Getting the 127 film into a form that is ready to use requires some effort, but it does get easier with practice. I think my next step will be to try to shoehorn a card table into my little bathroom to give myself a bit more working room than is available in my dark bag. I'll probably try shooting some of my other 127 cameras as well. The Kodak Brownie Reflex has a marvelously bright screen which makes it a real pleasure to shoot.
8 comments:
As long as you are setting up that card table in the bathroom, you might as well hang a safelight, pick up an old used enlarger and some trays and get printing!
I'm thinking an outhouse would solve the space problem, but it may be a challenge to get Margaret to go along with the idea.
127 was the first film I ever shot, so I'll always have a place in my heart for it. I'm pleased to see you moving forward with that bulk roll and look forward to more from it.
I like 127. With the half-frame format you get 16 shots on a 25-inch film strip and the negatives are still bigger than 35mm. Results from old film in an old camera are a little unpredictable, but they are always interesting.
Great results. I'd love to hear more about what you used for backing paper. I've been stocking up on 46mm rolls of film, because I'm just unwilling to let this format die. Especially since I love shooting with my Yashica 44 TLR, and the amazingly compact half-frame Vollenda folder.
That's great that you have a couple quality 127 machines. I'm going to have to find one of those. The Foth Derby is quite a good performer, but a full-frame camera that produces the super slide format is really a step up.
I think I'm doing basically the same as what you have done. I use some old Efke paper as the template to make 127-size backing paper from left-over paper from any 120 film. I draw in a couple vertical lines about a quarter inch apart to enclose the frame numbers and I add three preceding dots to give me a warning of the approaching frame number. I use a couple paper clips to mark the beginning and end of where the film strip goes. I lay the film strip on the end with no tape and roll up tightly. I roll the film and paper all the way to the beginning and then roll it back to the start of the film and tape it. I think doing all this in a dark room is going to be quite a bit easier than in the dark bag, and I'm thinking I'll be more inclined to do several rolls at a time.
127 is a hoot and my Yashica 44LM is just so nice to look at and use. AND the Patterson system reels still have a stop for loading 127 film. I just wish the 46mm bulk rolls were easier/cheaper to find. Non-perf 35mm will work in a pinch and isn't too hard to center on the 46mm backing paper. I had a couple of Brownie Bakelite specials that shot it, but I passed them along when I got the Y44. Keep up the good work Mike!
Thanks, Mike, for the info. I've been saving/recycling old 127 backing paper, but it gets more fragile with every re-use. (Dwayne's Photo in Kansas still processes 127, and they're kind enough to return spools and paper after processing.) Think I'll try your 120 paper trick.
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