review".  I ordered the M645 version.  Seems like almost nobody else did.  Worked most effectively for the 4X5 and RB67 models.  Very frustrating and costly:

I felt that I had no support; posted on their FaceBook Page for assistance and was ignored.   The essence of my Problem was that the Spacer provided DID NOT work with the 645 lens.  So I ended up with the round images posted. The Spacer also did not work well with the Ilex #4.

It certainly cannot compete with my extensive Mamiya medium format camera family.  And I wasn't expecting it to.  It sounded fun and I was willing to go with the experiment.  But it just never worked for the model I ordered........

After the New Year I will try to sell of the accessories and recover what I can. Or maybe it is not even worth that effort.......

So those are my New Product Backing Experiences for 2018.

It started out Well........But

So I seem to be adding up some less successful photo outings here in the 'Dog Days' of Summer.  It's time to put another project to bed.

So let's deal with my 'Frankenstein Camera', The Mercury Universal Camera:

(Intended configuration with spacer and leaf shutter lens)

Well, it just never worked as advertised.  This was my first Kickstarter.  I've participated in some others that have turned out fine like Film Ferrania and SolarCan; and Film Silberra in Indiegogo.  Presently I'm waiting on my "Box Camera"from Kickstarter.

But this one is packed away.  Most of the successes for this camera seem to be 4X5, as posted on their Facebook page. And that's what I might recommend as the best use case.  But for me, the owner of many fine Medium Format Cameras, it became a waste of time and effort. I want to have fun with my photography and have good results with equipment whose function is second nature to me.  Also, I'm going to inherit an Intrepid 4X5 when my husband upgrades, so no point in trying to make this work as a 4X5 either.

The main problem was trying to get the spacer to work with my leaf shutter lens.  It didn't mate properly and even though I asked the developers for assistance, there was only silence.  Also, the Ilex #4 shutter seemed altogether too heavy to use with a 3-D printed body.  And, the Ilex also could not be mated properly to the spacer either:

Resulting in images like this:

I can say that the focusing Screen Worked well:

So it's dead to me, and some of the accessory items that I bought for it will go back on Ebay shortly.......

Here's what it actually cost:

The basic parts together (Spacer is attached to the camera):

For the Ilex cost I did actually buy 2 shutters for that price, so subtract $150 from the total.  And I am going to keep one of the shutters as a novelty item. Having two backs so you can change film types is completely reasonable.

XD-11 May be the Culprit

This one interesting image from P30 second roll tells the tale and shows some promise:

Just reviewed some 35mm  Portra 160 that I shot on our Road Trip and it seems to have some similar exposure problems as the Film Ferrania.  So I'm concluding that P30 deserves another chance in another camera, and the XD-11 may be going in for maintenance.

I'll give Film Ferrania P30 one more test in the X-700 that I used for the Eclipse.  I know that it is working properly:

The Outer Limits.......of Nebraska

 The Road to the Outer Limits........

The Film Ferrania Test is Week #34 for the 52 Rolls Project.

Along the Oregon Trail.........

Chimney Rock, a prominent marker along the Oregon Trail.

Gurley, Nebraska

More from Film Ferrania P30.  I'm only showing the images with improved contrast and brightness..........From Gurley Nebraska:

Film Ferrania Test: Part I

I took Film Ferrania P30 on the road trip to the Eclipse.

Now, maybe it's a bad idea to do a film test on a road trip.  Because You can't be assured of the results.........Should have followed that logic. The images are salvageable, but it will take some work in the darkroom to get them right.  First the Before Image:

Rather flat and frankly disappointing, despite the dark orange contrast filter.  Seems a bit underexposed, and I've never had that happen with the XD-11. I exposed the film as recommended: ISO 80.  Now the After Image with basic Contrast and Brightness manipulation in Photoshop (+50 Brightness & +75 Contrast):

A much more pleasing image of the Courthouse and Jail Rocks, 

along the Oregon Trail in Nebraska.

So I have another Ferrania P30 test underway exposing +1 stop.  We'll see later how that worked out.  For the rest of this week, we'll look at scenes across western Nebraska.