Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]It's the disposal after use that concerns the city. We need to have a paper trail showing what is done with the chemistry. The city engineer assigned to look into this does not have a formal background with photo industry practices. S. Dimitrov On Apr 21, 2005, at 9:25 AM, GREG LORENZO wrote: > Slobodan, Patterson (I believe) makes environmently friendly dark room > chemicals. Have you looked into this? > > Regards, > > Greg > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Slobodan Dimitrov <s.dimitrov@charter.net> > Date: Thursday, April 21, 2005 9:09 am > Subject: Re: [Leica] End of an Era, Tak of Mac Camera Retires > >> Once B/W hits $15 to $20 a roll, for quality film, that will be >> just >> about enough for the amateur at play. >> I'm already having permit and disposal problems with the City of >> Los >> Angeles over the photo center at Angels Gate Culture Center. >> I'm currently looking for a white knight like Waste Management, >> etc., >> who can take over that problem as write-off with a non-profit. >> I suspect that in the not too far off future home processing for >> the >> amateur will become a felony offense because of hazardous waste. >> Although in Los Angeles County each household is allowed 150lbs of >> haz-mat materials per year. That's more than enough for the >> average >> home printer. >> S. Dimitrov >> >> >> >> On Apr 20, 2005, at 12:37 PM, TTAbrahams@aol.com wrote: >> >>> It is obvious that the midrange collectibles are losing value >>> quickly. In >>> Tokyo the "mint" M3's and M4's are now at a price level that a >> couple >>> of years >>> ago would have got you a user version of the same camera. My >> feeling >>> is that we >>> are looking at an "adjustment" as the stock brokers call it. >>> Remember the classic car bubble in the 90's. Cars that sold for >> $10 >>> million+ >>> are now lingering at the specialist stores for 20-30% of that >> price >>> with no >>> takers even at that discount! >>> There are only so many collectors out there and most of them >> have all >>> the >>> rare stuff already. The big market was the collector/user market >> and >>> that is >>> changing as we speak. I am fairly typical of that market segment >> and >>> albeit I am >>> willing to pay fair value for a M2/M3 or Nikon SP I now have >> more than >>> I can >>> comfortably use (and justify). When I go to stores in Tokyo or >> to swap >>> meet >>> here in Vancouver I am no longer looking for cameras, I look for >>> lenses, >>> accessories and "gadgets" instead. >>> The one camera that I am buying at the moment is the Nikon F - my >>> justification is that I need several bodies for my experimental >>> Rapidwinder F (extremely >>> limited production of 6-7 of them) but truth be told - I just >> like that >>> camera. It is one of the most brilliant designs in 35mm camera. >> You >>> can add motors, >>> meter prisms, special finders, etc. or you can strip it down to >> a >>> basic box. >>> Lenses are plentiful and cheap (and good!). Oh, it is noisy and >> not >>> very >>> sophisticated but that is the charm of that camera. It is the >> SLR >>> equivalent of the >>> Leica M2 or Nikon S2. Unfortunately other people have realised >> that >>> too and >>> prices are creeping up. "Beater" bodies used to be $ 50-75 and >> are now >>> almost >>> double that. On the other hand I can buy 8-10 of them for what a >> user >>> M3 or M2 >>> would be! At the latest swap here in Vancouver I got a Nikon F >> with a >>> Prism >>> finder (dented and scratched but clear prism) and an early >> 28/3,5 for >>> $120! >>> Karen's hope for a clean Nikon SP for US$ 1500 is quite >> feasible. In >>> the >>> last year prices in Tokyo have dropped by almost 40% and will >> probably >>> drop >>> further after the introduction of the Limited Edition black >> paint >>> Nikon SP. It is a >>> gorgeous camera and I would dearly love one, but at $7000+ I can >>> resist it >>> (now the lens is an other matter - a modern 35/1,8 could be >>> interesting and most >>> likely a bit more flare resistant than my old one). >>> As for the slow decline in black and white film availability - >> I >>> suspect >>> that in the future we will have to seek out speciality stores >> for our >>> needs. >>> Kodak claims that they will continue to make films like Tri-X >> for the >>> foreseeable >>> future (however, they did not define "foreseeable"). It could be >> that> black/white film and chemicals will be more of an "artist" >> supply than >>> an "imaging >>> store" supply. >>> The biggest problem is going to be chemicals - Kodak is getting >> out >>> of it >>> and even basic stuff like Metol, Hydroquinone, and Phenodine is >>> getting >>> difficult to find and the prepackaged stuff - D76, Microdol-X >> etc. in >>> the stores now >>> is more often than not old stock. Well, pick up a copy of Steve >>> Anchells' >>> "Darkroom Cookbook" and make your own. The Photographers >> Formulary >>> stocks most of >>> everything you need and as a bonus - it is considerably cheaper >> than >>> buying >>> "ready-mix". We should remember that the idea of packaged >> developer is >>> fairly >>> recent. As late as the 50's it was quite common to mix your own >> from >>> scratch >>> (with the added benefit of adjusting formulas to your own >> shooting >>> style). >>> As for film, try the Chinese "Lucky" - its 400 ASA film is >> quite >>> good. The >>> base is different from Tri-X but the sharpness and grain is good >>> (grain is >>> finer than Tri-X). You can develop it as if it is Tri-X in D-76 >> but in >>> Xtol it >>> does not work very well (almost two stops off!) At $ 1,69/roll >> it is a >>> bargain >>> and as I buy film in quantity (600-1200 rolls at a time) a $2 >> saving >>> per roll >>> makes a big difference. The difference pays for a couple of >>> interesting lenses >>> or more camera bodies - or even more important - airline tickets >> to >>> places I >>> haven't been to yet! >>> There seems to be enough interest among camera users to ensure >> that >>> the old >>> mechanical cameras will survive and the black/white devotees >> among us >>> might >>> have to change some of our ways, but for the foreseeable future >> I >>> think we are >>> safe. Maybe if enough of us ask Epson or HP for a dedicated >>> black/white printer >>> they will make it. I would use it for proofing but for final >> prints - >>> nothing >>> beats fiber base in a darkroom - at least in my opinion. >>> Tom A >>> --------------------- >>> Tom Abrahamsson >>> Vancouver, BC >>> Canada >>> www.rapidwinder.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> >> Slobodan Dimitrov >> http://sdimitrovphoto.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > Slobodan Dimitrov http://sdimitrovphoto.com