therealblowers
High Gain
Direct Positive
6.5 x 9cm Plate camera
Experimenting with a higher concentration of sodium carbonate (30g/L) in the developer to see if increasing its activity would improve the range/Dmax or separation of tones over what I'd observed using the standard caffenol delta formulation (24g/L) on this paper.
Through visual inspection, the same density seemed to be achieved in less time and the separation of tones appears at least as good, however: Comparing 3 exposures of completely different scenes with the previous handful I'd made to date isn't yet conclusive and I don't have the resources at the minute, to do anything more than make adjustments on-the-fly. Will have to see how it goes.
The photographic paper is taped flat along 2 edges to an appropriately sized FR4 fibreglass backing plate and inserted into the original glass plate holders. I'd used electrical tape to secure the paper but in this case the adhesive was stronger than the emulsion, which came away during removal. Masking tape might be better so long as it doesn't prematurely detach with the considerable ambient temperature changes.
The folding Agfa incorporates a focusing helicoid into its front standard, which locks into place about 2/3rds of the way down the rails, and provides adjustment from about 2 meters - infinity. I had to remove the locking mechanism end stop to allow the standard to slide all the way to the front edge of its rails in order to find focus here (about 40cm to subject). Thankfully, the focusing distance to the paper emulsion in the plate holders looks to be pretty spot on in relation to the ground glass (which was fitted backwards in its holder when I received the camera).
It's slow and a little fiddly in use (on a lightweight tripod) but I really like being able to frame up shots on the glass and carry several sheets of positive paper per outing rather than taping single exposures straight into the camera, as I'd done previously with the Kodak No.3 folding roll film camera. The plate camera itself is beautifully compact in comparison to roll film cameras too!
Agfa Standard 204
Agfa Anastigmat 10.5cm f/4.5
Harman Direct Positive Paper
ISO 3
Pre-flashed in camera at -3EV
Metered highlights (white knobs) at +1/2EV
4min f/8
Paper developed by inspection in modified Caffenol Delta
(30g/L sodium carbonate)
7'00" ~17C
Selenium toned (Bellini Seltone) 1+30 2'00" ~20C
High Gain
Direct Positive
6.5 x 9cm Plate camera
Experimenting with a higher concentration of sodium carbonate (30g/L) in the developer to see if increasing its activity would improve the range/Dmax or separation of tones over what I'd observed using the standard caffenol delta formulation (24g/L) on this paper.
Through visual inspection, the same density seemed to be achieved in less time and the separation of tones appears at least as good, however: Comparing 3 exposures of completely different scenes with the previous handful I'd made to date isn't yet conclusive and I don't have the resources at the minute, to do anything more than make adjustments on-the-fly. Will have to see how it goes.
The photographic paper is taped flat along 2 edges to an appropriately sized FR4 fibreglass backing plate and inserted into the original glass plate holders. I'd used electrical tape to secure the paper but in this case the adhesive was stronger than the emulsion, which came away during removal. Masking tape might be better so long as it doesn't prematurely detach with the considerable ambient temperature changes.
The folding Agfa incorporates a focusing helicoid into its front standard, which locks into place about 2/3rds of the way down the rails, and provides adjustment from about 2 meters - infinity. I had to remove the locking mechanism end stop to allow the standard to slide all the way to the front edge of its rails in order to find focus here (about 40cm to subject). Thankfully, the focusing distance to the paper emulsion in the plate holders looks to be pretty spot on in relation to the ground glass (which was fitted backwards in its holder when I received the camera).
It's slow and a little fiddly in use (on a lightweight tripod) but I really like being able to frame up shots on the glass and carry several sheets of positive paper per outing rather than taping single exposures straight into the camera, as I'd done previously with the Kodak No.3 folding roll film camera. The plate camera itself is beautifully compact in comparison to roll film cameras too!
Agfa Standard 204
Agfa Anastigmat 10.5cm f/4.5
Harman Direct Positive Paper
ISO 3
Pre-flashed in camera at -3EV
Metered highlights (white knobs) at +1/2EV
4min f/8
Paper developed by inspection in modified Caffenol Delta
(30g/L sodium carbonate)
7'00" ~17C
Selenium toned (Bellini Seltone) 1+30 2'00" ~20C