A step forward, a step back.

[P C Headland]

Sometimes, something just has to go wrong, no matter how hard you try...

I decided to explore some of the nearby hills with my 9x12cm Zeh Zeca and a newly acquired travel tripod that I bought for when I pootle around on the e-bike. The 055 is a bit too big and heavy to easily carry.

I drove down one of the many little roads snaking into the hills to the start of one of the many tracks. I had a bit of a wander looking for some suitable subjects, and found what looked like a re-purposed concrete water tank perched somewhat uneasily on the edge of the hill next to the walkway. I set down the bag and grabbed the camera and a film holder and went to setup. Except I didn't have the new tripod! I was sure I'd grabbed it from the car. So, walked back up the hill to the last place I'd stopped, but it wasn't there. Then walked back to the next spot I'd stopped at, where I'd shot a couple of frames on the Panasonic G9, and there it was, sitting on the ground.



Plonker.

So, unfolded the tripod, mounted the camera, got things roughly framed up and then realised I'd left the focussing aid in the car. Well, I wasn't going to walk back up the track again, so focussed as best I could without it. One shot of Classic Pan 200 done. F16 @ 1/100s, developed in Rodinal 1+25 for 8 minutes in a Paterson Orbital.

A wee bit precarious

I put everything back, clearly marked the holder and put it in the side pocket of the back as a further pre-caution. Grabbed the bags, made sure I had the tripod and traipsed back up the hill, reminding myself to stop by the car and grab the focussing aid. Further along, up the hill, past the car park and I find my next shot, a stand of trees. I get the camera out, mount it on the tripod, open the back and shutter to compose. Of course, I've forgotten to go by the car... No, I'm not going to walk back down the hill to walk back up the hill, so I'll make do again. I used a bit of rise (shift in this case I suppose since the camera was in portrait mode, on its side).

F16 @ 1/2s developed in 510-Pyro 1+100 for 18 minutes

Pines

In both cases I should have stopped down some more, and neither are anything special, but at least they both proved a "fix" was a fix. A while back I had light leaks with these film holders. I couldn't pin down any of the leaks, the camera bellows are good, the film holders looked fine, and the leaks didn't seem to have a pattern. My previous problems had in fact nothing to do with the camera or holders, but were due to baggy elastics on one of the arm holes on my old dark bag.

Oh well, the walk was good, I now know my camera and holders don't leak light, it's just my brain cells that have pinholes.

[Julio1fer]

The test went well and no leaks are seen. Once you and that elusive focusing aid join forces, great results are expected,

Those trees against dark background, interesting subject for patterns.

How do you digitize your 9x12 negatives?

[scott]

It happens. Seemingly more often these days ime, but nonetheless. Glad you got out, regardless. Sometimes it’s all about the experience, even if that’s not what we intend.

[P C Headland]

I scan the 9x12 negs by taping them to a 4x5" sheet of anti-reflective picture framing glass, then drop that, film side down into the Epson V700's 4x5 holder.