Back to film, testing the Vivitar 500 mirror lens

[Julio1fer]

The past year brought me a lot of change. I retired, and we moved to an apartment, after decades in a large house that had become too much for an old couple. I was looking forward to more free time, but moving takes a lot of effort, especially if you go to a much smaller place.

Among the first things to pack, and last to unpack, were film cameras, film, darkroom items, scanning gear, etc.

After almost a year without shooting film, all the planets aligned and I found a way to organize developing, prepare solutions and load a roll from bulk.

For Christmas I had got a half decent tripod: in this first roll of the year, decided to experiment with the Vivitar 500 mm f/8 mirror lens mounted in the trusty K-1000, loaded with HP5+. The roll went out smoothly and I had some expectations.

Unfortunately I botched film loading in the Rondinax tank (yes, it is possible if one is dumb enough). The poor negatives came out with all kind of blobs, undeveloped and unfixed spots, scratches, uneven development- a veritable Wikipedia of development troubles. However, a couple of shots could be saved.

Cars in seaside avenue at night



Someone needed assistance in a tiny sailboat. This is a central crop of about 1/4 of the full negative. The boat was quite far.



As you all know it is very hard to focus a 500 mm f/8! Same as a 50 mm f/0.8!

Thanks for looking!

[Brazile]

Frustrating about the mishap with the tank, but that'll smooth out now that you're back in the game. Congrats on the retirement! Since my own retirement, I've found myself busier than ever, you may find the same. We'll look forward to more results from your shooting.

I have a 500mm mirror lens, but I confess that I struggled enough with it to move on to play with other toys more often. I should probably try it again one of these days.

Robert

[Julio1fer]

Thanks for the encouragement, Robert! Indeed I am more busy than what was expected.

A couple of things learned with the 500 mm: use a hood (sun shade) and a tripod. And do not attempt anything that needs accurate focusing unless you have high tolerance to frustration.

On the other hand, it is tempting to use this very light and small mirror lens for snapshots, hand held. You can steal details of faces from far away. Reflections and bright spots may be used to produce rings when out of focus, interesting for abstracts.

[P C Headland]

Good to see you back, and hope you enjoy retirement.

Who know what you will find during your unpacking (potentially also an opportunity to sneak in few new cameras that you "happened to find during the unpacking".... )

[Julio1fer]

Who know what you will find during your unpacking (potentially also an opportunity to sneak in few new cameras that you "happened to find during the unpacking".... )

I thought of that, but surveillance from Domestic Authorities is too strong... I am closer to this old cartoon in Popular Photography: