Re: [Leica] C 41 or conventional B & W film?

["Paul Arnold" <osprey@bmt.net>]

In my first darkroom (Chicago apartment) I solved the darkness problem by
blocking the two large windows in my kitchen (which fortunately had a more
or less light-proof door) with pieces of window-size plywood. I edged the
plywood with weather-stripping projecting past the wood-edge to keep light
out. I added a simple screen-door handle to the middle of each plywood piece
for easy removal from the window.

It worked great and I commend it for a darkroom that needs to be light when
not a darkroom.

I used the leftover plywood on my stove top (after extinguishing the pilot
light) to hold trays.

That was before I had a Leica [now this post is germane].

- -- Paul
Paul Arnold
22 Sunrise St.
Dillon, Montana
Visit MY GALLERY at:
http://www.geocities.com/osprey59725/index.html


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Vick Ko" <vick.ko@sympatico.ca>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2000 7:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] C 41 or conventional B & W film?


> Black and white darkroom is very easy, and a wonderful
> way to complete the circle of activities to create a photograph.
>
> Some of the things that intimidated me with darkroom is
> the need for a real dark room.
>
> For film developing, you can use a changing bag, so no
> need for a dark room.
>
> For the enlarger, now you need a dark room.  I don't know
> any way around it.
>
> For print developing, trays are easiest - and again - need that
> dark room.  But trays are so easy - and with a safelight, you
> even get good at "judging" the work while it is in progress.
>
> And for all the other annoyances, eg. dust, drying, curled prints,
> well - you develop good technique and all those things get
> managed.
>
> I am trying to learn colour - and all of the above are
> scaring me.
>
> But - the one other big thing - how to find time between
> work, family, stuff, to take pictures, and to make pictures.
>
> Finally, my wife really hates the quality of prints that
> our local processors provide, so - I've got nothing to
> lose if I make even one better print than they can.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Vick
>
>
>
>
>
> Tony Salce wrote:
>
> > This question has little to do with Leica. I hope it is not too
> > inappropriate for this list. I use a Leica IIIa and a 50mm Summar. It's
a
> > wonderful camera and lens. My photography is centred on family and
travel. I
> > would shoot only say 40- 50 rolls of film a year. I love blalk and white
and
> > am tossing up whether to plunge into setting up a darkroom. The cost of
> > laboratory printed black and white is exorbitant here in Australia and
the
> > results( in my vew) are average.
> >
> > Given the amount of shooting I do is it worth setting up a darkroom or
are
> > the C41 films, TCN and XP2, the better way to go. How do these films
> > iffer( apart from archival qualities)from their more conventional
> > counterparts in respect of the final printed image ?
> >
> > Why is it that your Tri-X and HP5, appear to be favoured as against Plus
X
> > or FP4 ?
> >
> > Your replies would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > King Regards,
> >
> > Tony Salce
>