Eric Weatherill sends
more details about Barfen CRX-cum-Konica, from one of his members at Area
11, Mr E. R. Meeke of Bakewell, Derbyshire. Mr. Meeke has sent me a sample
of the two different emulsions which he bought under this name, confirming
that the unannounced change of emulsion was not just a local mistake, I
processed a reel of the ‘original’ and was pleased with the results,
sol bought 15m. from a Spectrum shop at the higher price and was very
relieved to discover that it was the Fuji-type film I wanted. Today in a
copy of the ‘Practical Photography’ July issue, I find an article on
slide films, which speaks of the resemblance between the Barfen and Fuji
emulsions. Don’t they ever up-date articles when situations change?
One important question
is whether. two emulsions are going to be marketed under the same name or
will it be Fuji-type emulsion disappear when stocks run out ?
Mr. Meeke also reports
that the latest Ektachrome 100 gets a good write-up as a new emulsion
without the tendency to blueness of its predecessors and with a wider
exposure tolerance. Even with biting sharpness ‘and exceptional fine
grain. It’s a bit pricey at £3.20 plus processing.
He has also been
up-rating Ektachrome to 800 Ask with ghastly results. Looks as
though he’d used a blue toner. He advises Fuji 400 Prof. for better
results and has up-rated the Barfen/Fuji to 400 as very satisfactory.
He has been getting
some weird results with an auto-focusing compact camera. Vivid red
shadows, red between frames, Leader clear and tail end black, His sample
looks like solarisation and he says, other, frames are most striking and
excellent for competition. He’s diagnosed the trouble as infra-red from
the focusing system leaking onto the film and has sent the camera back to
the makers. There’s a new idea for you boffins - expose your films to
infra-red and win all the prizes.
An interesting question
has been put to Eric from someone. “Is it alright to warm up processing
chemicals in the micro-wave oven? Think about it. What would YOU answer?
Well, your Editor’s
immediate remark would be “ Never in ye’r nelly “ Who was the
writer, that wrote, and I quote, “Food is Food and Photographic
chemicals is Photographic chemicals and ne’r the twain shall eat,
together.” Bright lad that.
While it is true
liquids may be heated in a microwave, and many people do warm up a cuppa
in them, successfully, but beware anything containing a trace of metal, it
will cause havoc to your expensive time saver. And as my little quote
states, should you get spillage a heavy cleaning job couldn’t guarantee
chemicals wouldn’t be left behind to contaminate other food stuff. I
would leave well alone, and It’s little trouble to warm up the bottles
of chemicals in hot water.
Last
of the E4.
by Reg Long. Area 9.
I decided to go to
Birdworld, forgot to take the E-6 film out of the freezer in time to load
up, so only had colour neg. and ancient Barfen E-4 film to take. I used
this on our feathered friends, mixed up some chemicals and processed the
film to find that the slides were a little yuky green, but never mind, a
little chemical treatment gave a little improvement and better still I
did’ some prints from several using my old faithful Agfa reversal paper
2 years old with very good results using an extra 30 magenta fitration.
Now you know how green they are, the slides not the prints.