Back in the saddle: The wonderful world of black and white film photography

[Mousetoescamper]

Until last week, I had not used a 35mm film camera for nearly 30 years. Thanks to DUer Fla Dem, I’m back in the world of chemical emulsion and wonderfully grainy images.

You may recall Fla Dem’s recent post in our Photography group offering, for free, several of her old cameras, lenses and gear. She generously paid the shipping and sent to me three cameras and other useful photographic gear.

One of the cameras is a 1970s Pentax ME, which model was the camera I used when I began working for community newspapers in the late 1980s. I love this camera! It’s very small and easy to use. I set the aperture, manually focus and the camera picks the shutter speed automatically.



Following are some of 36 exposures from the first roll of film I’ve used since Bill Clinton was President.

















Thanks again, Fla Dem!

[Walleye]

1. Really nice, I worked for a paper in 1968 and my fellow photographer had one of those cameras

He swore by it. By that time I had a Leica M2 and a Nikon F I think

[Mousetoescamper]

4. Thanks!

[LoisB]

2. Wonderful. Thank you and thank you Fla Dem. nt

[Mousetoescamper]

5. Thanks and you're welcome!

[Diamond_Dog]

3. This brings back memories.

Developing b&w film in my Photography classes at Kent State.

The photos have a nice quality to them.

[Mousetoescamper]

6. Thanks!

[brer cat]

7. Those are wonderful, Mousetoes!

[Mousetoescamper]

9. Thanks!

[Deuxcents]

8. There's an art to black and white photos, movies..

The shadows and angles gotta be just right..at least for me, as a viewer. These photos are just so good 😊

[Mousetoescamper]

10. Thanks!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. Wow, my dear Mousetoescamper!

Incredible photos! The depth, the details, the overall exposures are just wonderful.

I had a Pentax ME super way back when. I no longer recall the dates I used it. I was big into auto then!

I do dimly remember a vertical row of LED's. Green at the top and yellow at the bottom or something like that. If I could get it right and have a green dot glowing, I'd know that there wouldn't be any camera shake to disrupt the photo. Something like that!

Anyway, thanks for sharing. This month's contest has the theme of anything in B&W, so you're set!

[Mousetoescamper]

12. Thanks!

I've never used the ME Super. This camera has a vertical scale display on the left side of the viewer that goes from 8 seconds to 1/1000 second between a red warning of UNDER exposure at the bottom and OVER at the top. A red LED indicates OVER or UNDER and what shutter speed will be set at the aperture chosen. That's the only auto function and it can be made more manual by experimenting with the aperture. But there's no way to see what are the results of trying different apertures until you get the scans or prints. The waiting and mystery are part of the fun.

[mnhtnbb]

13. Wonderful!

I just happened by today because I looked out my window and B&W beckoned! Grabbed my digital present day camera and I got my shot for the contest!
Amazing to come here and see what you are up to with film!

[Mousetoescamper]

14. Thanks!

I'm looking forward to seeing the submissions for the contest. Black and white seems to bring out a photographer's artistic flair.

[HAB911]

15. The good old days!

[Mousetoescamper]

16. Looking forward to shooting the next roll.

[TeamProg]

17. More fun stuff! Over the years I too have had many 35mm cameras, Konica, Canon, many Nikons, but it wasn't

until I bought my first house that I was able to build a darkroom. Then I switched up medium and large format film Mamiya 120 roll cameras (C220 and RB67) and then finally 4x5 Linhof Tech IV.

Sold most of that camera gear and went digital with a newish Nikon Z mirrorless at the recommendation of my DU friend Unsonian.

Do you still need some gear? Film dev cannisters and reels? LPL Saunders Dichroic 4500II Enlarger or lenses?