I finally got a film through the Zorki-4K. Fuji Neopan 400. And to see how good the camera/lens was, I kept the metering at 400ASA.
Handling the camera was pretty easy. The rangefinder spot isn’t as bright as it first seemed, so focussing wasn’t as quick as it could’ve been. No matter, slowing down the taking of the photograph was handy as it also forces me to recheck composition.
And eager to see the results, the film wasn’t finished. Frame 29, the film was rewound and promptly processed.
11 minutes later, the strip of processed film was removed… and… every shot looked pale… washed out… under-exposed. Baffled by this, I recalled everything I did.
Developer… Rodinal, 5mls… water, 500mls. Time, 11 minutes, correct for 1+50 dilution. But, erm… 500/5 is… 100.
Yep, I’d not mixed the developer strong enough… or I’d not left the film in the developer long enough, due to it being weaker than the 1+50 dilution. In other words, the film is under-developed. Call this mistake what you want… I’ll call it a blinding display of ineptness.
The negatives are pretty much useless, and really can only serve as a lesson. Take more notice when juggling developer dilution numbers in your head. Never mind. Keep buying, and using, film, it’ll still be made.
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