Tag Archives: Film Photography

Photo-Essay, Photo-Technique, Still Life

The Agfa Karat 36

Introducing another of my eclectic camera collection, – meet the iconic Agfa Karat 36, a strut-folding 35mm camera.

This cute little camera is no lightweight, not in performance, and not in bodyweight! Made of metal, the camera was German produced and made to last! It made its first appearance around 1935, and was discontinued in the 1950s. The original Karats used a specially fitting film cartridge, but from 1948 the design changed allowing the camera to use standard 35mm film cassettes. Mine is the latter.

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Photo-Technique

The Kodak Vest Pocket Camera

Vest Pocket Kodak Model B (1925-1934)

Yet one more of my personal vintage camera collection…

The ‘Vest Pocket Camera’

These tiny folding bed cameras had a unique feature – the “Autographic Back,” perhaps the first primitive version of a data-back! There was a slot in the back of the camera, that could be opened by the photographer, to allow them to write the date of exposure on the back of the film.

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Beautiful Ulster, Black & White, Co.Londonderry, Ireland, Travel

River Bann at Coleraine

Well, we’ve been having a November break at the Royal Court Hotel, in Portrush, Co.Antrim – if you’ve never stayed there, make it a bucket-list destination! Right on the North Coast of N.Ireland, across the road from the majestic White Rocks Beach and a short drive from the world famous Giant’s Causeway – and they do a fantastic buffet at reasonable prices… along with an a la carte menu for the foodies..

Needless to say I had a camera to hand – the Nikon F100. loaded with Kodak T-Max 100, a film I’ve never used before. I developed the road for 9 minutes at 20 degrees in FD10. More photos to follow, but for now, here’s a couple of shots from Coleraine (Janette likes to visit the nearby major town for the superb shopping).

R. Bann, Kodak T-Max 100, Nikon F100, f/11 @ 1/60th sec.
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Beautiful Ulster, Black & White, Co. Antrim

Lislea Mission Hall

Lislea Mission Hall, in the townland of Lislea, between Portglenone and Kilrea. Now long abandoned and disused, it has been boarded up, and become overgrown and is slowly crumbling away. Once would have been a meeting place for worship to groups of local resident, farmers and their friends, and their children.

Lislea Mission Hall
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Beautiful Ulster, Belfast, Photo-Technique, Travel

CAVE HILL, BELFAST

CAVE HILL, BELFAST, from Hightown Road.

Image made with a Nikon FG20 using Ilford Delta 3200, pulled to ISO1600. f=34mm, f/16 @ 1/500th sec.

A good film choice for a wintery day, although this image was made during weak sunshine.

This is a fast (by film standards) film, which accounts for its grainy appearance. In the developing tank, I split the processing time between 1600ISO and 3200ISO, giving it 10 mins 30 secs in Fotospeed FD10, mixed at 1/9 at 20deg, then 1 minute stop bath in 20 deg. water, 2 mins in hypo-clear and 10 mins wash.

It’s the first time I’ve used this film, and I must admit I expected more contrast in the scanned image, but, there’s another film loaded, and I’ll try again.

Black & White

The Nikon FM2

Another glimpse into my camera collection: the Nikon FM2.

This classic camera has been in my possession since 1987, when I bought it new in the camera shop in Lisburn for £350, my first ‘real’ camera. 

The FM2 was first made in 1984, and was the replacement for the Nikon FM; a mid-range camera aimed at the enthusiast and semi-pro photographer. (The Nikon F3 was the professional’s choice). 

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