Check out camera hacker extraordinare John Kittelsrud‘s magnetic filter holder. He writes:
The lumps of tape on the sides of the Cokin filter holder are super magnets with a healthy dose of gaffers tape. These are holding on to two pan washers that are held on to the camera body with, what else, gaffers.
I had to carve away some of the holder to get the cable release to fit right. It should still work on a regular camera, if I ever buy a mounting ring.
Suh-weeeeet!
Flickr member bricolage.108 hacked a 35mm trashcam into a double-sided lens/pinhole monster. He writes:
If using a normal film roll this camera takes redscaled ["redscale" is where you shoot the film backwards, so the light gets filtered through the antihalation layers before hitting the emulsion and turns the image red/orange or yellow, depending on the film] pinholes from one side, and trashy lens shots on the other. It also makes doubles, exposing both sides of the film.
The same way if i redscale the roll first, i can take redcale shots using the lens and "normal" pinholes, on the same roll with the same camera.
I can, for example overlap the same subject using two "different cameras" and techniques or (and this i think it’s conceptually interesting) create (simultaneously) an image where the shot and what’s "behind the camera" are both visible.
Here’s an image he made with it, more here.
Since Polaroid discontinued Time-Zero film, shooting SX-70 cameras hasn’t been possible without some hacking. The folks at Unsaleable.com, purveyors of Polaroid products, have introduced SX-70 Blend film that works in unmodified SX-70s, no exposure compensation required.
Film Speed: ISO 640 / DIN 29
Format: 3.5 x 4.25 in. (8,9 x 10,8 cm)
Image Area: 3.125 x 3.125 in. (7,9 x 7,9 cm)
Finish: Glossy
Unique SX-70 Blend features:
The Web site has lots of info: this film compared to 600 and Time-Zero, an info PDF, a PDF data sheet, and lots of sample images.
There’s a discount offer available for Polanoid members, details in this post.
Aw yeah! Velvia 50, a very saturated, fine-grained slide film loved by landscape photographers, will return! It’s also really nice to cross process in C-41 chemistry, just shoot at EI 25 for a nice density range.
Fujifilm press release:
Fujifilm Professional is delighted to announce that the company is planning to re-launch Fujichrome Velvia 50 into the UK market.
Production of Velvia 50 was halted at the beginning of 2005 when vital raw materials used in the production of the emulsion became unavailable. The re-launch of Velvia 50 is a further illustration of Fujifilm’s continued commitment to the production and promotion of professional film.
Russ Gunn, Fujifilm Professional Product Manager, made this comment: "We have received many requests from photographers to restart manufacturing, as they had used Velvia 50 for many years and consider it unmatched in terms of quality and character. One of Fujifilm’s main priorities is to nurture the culture of photography, so we have been reviewing the possibility of restarting production."
Gunn continued: "In response to these requests our research and development teams have been working hard to develop substitute raw materials and new manufacturing technologies that enable us to restart production of this famous emulsion. We are planning to re-introduce the new Velvia 50 in the spring of 2007. The characteristics of the new emulsion will mirror that of the previous product. Many photographers were understandably upset when we were forced to withdraw Velvia 50, and we are delighted to be able to announce its re-introduction."
An announcement of specific details, including price, formats and availability schedule will be made as soon as they are available. The existing range of Fujifilm Professional films will remain unaltered.
For further information, please visit www.fujifilm.co.uk/professional
An international exhibition of contemporary pinhole photography, in Gran Canaria, from 3 to 30 November 2006, featuring work from Ricardo Montesdeoca, Joaquin Casado, Anastasia Medvedeva, Henrieke Strecker, David Cugnasca, Daniel Zrihen, Dmitry Rubinshteyn, and Katie Cooke.
An international exhibition of contemporary pinhole photography, in Gran Canaria, from 3 to 30 November 2006, featuring work from Ricardo Montesdeoca, Joaquin Casado, Anastasia Medvedeva, Henrieke Strecker, David Cugnasca, Daniel Zrihen, Dmitry Rubinshteyn, and Katie Cooke.
Don’t let the cable release in the eye bother you, I’ve seen work by several of these artists, and they’re amazing. Not "good for pinhole", but great artists, period. If you’re in the area, I suggest not missing this. A printed catalogue will be available.
As I posted previously, Leica have a new digital coding system for their M lenses so their digital bodies can automatically detect which lens is mounted. The coding consists of six painted dots on the mount, and normally costs a characteristically extortionate $120. Now, for a limited time only, US and Canadian customers can get it for FREE when they buy a new Leica lens. And then wait only 6-8 weeks!
Leica press release
10/12/2006 – Purchase any new M lens from an authorized USA/Canadian Leica dealer between October 1 and December 31, 2006, and you will receive 2 free vouchers – worth $125 each entitling you to upgrade your existing Leica M lenses by adding the 6-bit code. Lens conversion for customers will begin on Nov. 1, 2006. To take advantage of this exciting, limited-time program, you must register your new Lieca M lens and submit any rebate claims within 30 days of purchase. Kindly return a copy of the original dated sales receipt and completed Leica USA warranty card along with the completed forms. After registration is completed, 2 vouchers for 6-bit coding will be sent to you. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing. Lens conversion for customers will begin in November, 2006. Please contact Customer Serivce at (201) 995-0051 ext 236 for more information. This promotion is only in the United States of America and Canada.
This is cool and all, but, in my opinion, also bullshit. New Leica lenses are fucking expensive, with a capital EXPENSIVE. They should already come coded. Un-coded lenses still in the supply chain? Exchange coded lenses with the dealers for uncoded, code them, and ship them as you normally would.
Some update fee for older lenses is reasonable, but $120 is insane. It’s paint, for fuck’s sake. Why not abandon that paint—which must be made from some pretty spectacular shit to charge $20 per dot—and just sell stickers for each lens that people can put on themselves?
Lastly, let’s say I do drop 2 grand on a new lens and another 5 on an M8 body. What the fuck makes Leica think that I want to wait 6-8 weeks to use it? I can’t work out if Leica just don’t understand their customers or if the majority of their customers are simply insane. This is the kind of thing that makes me think thrice about investing in an M8. Sort yourselves out!
Photography exhibit featuring four Detroit-area photographers:
Cave Canem
Spike
Ralph Krawczyk, Jr.
Vanessa Miller
Friday, 20 October, 2006, 7–10pm at Karras Bros Tavern, 225 Joseph Campau, Detroit, MI, US
Music by DJ Clutch + DJ Mike Holiday
More details visible in a larger version of the flyer.
Kodak are giving away a roll of each of their updated Portra emulsions: 160 VC, 160 NC, 400 VC and 400 NC [details in a previous post] to the first 20,000 people to ask for it! Your choice of 120 or 35mm. Unfortunately, this is only available to people in the US.
Thanks to Katie Cooke for the heads-up!
I picked up a few repetitive strain injuries (tendonitis and tenosynovitis) in my wrists from computers about 13 years ago. Sometimes it’s OK, sometimes it’s bad. Right now it’s bad, and it’s hard to do things like open doors, drive, hold a book or phone, etc., so I need to give my hands a break from the keyboard for a few days.
See y’all soon!
